Sociology 206

OFFICE: 419F Center Bldg

Office Hours......9-9:45 AM MTWR
Office Telephone......463-5187
E-Mail......................socshop@yahoo.com
Home Phone...............................736-0204

DETAILS

LCC Catalog Course Description

Class Policies and General Comments

What you'll need for SOC 206

Grading Scale

Grading Standards

Required Reading Materials

206 Online Reader

Schedule of Topics

Assignments and Instructions

Due Dates

Summary of Points in Course

****SOC 206 Discussion Board****



Lane Community College

TSS Directory

LCC Catalog Course Description

Sociological study of dynamic organizational nature of society through analysis of social change and major social institutions such as family, education, religion, economy, and political systems.

Grading Scale

Society in Focus, Fifth Edition...by William E. Thompson and Joseph V. Hickey

206 Online Reader

8/22....Family (TH13)
8/23....Family cont.
8/24....Political Economy (TH16 & 17)
8/25....Political Economy cont.

8/29....Media (TH 100-105,159-162,231-232,328-333,429-431,456-458,473-476,608-612)
8/30....Media cont.
8/31....Religion (TH15)
9/01....Religion cont.

9/05....OFF---NO CLASS (LABOR DAY)
9/06....Health and Health Care (TH18)
9/07....Health cont. & Social Change (TH20)
9/08....Social Change cont. & Conclusion

ANALYSIS PAPERS

There will be two (2) required Analysis Papers...one at the beginning and one at the end of the course...each worth 25 points. Minimum is 2 pages/Maximum is 4. Topics are HERE.

DISCUSSION BOARD

There will be two (2) required Discussion Board responses...each worth 25 points. Instructions are HERE

MOVIE REVIEW

A required movie review of THE TRUMAN SHOW, an entertainment movie dealing with institutions...worth 100 points.
Please follow the format indicated in the Guidelines for Critical Academic Review of Entertainment Movie

INTERNET ASSIGNMENT

There will be an Internet Assignment...worth 100 points...covering the institutions we talk about in class. Instructions are HERE

300 Points...Total

You will need to pick a "CODE NAME" to use when you post...a name known only to you and me. Pick something that doesn't utilize a known nickname so anonymity can be maintained and thus, a feeling of security in terms of your identity. Please put it on the Class Infomation Sheet. NOTE: Although you WILL be required to enter your "name" when you post, you WILL NOT be required to include an email address when you post (However, you CAN if you want, your choice).

I will provide PROMPTS for you to consider...beginning this week. I fully expect you to do a serious job on those you select...a short paragraph full of general comments just won't "cut" it. You will be allowed to post up to 1000 words...quite a bit...but I won't/can't dictate a certain length...that's up to you. But remember, each of the DB Posts are worth 25 points...you'll have "earn" them.

As indicated under "Due Dates," there are two due dates for your posts...each post must be done BY MIDNIGHT ON THIS DATE. There will two (2) sets of 3 prompts each...pick the one you want to do.

In addition to the two required posts, I encourage you to post replies to what others have said...as well as posting anything you want as it relates to the course (i.e. response to lectures, class comments, readings, news, etc.). If you do, DO NOT use your Code Name...either use your real name or another made-up name.

Finally, I may, from time to time, post "announcements," or links to informative websites...or to current articles relevant to our subject matter. Thus, I encourage you TO CHECK THE BOARD REGULARLY (i.e. daily).

The focus of this course is twofold...first, on the institutions of our society (and by implication, on the "system" as a whole) and second, on social change. For the better part of the term we will examine the major institutions...education, family, religion, etc. So, it would seem reasonable to start with a definition and understanding of just what an "institution" is and isn't, sociologically. To facilitate this understanding, the following two links will take you to an outline of ideas concerning institutions and and then to a short essay based on this outlined information. Please read this material and then...

...write an analysis paper about what you've read...i.e. explain, in your own words, what an institution is all about and how this definition might differ from what you thought they were about. What does all this make you think about? What implications about our society...as well as us as individuals...do you see or can think of or speculate about?

So, here are the two links:

Outline of Institutions

Essay about Institutions



ANALYSIS PAPER #2

When all is said and done, this course has not been about memorizing, but about understanding. Understanding what? You, me...us, that's what, eh? I've asked you to bracket your views coming into it. I'm sure some of you have worked really hard at that, and others, well...found it too difficult to do. But still, the course has been about you, not the material per se. You...in relation to the material and the various ideas read about and tossed about by me and you. So, it seems a logical conclusion to the course would be to ask you to evaluate yourself in relation to all this. I'm not talking about your grade...I'm talking about your effort, your understanding, and your willingness to apply this understanding to your and our lives, collectively. So, do just that...provide a self-evaluation. This shouldn't be about ME...but rather, about YOU. I'm often mentioned in these kind of papers, which is okay...just don't make me the focus. As said in the beginning, education is something you do by and for yourself.

NOTE: My goal is to be able to give each of you the full 25 points. What will garner the full point total is a serious effort...as opposed to a surface effort. Take yourself serious, reflect back, and be honest. If so, you'll have 25/25 points, no problem. If you don't, then the grade will be somewhat less...

NOTE#2: I reserve the right to retain these papers for my own teaching file. So, keep a copy of what you write if you desire to have a record of your evaluation.

You are going to need access to a Computer for this course with access to the Internet. Whether its your own computer, your parent‘s, one in an LCC Lab, a friend's computer, or one at a Library, they're not that difficult to find these days.

That means you'll need to have or to learn a basic minimum of skills in navigating the Internet. It's a tool that's quickly become a necessity in today's world...especially as it relates to academics. If you have no experience in doing this, don’t worry, there's plenty of help available...especially at LCC.

ALSO, you will need an EMAIL address for this course. There will be occasions I may need to email you individually as well as the class as a whole. Likewise, you may need to email me with questions or information and possibly, an assignment. If you don't have an Email account, please get one SOON...it is a requirement of the course, not an option. Many are free, such as Yahoo and Hotmail...and these can be accessed on any computer, anywhere. I will be glad to assist you in setting one up...just ask me. IF you already have one (or when you get one), please send me a message (indicating your name---sometimes usernames don’t reveal that) so I can enter your address into my address book and create the class list. Send it to socshop@yahoo.com Please pay prompt attention to this matter...Thanks.

Why? Besides being an immensely rich and important source of all sorts of information, the Internet provides the opportunity for providing reading material for academic classes...making materials accessible to anyone...anytime. This also cuts down on the amount of copying necessary...saving paper and money. My own website, The Sociology Shop, will be an integral component of this course...it will have a “room” for our class, links to required reading materials, and the details of the course...including assignments and instructions you will need, plus, of course, due dates. The Required Reading Materials...beyond the textbook...in effect substitute for asking you to buy a Reader, thus saving you money. Thus you need to become familiar with the ONLINE READER as well as familiar with our “Sociology 206 Room”...which you are “in” right now.