Instructor: Dr. Chris Baker                                 (Updated for Spring 2003)

Office: 112 MBSS

 OfficeHours:                                                                                                                                                         Monday - (8:30-9:05; 10-11:15) Tuesday - (11-12:45;  2:00-6:00) Wednesday - (10-11:15, 2:00-6:00) Thursday (11-12:45) Friday (8:30-9:05; 10-11:15)  

Email Address(es): drbakersoc@yahoo.com    Phone: (423)-318-2578   Fax: (423) 585-2640        Other addresses:  Chris.Baker@ws.edu 

MBSS office number - 423- 525-2633

Brym, Robert. and John Lee. 2002. Sociology: Your Compass for a New World. Thomson. 

Course Description: A general survey of the fundamental concepts and principles underlying social relations. A discussion of how groups interrelate and how they change social interaction patterns. This course is an overview of the perspectives and methods used in sociology. Course content includes an introduction to social theory, social institutions, and contemporary social issues and social policy. I focus on social change and role of power in society and social institutions.  I also emphasize development issues in the Appalachian region.  Key issues addressed by students include changes in the family, occupations, and the impacts of global economic and cultural changes on their everyday lives. Other goals are the awareness and importance of social diversity.

Competencies: As a result of class instruction, the student will:

• Become acquainted with the above features of sociology
• Understand the main social changes in society
• Understand cultural diversity and globalization
•   Engage in critical debates on social policy issues and trends
• Improve writing and problem solving skills
• Become familiar with the internet and web technology
• Reflect on multiple experiences and perspectives in order better solve problems
• Participate intelligently in civic affairs, and prepare or retrain for an occupation 

Instructional Methods: The course is delivered through on line lectures, text readings, and information obtained through websites and other secondary sources.  Students are asked to attend orientation and take three tests during the semester in MBSS Room 106.   The time for all dates is 6:00 P.M. 

Meeting Dates for Spring 2003: Jan 14; Feb 11; March 11; April 27

Students may contact me by  telephone, email, or visitation to my office.  If my office hours are inconvenient, please feel free to make an appointment.   If the date and time are impossible please contact the instructor asap. 

Conduct: Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.  Habitually late students will loose attendance points at the professor's discretion.  Disruptions, including cell phones, are prohibited and will lead to the dismissal from the class.

First Day of Class: Students should attend the first day of classes or contact the professor prior to the class.  

Evaluation: There are three non-comprehensive tests for this course.  The tests are short answer, terms and essay.  There are no multiple choice test questions. Students write answers on paper provided by the professor.  There will be test reviews posted at least a  week ahead of time with sample questions.  Alternative test dates and times must be set up with the professor prior to the assigned test date. See study tips below. 

Writing Assignments: There are three online writing assignments.  Papers can be sent by email attachment or by hardcopy through the mail or delivered personally.  The papers must be turned in on time for full credit.    There is a letter grade penalty for late assignments.  

Test: 700 Points/ Including: Test One = 200 Points/Test Two = 200 Points/Test Three = 300 Points

Writing Assignments: 300 points or 100 points each

Grading Scale: The scale is a total of 1000 points. A = 900 or above; B=800-899; C=700-799; D=600-699

Emailing: During the workweek I will be able to return your email by the next day (24 hours).  Responses during the weekend will depend on other factors.  This is assuming that communication is possible.  I will notify students when I will not be available for response for an extended period. 

I am not responsible for your obtaining and maintaining an email address. Please contact me when you are without access to an address because I send out information through email and you will miss the information.  Two people may not use the same address.

Virtual Office Hours: Students may also contact me online during regular office hours for a quicker response.  I will check my mail during these times and respond at that time. 

Syllabus Changes: Students will be contacted immediately  if any necessary course changes occur.  

Missed Tests: Tests should not be missed without prior contact with the professor unless a medical situation exists.  Excused tests are those with a medical excuse or an accepted excuse by the college (sports or events).  If a student needs to reschedule for work or family then they need to take the test before the date.  Students need to contact the professor ahead of time. All excused tests and assignments must be made up within two weeks of the original due date.  

Attendance: I have to turn in missed tests as attendance days during the reporting periods.  If you need to miss a class you must contact me and set up a date before the test.     

Drops:  I will contact you if I think you need to drop the course due to grades or missed work.  

Late Assignments  Assignments are late after the class meeting.  Thirty out of 100 points is taken off for a late assignment.  Assignments will not be accepted after two weeks.  The final paper must be turned in within one week.    

Course Instructions 

This is an internet enhanced course taught online.  Student's are expected to read online lectures,  the assigned text, and do library or online research.  There are four meetings at the main campus. Students obtain test reviews and lectures off of my main page.  Lectures are listed as lectures one through sixteen on my page.  I recommend you use the textbook. 

The course requires independent study, organizational, and computer skills.  You should have a personal computer, an email account, access to the internet, and a Web browser.  

The Successful Distance Education Student:  (This means You)

1) is self-motivated; 2) can communicate effectively in writing and reading; 3) is committed to writing and reading at least nine hours a week for a three hour course; 4) is able to operate independently outside the traditional classroom; 5) is able to take advantage of support services and "speak up" when problems arise.   

Students have access to me by phone, answering machine, fax, on campus, visits and email.  It is expected that you contact me for clarifications on course instructions, course readings, test reviews, assignments, and dates.  To understand lectures and readings students are expected to read all assigned material first and check weekly postings.  It is your responsibility to contact me on issues that you do not understand.   I will send out both universal (to everyone) and individual emails.  Test reviews are posted at least two weeks before the assigned test.  The test reviews cover what is going to be on the test.   It is required that students interact through email on the web-board to answer respond to posted questions. This will be begin after the first test.  It is recommended that you print documents you think you will often refer to.  Finally, it is best to understand this class as something that evolves best through patience and constant communication. Good communication requires a certain amount of self disclosure, clarification, and honesty on the part of everyone.  Remember that dead lines are important in this course and are the responsibility of the student.  

Study Tips

This course requires diligent attention to completing the readings and asking questions before the test.  It is suggested you use the following study tips.  First, read the headings at the beginning, within the chapter, and the summary in the back of the chapter.  Next, read the chapter.  Stop and recap each page.   It is best to outline the main points as you study in short intervals.  As you outline the chapter make notes on your questions and comments.  When studying, read the tables and graphs in the text to understand the main points of the chapter and lecture.  Next, read the lectures with your questions in mind.  The lectures refer to the text so it is best to read the chapter first.  Continue to clarify your questions and answers.  The lectures will introduce ideas not in the text occasionally.  I will clarify in the lecture when this happens. Students should note the outline of the lecture to best study for tests.     

Tips on Writing a Paper

It is best to specify your topic as lists of questions that you are going to answer.  In the first paragraph lay out the main points covered in the paper.  Read sources as you do your research and take down main ideas in the literature.  All assignments are self-reflective and are subject to correct grammar.  You do not have to have a outline.  They may be written in narrative or journal style. 

Assignments

Writing Assignment One: Write a two page type written paper on your career aspirations.  Review the chapters and lectures in topics one and two and answer the following questions in the paper:  What is your major? Your ideal job? How will your job deal with society and the sociological imagination?  What sociological methods do you find the most interesting and would be the most relevant to your future career and why?  In your paper define or describe the sociological imagination and at least one research method.  You will be graded on the use of terms.  This paper is due on Feb 11.

Writing Assignment Two: Answer all of the following questions using terms from the text and lecture.  This assignment requires self disclosure and reflection on course material.  This paper should be approximately one type written page per question.  The assignment is due on  March 11

1) What best describes your cultural, racial, and ethnic heritage?  Describe the composition of minority and majority groups in the schools, churches, workplaces and neighborhoods  you have experienced. What are your experiences with people who are different culture than yourself? 

2)  What are the main environmental problems in the area you live?  How do these problems effect you in your everyday life?

3)  How is technology changing your current or proposed future job?  How will increasing multiculturalism change your proposed future workplace and job? How will your job fit into the discussion on the new world of work found in the lecture and text?

Writing Assignment Three:  You may choose one the following two:

1) Keep a health diary and answer the questions below. Keep a diary for seven days recording the following: what you ate and drank, your schedule: hours at work, school, studying, non-payed labor, and time relaxing with family or friends.  

 How does your diet and schedule reflect McDonaldization? What types of stress do you face in your daily life? How do you deal with stress?  What aspects of your health do you feel the need to focus on? What are the health impacts of your profession?       

OR

 Write a mass media journal using trends addressed in the course. Using a newspaper article respond to how the event relates to a course trend.  In your entry write the publication title, article title, author, and date.  Then provide a short paragraph on the social trend or course concept and how it relates to larger trends. You need 15 different articles. Below is a good site. You should be able to get at least three typewritten paragraphs to a page for five pages or less.  The assignment will be graded on your application of the trend or concept.  

Assignment three is due on April 27.

Overview of the Course

Topical Outline and Reading Assignments

Lecture One: The Sociological Perspective                                                                  

*Text / Chapter 1   * Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Introduction to Sociology /Main Themes        

Lecture Two: Social Theory 

*Text/Chapter 1  *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture-Social Science Perspectives 

Lecture Three: Methods in the Social Sciences

*Text/Chapter 2 *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture -  Methodology

Lecture Four: Culture      

*Text/Chapters 3   *Dr. Baker -Online Lecture  - Appalachian Culture 

Lecture Five: Socialization  

*Text/Chapter  4   *Dr. Baker- Online Lecture - Socialization 

Lecture Six: Goffman and Performance Management

*Text/Chapter 5 *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Performance Management

Lecture Seven: Social Organizations and McDonaldization

*Text/Chapter 5  *Dr. Baker -Online Lecture- Bureaucracy and McDonaldization

Lecture Eight: Deviance and the Criminal Justice System

*Text/Chapter 6 *Dr. Baker- Online Lecture- The War on Drugs and Corrections

Lecture Nine: Stratification in American Society and Internationally

*Text/Chapter 7  *Dr. Baker- Online Lecture -  U.S. Apartheid and The African Crisis

Lecture Ten: Race and Cultural Diversity

*Race/Chapter 8 *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Race and Multiculturalism in the U.S.

Lecture Eleven: Gender Relations, Aging, and Sexuality 

*Text/Chapter 9  *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Women in Society and the Workplace

Lecture Twelve: The Economy and Political System

*Text/Chapter 10 and 11  *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Economy, Work, and the New Politics

Lecture Thirteen : Population, Family, Health, and the Environment

*Text/Chapters 15,  16, and 18  *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Main Trends in the Family, Population, Health, and Major Environmental Issues in the World Today

Lecture Fourteen: Education: the U.S. System

*Text/Chapter 13 *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Education and Illiteracy

Lecture Fifteen: Religion

*Text/Chapter 13 *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Religions in the World

Lecture Sixteen: Social Movements and Social Change and Modern World

*Text/Chapter 17  *Dr. Baker - Online Lecture - Social Change

Test Schedule

The test meeting times and dates for this class are as follows:

Test One: Covers Lectures One through Six;  Test One is on Feb 11

Test Two: Covers Lectures Seven through Eleven; Test Two is on March 11

Test Three: Covers Lectures Twelve through Sixteen;  The final is on April 27

Course Schedule

Jan 14 - Orientation to the Course  -  MBSS/Room 106

Feb 11 - Test One - First Writing Assignment Due

March 11 - Test Two - Second Assignment Due

April 27 - Final Test (Test Three) Third Assignment Due