Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
This course is an online, asynchronous course, although experiential learning opportunities are also included. We will meet in a virtual contact space through the Blackboard Learning Management System.
It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the technology needed to support online learning through this course. However, if you experience difficulty using Blackboard, accessing content, submitting assignments, taking assessments, participating in discussion boards, viewing your grade, or using your technology device, you should contact the IT Helpdesk at helpdesk@wilmington.edu or call 937-481-2459.
Contact Information
Textbook
Name: Introduction to Sociology
Edition: 6th edition (2024)
ISBN: 978-1071875179 (pbk)
Author: George Ritzer & J. Michael Ryan
Publisher: Sage
In addition, there will be relevant excerpts, articles, & video clips assigned at different times during the course. Students will be given instructions on how to access these at the appropriate times.
Learning Objectives
- The student shall be able to explain how sociology differs from other social science disciplines.
- The student shall understand and correctly apply major theoretical perspectives in sociology, including functional, conflict, and interactionist perspectives.
- The student shall be able to understand sociological foundations and institutions as well as sociological inequities as roots for provoking social change.
Critical Thinking Skills Statement
SY130 is designed to support students in the development of critical thinking skills. Homework assignments are designed for students to seek out, gain awareness of, think critically of, and begin to analyze sociological issues and phenomena.
Tentative Schedule
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
NOTE UNDER COURSE ASSIGNMENTS: Each worksheet will be due on a Monday by 11:59pm EXCEPT the worksheet due on the week of Labor Day, which is due on that Thursday by 11:59pm. Homework assignments are typically due on Thursdays by 11:59pm except when otherwise noted.
*All assignments are due by 11:59 pm on the due dates
M 8/24 Syllabus (Email or text any questions regarding the syllabus; please NO Blackboard messages)
R 8/27 HW#1 Introductions through the Discussion Board & Syllabus Due (follow-up responses to posts due F 8/28)
M 8/31 Ch. 1: An Introduction to Sociology in the Global Age CH.1 WORKSHEET DUE
R 9/3 HW#2 Social Sciences & Globalization Due
M 9/7 LABOR DAY – NO WC CLASSES
R 9/10 Ch. 2: Thinking Sociologically CH.2 WORKSHEET DUE; RSVP for fieldtrip to Islamic Center on 10/3 via text or email
M 9/14 Ch. 3: Researching the Social World CH.3 WORKSHEET DUE
R 9/17
M 9/21 Ch. 4: Culture CH.4 WORKSHEET DUE
R 9/24 HW#3 Culture Due
M 9/28 Ch.12: Religion CH.12 WORKSHEET DUE
T 9/29 Ch. 12: Religion – Quakers - Optional in-person discussion about the Quakers in the WC T. Canby Jones Meetinghouse in Boyd from 11:20am-12:50pm (Plan ahead: no RSVP necessary, but you must attend the entire discussion & submit complete notes for credit for HW#4 Religion)
R 10/1
Sat. 10/3 Ch. 12: Religion – Muslims - Optional Fieldtrip to the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati at 8092 Plantation Dr., West Chester, OH: We will attend the ICGC’s “Know Your Neighbors” program from 1-3:30pm to learn about Islam & the mosque. Transportation from campus for WC students will be provided if needed; PLEASE NOTE: only students driving separately may bring guests; students riding in WC van will need to plan for stop at 12pm at Moka & Co. for Yemeni coffee & dessert. (Plan ahead: this is an optional fieldtrip that will count for HW#4 Religion; RSVP for yourself & any guests by R 9/10)
Sun. 10/4 HW#4 Religion Due (Plan ahead: a visit to a house of worship other than your own [& completion of assigned question set] may be used for HW#4.)
M 10/5 Ch. 5 Socialization & Interaction + Intro to Deviance CH.5 + Deviance WORKSHEET DUE
T 10/6 & W 10/7 Westheimer Peace Symposium (Plan ahead: attendance to on-campus Westheimer events may be used for HW#5. This includes T 10/6 7-9pm keynote speaker Imam Ayman Soliman. Other sessions & times TBD.)
R 10/8 HW#5 Westheimer/Deviance & Negative Sanctions Due
M 10/12 Ch.7 Deviance & Crime CH.7 WORKSHEET DUE
R 10/15
M 10/19 FALL BREAK – NO WC CLASSES
R 10/22 IMPORTANT NOTE: All previous assignments must be handed in by this time to receive credit. Any late work must be complete & done according to instructions to be considered for credit.
M 10/26 Ch.11: Families CH.11 WORKSHEET DUE
T 10/27 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM COURSE
R 10/29 HW#6 Family Due
M 11/2 Ch. 13: Politics CH.13 WORKSHEET DUE
R 11/5 HW#7 US Elections Due
M 11/9 Ch. 9: Race & Ethnicity CH.9 WORKSHEET DUE
R 11/12
M 11/16 Ch. 10: Genders & Sexualities CH.10 WORKSHEET DUE
R 11/19
M 11/23 Ch. 8 Social Stratification CH.8 WORKSHEET DUE
R 11/26 Thanksgiving - NO WC CLASSES
Sun. 11/29 HW#8 Service Learning - Income Inequalities & Poverty Due (Plan ahead: You will have opportunities to do service work or other interaction with people struggling with food & housing insecurity through Wilmington’s Sugartree Ministries or other such program for HW#8.)
M 11/30 Ch. 16: Social Change, Social Movements, & Collective Action CH.16 WORKSHEET DUE
R 12/3
M 12/7 Final Exam
W12/9 Last day of WC classes (ALL SY130 assignments must be submitted at this time in order to receive credit. They must be compete & done according to instructions to be considered for credit.)
**The professor reserves the right to change this syllabus in part or in full at any time.
The requirements for this course include weekly chapter worksheets, regular homework assignments, & a final exam. Coursework information will be posted on Blackboard.
Chapter Worksheets (55% of grade)
Weekly chapter worksheets will be given for a grade throughout the semester. These are designed to hold students accountable for the reading & understanding of the textbook material. Many will also draw from supplementary materials such as online videos. Worksheets will be posted on Blackboard. Please allow up to 3 hours for weekly reading & worksheet completion, as this is the amount of time for instruction for SY130 in-person sections. All weekly worksheets are to be submitted via Blackboard on or before the due date. Each worksheet will be due on a Monday by 11:59pm EXCEPT the worksheet due on the week of Labor Day, which is due on that Thursday by 11:59pm. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ASSIGNMENTS!!!!
Homework Assignments (35% of grade)
Various homework (HW) assignments will be given in connection with assigned readings and other materials or as a tool for exploring certain sociological issues in greater depth & promoting application of concepts. Some HW assignments will include virtual discussions on the Blackboard discussion board. Some HW assignments will also offer opportunities for hands-on learning including fieldtrips or in-person discussions organized by the professor for students available to attend. Homework assignments will be posted on Blackboard and should be submitted via Blackboard on or before the due date. Each HW will be due on a Thursday by 11:59pm unless otherwise indicated. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL HOMEWORK!!!!
Final Exam (10% of grade)
There will be a final exam designed to synthesize & review course material.
The grading criteria & scale will be as follows:
Grading Criteria (tentative weight of assignments)
In-Class Worksheets 50%
Homework 40%
Final Exam 10%
Grading Scale
94-100 A 90-93 A-
87-89 B+ 84-86 B 80-83 B-
77-79 C+ 74-76 C 70-73 C-
67-69 D+ 60-66 D
0-59 F
*(Please note that only C- or above counts toward an Applied Social Science major or Sociology minor.)
Instructor Course Policies
Each class week will have participation and engagement requirements that must be completed during that week. Attendance will be taken by tracking participation & engagement, which will include 1) the completion of weekly chapter worksheets to help students focus on material presented in the textbook AND 2) regular homework assignments designed to help students think critically about & apply the weekly course material.
It is the student’s responsibility to communicate any health or other issues warranting flexibility with deadlines in this course. Good communication is essential, especially when challenges arise, so please email me if & why you are unable to participate in the coursework at any point.
Academic Integrity /Respect
Integrity & respect are Wilmington College Core Values, and honesty is our mutual responsibility. Students are responsible for following the WC’s rules relating to academic integrity & other conduct. Cheating (or helping another student to cheat), plagiarism, unauthorized use of AI, or other academic misconduct will result in a grade of 0% on the work in question, & the professor reserves the right to notify the Office of Academic Affairs. Please see the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, & the process for handling academic misconduct charges. Students are expected to behave with integrity & respect within the virtual classroom & while carrying out any SY130 assignments.
Generative Artificial Intelligence
You are not permitted to use generative AI tools for any work in this course. This includes the use of popular tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, GitHub Co-Pilot, as well as all other tools built on generative AI technologies. Due to the nature of this course, work can only be fairly and accurately evaluated if student writing has NOT been assisted by generative AI. Use of generative AI for assignments in this course will be considered a violation of the College’s academic integrity policies. Research and writing assignments in this course are designed to develop independent skills and critical thinking. Use of AI undermines that work, its purpose, and ultimately any benefit that it could provide towards students’ learning experience. Therefore, the use of any generative AI to help with any assignments will be considered cheating/plagiarism and will be graded and handled accordingly.
Communication
Blackboard will be used in support of this course, and students are responsible for accessing Blackboard on a regular basis. Communication with students will sometimes take place via email, & messages will be sent to the students’ Wilmington College email address. It is the student’s responsibility to check emails regularly. Students may communicate with the professor via email. When emailing, please include your name & the course and section number (SY130 M1) in all correspondence. Please do NOT send Blackboard messages, as there may be a significant delay in the receipt of message sent vis Blackboard.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: FA26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |