IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Syllabus and Course Outline

SOC 111

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Instructor_______Dr. Simin Shirzadi

Telephone______317-921-4501____________ Office - _IFC 140

E-Mail____sshirzad@ivytech.edu___________

Class Meets on: Day(s) __Tuesday & Thursday Time_11-1:50

Room Number___IFC 135

 IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE – COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Sociology

COURSE NUMBER: SOC 111
PREREQUISITES: Demonstrated competency through appropriate assessment or
earning a grade of “C” or better in or ENGL 093 Introduction to
College Writing and ENGL 083 Reading Strategies for College
or ENGL 095 Integrated Reading and Writing.
DIVISION: School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
PROGRAM: Social Sciences
CREDIT HOURS: 3
CONTACT HOURS: Lecture: 3

REQUIRED TEXT:
Schaefer, R. (2016). Sociology in modules, 3th edition. New York: McGraw Hill.
The eBook is included with the CONNECT access card.
Please complete the registration to use the card – it is required for this course.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Introduces students to the major theoretical paradigms of the

science of human society, including fundamental concepts, descriptions, and analyses of
society, culture, socialization processes, social institutions, social change, social
stratification and the application of this understanding to everyday living.

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course

the student will be expected to:

1. Define sociology and explain the three major theoretical paradigms: structural-
functionalist, social-conflict, and symbolic-interactionist.
2. Identify and understand the contributions of such theorists as Comte, Marx,
Durkheim, Spencer, Weber, Cooley, and Mead.
3. Illustrate the relationships between theory and research, social science research
methods, hypothesis testing, and concepts of validity and reliability.
4. Describe the principal social research methods including the experiment, survey,
and participant observation.
5. Develop the skills necessary to read and interpret tables, charts, graphs, and
diagrams; identify and understand their component parts.
6. Define and describe such sociological terms as society, culture, socialization,
groups, deviance, institutions (e.g. religion, family, education, work, political), social
movements, demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), social change and social
stratification.
7. Describe the processes and impacts of socialization.
8. Describe sociological concepts and their application to everyday living--ways that
these concepts facilitate meeting life's daily challenges.
9. Identify primary institutions and examine how interactions within and between
institutions affect our daily lives.
10. Examine and explore contemporary issues such as diversity, racism, sexism,
ageism, classism, technology, and society.
11. Examine the impacts of social change on social institutions.
COURSE METHODOLOGY: This course will utilize a lecture/discussion format with an
emphasis on application of theory and important concepts. Each student is expected to
participate in discussions; therefore, the assigned material should be read prior to class.
The course is interactive, and some class time will be devoted to discussion of relevant
issues. Consequently, all text material will not be covered in class. However, students are
responsible for all material in the text reading assignments and handouts.

EVALUATION
Grading will be based upon 500 possible points in the course distributed as follows:
1. Eight (8) Quizzes 160 points
2. Connect/LearnSmart Activities 90 points
3. Annotated Bibliography 100 points
4. Active Engagement Activity 100 points
5. In-class Activities/Attendance 50 points
TOTAL 500 points

GRADING SCALE:
A = 450 - 500 points (90 – 100%)
B = 400 - 449 points (80 – 89%)
C = 350 - 399 points (70 -79%)
D = 300 – 349 points (60 – 69%)
F = 299 points and less (59% and less)

8 QUIZZES
160 points
Six quizzes cover 2 chapters. Two quizzes cover 3 chapters. (Quiz 4: chptrs 7, 8, and 9
and Quiz 5: chptrs 10, 11, and 12). Each quiz contains 10 multiple choice items worth 2
points per item. They are available in Connect via Canvas. All students are expected to
take quizzes during the scheduled range of dates provided. No extensions will be granted.

MISSED QUIZ POLICY

An adequate range of time (more than one week!) is provided for each quiz. Any missed
quizzes will be scored as zeros. Again, no extensions will be granted.

LEARNSMART/CONNECT ACTIVITIES
90 points (5 points per chapter)
The Connect access card is included with your textbook. LearnSmart activities are assigned for
each chapter. They are study tools designed to help students understand the course concepts.
These assignments should be completed before the designated class session. Consider these
assigned points as your points for studying! A range of begin/end dates will help you
be more informed about each chapter. If you miss a deadline, don’t worry – just keep
moving forward. NO extensions will be granted for any reason.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

All written assignments must be turned in on indicated due dates. Points will be
deducted for late assignments. All assignments must be typed and formatted in APA
style, and include an appropriate cover page. Handwritten assignments will not be
accepted. Do not use plastic covers, folders or binders for any assignment.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY - THIS IS NOT A RESEARCH PAPER!
100 points – 5-6 pages

Begin with a QUESTION about a concept that interests you. The research question is your
blueprint for your research. Find five peer-reviewed articles that answer your question.
Read and analyze each article. Include the complete reference citation - using APA
format. Next, in a paragraph, summarize the information in each article. Explain how it
answers your question. Your focus should be on the reference citations/bibliography and
your five summaries. For the Reflective Analysis, provide a brief analysis that combines all
of the information to answer your research question. It is a synthesis of your findings with
NO personal opinion. The Self Application section explains why you asked your question.
This is the only section that contains personal information.

Criteria for Annotated Bibliography

Points
Format
1. Cover page /proper margins /double spaced _____ (5)
2. 12point font/5-6 pages _____ (5)
3. Grammar/punctuation /sentence structure _____ (5)
4. Bibliography formatted correctly _____ (20)

Content
5. Research question identified _____ (5)
6. Five reference citations _____ (10)
7. Five summaries of research _____ (25)
8. Reflective analysis _____ (15)
9. Self application _____ (10)

TOTAL _____ (100)

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY or I Can Make a Difference

100 points – 3 pages

Each student is required to complete an activity related to sociological change. Select a

topic from any chapter that interests you and connect with that community to engage with
others. Consider spending several hours tutoring at your child’s school. Volunteer at Keep
Indianapolis Beautiful and plant a tree. Go to a nursing home and read to the elderly. Do
something that will make a difference for others. After you complete your activity, answer
the following questions:
1. What did you do?
Describe in detail how you developed your plan. Who did you talk to? What resources
helped you determine your action? Why is this activity important to you?
2. What did you learn?
Describe in detail the process and/or events that occurred during your active engagement.
Reflect on these actions and describe what you learned from this experience.
3. Which sociological perspective best describes your experience?
Include a statement that identified the sociological perspective that you observed or
encountered. Explain why you selected this perspective. (Based on your experience, you
can select more than one sociological perspective.)
 Criteria for Active Engagement

Format Points
1. Cover page /proper margins _____ (5)
2. Grammar/spelling/punctuation _____ (5)
3. Double spaced / 12 pt. font _____ (5)
4. Three pages of text _____ (10)

Content
1. What did you do? _____ (25)
2. What did you learn? _____ (25)
3. Identified sociological paradigm _____ (25)

TOTAL _____ (100)

IN-CLASS ACIVITIES/ATTENDANCE
50 points
Several brief writing assignments will be offered during class. Each writing will include
responding to several questions that are associated with a movie, video clip, or discussion
topic. In most cases, students will give their opinions or provide a few facts from the
presentation. Each writing must be submitted during class. None will be accepted once the
class session ends. Points for each writing will vary from 5-10 (for a total of 20) points.

Points will be given for attending each class – this includes arriving on time and staying
until the end. For each class session, 2 points will be given.

IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE VIRTUAL LIBRARY

The Ivy Tech Virtual Library is available to students on- and off-campus, offering full-text
journals and books and other resources essential for course assignments. Go to
http://www.ivytech.edu/library and choose the link for your campus.

EXTRA CREDIT POINTS

Students will have the opportunity to earn up to fifteen (15) extra credit points at the
instructor’s discretion.

PAYMENT AND DROP/WITHDRAWAL POLICY

All students enrolled in classes must have made arrangements to pay their bill. Students in
nonpaid status are not permitted to attend class. It is the students’ responsibility to know
their pay status. Students should contact the Bursar’s Office for information or questions
regarding their pay status. To officially drop a class, students must complete the
appropriate form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. Dropping or withdrawing from
classes could affect your ability to receive financial aid. Prior to dropping or withdrawing
from a course, please contact the Financial Aid office for information. If an official drop
form is not completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office, the result may be an “FW” in
the course.

Last day to withdraw with 100% refund – June 8

Last day to withdraw without academic approval – July 15
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT
The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices. The faculty value
intellectual integrity and a high standard of academic conduct. Activities that violate
academic integrity undermine the quality and diminish the value of educational
achievement.

Cheating on papers, tests or other academic works is a violation of College rules. No

student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be
construed as cheating. This may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of
academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without permission of tests or other academic
materials and/or distribution of these materials and other academic work. This includes
students who aid and abet as well as those who attempt such behavior.

ADA STATEMENT
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with
Disability Act (ADA), individuals with disabilities are guaranteed certain protections and
rights of equal access to educational programs and services. Ivy Tech Community College
seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with documented
disabilities. If you need an accommodation because of a documented disability, please
contact the office of Disability Support Services.

PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE
It is the student’s responsibility to sign the attendance sheet. Failure to do so will result in
an absence (and loss of points) for that day. Please do not ask to sign the attendance
sheet for previous classes.

No written assignments will be accepted after JULY 17.

No exceptions!

COURSE CALENDAR – SOC 111 – INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Date Reading Assignments

Week 1 6/5 Course Overview and Introductions

Chapter 1 – Understanding Sociology
LearnSmart Activity: 6/1 - 6/12

Week 1 6/7 Chapter 2 – Sociological Research

LearnSmart Activity: 6/1 - 6/12
Connect Quiz 1: 6/1 - 6/12

Week 2 6/12 Chapter 3 - Culture

The Story of Stuff
LearnSmart Activity: 6/9 - 6/15
Week 2 6/14 Chapter 4 – Socialization and the Life Course
LearnSmart Activity: 6/9 - 6/15
Connect Quiz 2: 6/9 - 6/15

Week 3 6/19 Chapter 5 – Social Interaction, Social Structure and Groups

LearnSmart Activity: 6/16 - 6/22
Annotated Bibliography due
Week 3 6/21 Chapter 6 – The Mass Media
LearnSmart Activity: 6/16 - 6/22
Connect Quiz 3: 6/16 - 6/22

Week 4 6/26 Chapter 7 – Deviance, Crime and Social Structure

Michelle Alexander’s The Future of Race
LearnSmart Activity: 6/23 - 6/29

Week 4 6/28 Chapter 8/9 – Stratification & Social Mobility in US/Global Inequality
LearnSmart Activity: 6/23 - 6/29
Connect Quiz 4: 6/23 - 6/29

Week 5 7/3 Chapter 10 – Racial and Ethnic Inequality

A Class Divided
LearnSmart Activity: 6/30 - 7/6

Week 5 7/5 Chapter 11/12 – Stratification by Gender/Stratification by Age

LearnSmart Activity: 6/30 - 7/6
Connect Quiz 5: 6/30 - 7/6

Week 6 7/10 Chapter 13 – The Family and Human Sexuality

LearnSmart Activity: 7/7 - 7/13
Active Engagement Paper due

Week 6 7/12 Chapter 14 – Education

LearnSmart Activity: 7/7 -7/13
Connect Quiz 6: 7/7 – 7/13

Week 7 7/17 Chapter 15/16 – Religion/Government and the Economy

LearnSmart Activity: 7/14 - 7/24
Connect Quiz 7:7/14 - 7/24

Week 7 7/19 Chapter 17 – Health, Population and the Environment

LearnSmart Activity: 7/14 - 7/24

Week 8 7/24 Chapter 18 – Social Movement, Social Change

LearnSmart Activity: 7/14 - 7/24
Connect Quiz 8: 7/14 - 7/24

Week 8 7/26 Student Engagement Day

ALL TEST DATES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO

UNAVOIDABLE OR UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES