Instructor:  Bill Lockhart, MA - Sociology - UTEP; BA - Sociology and Anthropology - UTEP
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 1:00-2:30; 3:45-5:30; 6:45-7:15 PM; Tue & Thu 2:15-4:00 or by appointment
Office Number:  106, Faculty Office Building
Phone Number: 439-3732; Fax Number:  (505) 439-3802
E-mail: lockhart@nmsua.nmsu.edu
Class Time; Classroom: Tuesdays & Thursdays - 1:00-2:15 PM;  Classroom: CB 703

I. Textbooks
Henslin, James M. Essentials of Sociology:  A Down-to-Earth Approach, 5th ed.  Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 2004.

   Exploring Social Life: Readings to Accompany Essentials of Sociology, Fifth Edition, Allyn & Bacon, Boston, 2004.

II. Course Description and Rationale
 Introduction to social theory, research, methods of analysis, contemporary issues in historical and cross-cultural contexts. Covers groups, deviance, inequality, family, gender, social change, and collective behavior (NMSU-A Catalog 2003-2004).

 This course explores a selection of the basic premises and study areas of sociology.  Students will be exposed to basic definitions and subdisciplines within sociology as well as developing abilities to critically read, write, discuss, and think about society and their positions within it.  

 The primary function of the course is to introduce students to the discipline of sociology within a framework that emphasizes the differences between social realities and “common sense.” Throughout the semester, the class will discuss such topics as racial and ethnic groups and their effects on society; issues in gender inequality (from the perspective of both genders); the effects of aging on the individual and society; and the importance of culture, socialization, social status, stratification, population pressure, and marriage within society.

 Aside from the obvious purpose of introducing the student to sociology, the class will address two other objectives:  1) presenting the student with survival strategies (i.e. study and test-taking skills); and 2) stimulating the student to think independently.

  You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him (or her) drink.  The secret is to make the horse thirsty!

III. Course Objective
1. Each student will show her or his ability to understand the basic concepts used in sociology by successfully completing (i.e. a grade above 70%) a series of quizzes given at regular intervals during the semester.
2. Each student will demonstrate his or her comprehension of sociological terms as used in the course by completing a sociological analysis paper.  Comprehension will be determined by a qualitative analysis of the paper.

IV. Grading:  Determination and Limitations
 1. Evaluation will be determined by the results of numerous quizzes, completion of the TILT project, and one social analysis paper.  

 2. A quiz will be given at the beginning of the last class during each week.  The quiz will include material from the reader, the textbook, and the two previous classes.  Each quiz will consist of five questions in both short-answer or multiple-choice formats.  Each question will be worth five points.  Each student is responsible for attending classes and keeping up with reading.

 3. The paper will consist of the analysis of a video or novel of the student’s choice.  No other sources will be acceptable for the article.  The paper will be 5-8 pages long and will follow the format given in class.  See schedule (below) for due date.  Late papers will be penalized by a reduction of one letter grade for each day late.  

 4. Cumulative grades will be computed as a percentage (simple process – the total of your scores on any set of quizzes divided by the total possible points for the same set of quizzes).  Periodically, the instructor will compute the grades to let the students know their current average.  Grades for the lowest three quizzes will be dropped.

   90-100% = A
   80-89%  = B
   70-79% = C
   60-69% = D
   Below 60% = F

 5. The final exam period will consist of a regular lecture and a final quiz.  The quiz will be on the regular material, just like any other quiz.  It will not be cumulative.

 6. Quiz results may be negotiated.  Students may present rational arguments to convince the instructor that their answer to multiple choice questions are correct or partially correct.  Such arguments must be delivered in the form of a computer-generated printout before or after class.  Arguments must pertain to the correctness of the question, rather than excuses for not studying.  All arguments must be turned in prior to the next quiz.

 7.    If a student misses a class or any assignment, it is her or his responsibility to obtain the necessary information from another student.  The instructor does not give out lecture notes.

V. Attendance, Participation and Academic Dishonesty
 1. Regular attendance is expected.  Although no penalty will be assessed for absence, consideration will be given for attendance.  Please contact the instructor in advance if you must miss class.
 2. Intra- or extracurricular participation is optional, but grading consideration may be given for such participation.

 3. Students found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty (cheating on an exam, plagiarism on a paper, or any other form) will receive a zero for the affected assignment.

VI. TILT

 Each student must complete three sessions of the Texas Information Literacy Tutorial (TILT) available from the Townsend Library.  This tutorial may be completed at the library, through any campus computer, or through your own computer at home.  See library handout for instructions.

 The TILT requires three sessions.  Each section must be completed before the exam with the same number.  In other words, TILT session 1 must be completed before Exam 1 (check Calendar of Events for exam dates).  Completing each TILT session will raise your exam grade by five (5) points.  However, failure to complete the TILT for that period will reduce your exam grade by five (5) points.  All three TILT sessions may be completed early.  TILT results may be e-mailed to me or handed in as a print out.
 
VII. Calendar of Events

 1 Aug 24  Introductions, syllabus, quantitative and qualitative analyses of class
 
 2 Aug 26  Read handout on study skills; pp. 1-10 Essentials (how to study, exam survival strategies; early thinkers in Sociology)

 3 Aug 31  Read pp. 11-17 Essentials; “Invitation to Sociology” Exploring (theoretical perspectives)

 4 Sep 2  Read pp. 17-20 Essentials (scientific method) [Q]

 Sep 6-7 Labor Day – Enjoy!

 5 Sep 9  Read pp. 21-28; 33-39 Essentials (research methods, culture and society) [Q]

 6 Sep 14  Read pp. 40-52 Essentials; “The Fierce People” Exploring (culture and society)

 7 Sep 16  Discuss paper; Read pp. 109-116, 423-426 Essentials; “Just Another Routine Emergency” Exploring (groups, careers in sociology, computers) [Q]

 8 Sep 21  Read pp. 57-72 Essentials; “Anybody’s Son Will Do” Exploring (socialization, agents of socialization)

 9 Sep 23  Read “Becoming a Prostitute” Exploring (more about socialization, resocialization)  [Q]

10 Sep 28  Read pp. 80-92;  Essentials; “Secrets of Selling Cars” Exploring (statuses, roles,  types of societies)

11 Sep 30  Read pp. 93-104 Essentials; “College Athletes and Role Conflict” Exploring (Dramaturgy) [Q]

12 Oct 5  Read pp. 165-182 Essentials; “The Power Elite” Exploring (global stratification; social class)

13 Oct 7  Read pp. 182-186, 191-203; 310-319 Essentials; “One World, Ready or Not” Exploring (world systems theory, social mobility) [Q]

14 Oct 12  Read pp. 209-216 Essentials; “The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All” Exploring (poverty)

15 Oct 14  Read pp. 221-233 Essentials (homelessness and race) [Q]

16 Oct 19  Read pp. 238-251 Essentials (racial & ethnic groups)

17 Oct 21  Read pp. 236-238, 251-252 Essentials; “Invisible Man” Exploring (more about  racial &  ethnic groups) [Q]

18 Oct 26  Read pp. 257-276 Essentials; “Sick Societies” Exploring (gender roles, women) 

19 Oct 28  Paper Due; read pp. 72-76, 276-287 Essentials (aging, age stratification) [Q]

20 Nov 2  Read pp. 323-343 Essentials; “When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work” Exploring (marriage & the family)

21 Nov 4  Read pp. 343-349 Essentials; “How Many Sexual Partners Do Americans Have?” Exploring (more about marriage & family) [Q]

22 Nov 9  Read pp. 353-365 Essentials (education)

23 Nov 11  Read pp. 373-379 Essentials (religion) [Q]

24 Nov 16  No reading assignment (religion, cont.)

25 Nov 18  Guest Speaker

26 Nov 23  Read pp. 385-413 Essentials (demography) [Q]

 Nov 24-26 Thanksgiving Holiday – Enjoy!!

27 Nov 30  Read “In the Barrios” Exploring (more about demography; urbanization)

28 Dec 2  Read pp. 417-434 Essentials; “Social Change and Amazon Indians” Exploring (social change) [Q]

29 Dec 7   Read pp. 434-440 Essentials (social change; the environment) [Q] [Note: Last class meets from 1:00 to 3:00]

 Please feel free to discuss any class- or school-related problems with me at any time.  Your privacy and confidentiality will be respected.  I try to be flexible in accordance with any legitimate need.  If absences are necessary due to work, pregnancy, or other unavoidable reasons, please contact me before such absences if at all possible.

Last day to drop with a “W”   Oct 15, 2004
Last day to withdraw from the University Nov 15, 2004

VIII. In Case of Emergency

 If someone in your family needs to contact you in an emergency, use the following telephone numbers:

  DAYTIME 439-3700

  EVENING 439-3751
 To expedite finding you in the evening, the person calling should know the class that you are attending, e.g., Math 115.

IX. Mission Statement
 The mission of the Alamogordo Branch of New Mexico State University, a comprehensive community college, is to:

 provide quality education that includes academic, technical, vocational, developmental, and career-oriented skills;
 
 promote student competence, confidence, and success by providing personal enrichment programs through continued response to the cultural intellectual, and economic needs of the community; 

 maintain active ties and continuity with the main campus; 

 afford equal opportunity for individuals who meet admission criteria to receive educational services within the community without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

X. Student Conduct in the Classroom
 We have and need few rules.  NMSU-A students are adults and almost always act like it.  Students behaving inappropriately will be asked to stop the offensive behavior.  If this is ineffective, the student will be asked to leave the classroom.

 Smoking is not allowed in the classrooms.  I personally suggest that you never smoke at any time or at any place for the rest of your life.

 Food and drink are allowed in the classroom subject to two rules: 1) do not spill anything; and 2) if you violate Rule 1, clean it up immediately.

XI.  ADA Statement

                  If you have (or believe you have) a disability and would benefit from classroom
                  accommodation(s), please contact the Office of Special Student Services located
                  in the George Fettinger Student Services Building (phone: 439-3720).

                  If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from the
                  premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are
                  encouraged to discuss any concerns with the instructor.

                  Student Responsibilities:

                    1.Register with Special Student Services and obtain accommodation
                       documents early in the semester;
                    2.Deliver the completed accommodation and testing form(s) to the
                       instructor(s) within the first two weeks of beginning of classes (or within
                       one week of the date services are to commence);
                    3.Retrieve the signed form(s) from faculty and return to SSD within five (5)
                       days of receipt from faculty and at least one week before any scheduled
                       exam; and,
                    4.Contact the Special Student Services Office if the
                       services/accommodations requested are not being provided, not meeting
                       your needs, or if additional accommodations are needed. Do not wait until
                       you receive a failing grade. Retroactive accommodations cannot be
                       considered. 

                  Faculty Responsibilities:

                    1.Sign the ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM and TESTING
                       ACCOMMODATION FORM (when presented), retain a copy, and
                       return the original to the student within five (5) working days of receipt;
                    2.Contact Special Student Services immediately if there are any questions or
                       disputes regarding accommodation(s), disruptive behavior, etc.; and,
                    3.Refer the student to Special Student Services for any additional
                       accommodations. 

                  Contacts:
                       Accommodations: Kathy Fuller (439-3720), Special Student
                       Services Counselor (George Fettinger Student Services Building)
                       ADA Coordinator: Doris Lynch (439-3716), Campus Student
                       Services Officer (George Fettinger Student Services Building)
                       Discrimination: Angela Velasco(646-3333), Interim Director
                       EEO/ADA & Employee Relations (Hadley Hall, Room 15 NMSU)

                  All medical information will be treated confidentially