SOCI 3324 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION SPRING 2010 SEAT#:______
PROFESSOR: Sharon Miley E-mail:
OFFICE: DERR M21 Phone: 512-245-8905
OFFICE HOURS: 2-3 M, 10:45-11:30 TTH, and 9:30 – 10:30 W.
Please note that office hours end the last day of class.
GA: Brandt Kemper,
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Department of Sociology is committed to providing intellectually challenging courses requiring high quality work (in and out of class) in optimal learning environments. Sociology 3324 Social Stratification is such a course--challenging, filled with “news you can use” throughout life, and analyzing the structured inequalities/social stratification in U.S. society. Students successfully completing the course will understand:
¨ who gets what, and why in American society?
¨ the impact of these inequalities on individual and group life chances and lifestyles.
¨ the various dimensions of social stratification--social class, race, ethnicity, and gender--and how it affects the ways people live.
The course has three units, and students will have a specific set of learning objectives for each unit to clarify course expectations and facilitate the learning process. A myriad of class exercises and activities (individual and group, in and out of class) will promote critical thinking skills, an awareness of the diversity of contemporary American society, and an appreciation for the discipline of sociology and the “sociological imagination” as a “useful” perspective for examining the world we live in.
REQUIRED TEXT AND CLASSROOM MATERIALS:
¨ Social Stratification and Inequality by Harold Kerbo, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2006.
¨ Additional REQUIRED materials are available online (eReserve). Students will need to obtain a hard copy of the course packet prior to the third day of class and before each unit. Your professor will announce in class the password and when the materials for each unit will be available. Packets will be divided into three units. Only students enrolled in the class are able to access these required materials online through eReserve. Go to the university home page (www.txstate.edu) and then to the library home page. Click on eReserve; under services, select electronic reserve and reserve pages; enter SOCI 3324, and then search; click on SOCI 3324; accept the eReserve terms; enter the course password (announced in class); select the unit you need; open it and/or download it as a pdf file; then, print it out at home, or at a university lab or the Alkek Library free of charge. Please remember that course packets contain copyrighted materials that remain the property and copyright of their owners, including your professor. Even in the university setting, “fair use” guidelines apply—there are laws governing their distribution. Getting your ONE copy for educational use, restricted to the class on eReserve is the only way for you to get this information. Please do not copy these materials or post them on the internet. E-Reserve Password: ______
¨ Students should read the chapters according to the schedule listed in this syllabus.
TESTS:
¨ Tests I, II, and the (non-comprehensive) final will have 50 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each.
¨ Students in the class will take the final (and any make-up tests) at the exam time posted in the Schedule of Classes.
¨ Test grades will be posted in the classroom (not on TRACs) the class period following the exam. Since posting grades by Social Security number and Student ID number violate student confidentiality, students will be assigned a random number between 1-170 (not in any alpha or seat number sequence) as their SOCI 3324 class ID. Grades will be posted in the classroom using this class ID.
CLASS ATTENDANCE: College students are adults, and their success in a class (or lack thereof) is their personal responsibility. Although attendance in this class is not required, a definite correlation between attendance and final grades exists. (Those students who attend class regularly generally do well; those who chose not to attend class do more poorly, including failing the class.) As encouragement to attend class regularly, students will receive one point toward their class participation grade for each class day attended (on-time and full-time, and other than test days and the first day of class when students complete a required student information form worth five points). Beyond that, students decide what their attendance policy will be.
¨ Since class attendance counts toward final course grades, attendance will be taken and verified. Students will have an assigned seat in the class, selected the first day of class. (The professor will assign seats to any students missing the first class day). Students will sign in (full signature) on an attendance sheet for each class, and the GA may also take roll. Any student not sitting in his/her assigned seat will be marked absent for that day.
¨ Since final semester grades are tied to attendance, students must not sign in for another student, regardless of the circumstances. Students caught “cheating” on attendance in any way will face disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook and may fail the class.
¨ Students are expected to arrive on time to class and remain in the classroom until the class is over once class has begun.
¨ Any student missing a class participation activity or assignment (due to absence, tardiness, leaving class early, etc.) will be able to make up the activity and earn points with a university excused absence only. A cover sheet detailing the excused absence (along with documentation) must be attached to the make-up assignment.
¨ Students who miss class are responsible for finding out what was missed in class and obtaining any notes from another student in the class, not the professor.
¨ Please note that there are no acceptable “blanket” excuses for any or all of the semester for absences, tardies, missed deadlines, etc. No exceptions.
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS :
¨ Students will earn five points at the beginning of the semester for completing a student information sheet with signed statement (required in order to earn any points in the class). This form is attached to this syllabus (last page).
¨ In addition to the 25 points possible for class attendance noted above and the student information sheet, 40 class participation points are possible for successful completion of classroom exercises, activities, group discussions, projects, etc. These activities are offered on an irregular basis and are designed to motivate students to attend each and every class, on time and full time.
¨ Classroom assignments are graded and are an important part of each student’s total grade; they are NOT extra-credit points. These points significantly impact a student’s final grade in the course.
¨ Some of the classroom participation projects will be out-of-class assignments. All out-of-class assignments must be typed, grammatically correct, and submitted as hardcopy. No e-mail or Internet submissions will be accepted for credit. In cases of emergency and only with the professor’s approval, an assignment may be faxed to 512-245-8362.
¨ Students are also required to do an end-of-semester reflection paper (two to four pages, typed, double-spaced, grammatically correct, and submitted as hardcopy) worth 10 points. No e-mail or Internet submissions will be accepted for credit; in an emergency situation and only with the approval of the professor, an assignment may be submitted by fax to 512-245-8362. No work will be accepted late without written documentation of a university-excused absence. SOCIOLOGY MAJORS must provide two copies of their reflection papers for inclusion in their departmental portfolios.
¨ Assignments are not returned to a student without a written request for a copy of the original, and no assignments are returned prior to the final exam.
SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATION: A student's final grade in the course will be based on the total number of points accumulated:
Test I and Test II (Max. of 100 pts. ea.) = 200
Final (max. of 100 pts.) = 100
Class Attendance points (25 max.) = 25
Class participation points (45 pts.) = 45
Reflection Paper = 10
Total max. cumulative points: = 380
Final Grade Cumm. Pts. Range
A 90 - 100% 342 - 380 Points B 80 - 89% 304 - 341 Points C 70 - 79% 266 - 303 Points D 60 - 69% 228 - 265 Points
F Below 60% Below 228 Points
*NOTE: Since grades are a confidential matter and fall under student privacy laws, I will not discuss grades over the phone or e-mail either during or after the semester.
NOTE: KEEP THIS SYLLABUS FOR REFERENCE! STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR GRADES IN THE COURSE AND CAN DO SO EASILY USING THE FOLLOWING RUBRIC:
CLASS PARTICIPATION POINTS:
Classes meet on the following days (mark “X” for days missed):
Tuesdays: 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27
Thursdays: 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/ 4, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29
Total Points for Attendance (max. 25 points): ______
Student Information Sheet with signed statement (worth 5 points): _____
Class Exercises/Assignments (eight at 5 points each for a maximum of 40 points):
______
Reflection Paper (10 points): _____
TEST SCORES: Test I Score: _____ Test II Score: _____
FINAL GRADES ARE BASED ON THE TOTAL POINTS EARNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER:
342-380 = A; 304-341 = B; 266-303 = C; 228 – 265 = D; Below 228 points = F
To calculate the grade you need to make on the final exam, just subtract the total number of points earned over the course of the semester from the lowest number of points in the desired grade category. For example, a student who earned 280 points over the course of the semester in test points and class participation points will need to make a 62 on the final exam for a semester grade of A (342 – 280).
Lowest number of points in grade category: ______
(Subtract) Total number of points earned: ______
= Total number of points needed on final: ______
TENTATIVE TOPIC OUTLINE AND CLASS SCHEDULE: Please note that students should bring their packet materials to each class other than test days. Also, be sure to keep all packets and notes to complete the reflection paper!
Unit I Topics: Overview--The Study of Social Chap. 1
Stratification & Inequality
The History of Inequality Handout
Theories of Social Stratification Handout
Social Stratification/Inequality
in the U.S. Chap. 2
TEST I: AS ANNOUNCED IN CLASS
Unit II Topics: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity Chaps. 10 & 11
The American Class Structure:
The Upper Class Chap. 6
The Corporate Class Chap. 7
The Middle & Working Classes Chap. 8
TEST II: AS ANNOUNCED IN CLASS
Unit III Topics: Poverty (Lower & Under-Classes) Chap. 9
Social Mobility
The Process of Legitimation Chap. 13
The FINAL: Tuesday, May 11th, from 8 – 10:30p.m.
IMPORTANT PROFESSOR POLICIES AND NOTES:
I. STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: If you are a student with a disability who will require an accommodation(s) to participate in this course, please contact your professor as soon as possible. You will be asked to provide documentation from the Office of Disability Services. Failure to contact your professor in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. (For example, a student who has not identified him or herself as an ODS client will be ineligible to take exams through ODS or receive accommodations.)
II. STUDENT EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROFESSOR:
¨ The professor will respect students and the classroom experience, which includes managing the classroom environment (see IV below).
¨ The professor will practice fairness in the treatment of students and in grading.
¨ The professor will attend every class, and will begin and end class on time.
¨ The professor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment.
¨ The professor will provide prompt feedback on test grades.
¨ The professor will provide students with the guidelines and requirements that facilitate student success in the class (specifically, this syllabus)!
¨ The professor will provide students with facts relative to the course rather than trying to further any personal (or political) agenda. Professor opinions will be infrequent and will be stated as such.
III. EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS: Students need to be sure to arrive on time, remain in the classroom until the class is over once class has begun, and whenever possible, be considerate of the professor by providing notification as to the reasons for any tardiness or need to leave early. Classroom courtesy and civility is required at all times; any student disrupting class will face serious consequences (see IV below).
IV. CLASSROOM POLICIES:
¨ The Graduate Assistant and System Support Specialist share full authority with the professor in monitoring and regulating classroom behavior, policies, and courtesies. Please be most respectful of them! Thanks!
¨ EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: In the case of fire or if an alarm is sounded, evacuate through the closest exit door in an orderly fashion (no pushing or running), and move away from the building unless instructed by safety personnel to do otherwise.
¨ MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: In the event of illness or injury during class, notify the professor or graduate assistant or media technician immediately. Remain seated and wait for further instructions from the professor or emergency personnel.
¨ CLASSROOM DISRUPTIONS: In the classroom environment (particularly those in large classrooms, when students may feel somewhat protected due to their anonymity), it is crucial that classroom civility and respect, as well as an environment conducive to learning, are maintained. Classroom disruption is prohibited in Section 2.02 of Texas State’s Code of Student Conduct and will not be tolerated in this classroom. Students who disrupt class, as determined by the professor, will face appropriate sanctions ranging from a verbal and/or written warning, to administrative intervention (including possible suspension from the class through Student Justice), to reduction of final grade. The professor in this class reserves the right to lower a student’s final semester grade by one full letter grade with each successive classroom disruption. Repeated classroom disruption will likely lead to a failing grade in the course. CLASSROOM DISRUPTIONS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING (UNACCEPTABLE) BEHAVIORS: