Center For Independent Learning
Soc 100. Online
Introduction to Sociology (IAI S7 900)
Instructor : Dr. Christine Monnier
Office : IC 3005a
Office hours : Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM
Monday through Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Phone : (630) 942 2438
E-mail : Monnier@cdnet.cod.edu
Course Description : Students explore the concepts and theories necessary to a systematic understanding of our social worlds. Topics may include considering sociology as science; the nature of large and small-scale groups; social institutions; ideologies, conformity and social deviance; social stratification and historical eras; social change; and race, ethnic and gender relations. (5 lecture hours)
Course Objectives :
1. You will learn what kind of science sociology is, its main theoretical approaches and methods. You will learn how these different theories provide new insights into domains that you thought you knew and understood. You will learn to use the sociological reasoning to debunk commonsense assumptions.
2. We may think of ourselves as individuals, with our own opinions and ideas, our specific personality. This class will show you that this is too simple a picture. You will learn to see that our individual characteristics and the most private of our personalities are the product of society. The sessions on culture, socialization and groups and organizations will devoted to the development of such an understanding.
3. You will learn to identify the different dimensions of social inequality along class, racial and gender lines. Our social locations, in terms of class, race or gender, are our positions in different dimensions of social hierarchies. Through the study of social inequality, under its different forms, you will see that the notion of "equal opportunity" is more an ideal than a reality.
4. You will learn how the different institutions of society contributes to society's functioning and at the same time to the reproduction of inequalities. The description of social institutions in the United States will be complemented with references to other societies.
5. Finally, you will learn the specific problems connected with population growth and how societies change over time. Social change is not a random process but usually the result of social groups, with different levels of power, conflicting over certain issues. The results of these conflicts is that the norms and values of society are affected.
6. Overall, you will learn to think sociologically about social problems, institutions, and social change. You will develop a sociological imagination.
Textbook and Workbook Used
Kendall, Diana (2001), Sociology in Our Times, 3rd Edition, WebCT Version, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
(2) Rodney Stark (2002), Doing Sociology: A Global Perspective, 4th Edition, Wadsworth.
Grades and Course Assignments
You will be graded on several types of assignments (which can be modified at the discretion of the instructor) :
Tests: five (5) multiple-choice tests will be administered online based on the different units and their corresponding readings in the texbook. These tests will comprise 100 questions each, for a total of 500 points.
Workbook Exercises: for each chapter read in the textbook, you will be required to complete the corresponding exercises in the workbook. You will then fax or mail the completed worksheet to the instructor. There are 15 exercises, each will be worth 20 points for a possible total of 300 points.
Internet Research Project: this project will comprise 2 parts. For the first part, you will use the Internet research tool "Infotrac" to find three (3) articles from professional journals concerning social issues in a global perspective. You are free to choose the issue you will research, providing that it is an issue discussed in the textbook. Examples of such issues are: child labor in a global perspective, racial/ethnic/gender inequalities worldwide,political issues in a global perspective, health care or education, etc. You will acquire these articles, read them and summarize them. For specific Library tools, such as Interlibary loans and using Internet tools, see the page on "doing research with the Library website" on this site.
For the second part of this research project, you will search the Internet for websites of social movements involved in the issue you have chosen. You will examine the content of their websites, review the facts they present, how they defend their cause, how they try to attract people to their site and cause, and, based on their website, you will try to evaluate how successful a particular group is. You must find at least five (5) websites and, 2 of them should be non-American, but their site should be in English.
Your project, once completed, should be emailed to the instructor during the last week of the Quarter. This should be a document of a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of ten (10) pages. It should include references to the articles used (and the Infotrac reference - abstract or full text - so that the instructor can find them) and to the organizations' websites found through the Internet search.
The grading for this project will be composed of 3 parts, each worth 60 points: (1)article research, (2)Social movements research, and (3) writing and analysis. The total worth of this project will be 180 points.
Final Grade
Your final grade will be based on the percentage of total points you earn during the course. Grades will be determined as follows:
| A | 100% - 90% |
| B | 89% - 80% |
| C | 79% - 70% |
| D | 69% - 60% |
| F | Below 60% |
| Units | Readings | Exercises | Internet Research Project |
| Unit 1 | Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 | Exercises 1, 2, 3 | Choice of Topic |
| Unit 2 | Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 | Exercises 4, 5, 6 | Articles Research |
| Unit 3 | Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 | Exercises 7, 8, 9 | Websites Research |
| Unit 4 | Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16 | Exercises 10, 11, 12 | Project Writing |
| Unit 5 | Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20 | Exercises 13, 14, 15 | Delivery to Instructor |
Incomplete Grade Policy
An "I" grade will be given when all the following conditions are met:
1. The student must request it prior to the end of the quarter.
2. A contract must be filled out and signed, indicating work to be completed and the completion date.
3. The student must have completed at least 2 units by the end of the quarter with a cumulative grade of "C" or better.
All incomplete work must be completed by the contracted date and not later than the end of the following quarter. Exceptions to the above may be made by special arrangements with the instructor. Students should be aware that an "I" grade left on a transcript may be interpreted by other colleges as an "F". It may also affect other aspects of a student's college experience, such as financial aid. Once an "I" grade is issued, students cannot withdraw from the course.
Satisfactory/Fail (S/F) Grade Option
The S/F option is available to students in this course. It may be issued under the following conditions:
1. The student must request it prior to midquarter.
2. A written statement must be completed and signed by the student and the instructor.
3. The student must have achieved the equivalent of a grade of "C" or better in the course in order to receive a Satisfactory ("S") grade. If a student's course work is valued at a "D" level or less, it will be given an "F" grade.
4. Once an S/F grade has been registered with the Records Office, it cannot be changed.
5. An "S" grade will not be computed in the GPA; the "F" grade will be used in computing the GPA.
Please discuss both grading options with your instructor.
Withdrawal Policy
Students are encouraged to consult directly with the instructor when considering a course withdrawal. The student may withdraw from a course by contacting the Registration office up to the eighth calendar day following the mid-term date in any quarter. Thereafter, a grade will be assigned which reflects the student's actual performance in the class. Exceptions require an agreement between the instructor and the student. Written permission to withdraw signed by the instructor must be presented to the Registration Office by the student prior to the end of the quarter.
Students who wish to initiate withdrawals from classes for medical reasons may do so by contacting the Health and Special Services office. Verification from a physician or medical institution is required. The director of Admission, Registration and Records will determine the percent of refund, if any, upon receipt of the required information from the Health and Special Services office.
Students not actively pursuing the completion of course objectives may be withdrawn from the class by the instructor, any time up to two weeks prior to the end of the quarter and given a grade of "W".
Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty Policy
All work submitted for credit must be completed by the student who is registered for the course. Submitting the work of others, without the explicit acknowledgement of their authorship whether published or not, constitutes plagiarism. Students found guilty of plagiarism are generally given an "F" for the course and, in certain cases, are excluded from taking other courses at the college. Disciplinary action will be pursued in all instances in which it is determined that academic dishonesty has occurred. Academic dishonesty can include the dishonest use of course materials, such as student papers and exams. (Complete policy can be read here)
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Copyright © 2001 College of DuPage
Department of Sociology, Liberal Arts Division, IC 3098 (630) 942 2047
monnier@cdnet.cod.edu
Updated 26 March 2001
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