SOC 204---Introductory Sociology

Society in Focus, Fifth Edition...by Thompson and Hickey (TH)

Online Reader

10/05............Discovering Sociology (TH 1)

10/12............Discovering cont./Doing Sociology(TH 2)

10/19............Doing Sociology cont.

10/26............Mid-Term and Culture (TH 3)

11/02............Culture cont.

11/09............Socialization(TH 4)/Social Interaction (TH 5)

11/16............Social Interaction cont.

11/23............Social Groups & Organizations (TH 6)

11/30............Social Groups & Organizations cont./Conclusion (Online)

ANALYSIS PAPERS

There will be two(2) Analysis Papers...each worth 20 pts...for a total of 40 pts. Topics can be found HERE

DISCUSSION BOARD RESPONSES

You will be required to post three (3) Responses...worth 20 points each = 60 pts....on the 204 Discussion Board...in response to Prompts I post on the Board. Specific instructions are HERE...please read carefully.

MID-TERM EXAM

There will be an TAKE-HOME Mid-Term exam...worth 100 points. The Exam is HERE

MOVIE REVIEW

You will be asked to sociologically review a movie...worth 50 points. Eligible Movies are HERE. Review Instructions are HERE

INTERNET ASSIGNMENT

There will be an Internet Assignment worth 50 points. Instructions are HERE.

QUOTE ASSIGNMENT

There will be a Quote Assignment...worth 100 points...utilizing the archived Quotes of the Week from The Sociology Shop. Instructions are HERE.

400 Points........Total

You are to pick ONE (1) of the following movies to do your Movie Review on...worth 50 points. I've picked these because each portrays society in a way we can relate to...with, of course, a "sociological imagination."

Each title is a link to a synopsis and review of the movie from All Movie Guide (AMG), pound for pound my favorite movie site on the Internet. You may, of course, use any movie site you like, but AMG is a good one. Click on the title and read about the movie.

After watching your movie sociologically (which is to say...not purely for entertainment, per se), use the following Guidelines to write your Review. These Guidelines are required as the format for your Review, although you can add issues and topics to them, as you wish:

Guidelines for Critical Academic Review of Entertainment Movie

Here are the movies:

The Truman Show

Pleasantville

Chocolat

A Bug's Life

The Handmaid's Tale
(Click HERE for an "Essay on Book and Movie" by David H. Kessel

You will need to pick a "CODE NAME" to use when you post (DO NOT use for any other entry on the Board)...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 next 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.

As indicated under "Due Dates," there are three due dates for your posts...each post must be done BY MIDNIGHT ON THIS DATE. Also, if you "pass" on a Prompt when I first post it, you can go back later and do it if you change your mind about it.

In addition to the three 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.). This type of "participation" could come into play when assigning a course grade...in instances where averages are borderline between one grade and another. 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).

Read this short piece, Why Study Sociology? Is this anything like you envisioned sociology? Just how DID you envision it, if at all? What about this description stands out...what do you think of it? In other words, react to this material as a kind of "pre-test" as we begin the class.

NOTE: "Why Study Sociology" is a summary of Chapter 1 of Invitation to Sociology by Peter L. Berger. Although this IS OPTIONAL, there is an Outline of Chapter 1 HERE...you might want to look this over, too.



ANALYSIS PAPER #2

Remember those Course Objectives we spent time going over in the beginning of the quarter? Sure you do. Well, now...as a sort of "closure" to the course, I want you to evaluate YOURSELF as to how well or not well...to what degree...you "met" those objectives...yes, all nine of them. This isn't about your grade...it's about YOU in relation to we set out to do in SOC 204. So, evaluate yourself...do a thorough and serious job and you'll easily get the full 20 points for it. Do less than that and well, you know what'll you'll get. By the way, this is the one paper I keep for my records...thanks.

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 a 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 (Social Science Lab is on the 4th floor of Center Bldg) and on the Internet itself. I've put a link under MEMU (above) to a "beginners" tutorial which takes you through it step by step. I’m also willing to help get you started, if necessary.

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, a Message Board for our class, and the details of the course...including assignments and instructions you will need, plus, of course, due dates. The Online Reader...beyond the textbook...is, in effect, a substitute for asking you to buy a Reader, thus saving you money. Thus you need to become familiar with The Sociology Shop in general as well as familiar with our “Sociology 204 Room”...which you are “in” right now. We will be viewing it in class on a regular basis.

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.

I firmly believe in the use of this technology as a teaching and learning tool...it's an essential component of the course.