Western Wisconsin Technical College
Syllabus
Introduction to Sociology
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic social concepts of the intercultural discipline of sociology. Emphasis is given to the following special areas: culture, socialization, social stratification, and the five institutions, including family, politics, economics, religion and education. Examples of other topics include: demography, deviance, technology, environment, social issues, and social organization.
CREDIT
3 credit hours
PURPOSE
The topics and coursework were selected in order to get you to think about your own life in new ways. The course is designed to: (1) introduce you to the basic concepts of the field of sociology (theory); (2) promote the application of these concepts (practice); and (3) develop a “sociological imagination” (critical thinking).
COURSE OUTCOMES
In completing this course, you will:
1. Develop introductory level skills of communication to use both terminology and quantitative measures common to the discipline.
2. Appreciate the dynamics inherent in perception of individual differences and cultural diversity.
3. Enhance critical thinking skills.
4. Gain an understanding of the impact of culture and technology and a rapidly changing global society.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Henslin, James M.. (2004). Essentials of Sociology. 5th Ed. Boston, Mass.: Allyn & Bacon.
INSTRUCTOR:
Quincey L. Daniels Jr. M.Ed.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING:
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged borrowing of information, wording, organization, or ideas. Whether the original source is public (e.g., a newspaper, book, journal article, the Web) or private (e.g., a classmate's paper), you need to indicate your indebtedness to it. Where you repeat the exact language of your source, you must treat the borrowed material as a quotation and place it within quotation marks. However, by merely changing a few words or the word order or by paraphrasing, you do not avoid plagiarism. In the case of plagiarism, the instructor has the right to give the student a “zero” for the assignment. In the case of cheating during the course of a test or unauthorized collaboration on a writing project, the instructor reserves the right to give the student a “zero” for the test or assignment.
ATTENDANCE:
I keep attendance records as part of the college policy, but I do not count absences as a part of your grade. At the same time, I will drop a student from any class after the student has been absent the equivalent of 3 weeks (9 times in a TWF class.) Learning involves more than just reading the book, and our class discussions will go beyond the book, so attendance is necessary if you hope to achieve a satisfactory grade. If you should desire to drop the class for any reason, please see me first.
OFFICE: SEMESTER/LOCATION/TIME:
Part-Time Faculty Office
Email: www.quinceyd@rocketmail.com
Phone: (608) 857-3599
Office Hours:TW: 11:00am –11: 45 am
Th: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
GRADING: Total Points:
500 – 5 tests @ 100 points each 900 - 1000 = A
150 – 15 News Articles @ 10 points each 800 - 899 = B
150 -- 15 Chapter Reviews @ 10 points each 700 - 799 = C
100 – 3 Response Papers 600 - 699 = D
@ 33 points each (+1) 599 or below = F
100 -- 1 paper " Sociology in the World"
1000 points possible
Testing:
Any missed tests can be made up in the Testing Center, within one week.
News Articles:
For every chapter you will need to turn in a news article about the chapter we are going to cover that week. You may follow the calendar at the end of this syllabus to keep up with the chapters that are due. Each news article needs to come from a newspaper, popular magazine, or news source on the internet. Do not use professional journals for these articles. News articles that are “Book Reviews” are not to be used either. The articles must be mounted on a sheet of paper (stapled, glued, paper clipped) and then a short paragraph (3 – 4 sentences at least) should be written by you giving your opinion of the article and how it specifically relates to our chapter (this paragraph needs to be typed), and included with the article. The newspaper articles are due when the class begins, and no late chapter reviews will be accepted.
Chapter Reviews:
For each chapter that we cover, you will find a chapter review sheet on "Blackboard" or my webpage for the sociology class under "Assignments" to fill out and turn in on the dates listed on the calendar. Each chapter review will consist of fill-in-the-blank sentences that come straight from your textbook. The chapter review will be due in class on test days, and the due dates are on the calendar. The reviews are due when the class begins, and no late chapter reviews will be accepted.
Three Response Papers:
You need to read three of the sections from our textbook that are on a list on “Blackboard” under “Course Documents” or listed on my webpage. For each section that you choose, you need to answer the questions at the end of that section. Each response paper needs to be one – page long (full page). The due dates for these papers are on the calendar at the end of this syllabus, and no late papers will be accepted.
"Sociology in the World" Paper:
The paper that you are required to write is about how Sociology is all around us in the world. The purpose of this paper is to help you to see sociological concepts (you choose which) in your own life and the world around you. The list of concepts you can choose from is posted under “Course Documents” on Blackboard or my webpage.
You need to provide an original example (not drawn from the text or from the lectures) of the concepts from your own life. For each concept, write down the definition, and then demonstrate your understanding of that concept by giving a clear example. This paper is worth 100 points.
**Any of these assignments may be turned in early!! No problem!! These assignments just cannot be turned in late!!
FAQ’S:
1. Is there any extra credit? No. There are enough assignments that if you complete them, you should make a satisfactory grade in class.
2. May I make up missed work? No. So, it would be wise to work ahead and stay ahead just in case: your frog croaks, your dog chokes, your computer smokes, etc. If you are in a car wreck on the way to class, what’s the last thing that you need to tell the EMT’s as they load you in the ambulance?
3. May I make up a missed exam? Absolutely! But, whatever the reason, you will lose 10 points for having the extra study time and taking it late.
4. May I turn in my work early? Absolutely! Any of these assignments may be turned in early!! No problem!! These assignments just cannot be turned in late!!
Quincey Daniels
Personal Vision Statement (Introduction to Sociology)
Students and staff are the reason that we must have leadership that is able to form a vision of how we are to conduct our daily business. Students and staff have rights; they must be made known to them and thereafter respected. They have ambition; it must be honored. I have never met a person who did not want to be the best there is at something. Staff and students have a need of comradeship; it must be supplied. Imagination must be stirred and stimulated. It can be satisfied and made the bedrock of character once a key point is made and that being that all are playing a useful and respected role. To give students and staff this is the acme of inspired leadership. The staff and students become loyal because loyalty has been given to them.
I would ask all students to remember some key points:
Memories fail always write down your ideas
When I ask for your opinion, I want to hear your opinion, not what your think I want to hear.
Be aggressive and responsible.
Do not bring me a problem unless you have at least one recommended solution.
I ‘m very straight-forward. That means at times you may hear things you don’t like, however you will know where I stand. I will be honest with you and I expect the staff to be honest with me.
I don’t micromanage or over supervise.
This school is a great place with quality teachers and students we will all move forward together.
Here are some of my thoughts on certain topics:
Student Outcomes: We are in the business of preparing the future leaders / citizens of the United States of America. When you think of that one statement, it should put our perspective of why we are doing what we are doing. Students must learn to their fullest capability. Of course not every student will be a future doctor, lawyer, or President, however we must motivate students to get them to use their potential. Every student will succeed in becoming the person that they are capable of becoming. We must begin with the end in mind. We must not fall into the trap of seeing students as they are functioning today, we must learn to look at students from the point of view of where they will be when they graduate from school. Will they be the best individuals they can be or will they be classified as having permanent potential? Students can sometimes be seen as “spaghetti” we will have to get out in front and pull them along to their destinations. We cannot push them, as they will only move in a direction that might not benefit them. Always remember that we are the people responsible for ensuring that the community will receive students who are productive members of society.
Instructional Climate: Pertaining to this subject; remember the phrase “The only stupid question is the one that is never asked.” The instructional climate of the school should be based on “Discover Learning”. Students learn at a higher rate when students are given the opportunity to discover their hidden talents. Every student has the ability to learn. Some do this at a higher or lower rate than the other students. All must be given the same opportunity to excel. We must work to facilitate a climate where the essence of learning is achieved through mutual respect and a fostering of learning. Staff and students must approach learning through a caretaker approach. Students learn the best when there is a personal interest fostered by the staff in their abilities. No student will be given up on. All students will move forward towards the “End State” of where we want them to be at graduation. In order for this to happen, staff, students and parents must form a learning community. There will be challenges with this concept, but without a struggle at times there can be no progress. We will be the type of school that when the students graduate, they would want their children to attend our school.
Instruction: Pertaining to instruction, all students must remember one specific goal of instruction; in order to have students follow the lessons presented they must actively want to. In order to do this staff members must understand human behavior. All people want to feel like they are important. We will build self-esteem of student each day, by dialoging with them for the first few minutes of class to gain an understanding of how they are doing as people first. A combination of presentations, web events, and different technologies will be used in the classroom to expose students to a combination of learning situations. By making what the students are learning realistic to what they experience in their daily lives, we will motivate them to learn. Motivation comes from the fact that we will follow four guidelines of human behavior:
1. Treat others as you would be treated yourself and they will follow your lead.
2. Take responsibility for your actions and admit your mistakes.
3. Make others feel important.
4. Promote your own vision of your classroom every day.
Too many times, we get caught up in the testing “monster” that has reached epic proportions throughout the United States. Students need leadership, don’t disappoint them. We must encourage students to find their strengths and assist them in forming value judgments. Administration and teachers should never pretend that we do not make mistakes, but allowing ourselves the leeway of being “human” students will recognize that we are establishing a comfortable learning environment.
Instruction: Pertaining to this topic; this is our basis of everything that we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis. Instruction must reflect areas of the student’s lives. There many things that go on in the world today that can be applied in the classroom. When students see an active correlation of what they are learning they can use in the future the learning is enhanced. How many times do we in the field of education hear: “why are we learning this when I will never use this after I graduate from school?” We must get involved. We must instruct students using the format of all subjects are interrelated. English plays a part of Science, which plays a part of Math which plays a part of physical education and so on. All branches of education are important for the development of the child and must be worked together.
Leadership and Governance: I am a firm believer in (MBWA) Management by Walking Around. At times while I teach a class or so, I may turn the leadership of the class over to a student to facilitate discussion. There is a saying prevalent in the military that :
“Esprit de corps is the product of a thriving mutual confidence between the leader and the led, founded on the faith that together, they possess a superior quality and capability.”
In the field of education it is easy to feel isolated, such as its me against the world. We will assist each other because as the saying goes: we are all in this boat together, want to help row? I also believe that as trust is developed, time must be available for staff not only students so an open door policy is always in effect. There are a myriad of activities that must be accomplished each day if the school is to function effectively. I strongly believe that we are here to work with each other and as we take a personal investment in the identity of our school we should continue to promoted the concept that there is no telling how much we are willing to accomplish when no one worries about who takes the credit for new ideas being implemented.
My basis for working with different elements of the community, teachers, students and staff will deal with the idea that “Is it best for students?” We are a part of the student’s lives and what we do counts. They will remember how we interact, how we treat them, and most importantly how we prepared them for success in the future. We are in the business of learning and the business is booming! As for my philosophy of leadership, It is a simple time-tested one: LEAD BY EXAMPLE. There are the “Gotta Haves” if a person is to be successful:
1. You gotta want it.
2. You gotta have courage.
3. You gotta be fair.
4. You gotta care.
5. You gotta have confidence.
6. You gotta be organized
7. You gotta be involved.
In terms of how I deal with people, I expect their best effort and they should expect the same from me. We can and will succeed. There will always be tough choices to make, but you can always count on clarity from me in terms of what I think on a certain subject.
Finally, one of my most important “Gottas” is You Gotta Have Fun: having fun and being in the field of education is not contradictory. We can function similarly to having a winning football team. It’s fun! We can achieve excellence and we will.
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