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Online Orientation: Cootz - SOCI
2326 Mini-May Summer Session 2009 Updated 3/25/09 |
Welcome
eClass SOCI 2326 Students!
This online orientation is intended to guide you through the
process of getting up and running for class. For the Summer 2008 three week
(Mini-May Summer Session) semester we will be using a new version of online
delivery called eCollege Vista, an internet-based classroom environment. Our
entire class will be conducted within our eCollege Vista eclassroom, including
class discussions, unit assignments, and unit exams. Due to the shortened
duration of our course, it is essential that everyone quickly familiarize
themselves with the main online class tools used in our eCollege Vista
eclassroom (unit modules, mail, discussions, and assessments). Once you've
mastered the basics of our eCollege Vista eclassroom environment, you will find
it much easier to focus on this semester's course content.
You will need to complete each of the following steps to get
started with your class this semester. They contain links to other important online
resources. (You can also retrieve the official syllabus inside the
eclassroom once it opens.) Make sure to carefully
go through each section, and contact me if you have any questions. Given that
this is a THREE week course, we will be covering class material, engaging in
group discussions, completing unit assignments, and taking exams at a quick
pace- roughly five times as fast as a traditional class. Don’t fall behind!
Welcome to the
class. I look forward to the three weeks we will spend together as we explore
the subject of social psychology.
See you inside the eclassroom!
J. D. Cootz Lone Star
College-Montgomery
Steps 1 through 4 should be completed prior to
the second day of class (the 1st
day of class is May 11th).
STEP 1: Carefully Read over the
syllabus (provided below) to familiarize yourself with course requirements,
including: semester grading criteria, purchase of mandatory class text, reading
assignment schedule and exam dates
STEP 2: Obtain the required
course textbooks (see the "Textbooks" section in the syllabus for
details). This
is a 3 week class- you need your books as soon as the class starts. It is your
responsibility to be prepared for the class.
Having the books is a major part of being prepared. The books can be
purchased at three separate places within the district: LSC-North Harris (which
is the DL Bookstore for the district), LSC-Montgomery (which is where I teach)
and across from LSC-Montgomery is a place called In & Out Textbooks. All
three will stock the books, but I do not have knowledge of current supplies,
prices, etc. Also, numerous online retailers carry these books and have fast
delivery options (Barnes and Noble, etc.).
STEP 4:
Troubleshoot any initial problems by visiting the eCollege.
STEP 5: Beginning the first day of class, May 11th, Login
to our eCollege Vista elassroom!
**If you need
to obtain your User Name and Initial Password, click here. You can login to the
eclassroom here.
STEP 6: By
the end of our second class day – Tuesday, May 12th, you should have
completed the following tasks to avoid being dropped from class! (Note: Don’t get behind.)
From
within our eCollege Vista Classroom:
STEP 7: Be sure to
check your class email on a regular basis and keep up with your readings,
discussion topic postings, assignments, and exam dates. Contact me (via eclassroom mail message) if you have ANY
questions during the semester! You may also want to explore the additional
resources available to students through the Lone Star College – eCollege
Distance Learning Website @
http://ecollege.lonestar.edu/.
STEP 8: HAVE A
GREAT SEMESTER!
Lone
Star College-Montgomery
COURSE
SYLLABUS
Mini-May
Summer 2009
SOCI 2326: Social Psychology
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Catalog Description |
This
course focuses on individual behavior as affected by cultural and social
stimuli. Social behavior, interpersonal
influence, group membership and the relations between persons and social
systems are emphasized.
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Credit
Prerequisites |
3
credit hours SOCI
1301 or PSYC 2301
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ADA Statement/Special Needs |
Students with disabilities who believe that they
need accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact the Disability
Services Office at 936-273-7239; located in Building E, Office 103H; as soon as
possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely
fashion.
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Purpose |
The
topics and readings were selected in order to get you to think about your own
life in new ways. The course is designed
to: (1) introduce you to the basic
concepts in the field of social psychology and (2) develop an ability to think
critically about the relationship between individuals and social systems in
society.
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Course Outcomes |
In completing this course, you will:
1.
Define and evaluate key concepts in social psychology such as social beliefs,
attitudes, social cognition, cultural influences, and conformity.
2.
Relate theoretical assumptions to everyday behavior.
3.
Examine and summarize the role of values and ethics in social psychological
research.
4. Define,
compare, and contrast the major theoretical perspectives within the field of
social psychology.
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Instructor Information |
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Name |
Jared D. Cootz, MA |
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Email |
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Office location |
A200H LSC-Montgomery |
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Office hours |
Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu
9 am – 11 am.
I am on campus more than this, but these are times I have designated
specifically to be available for students.
Occasionally meetings and other campus business may interrupt
office hours. |
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Phone |
936.273.7048 |
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Biography |
J. D. Cootz: Master's Degree in Psychology and Sociology;
Post-Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Former U.S. Army (Military
Intelligence Branch). Served in Central America and in the 101st Airborne
Division. Spent several years working with: gang members, homeless men,
substance abusers, and the mentally ill in Houston and Harris County.
Hopefully, within the next few years will be able to complete a project of
designing curriculum to teach sociology through the use of The Simpsons and
other sociological television programs. |
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Primary method of
contacting the instructor: Mail message inside
the eclassroom. Once the start date
passes, all contact should take place inside the eclassroom.
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Textbooks (There are TWO!!!) |
Exploring Social
Psychology; Myers, David G.;
McGraw-Hill, 4th edition, ISBN #0-07-353187-1
Annual Editions:
Social Psychology; McGraw-Hill, 7th
edition, ISBN # 0-07-339739-3
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Course Objectives |
Social Psychology is the scientific study of
individual behavior as affected by cultural and social stimuli. This course is
designed to help you understand the society you live in. This society is not
static. Instead, it constantly changes, altering you in the process. Elements
of social psychology that this course will explore include social behavior,
interpersonal influence, group membership, and the relationship between social
systems and persons. Upon completion of this course, you should:
1. Understand the basic points of view in social
psychology.
2. Be familiar with the information social psychologists
have discovered and work with.
3.
Possess knowledge
regarding the procedures used in the discovering, testing, and interpreting of
information from a social-psychology perspective.
4. Possess a more objective understanding of our society
and the people living in it.
5. Have a more realistic understanding of your own
behavior and the influences that shape it.
6.
Gain insight into
social phenomenon such as intuition, self-fulfilling prophecies, the
fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias, the relationship between
gender, genes, and culture, persuasion, prejudice, the influence of the media,
and causes of conflict.
7. Have the ability to explain key terms and concepts in
social psychology.
8. Leave this course prepared for more advanced courses
in sociology and psychology.
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Policies |
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Introduction |
1.
Obtain a copy of the course textbooks. 2.
Attend (log-in to) class regularly- four to five times a week at a
minimum. You also need to log on and
complete the activities at the prescribed time. If you don’t log on within the first TWO days of this course you can be
dropped. The same goes for completion
of work. If you are not turning a
significant percentage (at least 2/3) of your work in, you can be dropped. However, it is the students’ responsibility
to ensure that they have been dropped before the drop date. The drop date is listed in the Lone Star
College Course Catalog. Once the "W" Day has passed, those not meeting the
above requirements will lose credit for the course with an "F" for
a grade. Also, keep track of your grades so that you may make an educated
decision when the deadline for dropping approaches. 3.
Read all assignments under tentative outline and teacher assigned before
class assignment. 4.
Academic honesty is necessary and expected. Cheating and plagiarism lead to
failing grades and possible loss of credit for the course. This includes unauthorized collaboration on
assignments (such as the unit
questions or tests). Cheating in
all its forms has become a blight on education and will not be tolerated in
this class. Do not copy other
students’ work or submit another student’s work as your own. 5.
Your legal name must be on all assignments. No nicknames, please. 6.
All assignments must be turned in on time for full credit. 7.
Follow directions- it’s the easiest way to maintain your grades. 8.
STUDY!!! 9.
Appropriate behavior/language is
expected inside the eclassroom. This
includes being polite during discussions.
Disciplinary action can be taken if this standard is not maintained. |
Instructor Information
Your
instructor checks into the eclassroom frequently. Generally, this means the instructor is
checking into the eclassroom most often from around 7 am to 4 pm Monday through
Friday. These can be thought of as the
main business hours for the class. The
instructor also checks in less frequently at night and to a lesser degree
during weekends. Occasionally, there are
events that may preclude the instructor’s ability to check into the
eclassroom. These are generally
rare. If I am aware of an upcoming
conflict, I will let you know ahead of time (if possible).
Emergency
If we
have an emergency (the server goes down during a test), please don’t
panic. I will be made aware of the
situation and we will take steps to remedy the situation. Often, if the WebCT server goes down, the
Outlook server will do so as well. This
means that if you panic because you can’t get into the eclassroom to take a
test and then send me notification via traditional email, I probably won’t
receive the email until the servers are restored.
Course Structure and Teaching
Methods
This
course has elements of lecture (notes), small group discussion, power point
presentations, observational research, handouts, and writing assignments to
name a few. However, one thing is necessary above all else: your participation.
Civility Statement
The various individuals that make up the
Lone Star College System community (including students, faculty, staff, and
other participants) have certain expectations placed on them because of the
association that takes place within this community. These expectations are primarily focused on
issues of behavior: all individuals in the community are expected to act
truthfully, honestly, conscientiously and responsibly. Lone Star College – Montgomery holds all
community members responsible for their behavior, actions and words. Consequently, all Lone Star College –
Montgomery community members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner
consistent with valuing and respecting the rights and opinions of others (even
if you disagree with the opinions).
Respect of individual and college property is also expected. It is also of the utmost importance that the
learning environment remains undisturbed.
Therefore, if a student is required to leave the eclassroom due to
behavior that is considered uncivil, the student will not be permitted to
return to class until s/he has met with the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to
arrange for the meeting.
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Course Requirements and Assignments |
1. TESTS- Four exams are given. #1 is over
Modules Intro, 1 and 2, #2 is over modules 3-11, #3 is over modules 12-21, and
the final exam is from 22-31.
Exams
will be multiple-choice. All tests are
given online. Exams are also available
for two days. The maximum time allowed
for exams is 45 minutes. Each exam may
be taken twice during the days it is available.
The two scores are then averaged together. You must wait one hour between attempts. You may receive different questions the
second time you take a test. Tests also
close @ 9:59 pm on the last date they are available.
Failure to take the final exam causes failure
of the course. You must take the final to pass the class. Do not wait until the last minute to take a
test.
2. DESIGN CHART- This assignment is not
a traditional paper. Instead it is an
application and can be completed in a number of different ways. Use your creativity!
Your
design chart assignment is to: plan, design, develop, and create a graphic
representation linking the info from your Myers textbook to the movie that you
select for review. You have flexibility
in how you complete this assignment.
Possible methods include: separating or grouping concepts from your
textbook as they appear in the film or illustrating concepts from the Myers
text as they appear in the film. You may
do this: in a table format, as a graphical representation, as a timeline-style
format, in a flow-chart style, etc.
Evidence of college level writing is required. However, this is not a paper. Do NOT submit a paper.
Software
that may be appropriate to create this: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Inspiration,
etc. Part of your grade will be based on
originality and creativity. This
assignment is weighted at 100 points.
The
list of approved movies will be distributed later in the semester.
3. UNIT REACTION PAPERS- small (short)
reaction papers are required. These papers involve the reaction to a subject
from the textbook. These are not
research papers. These assignments will
be posted at the appropriate time and will be turned in at the same time as the
corresponding unit test. Each is weighted at 100 points.
4. DISCUSSIONS- Online classes have 5
discussion questions they must respond to.
Your response should be fairly lengthy (2 to 3 paragraphs w/ 4 sentences
per paragraph) minimum. These are posted by the instructor on selected days. The responses must be completed by the posted
deadline. Each assignment counts for a
maximum of 20 points. You need to check the discussion postings as early as
possible as some postings take more than one step to complete. SO DON'T WAIT
UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
***There are no make-ups for
missed discussion questions. This is true if you miss the deadline for posting
for ANY REASON.
5. EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT- There is one
extra credit assignment that can be completed for a maximum of 50 points.
However, it is graded as a normal assignment (in terms of quality) and most
grades fall into the 30-point range.
This will be made available after test #2. The due date will be on the assignment. It is due by the specified deadline. NO
LATE EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO EXCEPTIONS.
6.
The notes and power point presentations supplied by your instructor are part of
the course. The other part is your textbooks. You are responsible for the
material in the books. In other words: read your books.
7.
Discussion postings will take place in the Discussion area of the eclassroom.
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Letter Grade Assignment |
I do
not keep a running total of each students’ point total and corresponding letter
grade. If you wish to see where you
stand, add up the total number of points you have earned so far and divide it
by the maximum possible points to date.
This will give you an average.
Final
letter grades will be assigned after computing individual total points earned
as follows.
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Letter
Grade Assignment |
1.
4 Tests: 100
pts X 4 = 400 pts. 2.
4 Unit Reaction Papers: 100 pts X 4 =
400 pts. 3.
1 Design Chart: 100 pts
X 1 = 100 pts. 4.
5 Discussion Postings: 20 pts X 5
= 100 pts. 5.
This is a total of 1000 pts. Grade
assignment: A = 1000-895; B = 894-795; C = 794-695; D = 694-595; F = 594-000 Your
grades will be posted in the eclassroom.
If you wish, you may print out the syllabus and record your grades
here. Test
1 ___ Unit One Reaction Paper _____ Discussion 1 _____ Discussion 5 _____ Test
2 ___ Unit Two Reaction Paper _____ Discussion 2 _____ Design Chart ______ Test
3 ___ Unit Three Reaction Paper ____ Discussion 3 _____ Extra Credit ______ Test
4 ___ Unit Four Reaction Paper
_____
Discussion 4 _____ Intro Quiz ______ |
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Tentative Schedule of Course Outline |
This
schedule refers to units and weeks. The
days included are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. Also, the readings are grouped together at
the heading for each Unit. The due dates
of assignments are also indicated.
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Unit One (Modules Intro, 1, 2) |
Unit Unit 1 (5/11-5/13) A short
unit!
Unit Start Date 5/11
Begin
reading, working on unit questions, preparing for test #1.
Must
log in to eCollege Vista by the second day or be dropped from the class.
Intro
Quiz available 5/11-5/13.
Test
#1, read, check notes/power point presentation, check mail.
***Discussion
1 Available 5/11-5/12.
Test #1 available & Unit Reaction Paper #1 due 5/12-5/13.
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Unit Two (Modules 3 – 11) |
Unit Unit 2 (5/14-5/19)
Unit Start Date 5/14
Test
#2; readings; check notes/power point; check mail.
***Discussion
2 available 5/14-5/15.
***Discussion 3 available 5/18-5/19.
Test #2 available
& Unit Reaction Paper #2 due 5/18-5/19.
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Unit Three (Modules 12 – 21) |
Unit Unit 3 (5/20-5/25)
Unit Start Date 5/20
Test #3, read, check mail,
check notes/power point, EXTRA CREDIT AVAILABLE.
***Discussion
4 available 5/21-5/22.
Test #3 available
& Unit Reaction Paper #3 due 5/24-5/25. (Note: This is Sunday and Monday!)
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Unit Four (Modules 22 – 31) |
Unit Unit 4 (5/26-5/29)
Unit Start Date 5/26
Test #4 (Final Exam); read;
check mail; check notes/power point.
***DESIGN
CHART Due 5/26.
***EXTRA
CREDIT Due 5/27 (it will be graded if it meets the minimum criteria).
***Discussion 5 available
5/25-5/26.
Test
#4 available & Unit Reaction Paper #4 Due 5/28-5/29.
eClassroom closes 5/30