Course Syllabus

Winter 2022 Sociology 101 #1646

Welcome! My name is Romy Griepp and it's nice to meet you! In this Syllabus, I hope to clearly outline what you can expect from the course and from me as your instructor. If you elect to continue learning with me, I look forward to participating in your educational journey!

To better understand your rights as GCC students learning virtually online, check out this link.

To better understand how we at GCC want everyone to approach distance education, check out this link.

"Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk, sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us, reveling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community."
– bell hooks. Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope. 2003

Instructor Contact Information

  • Instructor Name: Romy Griepp
  • Pronouns: they/she
  • GCC Email: rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu
  • Canvas inbox: You click on "Inbox" on the left side of your homepage. Click on "Compose a new message", select this course, and then select "Teachers" under the "To" field and you will find my name, Romy Griepp
  • Pronto: the built-in messaging system in Canvas that can be downloaded as an app on your phone or computer.
    • I will respond to your email or message within 24 hours, M-F. If you do not hear back from me within this time, please assume I did not receive your email and resend it. When you message or email me, please include your name, course number, and section number (if applicable) to the message subject line.
  • Visiting Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am-12:15pm, available via Zoom as outlined below -
    • Zoom resources: Here is the link for Zoom support and here is the link for ITS Helpdesk, a GCC-specific resource.
    • Zoom meeting information: Winter 2022 Virtual Visiting Hours
    • Join Zoom Meeting https://glendale-edu.zoom.us/j/93668487324?pwd=NFB6dHM4MlJ2OVhIbnpyLzVxdkthUT09 
    • Meeting ID: 936 6848 7324
      Passcode: 590774 
    • Find your local number: https://glendale-edu.zoom.us/u/aBWEYmVow
    • I am also available for private meetings outside these hours. Email me to make your appointment, once we confirm date and time I will send a private Zoom meeting link twice - once 24 hours before our meeting and again the morning of our meeting.

Course Description

Sociology 101 is an introduction to sociology, its basic concepts, theoretical approaches, methods and resources. Topics typically include the analysis and explanation of social structure, group dynamics, socialization and the self, social stratification, culture and diversity, social change, and group dynamics. Course objectives include the ability to apply sociological ideas to everyday life. 

Prerequisites: eligibility for English 120 or ESL 151.

Credit and Transfer: Associate Degree Credit and transfer to CSU (CSU General Education), IGETC (UC Transfer Course list), and to USC.

About Your Class 

This class will introduce the field of Sociology and ways we examine humanity and our lived experiences through a sociological lens, in the hopes of continued investigation well beyond completion of this course.

  • This course is 100% Online: We will not meet on-campus for any reason. 
  • This course will officially begin on January 10, 2022 and end on February 18, 2022.
  • This is a 6-week asynchronous course with synchronous visiting hours (Zoom information found above in the Instructor Contact Information, in the Zoom Announcement, and the Virtual Visiting Hours module)
  • Check-In Assignment: Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment within the "Getting Started" Module.
    • This assignment is due by Thursday, January 13 2022 by 11:59pm. This assignment establishes attendance for our asynchronous, virtual course. Failure to complete this check-in by the due date will result in your being dropped from this course.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the methodological techniques used within the discipline of Sociology to understand sociological phenomena
  2. Analyze the complex interplay between society and individuals' lives
  3. Compare and contrast the approaches taken by the three major sociological perspectives (Functionalism, Conflict, and Social Interactionism theories) in their explanation of various social phenomena, including social problems

Course Exit Standards

Upon successful completion of the course, you will complete the following tasks:

  1. Apply the sociological imagination to a variety of contemporary social phenomena
  2. Describe the historical development of sociology as a separate discipline
  3. Distinguish between the use of various research methods
  4. Identity, compare, and apply the primary sociological perspectives
  5. Explain and apply key sociological concepts
  6. Describe and explain the basic dimensions of social inequality and social change in historical and contemporary society
  7. Assess what social forces and organizational structures are most prominent in shaping, guiding, and influencing individual and group behavior in contemporary society

Required Materials

Textbook title: Introduction to Sociology, 3e

Textbook digital ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-36-7

This course has one required textbook, available for free as a textbook viewable in your browser and as a PDF. If there are any issues with accessibility, please reach out to me via email rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu and I will work to get you access!

Course Assignments

Weekly Assignments

Each week you will need to complete the following:

  • Post in the weekly Discussion Forum by Wednesdays at 11:59pm and reply to at least 3 students by Thursdays at 11:59pm (the only exceptions are our first week, when the entire Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment is due by Thursday, January 13 2022 at 11:59pm, and the final week that does not have a Discussion Forum)
  • Submit your weekly Reading Reflection by Fridays at 11:59pm (due except for the final week, which does not have a Reading Reflection as there will be a final Annotated Bibliography assignment instead)

Special Projects & Assessments

  • To begin the course, there is an Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment, due January 13, 2022 by 11:59pm and is worth 15 points. This is considered your record of attendance, therefore it is exempt from the late work policy (as outlined below) and if left uncompleted by the deadline, you will be dropped from the course.
  • There is a Documentary Analysis paper due midway through our semester, Saturday January 29, 2022 by 11:59pm, worth 20 points. This paper requires that you watch a documentary released within the last 10 years that focuses on issues within the U.S.A.. You will write a minimum of three pages on how the movie connects to what we learn in class, and how this connects to your life or taught you about a new issue. This must be double-spaced, in MLA or APA format including citations. For citation help, please use this Purdue OWL website.
  • There will be a final Abstract & Annotated Bibliography assignment due February 17, 2022 by 11:59pm. The details of this assignment is in its corresponding Annotated Bibliography assignment page. Briefly, you will write an abstract on a current social issue followed by an annotated bibliography that cites, outlines, and analyzes other research on your chosen topic.

Academic Honesty

It is expected that all work submitted for grading is original, not copied from others and that the work being graded is indeed done by the student who is receiving the grade. Cheating and plagiarism are serious violations of the student conduct code. Cheating or plagiarizing will result in a zero on the assignment or test and may result in other disciplinary action taken by the College. All incidents of cheating or plagiarizing are reported to the Dean of Students. For more information, please refer to the Glendale Community College Academic Honesty Policy.

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria Chart

Grading Criteria Chart

Assignment

Points

Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment - 1 assignment

15 points

Discussion Forums - 5 total assignments

15 points each

Reading Reflections - 5 total assignments

15 points each

Documentary Analysis Paper - 1 assignment

20 points

Annotated Bibliography - 1 assignment

115 points

Total:                  

300 points

 

Grading Scale

Letter Grade

Percentage

A

90-100%

B

80-89 %

C

70-79 %

D

60-69%

F

59% and below

Assignment Rubrics

In order to understand what is expected of you for each assignment, please check out the rubric - a table that details the benchmarks for success. These are attached to each Assignment and/or Discussion Forum as the grading criteria. Instructions on how to find these rubrics can be found by clicking this link.

Accident Forgiveness Options

There are two ways you can earn up to 10 bonus points:

  • Students can receive up to 5 extra points by dropping into virtual visiting hours to discuss course material, review an assignment, or just chat. You can visit as many times as you wish but you will only collect up to 5 extra points for 5 visits (i.e. any visit beyond your 5th cannot be redeemed for points, it would just be for fun!). The final date to redeem a virtual visiting hour point is February 17, 2022 by 12:15pm.
  • I want funny memes and am shamelessly asking for your help! If you can create and share a sociologically-themed meme (say that 10x fast), along with a one-to-two sentence description including how it connects to our sociology course, then please post in the Meme Discussion Forum. As with all work we engage with and produce, we will abide by basic practices of respect and empathy. Inappropriate meme content such as graphic imagery, disrespectful language, or explicit violence will not be permitted. For a reminder of our collective agreement, please refer to our Community Norms & Agreements page. his work is worth 5 points and must be submitted by February 17, 2022 by 11:59pm. To ensure every student has an equal chance at earning the same amount of points, there is a one-meme-per-student rule.

Late Work

There is a 24-hour grace period on all assignments except for the Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment due Thursday January 13, 2022 by 11:59pm because this is considered proof of attendance, therefore it cannot be made up.

The final Annotated Bibliography due Thursday February 17, 2022 by 11:59pm may be submitted beyond the due date ONLY if I am notified by Tuesday February 15, 2022 by 12pm of the emergency that prevents on-time submission. You will be granted an extension and modified grading rubric that we will co-create to satisfy your course completion in time for formal grades to be submitted.

For all other work, late work will be lowered by one letter grade if submitted up to one week past its original deadline. If eligible work is submitted beyond this one week mark, then it will be accepted for a maximum of half credit.

  • For example: if a Reading Reflection is due by Friday, January 28th by 11:59pm but is turned in within 24 hours of this original deadline, there will be no point deduction. If this assignment is turned in within a week of its original deadline, then an A-quality paper will receive a B grade (a.k.a. work docked by one letter grade). If this assignment is submitted a week after its original deadline, then it will receive at most half credit.

Course Grades & Feedback

You can view your grades using the Grades button in the course navigation links. Please check your grades regularly to make certain that I have received all your assignments. If you have a question about a grade, email me at rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu or through the Canvas Inbox (left-side of your screen).

I will be using the Canvas grading tool for your discussions and written assignments within 48 to 72 hours of your submission of your assignment. You can see not only your grades, but also comments and feedback as well.

Attendance & Participation Policies

Online Courses

  • Drop Policy: A student must log into Canvas during the first week of an online class and pass the Check-In Assignment by Thursday, January 13 2022 at 11:59 PM in order to remain in the class (this is a state requirement). See Refund/Payment Policy for more information regarding course drops.
    • Any student that is added after the Thursday deadline as a 'late add' student has until Census to complete the Check-In Assignment or be dropped. 
  • Attendance: If a student misses more than the equivalent of two weeks’ worth of online assignments (i.e. fails to complete two Modules' worth of work), they may lose credit for, or be dropped from, the course.

Your virtual presence and participation are valued! Please make every effort to stay on top of the weekly deadlines. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know as soon as possible via email rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu, Canvas Inbox, and/or Pronto. Genuinely, I want to see you finish this course and will make all efforts to support you in the case of an emergency or crisis. I’m here to help you succeed!

Additional Policies and Resources

Students with Disabilities

  • All students with disabilities seeking accommodations are responsible for making arrangements in a timely manner through the Center for Students with Disabilities. Please let me know right away if you will need accommodations so we can pre-plan together. I can be reached via email at rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu.
  • Please let me know if you have adaptive software and hardware to assist you with taking this course or if you have any specific needs of which I should be aware. You can find more information about Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) or call their office at 818-240-1000 x5905.

Student Technical Support

Here is the link for ITS Helpdesk. If you are having problems go to the HELP button on the global navigation menu (in red). You can check out the Canvas Knowledge Base or ask questions with the chat feature. We also have GCC Canvas LIVE help during the weekdays. You can also check out the following resources: 

Student Online Services

There are many additional services to help you during this course. A few of these include:

  • Free Online Tutoring, which can be accessed through the website or through Canvas.
  • GCC Library (Databases & Online Chat), which can be accessed through the website or through Canvas.
  • For access to the LA Public Library system, which has excellent free to low-cost resources, please click here

Additional services can be found on the GCC Student Services Webpage.

Netiquette

For the online etiquette policy, otherwise known as netiquette, please refer to this document with helpful links that will open in your browser. 

Purdue Online Writing Lab

Check out the Purdue OWL site for their helpful Citation Style Guide, which outlines how to correctly write citations according to MLA and APA rules (the two most common style guides).

Microsoft Office 365

Here you can find information on the free student version of Microsoft Office 365 that grants no-cost access to the entire suite, such as Word and PowerPoint, while enrolled as a student.

FAFSA and GCC Student Financial Aid Information

Covid-19 Information

GCC has specific updates that are important to review as we navigate education in this pandemic. If you have not reviewed this information, please do so by clicking this link and read through the information provided including our mandate policy, vaccine and covid-19 test appointment resources, and emergency funding for students.

Student Resources

I have created a list of off-campus resources for anyone in need, from housing insecurity to mental health services. I have done my best to collect information that provides free to low-cost support systems. You can download the information as a Word document here, or as a PDF document here

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, rgrieppmcree@glendale.edu, for any help needed to navigate or access support.

Schedule of Assignments

Winter 2022 Sociology 101 #1646 Schedule

Timeline

Topic

 Workload

Week 1: January 10 - January 14

Getting Started

Introduction to Sociology

Sociological Research

Introduction Discussion - Check-in Assignment

Reading Reflection #1

Week 2: January 17 - January 21

Culture

Society, Social Interaction, & Socialization

Discussion Forum #2

Reading Reflection #2

Week 3: January 24 - January 28

Social Stratification in the U.S.A.

Race & Ethnicity

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

Discussion Forum #3

Reading Reflection #3

Documentary Analysis Paper

Week 4: January 31 - February 4

Marriage & Family

Religion, Education, Government & Politics

Discussion Forum #4

Reading Reflection #4

Week 5: February 7 - February 11

Work & the Economy

Health & Medicine

Population & Globalization

Discussion Forum #5

Reading Reflection #5

Week 6: February 14 - February 18

Social Movements & Social Change

Annotated Bibliography

Final week to submit Accident Forgiveness opportunities