User Name and Password:  

You must use a user name and password after the first week of class. Without these words you will not be able to access the course materials. The format of your username and password are clearly posted on the main page of your course. If you still need assistance with your username and password please go to this page and read the instructions: http://www.bcconline.com/orient/password.htm, to receive further assistance.

In the box below please explain your understanding of user names and passwords, including how you expect to receive your user name and password for this class:

During the first week of class all students must complete their class syllabi in order to be considered active. Visit the website at www.bcconline.com  for access to the form and other program information. For technical questions and concerns, you can call the Barstow Community College Online Office at (760) 252-2411 ext 7319. For registration and counseling information you can call the Barstow Community College Admissions and Records Office at (760) 252-2411 ext 7236.

Throughout this Syllabus you will find interactive boxes to enter information and / or where you will answer a question. By completing this interactive Syllabus you will demonstrate that you have read the Syllabus fully and understand each aspect of the Syllabus.

At the end of this syllabus you will find a "button" entitled, "submit your syllabus" Once you have completed all of the requested information you should click "submit." Once you have submitted, your registration will be considered "active."

Special Needs: If you are in need of special accommodations, please e-mail the instructor directly, and contact the Disabled Students Programs and Services. The OSS department can be contacted by calling 760-252-2411 x7225 or 760-252-6759 TTY/TDD or emailing oss@bcconline.com. 

You must use a user name and password after the first week of class to access lectures and at any time to access quizzes and the final exam. Without the user name and password, you will not be able to access course material and/or submit assignments for grading.

User name and password are the same- It's your B number with a capital B.

In the box, below, please explain your understanding of user names and passwords:

INSTRUCTOR: Jerry Jacobs

E-MAIL ADDRESS: jjacobs@bcconline.com

PLEASE ADD MY BCC ONLINE E-MAIL ADDRESS TO YOU SAFE SENDERS OR CONTACT LIST. I HAVE FOUND IN THE PAST THAT SOME STUDENTS NEVER RECEIVE MY E-MAILS AS THEY GO DIRECTLY TO JUNK MAIL / SPAM. PERIODICALLY CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL FOLDER / SPAM FOLDER TO MAKE SURE THAT MAIL I SEND YOU DOES NOT GO THERE. IF IT DOES, PLEASE IDENTIFY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS AS SAFE.

From time to time I will be posting messages / information on the Instructor section of the Discussion Board. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT REPLIES TO THOSE MESSAGES, AS THESE ARE NOT CHECKED REGULARLY, and I do not respond to postings on the Instructor section. If you have questions, please e-mail me directly.

In the box below, please explain your understanding of how to contact the instructor.

Characteristics of social life and human behavior in social interaction. Selected sociological concepts. The social structure and processes of institutions and communities. Social stratification and social change in contemporary society.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

• To become familiar with the varied literature which exists in the field of study.
• To explore ways in which this field of study might be applied on a personal level.

By enrolling in an internet course it is assumed that the student will have some degree of computer and internet competency. To be successful, at a minimum, one must be able to demonstrate some degree of proficiency in word processing, internet search processes, how to use a discussion board, and e-mailing. All students enrolling in Barstow College internet courses are required to complete an orientation course, which can be found at http://www.bcconline.com/orient/ 

If you experience technical / internet / computer problem, first, check the orientation section. If you continue to experience difficulties, contact the webmaster, at webmaster@bcconline.com  But please, check the orientation page, first.

For content related questions, questions about quizzes, exams, reading, etc. contact the instructor. For all communication with the instructor, except for responding to a posted message on the discussion board, please e-mail me directly. For general question you can post on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking shall be demonstrated by one or more of the following:

1. Essay questions from various chapters in each of the weekly assignments, exams and quizzes given during the semester.
2. A term paper to be researched, written in report format and submitted for a grade.
3. Participation in online group discussions and exercises.

Learning is a life long pursuit. From birth onward we engage in the process of learning about ourselves, our family and loved ones, and the world around us. As we begin this journey we first must depend upon our primary nurturers. As we begin to develop our skills to learn from our environment we slowly add to this learning process.

Over time we formulate a concept of self, our "view of the world," and a set of norms, values, and ethics.

Your challenge, as a student, is to actively pursue knowledge, to reflect on what you currently believe, and to modify what you currently favor based upon your study, reflection, and interaction with others in their own pursuit. As an adult learner, it is you who must take responsibility for the process. As the instructor I am responsible for providing you with the opportunity to challenge yourself, your currently held beliefs, values, and ideas. Further, I am responsible for providing you with the opportunities to work with other students in an atmosphere which is conducive to growth and development. To this end, the course syllabus, reading assignments, course lectures, and assignments must stimulate this learning process. Ultimately, however, as the adult learner, it is your responsibility to take charge of this process.

In the box below type at least one reason why you have chosen to take this course, what interests you about the course, and how you will use the knowledge from this course in your daily life.

The class will be a blend of lecture, discussion, the text, and independent research, to highlight aspects of our social environment. Although the class sessions will parallel the text, the full breadth of the course cannot be gained solely from the text. As an on-line course, active participation on the Discussion Board is critical. Each week one question will be posted on the Board. Students are expected to actively participate in the Discussion Board by posting answers to the questions and/or response to other students' or instructor's postings. The participation grade will be directly drawn from active involvement on the Discussion Board. There are no upper limits to the number of postings a student can make. However, each student will be expected to make at least one posting per week.

In the box below, please explain your understanding of the importance of actively participating in the discussion board and how this will be graded:

Participation also includes contact with the instructor. Although this will not be graded, as such, this is our opportunity to explore, in more depth, thoughts, and ideas. Think of this as the same as coming to see your instructor before or after class or during an office hour. Do not feel that you need to interact with the instructor through e-mail, but there is much to be gained by this form of interaction. As with the interaction on the discussion board, we have all had many different experiences and through the discussion board and e-mail, we will have an opportunity to share with each other.

Sociology, A Brief Introduction, Schaefer, Richard T., McGraw Hill, 9^th Edition. 2009, ISBN: 978-0-07-352826-7

To take full advantage of this course ideally students should have the text book just prior to the start, but no later than the end of the first week of the course.

Please be aware that this is the edition that will be used in the course. Any previous editions of the text do not include all of the materials necessary for success, in this course.

In the box below type, I have my textbook for SOCI 1, or I will have it by ______.

Email Updates

One of the primary methods of contact in an online course is email. Your college is capable of extracting student names and email addresses from our registration system. The purpose of extracting this information is two fold. The information will be used by the instructor to remain in contact with the class in order to provide information necessary for the students' academic success. The information will also be used to send emails to the students from the college administration. The emails sent by the college administration will consist of links to course surveys which will be used to improve our online courses, important announcements for students, and links to college surveys, which will be used to satisfy requirements placed on the college by the California Community College Chancellor's Office. The college will not use this information to advertise any products and will not share student email addresses with any other organization.

In the box below type the following information:

As a student I understand it is my responsibility to ensure my email address is up to date in the registration system, and that failure to do so can seriously impact my ability to successfully complete my courses. Further, I consent to receive email communication from my instructor and from the college administration. This consent will remain in force until it is revoked in writing or I am no longer taking classes with the college. Upon submitting the syllabus, I agree to enter the registration system, check my email address and change it if necessary. I understand a tutorial is available to assist me with this procedure. I also understand I can contact 760-252-2411 x7236 to receive additional assistance if I encounter any difficulties when attempting to change my email address.

A = 360 - 400 points

B = 320 - 359 points

C = 280 - 319 points

D = 240 - 279 points

F < below 239 points

1. Final exam- value: 100 points [25%]

The final will be a proctored exam. Students are not allowed to take the final exam at their home. Questions may include multiple choice, true and false or fill in the blank. The material will come from the text and lectures and will cover the whole course.

2. Quizzes- Value: 4 @ 25 points each, total 100 points [25%]

Materials will be drawn from the text and lectures. The quizzes will be objective.

3. Students will be provided information about this assignment, below.

4. Participation: Value: 100 points [25%]

5. Research Project: Value: 100 points [25%]

Students will be provided a list of pre-approved topics or may choose one of their own. If a student wants to choose his/her own topic, this topic and the general direction of the discussion must be approved by the instructor at least three weeks prior to the due date of the assignment.

6. Grading Scheme:

7. Due Dates of assignment:

Due dates for each assignment, quiz, and exam are posted in this syllabus.

Although some students have the urge to move ahead quickly and complete assignments / quizzes / exams early, it is the policy of this course that all assignments / quizzes / exams are to be taken during the week indicated. Late assignments, quizzes, etc. will generally not be accepted unless prior notification or under very unusual circumstances.

Early submitted assignments will not be graded until the due date. I will make every effort to grade the submissions in a very timely manner and will attempt to post your grade within five days. If you have not heard in that timeframe, do not hesitate to e-mail me.

The final is a proctored exam. If you are near Barstow College or a Barstow College Satellite office, you must take the exam there. If not, it is your responsibility to secure a proctor who will oversee your taking of the exam. As the exam is taken on-line, the proctor must have access to the internet, and you must be allowed to work on that computer. You are not allowed to take the final at your home or at your place of employment. You can find the proctor submission form on the course web-site and this must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the exam, as each proctor candidate must be approved by this instructor. Examples of proctors are librarians, military educational officers, college professors, or counselors, professional proctors (such as our lab aides), or the clergy. The proctor must have a professional email address. (hotmail, yahoo, excite, aol, netscape, earthlink, verizon, netzero email accounts are unacceptable). Students must also provide a telephone number for their proctor. Failure to submit the proctor form on time or to present an acceptable proctor may result in not being allowed to sit for the exam or being required to travel to one of the College's sites to take the final exam. If a student must change proctors this new information must meet the two week rule.

The Exam must be taken during the dates specified. Final exam dates are standardized across Barstow College.

In the box below type where you will be taking the final exam and that you understand the proctor rules.

Quizzes and exams are computer graded. All questions must be answered in order for the program to score your work. Please make sure that you "double check" you work, before you submit. It the program does not grade, check again! You must also insure that you have filled out all of your information. In the past I have received graded exam / quizzes without being able to identify who the student was. This is your responsibility, not the instructors. If I cannot identify who you are, I will not be able to credit you with your grade.

The purpose of the discussion board is to stimulate your thinking and to share you thoughts. It replaces class discussion that occurs inside the classroom. It is important for each of you to share your thoughts and opinions with each other in answering the questions I have posted for you to consider."

But, these comments must be in a respectful manner. Whether we agree or disagree with something that has been posted, we must respect each other and provide our response in a way that shows respect. I have always attempted to follow a "win-win" approach to communication. What this means is that I attempt to communicate in a way that shows respect to the "other." I will do everything in my power to not put someone else "down." I will not talk down to them, nor will I try to impose my thoughts or beliefs on them. We may agree, or we may "agree to disagree!" In doing so, I am showing respect and giving the other the opportunity to do the same.

What we say and how we say it impacts drastically on others. Please think about your posting and review it prior to your posting. Please make sure that in sharing your opinion you are showing respect for your fellow students. We are "all in this together," everyone's ideas and thoughts are important; we need to have an atmosphere where we can all feel comfortable in sharing our thoughts and experiences.

Many of the topics we will be discussing are value laden. By that I mean that we may hold very strong opinions about these based upon our beliefs and experiences. Remember, we are an academic course, so, personal beliefs and opinions need to be integrated with the concepts and theory of the course.

In the box below, type your understanding of the method of evaluation that will be used in this course, your understanding of the attendance/participation policy and your understanding of discussion board etiquette.

I am constantly reviewing e-mails and attempt to respond on the same day, or next day, if possible. But, please remember, however that this is not a 24/7 course. In addition, my on-line office hours will be Wednesdays, 7-8pm, pacific time. During this time I will be online and will try to respond to any e-mail send at that time.

E-mail's written during that day will be responded to no later than 10:00 am [pacific time] the following morning.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's work without acknowledgement. Copying someone else's work as one's own. Of course this is illegal. This can be as deliberate as copying someone else's paper or accidental, not properly footnoting the source of an idea you present in an assignment. It is your responsibility to properly credit someone else's material. No acts of plagiarism will be accepted in this course. An act of plagiarism will result in failure in the assignment.

For assistance in this area, please go to:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/research/r_plagiar.html

Purdue University has done an excellent job of providing students with assistance, here.

The following suggested topics are available for the research project. If you choose any one of these, you do not have to have your topic cleared. If you choose to write on another topic you are required to contact the instructor by the end of week four (4) to present your topic and general direction for the paper. Any self selected topic must be sociological.

Suggested Possible Research Paper Topics

• From a sociological perspective, discuss the following question: Does your vote count, or do special- interest groups wield more power than voters like you?
   
• "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal…"　 Does this mean that the founding fathers of our country did not consider women to be equal?　Discuss the status of women then and now from a sociological perspective.
   
• Discuss the sociological impact of the ongoing downturn in our economy/housing market
   
• Complete a sociological review of a movie of your choosing. Two excellent films for this purpose are Who Framed Roger Rabbit?; The Hobbit, The Lord of the Flies; Soylent Green; or Casablanca. This is not just a ‘step by step" description or "book/movie report" of what happens in the movie, however.

Some students ask, from time to time, about extra credit assignments. In this course, there are no extra credit opportunities, or opportunities to resubmit an assignment.

A syllabus is not a contract between the instructor and student, but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading, and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when conflicts, emergencies, or situations arise that necessitate a change. Students will be notified of any changes.

In the box below, I understand a syllabus is a general guideline for students to use in planning their time for a particular class. The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to the syllabus with reasonable time allowances for students to adjust to the changes.

Disability Statement: 

If you have a disability which may impact your success in this course, you may contact the Office of Student Support (OSS) to arrange any reasonable accommodations and supports to which you are entitled. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate these procedures. The OSS department can be contacted by calling 760-252-2411 x7225 or 760-252-6759 TTY/TDD or emailing oss@bcconline.com. 

In the box below type: I understand that if I have or suspect I have a disability I can contact the OSS program at the number or email address listed above and request reasonable accommodations. Further I realize it is my responsibility to contact the OSS department.