Tonie Hilligoss

Sociology Department

Sociology 300 Online Syllabus

SOCIOLOGY 300
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Instructor: Tonie Hilligoss
Spring 2009
Units: 3
Course code numbers for two sections: 10319 and 14943

System Requirements (some links available by clicking on Course Information - "Browsers, Plug-Ins, Players and Viewers"):

PC Pentium Processor or better, or Mac G3 or better
Internet Access - Firefox 1.0.7 or Internet Explorer 6.0 or better
Windows 2000 or XP, or Mac OS system 10.2 or better
E-mail account either with the college or outside provider
Word 2000 or better as a word processing program
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6

Course Description:
In this course we will examine human behavior as it is affected by social forces. Students will learn to view society and their role within it from a variety of perspectives unique to most people. You will also develop an understanding of the social construction of reality and how that impacts the everyday lives of individuals. Exercises requiring Internet research and electronic interaction between students will be assigned to teach critical thinking and experientially expose you to the concepts covered in class.

We will begin this class by studying basic sociological concepts and developing the sociological imagination, and progress to learning how to apply the sociological perspective to everyday life. Online course materials are integrated with the textbook and assignments in such a way as to maximize the benefit to the student. This, of course, requires that you carefully read the assigned chapters, complete all assignments, and fully participate in the interactive forums created by discussion boards.

This is a distance education class which only meets on campus three times during the semester. All other work is completed online within the Blackboard course management system. Basic computer skills (ability to use a word processing program and e-mail, and ability to access the Internet) are necessary to succeed in this class. However, nothing beyond that is required because Blackboard provides the structure for the course.

There is a service-learning option in this class for students who are interested in earning up to 25 extra credit points. This is one of a very limited number of extra credit opportunities.

Course Activities:
I. Attend the orientation session for your class section and take two (2) proctored exams. The orientation session will be held at the following place and times:

SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE
Tuesday, January 20th
5:30-6:50pm (Sections 10319 and 14943)
LRC 105 (Learning Resource Center)

Anyone who cannot attend the orientation session MUST contact the instructor at thilligoss@mac.com or (916) 558-2602 prior to January 20th. If it is necessary to leave a voicemail message, please state your name and phone number clearly and repeat them once.) Students who have already attended an orientation for one of my other classes or who have successfully completed at least two other online classes taught entirely in Blackboard (i.e. only those classes taught completely in Blackboard with the exception of the orientation and exams) are not required to attend the orientation, but you must contact me before January 20th and submit the Website Quiz by midnight, January 26th to get the ten points of credit for fulfilling the orientation requirement.

II. Visit the class website by Monday of each week and follow the instructions for that week. Weekly materials are generally posted on Sunday.

III. Read the assigned chapters in the textbook, Society, The Basics, 9th or 10th edition, by John J. Macionis, published by Prentice Hall, 2007 (9th ed.) and 2009 (10th ed.). The publisher just issued a new mid-year edition so, this semester, I am going to accommodate those of you who have access to the previous edition as well as the current one. There are copies of both in the reserve book section of the library.

IV. Complete the assignments listed in the Assignments section each week and submit them to the specified discussion board by 11:59pm on the following Saturday. Assignments must be written in your own words, although very short sections can be quoted as long as credit is given to the source. Do not ever cite sections from Wikipedia as a reference. That is an open source encyclopedia and is not sufficiently reliable for an academic assignment.

V. Respond to a minimum of four other student or instructor posts each week there is a discussion board assignment and submit your responses to the specified discussion board by 11:59pm on the following Tuesday. Responses must add depth to the discussion to receive credit, so it is essential to read the other posts first in order to avoid repeating what has already been posted. All responses must adhere to the guidelines regarding intellectual discourse, which are located in the Orientation section under Course Information. It is essential that you read and follow these guidelines.

Both exams will include questions from the discussion boards, so it would be wise to take notes as you read information that would contribute to a good question (e.g. terms are sometimes introduced in the discussions that are not in the textbook or assigned websites, and additional content is sometimes provided). There will rarely be more than five notes that will need to be taken during a given assignment, and generally there will be fewer.

Two classes will use the course website, but credit is only given for posting to the class to which you are assigned. Students enrolled in Section 10319 will be in Class A, and students enrolled in Section 14943 will be in Class B. Each board is clearly marked, and I strongly advise that you read only the board for the class to which you are assigned. I read everything posted to both boards and give students zero credit for the week (i.e. both assignment and response scores, which add up to 20 points) when they copy or paraphrase posts from other students in either class. I grade on a curve, so cheating hurts students who do their own work. No one has ever cheated twice, but anyone who attempts to will be referred to the college’s student disciplinary committee.

VI. Read all submissions from other students and the instructor, and respond to all questions that address your posts by midnight Tuesday following the Saturday due date. Work submitted after that time will not receive credit.

All extra credit work is due by the Saturday due date because extra credit points are only given for assignments, NOT responses.

VII. You are strongly advised to complete the weekly quiz accessible through the Assignments section. Scores will not count, so you do not need to submit the quiz, but it is an excellent way to prepare for the exams, each of which will include several questions from the quizzes. The first, and only required, quiz is a website quiz that will be available in the Assignments section. This is a requirement of the class and is due by 11:59pm on Saturday, January 31st for full credit (January 26th for students who are given permission to miss the orientation). It is an assigned quiz and must be completed by everyone, regardless of when it is submitted, although increasing numbers of points will be deducted for late submissions. The quiz is important because it will enable you to quickly understand how the class is organized. Students cannot earn an “A” in the class without earning at least 21 points (70%) on the 30 point quiz. There will be an opportunity to submit corrected answers for half credit, but it is much easier to find the answers on the course website and submit the quiz by the due date.

VIII. Students who need special accommodations for physical or learning disabilities are advised to contact the Disability Resource Center immediately. They can be reached at 558-2283, and all arrangements are confidential.

You will need the textbook in Week 1, so be sure to purchase it in advance if possible. If not, there are several copies of each edition on two-hour reserve in the library.

If you are reading this on my website and are not already enrolled in the class, please include your student I.D. number in your initial correspondence to me.

Course Objectives:
To successfully meet the requirements of this course, students must complete all assigned activities. Required work consists of the orientation, assignments that will be given in the Assignments section, which include academic interaction on the discussion boards a minimum of four times a week, the website quiz, and two proctored exams. Students are also expected to complete all reading assignments and read everything that is posted to the Announcements board and all discussion boards. I often ask for additional feedback and other students sometimes ask questions, so it is important to read all the posts and respond when asked. Although I obviously cannot monitor what you read on the discussion boards, reading all posts is essential in preparing you for the exams, which will incorporate questions from the online discussions as well as from the readings. It is wise to take notes on key points made on the discussion boards. The thoughtful completion of these activities is essential to achieving the following objectives:

1) develop an understanding and awareness of the relationship between the individual, culture and society;

2) develop an understanding of the relationship between individual experience and larger social and historical forces;

3) learn basic sociological concepts;

4) learn about social institutions, such as the family, religion, politics, and the economy;

5) develop the ability to analyze everyday experience from a sociological perspective, i.e. develop critical thinking skills and learn to use the sociological imagination.

As students, you are expected to be active learners and to be responsible for ensuring the quality of your own academic experience. Any questions which arise should be asked either in class on the discussion boards or outside of it via e-mail (personal questions only for confidentiality purposes). Questions regarding matters directly related to course content should be posted to the HELP discussion board. Questions must be asked in order to avoid confusion as the semester progresses. Students are always responsible for their own learning, but it is even more important in online classes that you remain actively engaged in the class from beginning to end.

The failure to submit an assignment will be viewed as an absence, and students can be dropped for excessive absences. Credit is only given for substantive posts (including responses to other students) that contribute to the discussion and do not repeat what has already been posted. Complimenting someone on their post or restating what has already been written will not earn credit, while responding to the content with insightful comments or new information will.

Orientation and Test Sessions:
The orientation session is designed to provide an overview of the class and answer questions. This is a required class that can only be missed if I approve the request prior to January 20th. This applies to all students, including those who have already attended orientations in other classes I have taught. The orientation meeting for each class will be held in LRC 105 on the following Tuesdays:

Orientation: January 20th from 5:30-6:50pm (both sections of SOC 300))
Midterm: March 24th from 5:30-6:50pm (both sections - Chapters 1-10)
Final Exam: May 18th from 5:45-7:45pm (both sections - Chapters 11-16)

Students will be required to bring a picture I.D. to all exams.

Required Text: Society, The Basics, 9th or 10th edition, by John J. Macionis, published by Prentice Hall, 2007/2009. There are several copies of both editions on two-hour reserve in the Learning Resource Center.

Additional resources can be accessed through SCC Library's web-based library catalog. Follow the links from the SCC Webpage by clicking on Library, then LOIS, Other Library catalogs, or Databases. That will provide access to both the library catalog and several full text periodical databases. Passwords are available to students, faculty and staff through the Learning Resource Center, and are required for the databases when connections are made from off campus.

Online technical help is available by e-mailing scconline@go.losrios.edu.

Instructor - Tonie Hilligoss
I've taught in the Sociology and Administration of Justice Departments at Sacramento City College since 1977. I also have an applied background as a probation officer, a clinical social worker, and a community activist. My B.A. is in Sociology and Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara, and I have a Master's Degree in Social Work from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts in Sociology from UC Davis. In addition, I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, operate a certified tree farm with my family, and have extensive consulting experience in the fields of public safety, community development, and rural education.

I am convinced of the need for all of us to become lifelong learners, and believe that online education makes that goal achievable for students whose work or other circumstances make it difficult for them to take traditional classes.

I can be reached via e-mail at thilligoss@mac.com and at the following physical address:

Sacramento City College
BSS Division, RN226
3835 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822

My phone number is (916) 558-2602, and my office is located in RHS 272 (Rodda Hall South) on the Sacramento City College campus.

Methods of Instruction:
This is an online course that is taught via the Internet. Lessons consist of reading assignments and interactive discussions, which take place on topic-specific discussion boards. Required experiential activities have been designed for most weeks, and all will take place online.

There will be two graded exams: one midterm and one final, that will be administered in proctored settings. There are also weekly quizzes in the Assignments section that students are advised to take as preparation for the in-class exams. They will not be submitted for credit, but they will help you stay current with the reading, and both exams will contain questions based on those in the quizzes. With the exception of the website quiz, these can be immediately graded by the publishing company with results sent directly to students as a means of regularly assessing your mastery of the material. The website quiz is the exception as it is required of everyone within the first two weeks of the class. Do not miss that deadline. Those 30 points will mean a lot to you at the end of the semester.

All graded assignments will be due electronically by 11:59pm on the Saturday following the date they are assigned, with the exception of responses to other students (a minimum of four), which are due by 11:59pm on the following Tuesday, i.e. 3 days later. Directions for student activities will be posted in the Assignments section each week, which is why the Assignments section is the first reading assignment each week. After Week 1, the instructions are relatively brief, and they will prevent you from missing information that is critical to your success. Students are expected to check the Announcements page a minimum of three times a week (although it is advisable to check it daily for the first two weeks). Announcements are only posted as needed, but checking that often should ensure that you receive the information you will need. All announcements will be dated.

Student Requirements:
It is expected that each student will spend a minimum of nine (9) hours per week on this class. That includes time spent online as well as time spent reading the textbook, preparing written assignments, participating on the discussion boards, and using the textbook and online resources to prepare for in-class exams. Online classes do not require students to spend time traveling to and from the college, but the academic requirements are no less than those of traditional classes. In fact, many students report that they are greater. Excessive absences (which means missing a combination of four assignments and/or responses in this class) are grounds for being dropped.

I cannot overemphasize the fact that there are two sections of this class (Class A [Course Code #10319] and Class B [Course Code #14943]) that will be using the same Blackboard site. The discussion boards are clearly marked, and it is your responsibility to post to the correct board. Posts to the board for the class in which you are not enrolled will NOT receive credit. I realize that I stated this earlier, but experience has taught me that some information needs to be repeated.

Most weeks have at least one required discussion board assignment which is worth 10 points, and all assignments provide up to an additional 10 points for the required responses (a minimum of four) to postings from other students. Everyone is required to complete the assignments for Weeks 1 and 2 and respond to a minimum of four posts each week. However, after the second week, students must only complete designated discussion board assignments every other week. During Week 3, students will be assigned to one of two groups, and assignments will be staggered beginning in Week 4 (there are no required discussion board assignments in Week 3). Students are required to complete all assigned discussion board assignments each week, and there will be three opportunities during the semester to complete additional assignments for extra credit. Groups 1 & 2 will be divided alphabetically on the basis on LAST names. The parameters of each group will be stated each week on the Assignments page, e.g. Group 1: Alexander through Lopez would include everyone whose name alphabetically fell between Alexander and Lopez, while Group 2: Miller through Yang would apply to students whose names fell between Miller and Yang.

Grades will be determined by a point system, which will ensure that your grade will be based on your own effort and competence. Each person completing sufficient points will receive the corresponding grade. A curve will be established at the end of the semester, so estimates prior to that time will have to be based on percentage scores, i.e. 90% = A, etc. The lowest score will be dropped in both discussion board categories. As indicated below, the emphasis in this class is on the discussion boards, so passing the exams alone does not guarantee passing the class (although they constitute 100 points of your final score). All assignments are required, including the website quiz, both exams, and the discussion board assignments and responses. Regardless of the total final score, an "A" in the class will not be given to anyone who does not earn at least a "C" average in each component of the class (including at least 70% on the website quiz), e.g. an "A" average on the discussion boards, midterm and final exam will not compensate for a "D" or "F" on the website quiz. In that case, even if the points add up to an "A," the student will receive a "B." I realize there is a lot of information to absorb, so feel free to e-mail me at any time with questions. I will glad to answer them.

You are encouraged to study with one another electronically or face-to-face, but all written assignments must be completed without help, i.e. always do your own work if you want credit for it. Grades in this class will be established on the basis of a curve, so cheating will directly harm everyone who does not cheat. To discourage that behavior, any student caught cheating will receive a "0" on that week's assignments or test. Although no one has ever cheated twice, anyone attempting to do so will face disciplinary action.

Please note that this class is a Safe Zone, which means that discrimination, jokes or derogatory statements that target race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, language, age, etc. will not be tolerated.

Final grades will be based on the following:

Orientation assignment - 10 points (attendance or excused absence with Website Quiz submitted by midnight, January 26th)
Discussion Board assignments - 50 points (Weeks 1 and 2 + 4 additional weeks, minus the lowest score)
Discussion Board responses - 90 points (Weeks 1 and 2 + 8 additional weeks, minus the lowest score)
Website Quiz - 30 points
Midterm - 50 points
Final Exam - 50 points

Total = 280 points

Optional Extra Credit (service-learning project and/or up to three designated extra credit discussion board assignments for a total maximum of 25 points):

Extra credit can be used to raise any grade but "F" a maximum of one letter grade, and will only be applied when students have earned at least a "D" in the class, i.e. extra credit cannot be used to transform a failing grade into a passing grade. Extra credit discussion boards are due in the weeks they are available by 11:59pm Saturday night. All extra credit is due by midnight May 9th. Extra credit on the discussion boards will only be given for assignment posts, NOT for responses, and their final due date is Saturday. Credit will not be given for late posts.

Questions regarding grades and other matters not related to specific assignments should be e-mailed to Tonie Hilligoss at thilligoss@mac.com to maintain confidentiality, or you can call me at (916) 558-2602. Leave a message if I am not available, and I will return your call at the first opportunity. I am not always immediately available, but I will contact you as soon as I can. I check my voicemail frequently, so please leave a message at 558-2602 if there is an urgent need to do so. If the matter is not urgent, e-mail is the best way to get your questions answered. Please repeat your name and phone number if you do call. I cannot return calls to numbers that are not recorded clearly enough to understand.

Students are advised to familiarize themselves with the Los Rios regulations that stipulate the process for dropping students for unacceptable behavior. Very few students behave in a manner that requires their use, but we have been asked to make sure everyone is familiar with them. I have added a link to the District’s Standards of Conduct (http://www.losrios.edu/legal/Regulations/R-2000/R-2441.htm) here and near the end of the Student Requirements section in the online syllabus.

Important Information Regarding Waste Reduction

All staff and students are expected to participate in SCC's waste reduction program. Please reduce the amount of paper you use, reuse resources whenever possible, and always recycle the appropriate materials in the blue receptacles. We have a beautiful campus. Please help us keep it that way.

Sacramento City College
3835 Freeport Blvd * Sacramento * CA * 95822
This page was last updated: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 10:57:53 AM