|
 |
||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||
 |
||||
SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR |
|
Instructor: Jeremy Don Kerr E-mail address: jkerr0@uky.edu |
|
SOC 436 COURSE POLICIES |
|
|
|
COURSE PREREQUISITES: Six hours of social science or consent of instructor.
TEXTS AND COURSE MATERIALS:
|
|
Course Description:
SOC 436, Sociology of Deviance, is intended to provide a sociological perspective on deviant behavior. The course will include coverage of "positivist" theories of deviance such as social control theory, social
disorganization theory, and anomie theory as well as "constructionist" theories of deviance such as conflict theory. In addition, key research and statistical data on specific types of deviant behavior such as
prostitution, pornography, drug use, and crime will be discussed. Finally, the course will also delve into forms of deviance that are often neglected or ignored including state/governmental deviance, corporate deviance,
and police deviance. The material that will be covered in this course is intended for a mature, adult audience. If you are not prepared to be exposed to, and discuss, the aforementioned topics it is suggested that you
withdraw from the course. Grading/Evaluation: Soc 436, Sociology of Deviant Behavior is an upper-level course and students' work will be expected to reflect this fact. Reading is
essential to achieving the objectives of this course. Response sheets and/or quizzes will be used to ensure that students complete the assigned reading material; they will also comprise a major portion of your grade.
Your participation in class is also required as class discussion and debate greatly enhance the learning process. Students will also be required to complete one library-based assignment (Class time will be set aside for
the completion of this assignment) and a final paper that will vary between 7 and 15 pages in length depending on the type of paper you choose to write. Finally, students will be required to take two semester exams and
may elect to take, or waive, the final examination. |
|
|
Up to 300 points Up to 600 points possible (Up to 500 points if final is waived) |
Your final grade will be determined as follows: Response Sheets: Up to 20 response sheets at 10-20 points each* |
||
NOTES:
* Students can miss 20 points worth of response sheet questions without penalty. ** Class Participation is mandatory. However, I realize that some students do not wish to participate orally (i.e. raising questions or
answering questions orally during class). If you do not want to participate orally you may participate by raising questions or providing answers in written form on the *****Students who are satisfied with their grade at the conclusion of the course can elect to waive the final exam. |
||
|
|
Grading Scale: Your grade will be based on the actual number (not the "up to" number) of points possible
using the scale below. 89.5% - 100% = A |
|
Rights Reserved By The Instructor: The instructor reserves the right to (1) give partial or no credit for all instances and types of class participation based on the instructor's assessment of the merits of the participation; (2) change the topics and readings covered; (3) determine which topics will require response sheets; and (4) adjust grades upward at the sole discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis. Description of Assignments Response Sheets:
Response sheet assignments will be provided through the class web site, the class e-mail group, and/or through class handouts. Response sheets may ask you to answer questions about the reading, to reflect on concepts and ideas covered in class, or to provide other information gained from various forms of research. Answers to these questions will require about 1-2 typewritten, single-spaced sheets, on average (some response sheets may be longer). Response sheets must be typed unless the instructor provides an exception. Response sheets are intended to facilitate comprehension and encourage students to reflect on the concepts covered in readings and/or in class lecture and discussion.
Response sheets will generally be graded as follows: the student will receive either full credit (100%), 80%, 60%, or 0 (zero) % credit based on the instructor's subjective evaluation of each response
sheet. In most cases, where students have followed directions in terms of formatting (see below) and have shown a reasonable effort to answer response sheet questions thoughtfully, thoroughly, and with proper
grammar full credit will be awarded. However, points may be deducted when a student's work shows habitual neglect of proper grammar and spelling and/or the work does not appear to reflect a reasonable effort (e.g.
answers appear unusually short or incomplete).
Format for Response Sheets: Type your answers in complete sentences using a 12-point Times New Roman Font, single-spaced, with 1" top, bottom, and side margins. Put your name on every sheet in the upper right hand corner in the format "Last name, First name." Put page numbers in the upper right hand corner beginning with your second page. Put SOC 436 and the date the assignment is due in the upper left hand corner of the first sheet. Staple multiple pages together in the upper left hand corner.Class Participation: This is an upper-division course and you will be expected to participate by raising questions, answering questions, and taking part in discussions and group exercises. You will be graded on class participation using the following methods: [1] At the conclusion of each class any student who wants points for oral participation shall turn in a full looseleaf sheet of paper (torn out pieces of paper, partial pieces of paper, etc. will not be accepted) with the following information: (1) your name in the upper right hand corner in the format "Last name, First name;" (2) The course number (SOC 436) in the upper left hand corner; (3) the date; and (4) a separate, brief written summary of EACH comment, answer, or question provided/raised orally in class. Oral participation must be thematically or substantively related to the course to earn participation points.
[2] At the beginning of each class any student who wants points for message board participation that took place since the previous class period shall turn in a full looseleaf sheet of paper (torn out pieces of paper, partial pieces of paper, etc. will not be accepted) with the following information: (1) your name in the upper right hand corner in the format "Last name, First name;" (2) The course number (SOC 436) in the upper left hand corner; (3) the date; and (4) a separate, brief written summary of EACH comment, answer, or question provided/raised on the message board. Message board posts must be thematically or substantively related to the course to earn participation points. The instructor reserves the right to deny credit for certain posts.
Participation will generally be graded as follows: As a general rule, each instance of participation will earn 5 points. However, no more than 10 points can be collected by a single student in a single day and no more than 15 points can be collected by a single student within a single calendar week. In some instances, students who participate often may accumulate 'surplus' points above and beyond the 100 point total for class participation. In such instances, these surplus points will not officially count as extra-credit. However, the instructor will take these surplus points into consideration when the final grade is to be determined–and these surplus points may result in a higher grade.Attendance and Absences Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Attendance will be taken by way of a sign-sheet and, in some instances, through the return of assignments . If a sign-in sheet is provided at the beginning of a class period it is the student's responsibility to see that he/she signs the attendance sheet to indicate their presence in class. Students who are tardy may be counted absent at the discretion of the instructor. Absences: Students will be permitted to have five (5) absences before having points deducted from their final score. Each absence over five (5) will result in a 25 point deduction in your final point total. In a limited number of special circumstances, an absence may be 'excused' meaning it will not count toward the two absence limit. Excused absences are generally provided only for absences stemming from participation in university activities (e.g. sports, band, chorus) or for medical reasons. However, there may be other legitimate reasons for missing class that the instructor will excuse and the instructor holds the final authority to make a determination of whether or not an absence should be excused. Students requesting an excused absence must present a written request for an excused absence including the reasons for their absence immediately upon their return to class; supporting documentation may be also required. Any student who has more than ten (10) un-excused absences over the course of the semester will earn an "E" in the course, regardless of his/her grades on assignments, no exceptions. Make-Up Policy: Make-up work is not generally allowed, but may be permitted in certain circumstances. If you must miss a class and there is response sheet or other assignment due due you must either (1) turn the assignment in ahead of time or (2) e-mail the response sheet or other assignment to me as an 'attachment' in Rich Text Format (RTF), Word Perfect Format, or Microsoft Word Format no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the day it is due. Then turn in a hard copy when you return to class. If you miss a class and are unable to e-mail the assignment to me by the deadline and you feel there is a legitimate reason that you could not meet the deadline please send an e-mail as soon as possible requesting an exception and indicating the reason why you could not submit your work via e-mail by the deadline. Requests for exceptions will be handled on an individual, case-by-case basis. Other Issues/Policies: Cheating and Plagiarism: A good academic environment requires honesty with oneself as well as honesty with others. All work done in this course is expected to be completed by the individual student--unless you are otherwise instructed. Any student who is found to be guilty of cheating by (1) copying work, either in whole or in part, from another student or (2) allowing another student to copy their work, either in whole or in part, may automatically earn an "E" in the course. For clarification on what constitutes cheating and/or plagiarism, consult your code of student conduct. If you have any doubts about whether or not you may be cheating or plagiarizing, consult with the instructor before handing the assignment in. Importance of Instructions: Following instructions helps me grade fairly and return your assignments and exams back to you within the time span of one week or less. However, failure to follow instructions places an additional, unwelcome burden on me. Therefore, a 25% deduction will be applied to work in which a student did not follow instructions. ADA Statement: Any student requiring individualized classroom accommodations due to a disability should first schedule a conference with the Disabilities Resource Office, and secondly, with the faculty member/instructor.
Withdrawal Policy: Students are free to withdraw from the course for any reason (other than cheating) until October 25th, 2002. |
|
[SOC 436 HOME] [NEWS LINKS] [RESPONSE SHEETS] [SYLLABUS] |
|