Soc 100 Online Home Page

Sociology 100 Online
Home Page

Welcome to Sociology 100 Online.

Access to this page is the starting point of this course. From here, you will be able to navigate to the part of this web site dedicated to this class. Actually, you just have a few things to know and places to get to.

First, carefully read the following paragraphs to determine whether or not this class and this particular learning format are for you.

Is Sociology 100 for You ?
Sociology is the systematic study of society. It is an engaging but demanding discipline that will challenge most of your beliefs and the assumptions you thought to be true. To succeed in a sociology class, you must be interested in politics, economics, social issues, and pretty everything that goes on around you: school shootings, the War on Drugs, the globalization of the economy, the supposed breakdown of the family, the environment, etc.
Sociology 100 will introduce you to a new way of looking at these issues, a new form of reasoning that we call "the sociological imagination". To become sociologically imaginative, you must stop looking at things from an individual perspective and recognize that most of what we think and do is shaped by our social surroundings. Looking at society and ourselves from a sociological perspective offers new insights and new solutions to issues we struggle with. The sociological imagination, as a critical and systematic way of thinking, is not concerned with passing judgment on people because they are different or do not behave exactly the way we think is right or appropriate or natural; after all, you will learn that the very notions of "rightness", "appropriateness" and "naturalness" are themselves the product of society.
In other words, be ready to be challenged in your beliefs, to be disturbed by what you learn and be empowered by the integration of sociological knowledge into your own mode of thinking.

Is Alternative Learning for You ?
Before you start, you need to know exactly what alternative learning is and to determine whether or not this class is for you. To do so, you should first visit the website of the Center for Independent Learning. This site is complete with useful subdivisions comprising a Frequently Asked Questions page, information on how to get started in alternative learning, and how to succeed in this format. But more specifically, for the present purpose, you should take the survey to determine whether alternative delivery corresponds to your learning style.

Is Online Learning for You ?
If you have never taken online classes before, there are a few things you should determine before you register and get started. You must determine whether you have the appropriate computer equipment and enough experience in order to succeed in such a class. For all the information you are going to need, the COD website has several pages dedicated to this topic. The first thing for you to do is to review the Frequently Asked Questions section. You also need to pay attention to the registration policies specific to the College of DuPage; on this topic, see the Registration Office webpage. At COD, you have the possibility of registering online; before you do so, see the online registration preparation checklist. In addition, the Center for Independent Learning offers support services specific to distance-learning students. Should you need advising concerning online classes, you may contact Ron Schiesz, who is the counselor assigned to Alternative Learning Programs.

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The second step is to go to the syllabus for this class and determine whether you think you will be able to provide the required work. If you still have questions about this class, after you have read the syllabus, then contact me for further information.

How should you work for this class?

The most important requirement is for you to carefully read the textbook. This particular textbook is very complete on every topic. It is going to be your main source of learning. Studying with your textbook should be your most important priority and activity in this class.

The second most important source of learning is your workbook. For each exercise, you have to read the introductory chapter and then complete the worksheet to be faxed to the instructor. It is essential that you read the preceding text before you complete the worksheet; they go together sequentially. I am available for help on these worksheets at any time through email or during my office hours by phone for help on these exercises.

You can link to the software from here but you will still need the disk to operate it.

This class is divided in 5 units comprising 4 chapters and 3 exercises each. Completing a unit should take you no more than two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, all the required assignments (tests, exercises in the workbook and updates on the Internet Research Project) should be in the possession of the instructor. The tests will be available for limited time on the Intrakal system, the exercises are to be faxed, mailed or delivered (IC3112) to the instructor and project updates communication should circulate via email. Deadlines are available in the syllabus and the calendar in the Intrakal system. It is very important that you be aware of the deadlines in order to efficiently organize your work.

Each unit has its own page:

In addition, for evaluation purposes, you will be required to take surveys in the Intrakal system, one per chapter, so that I can assess your learning. These surveys will consist of 4 open questions concerning the various topics you studied in the different units. These surveys will be graded.

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