Sociology 206

Sociology, Eighth Edition...by Jon M. Shepard

TSS Online Materials

4/08....Sociological Concepts

4/15....Education (Chpt 12)

4/22....Family (Chpt 11)

4/29....Political Economy (Chpt 13)

5/06....Special Topics: Media and Military

5/13....Religion (Chpt 14)

5/20....Health and Health Care (Chapter 15)

5/27....OFF...No Class...Memorial Day

6/03....Social Change (pp. 495-512 in Chapter 17) & Conclusion

6/10....Finals Week

ANALYSIS PAPERS

There will be two (2) required Analysis Papers...one at the beginning and one at the end of the course...each worth 20 points (10 for doing it and 10 to be evaluated). Topics are HERE.

MESSAGE BOARD ENTRIES

You will be required to write three (3) entries on the SOC 206 Message Board in response to "prompts" from me...each worth 20 pts (10 for doing, 10 evaluated). Instructions are HERE.

ARTICLE REVIEW

There will be an Article Review worth 100 points. The article reviewed must be online...either IN The Sociology Shop or found through a link in TSS. Instructions are HERE

INTERNET ASSIGNMENT: INSTITUIONS

There will be an Internet Assignment worth 100 points...on an Institution of your choice. Instructions are HERE

FINAL EXAM

You will have one exam...a comprehensive take-home Final...worth 100 points.

In order to facilitate the expression of your own perspective and to hear what others are thinking, too...there is a Message Board for our class. You will be required to post three (3) messages during this course...on topics of your own choosing, from the eight (8) "Prompts" I will post for your consideration. Each of these will be worth 20 points (10 for just doing it and the other 10 will be evaluated by me).

In addition to other uses and purposes (described on the portal page to the Message Board), here's how this assignment will work:

Each Sunday evening I will post a topic, a question, a quote, or even a short piece to read from the Internet. What I want is your reaction to and analysis of what I post.

During the quarter, you can pick the three you choose to respond to (the 1st one is due by 4/22)...and all of them need to be done by 6/2.

You will need to choose a "code name" which only you and I know...using it to post your three messages. I believe anonymity is the best policy in order to allow people to express themselves without fear of personal reaction from anyone else in the class. Do NOT use this code name for any posting other than for this assignment. Also...you will NOT be required to submit an email address when you post a message...although, you can if you want to do so.

Length is always an arbitrary factor and I'd rather not dictate a certain length. However, I fully expect something more than a few sentences. Yes, you will get 10 points for simply writing any amount...but IF you write very little and expect to get many of the other 10, you'll be a bit disappointed. Try to choose your topics with care...choosing those about which you truly have something to say.

I have posted the first one already...clearly labeling it as a "Prompt #1". That means there will be a total of eight (8) posted...the last one will be posted on 5/19. Please don't let these build up to the last minute...do them over a period of time, thereby allowing all of us to read and consider your remarks.

You may, of course, "go back" and do one you passed over...but you can only do any given prompt one time.

Finally, the Board is really easy to use...after reading the prompt, click "post reply." Then, AFTER ENTERING YOUR CODE NAME, scroll down to the empty text box and write your response...then click "post message" and that will do it. If you have trouble, please contact me immediately via email.

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 quarter 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?

So, here are the two links:

Outline of Institutions

Essay about Institutions

ANALYSIS PAPER #2

I want you to assess/analyze yourself in terms of how well or not so well you feel you met the Course Objectives for this course. There are 9 objectives...cover them all...maybe some in more depth than others. Give it a serious attempt...don't just scribble a paragraph or two. There's nothing "right or wrong" about this...so your attempt will be the primary standard in evaluating them.

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 each Community Learning Center has a computer lab available) and on the Internet itself. I've put a link under DETAILS (above) to a "beginners" tutorial which takes you through it step by step. I’m also willing to help get you started, if necessary.

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, 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 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 Sociology Shop in general as well as familiar with our “Sociology 206 Room”...which you are “in” right now.