Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator; Student Center 255, phone number is (678) 466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu 

Instructor: Mr. Lingnam Hung

Office: A/S G116

Office Hours: Monday 6pm - 6.30pm

Email: LingnamHung@clayton.edu (Please email through GeorgiaVIEW)
 

Course Description and Objectives:

This course introduces students to the diverse disciplines within social sciences and a survey of contemporary problems that relates to human behavior and social life. We will be exploring a wide variety of subjects, including concepts, perspectives, and methods of sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and psychology. While topics are diverse, we will be consistent in connecting these topics using a central integrative theme – Power in society. Applying viewpoints and perspectives from an interdisciplinary approach, we try to examine and understand how individual lives and social groups are shaped by distributions of power in our everyday life.

Overall, the objective of this course is to give us an opportunity to

• Increase the understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live;

• Express coherent arguments in writing and speaking through use of an inter-disciplinary of concepts and principles; and

• Engage in critical thinking, reading, and writing throughout the semester.

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Required Text:

Harrison, B. and Dye, T. Power and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences. Thomsom-Wadsworth.

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Computer Requirement:

• Able to use the Windows operating system

• Able to use a word processing software

• Able to access and use GeorgiaVIEW interface

• Able to send and receive email in GeorgiaVIEW

• Able to attach and retrieve attached files via email in GeorgiaVIEW

• Able to access and use a Web browser

• Have access to a reliable internet connection

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In-class Use of Computers:

Each student in this course is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets approved hardware and software requirements for the student’s academic program and this course. Go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu  for full details of this policy.

Students must have access to and able to use GeorgiaVIEW (previously known as WebCT) to complete the assignments and communicate with the instructor. It is recommended to bring your notebook computer to class.

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Class Policies:

• Students must abide by all policies in the University catalog and the Student Handbook. Students also are expected to follow the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities

All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs

• Disruption of the Learning Environment: Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If a violation were found, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at:

http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm 

• Students are required to have access to and be able to use GeorgiaVIEW. All email communication, exams and online assignments will be conducted on the GeorgiaVIEW interface. For additional information about the interface or assistance, visit the HUB Technical difficulties such as hardware and software malfunctions, lost internet connections, etc. are not sufficient reasons to ask instructor to re-evaluate students’ performances on exams and online assignments. To email instructor, use the "Browse for Recipients" feature in the GeorgiaVIEW Email to search for instructor’s email address.

• Students are expected to attend and participate in every class. Instructor may drop students from class if they fail to attend at least one class session during the first two classes of instruction, or when accumulated unexcused hours of absence exceed ten percent of the total number of hours the class meets during the semester. It is expected that students show up on time, and participate in the in-class group assignments. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

• Students are expected to have all the readings completed before the class for which those readings were assigned.

• Students are expected to take the exams and online assignments at scheduled times.

• It is important that this class be considered protected spaces where tolerance of diverse opinions is an absolute. Students are expected to be polite and courteous towards others.

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Evaluation:

• Exams - Cover material from lectures, group assignments, and assigned readings, regardless of whether they are covered in class. Exams are not cumulative and they are administered in GeorgiaVIEW. Time (duration) and length of exams varies.

• Online Assignments - Introduce topics related to materials discussed in lectures, group assignments, and assigned readings. Students must have internet access to complete the assignment. Online Assignments are administered on the GeorgiaVIEW interface. Time (duration) and length of online assignments varies.

• Presentation - Engage in critical thinking, reading, and presentation.

• Class Participation - Share opinions and ideas with the class and to stimulate a larger class discussion, students must be present for the small group discussion. There will be many in-class discussions and small group assignments. Students are encouraged to actively participate in in-class discussions while displaying courteousness and thoughtfulness. The quality and frequency of students’ participation, as well as attendance, will be considered when assigning the class participation grade.

• Extra Credit - Presentations (see below).

There are two extra credit opportunities. Students will present a 5 minute summary on one contemporary event that is related to the topics covered in this class. Students need to use visual aids (for example: PowerPoint software, posters, self-made YouTube videos etc.) in their presentations. Students need to email (via GeorgiaVIEW) the instructor a one-page executive summary prior to the start of the class as well as stating which scoring option is chosen (see below).

o Extra credit grade is based on the quality of work submitted and presented.

o If a student completes both extra credit assignments, he/she can choose either (1) to drop one of the exam or online assignment grade (points possible: 200 points ? 170 points); or (2) treat both extra credit presentations score as “extra credit” and add to his/her grade at the end of the semester.

o This is the ONLY extra credit / re-evaluation opportunity in this class that applies to any personal hardship, technical problems, etc. that one may face throughout the semester.

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Grading:

Final grades will be determined as follows (total 200 points):

• Exam 1 - 30 points

• Exam 2 - 30 points

• Exam 3 - 30 points

• Exam 4 - 30 points

• Online Assignment - 30 points

• Presentation 1 - 15 points

• Presentation 2 - 15 points

• Class Participation - 20 points

Extra Credit will be added at the end of the semester if student chooses to participate and selects option 2:

• Extra Credit 1 - 10 points

• Extra Credit 2 - 10 points

The grading scale:

• A (180 – 200 points)

• B (160 – 179 points)

• C (140 – 159 points)

• D (120 – 139 points)

• F (Below 120 points)

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Course Schedule:

WEEK 1 (8/17)

• Course Introduction

• Chapter 2

• Read Chapter 2

WEEK 2 (8/24)

• Chapter 2

• Chapter 1

• Read Chapter 2 & 1

WEEK 3 (8/31)

• Chapter 4

• Read Chapter 4

WEEK 4 (9/7)

• Labor Day - 9/7 (no class)

• Chapter 3

• Read Chapter 3

WEEK 5 (9/14)

• Presentation 1 - 9/14

• Exam 1 (Chapter 1, 2, & 4) on GeorgiaVIEW – 9/16

WEEK 6 (9/21)

• Chapter 6

• Chapter 12

• Read Chapter 6 & 12

WEEK 7 (9/28)

• Extra Credit Assignment 1 - 9/28

• Chapter 12

• Read Chapter 12

WEEK 8 (10/5)

• Chapter 5

• Read Chapter 5

** Mid-term Progress Report: **

The mid-term grade in this course will be reported between 10/5 and 10/9. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W". Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 9.

WEEK 9 (10/12)

• Chapter 8

• Read Chapter 8

• Exam 2 (Chapter 3, 6 & 12) on GeorgiaVIEW – 10/14

WEEK 10 (10/19)

• Chapter 10

• Chapter 11

• Read Chapter 10 & 11

WEEK 11 (10/26)

• Presentation 2 - 10/26

• Chapter 11

• Read Chapter 11

WEEK 12 (11/2)

• Chapter 13

• Read Chapter 13

WEEK 13 (11/9)

• Chapter 8

• Chapter 7

• Read Chapter 8 & 7

WEEK 14 (11/16)

• Chapter 7

• Read Chapter 7

• Exam 3 (Chapter 5, 10 & 11) on GeorgiaVIEW – 11/18

WEEK 15 (11/23)

• Extra Credit Assignment 2 - 11/23

• Thanksgiving Holiday - 11/25 (no class)

WEEK 16 (11/30)

• Online Assignment

WEEK 17 (12/7)

• EXAM 4 (Chapter 7, 8, & 13) - TBA

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THIS SYLLABUS SHOULD BE VIEWED AS AN OUTLINE FOR THE COURSE AND A GUIDELINE OF EXPECTATIONS. THESE POLICIES AND SCHEDULING INFORMATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.