Sociology is the study of human groups and the social interaction within these groups.  Literature is the creative expression of human experience.  The purpose of this class will be to provide you with an understanding of social life and culture through the eyes of the writer.  It is the intent of your instructors to help you become people who can read text critically using the sociological perspective.

Course Objectives

1)  To be able to comprehensively define culture and its components, to be able to differentiate between culture and subculture, to be able to list and define the dimensions of culture, and
to be able to recognize and describe the elements in cultures and subcultures .
2)  To be able to define society, social structure and its components (status, role, group and institution) and  to be able to recognize, describe and analyze society, social structure and its components .

3)  To be able to describe how humans are social and cultural beings .
4)  To be able to define and identify the major dimensions of social stratification, to describe why some people are more equal than others. To be able to discuss and explain the role  that ideologies play in perpetuating social inequities and characterizing hetereogeneity.
5) The above objectives will be enhanced through critical reading, discussion, and writing about assigned poems, short stories and essays.

Learning  Components:

1) Students will be responsible for the following assignments: Readings in Sociology/Literature Texts
  Response Journal: Two-sided journal entries for  each literary assignment.
  Exams
  2 Essays
2) Grading: Grades will be based on a total of points received for the above assignments. You will also receive credit for in-class activites and discussion: therefore, outside preparation is not only essential for you grade but for the effectiveness of the entire class.
 
 

Course Guidelines:
The following is a list of rules which will guide the direction of our course.  This list will help with any confusion or questions over the policies I will use in making decisions over usual student issues.
1. Attendance
Attendance in class is essential to increasing your knowledge and lending depth to any reading assignments.  By missing class you will be missing relevant discussions.  Additionally, secondhand information is usually not as precise or coherent as firsthand information.  Therefore, there are no excused absences.  For every class you miss, after three absences, two percentage points will be deducted from you final grade.  You should attend each class.
2. Punctuality
When a student arrives late to class, it distracts me and the other students.  Occasional late arrivals are understandable especially if your alarm clock fails to go off.  Consistent late arrivals become a real pain.  Keep this in mind.
3. Exams
Tests and quizzes cannot be made up.
The three exams are listed in the Course Calendar.  So keep a watchful eye on the Course Calendar.
4. Plagiarism or Cheating
Plagiarism is not an appropriate behavior.  We have had to deal with this problem.  We are not dumb and can usually tell whether a student’s work is his/her own or that of a professional or a fellow student.  We would much rather work with your ideas than with the problems that plagiarism causes.
Cheating on an exam will not be tolerated.  If you are caught using someone else’s answers on a test, your exam will be collected and you will receive a failing grade for the course.
5. Grammar
Quality work includes both what you say and how you say it.  Often, good ideas and correct answers are obscured by a poor writing style, incorrect grammar and misspelled words.  Therefore, your written material will be evaluated on the basis of form and content.  If your form is inadequate, the quality of the paper or test will be graded down, no matter how good the content.  Those errors that will count against you are fragmentary or run-on sentences, misspelled words, lack of organization and incorrect tenses. Hopefully, you will devote enough time and effort to your writing so that we will not have to penalize you.
6. Student Conduct
Please review the S.C.C.C.C. Student Handbook regarding the expectations the college has for student conduct, academic dishonesty and sexual harassment.  We hold a strong belief in the basic freedoms given American citizens and will not have these freedoms violated in our classroom.  You are an adult in an institution of higher education.  Therefore you are expected to act appropriately.
These guidelines might appear to be rather strict to you.  However, experience has shown that the student  who shows up for class,  and who gives time and thought to his/her reading and written assignments perform better than those who are lax  with their work.  These guidelines were therefore developed for your own benefit as well as mine.  We are not  unreasonable, and if you do find that you are having problems, come and see either of us.  We’ll talk the problem out and try to come to a reasonable solution.

Office Hours
    Ms. Feng-Checkett is located in ACA 203 . My phone number is 922-8000 ext. 8574. My email address is gfeng-checkett@stchas.edu.
 
 

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: Those with any disability which might affect performance in class are encouraged to seek help from me at the beginning of the semester. This syllabus is available in alternative formats to students with disabilities.