Teaching Professor Robert O. Keel

• E-mail: rok@umsl.edu (I'll try to reply to contacts within 24 hours--except on weekends)
• Office: 712 SSB Tower
• Phone: 516-6052
• Prof. Keel's Homepage: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr
• Curriculum Vitae
• Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:00 PM; Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 AM-12:15 PM. If these specific times don’t meet your needs, call or e-mail to see if we can arrange an appointment. Try "BB-IM," too.

This syllabus contains:

• Textbook information, Important Information, TA information, Course Description and Course Objectives
• Expectations, Class Conduct, and Student Responsibilities (a must read!)
• A step-by-step account of completing all course requirements
• Course Tools and Campus Computing Resources (another "must read")
• Grading (including the "72 Hour Rule"), Delayed Grades, and Withdrawal Policies
• An excerpt from the student handbook on appropriate academic behavior.
• Still have questions after reading the syllabus? See Prof. Keel's FAQs, Advice, and Help.

Textbooks:

1. Required: Ritzer, George. 2010. Contemporary Sociological Theory and its Classical Roots, 3rd edition. St. Louis: McGraw-Hill.  ISBN: 978-0-07-340438-7
2. Recommended (but not required): Farganis, James. 2011. Readings in Social Theory, 6th edition. St. Louis: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0-07-811155-6 (Many of these reading, and more, will be available online)
3. There will a variety of "Virtual Handouts" (WWW sites, online essays, and cyber-reports to read and explore) assigned as additional readings throughout the semester.  Accessing some of these handouts may require that you log on to "Roksworld" web site (username: student, password: umsl). 

Important Information:

• Please do not print this document and other course materials. All documents available online are meant to be used online and are accessible from any internet location--save paper, save a tree.
• There are students from two "sections" enrolled in this course: a day section (001) meeting Monday and Wednesday and an Internet-only section (002).  The REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS are exactly the same. 
• MyGateway Class Pages: http://mygateway.umsl.edu.  Here you will find a link to the class MyGateway site, all class information, communication tools, assignments, and grades.  See below for information on logging onto and using the MyGateway site, as well as an outline of the contents in the class MyGateway site.
• Minimum Technology Requirements (especially, but not just for online students) and a variety of useful technology tutorials.
• Course Tools and Campus Computing Resources
• Assignments, Readings and Class Schedule (all sections): in the Assignments area of the class MyGateway site, or: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/3210/3210assignments.html
• Class Lectures and Discussion:
  • All students are expected to "attend" two class sessions each week; Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
  • All sessions will be broadcast and archived using Wimba.
  • Students from any section that miss a live class session are expected to playback the Wimba archive(s) from that day.
    • Day Section 001 meets: Monday and Wednesday (12:30-1:45 PM in 449 SSB), Wimba broadcast and archiving available.
    • Internet-only section (002): Students are expected to attend class using Wimba (live sessions OR if your schedule doesn't allow you to attend the live classes, you must review the archived recording(s) of the class sessions within 7 days for attendance credit).
      • See Wimba, below, for information on using Wimba to "attend" class, and for information on playing back archived class sessions. Archives of Wimba class sessions should be reviewed prior to the start of the following class session. See, "Attendance" for information more information--including the use of Wimba MP3 and MP4 files of class sessions.
• Class Homepage: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/3210/3210index.html
• Roksworld (username: student, password: umsl)
• Sociology Department Homepage: http://www.umsl.edu/~sociolog/

Teaching Assistants:

Jacob Perkins

• E-mail: jdppp7@umsl.edu
• Phone: 314-516-6381
• Office: 710 SSB Tower
• Office Hours

Doc Luecke

• E-mail: jly68@umsl.edu
• Phone: 314-516-5141
• Office: 702 SSB Tower
• Office Hours

This course is an introduction to sociological theory. It provides an overview of both classical and contemporary sociological theory. Special emphasis is given to the historical context and the philosophical background out of which sociological theory emerges as well as the individuals responsible for identifying and developing the core concepts and perspectives which serve as the basis for sociological theorizing.

The main objective of this course is help students understand the relevance of sociological theory to their everyday lives--to place personal experiences into the broader perspective of sociological understanding, and to understand the human being as a truly social being.

This is a web-based class using the MyGateway system. The class MyGateway site is used by day section students (sections 001) and students in the Internet-only section (002). All students are responsible for accessing and using the variety of online resources available.  The day section will meet, face-to-face, twice a week to discuss assigned material. Students in the internet-only sections are expected to attend class via Wimba--either "live" or by viewing the recorded and archived class sessions on Wimba. Students are responsible for reading and studying assigned material prior to the weekly class meetings.

Course Objectives, Learning Goals, and Expectations:

1. To become familiar with the major themes of classical sociological theory and understand how contemporary sociological theory builds on these themes.
2. To analyze each of the major theoretical traditions in terms of its basic assumptions, key concepts, main arguments and major representatives.
3. To critically evaluate each of the major theoretical traditions in terms of their interpretive and explanatory strengths and weaknesses.
4. To apply key concepts and main ideas of sociological theory to a practical analysis of the everyday life in contemporary society.
5. To take into account the socio-historical background associated with the growth of particular social theoretical traditions.
6. To encourage critical thinking about individual and collective behavior.
7. To demystify sociological theory and develop an understanding of theory as the basis of sociological inquiry.

Students are expected to consider each of these objectives, goals, and expectations when contributing to class discussions and in completing their written work. The understanding and application of the assigned readings and class discussion is a necessary part in earning a top grade in this course.

Expectations, Class Conduct, and Student Responsibilities (a must read!)

Course Requirements (Students who submit work past a due date are subject to penalties, point deductions, or not having their work accepted for grading.)

1. Syllabus quiz: due by Friday, January 27, 2012, close of business: 5:00 PM. (15 points possible)
2. Attendance (30 points)
3. Online and In-Class Participation (including the Introductory message due by Monday, January 23, 2012, 9:00 AM) (30 points expected)
4. Sociological Theory Wiki Project (260 points possible)
5. Mid-term Exam (65 questions, 1 point per question, 65 points possible)
6. Final Exam (100 questions, 1 points per question, 100 points)

• The syllabus quiz is required.
• Read the full course syllabus (this document).
• Access the syllabus quiz by the link in the Assignments area (third item in this area) of the MyGateway course site.
• The syllabus quiz must be completed, with a score of 15, by Friday, January 27, 2012, close of business: 5:00 PM.
• If the quiz is not completed with a perfect score of 15, NO points will be awarded. If you complete the syllabus quiz with a score of 15, you will be awarded 15 points.
• You can take the syllabus quiz multiple times prior to Friday, January 27, 2012, close of business: 5:00 PM.

3. Attendance: Expected (30 points possible).

• All students are expected to "attend" two class sessions each week. Live class sessions are held Monday and Wednesday from 12:30-1:45 PM in 449 SSB.
• All students are expected to "attend" all class sessions. Students may attend class in a variety of ways: live--face-to-face (this is the preferred and encouraged option), live via Wimba, or by reviewing the Wimba archives. You will be held responsible for the content of all class sessions
• If you can't attend a live class session, the Wimba archives of that session should be reviewed prior to the next class session, or within seven (7) days to receive basic attendance credit 1 point per class session. Click the link: Wimba, for detailed instructions for using Wimba Live Classroom.
  • Please note that you can download mp3 and mp4 files of the Wimba archives for playback on Ipods and home computers. PLEASE NOTE: I CANNOT track these downloads or playbacks and therefore CANNOT assign attendance points for using these file formats. HOWEVER, if you cannot access the online archives or cannot attend the live class, reviewing the mp3 or mp4 recordings will provide you with access to course content, AND you can earn additional engagement points by making additional contributions to the weekly class discussion forum (beyond the expected 2 SOL posts). See, Online and In-Class Participation--Sign of Life (SOL) and contact Prof. Keel for details and permission to use this option.
• One point per class, two classes per week: 30 points total.
• Attendance and SOL/Participation scores will be updated in the MyGateway class grade book every few weeks beginning the third week of the semester. Announcements will be made in class and MyGateway when scores are updated. See 72 hour rule.

4. Online and In-Class Participation--Sign of Life (SOL) (30 points expected).

I consider attendance to involve more than simple "presence," so, twice each week, some "sign of life" (basic response or question) is expected from every student. If you don't contribute to the live class discussion, you are expected to post an "SOL" in the online discussion board forum twice each week. Students who view the archived class recordings will have to post in the online forum to earn their SOL points.

• In-class discussions (in-person or via the live Wimba interface) may count towards your SOLs each week.
• If you "attend" by viewing the class archives, then you will need to earn your SOL points by posting comments concerning the class sessions or other students' comments in the class discussion board (Sociological Theory and Everyday Life forum) sometime during the week.
• Students who attend live sessions and fail to participate even minimally, must also earn their full attendance/SOL points by posting comments in the Sociological Imagination forum.
• SOL posts must be of at least 75 words and convey a distinct sense of understanding of the ongoing in-class discussion and presentations. Topics for discussion could be what you found most interesting and/or what is still confusing to you.
• To earn additional credit, SOL posts must be made on separate days (minimum 2 hour time interval).
• Weekly SOL discussion threads open and close each week on Monday at 12:00 noon.
• Simple messages indicating agreement (or just your presence) will earn .25-.5 point, messages displaying an understanding of basic concepts, theories, and ideas will earn .75-1 point, and messages extending and applying core concepts and perspectives can earn up to 2 points (exceptional work). In-class participation will be included in your participation scores.
• Additional work/participation can earn additional credit (not just more, but good work).
• To post in the SOL forum: from the class MyGateway site, select, Discussion Board, and then click on the "Sociological Theory and Everyday Life" forum to open it. Select the appropriate thread. Use the reply button to reply to the message with your response (you can also reply to other students).  Be sure to use the "Submit" button to post your reply. If you use the "Save" button, your work will not be available to anyone other than yourself, and will not be counted. You can detect a saved message by noting the designation "(draft)" after the subject. You can "modify" a saved (draft) message and submit it.
• Basic help with using discussion forums can be found at: http://www.umsl.edu/technology/mgwhelp/stuhelp/studiscussion.html.

For all students: A mandatory first forum (introduction) message is due by Monday, January 23, 2012 by 12:00 Noon

• For your first "SOL," all students are required to post an introductory message in the "Week 1" thread in the "Sociological Theory and Everyday Life" forum in the class Discussion Board.
• Your introductory message should include a brief account of your background, why you are taking this course, and what you expect to get out of the course experience.
• Your introductory message must be posted by Monday, January 23, 2012, by 12:00 Noon.

Students should display their understanding of basic sociological concepts, theories, and analysis in main class discussion forum, and/or during in-class discussions and presentations.  Messages and commentary in the for-credit forums should be questions, comments, extensions of in-class discussion, "mini-reports" on individual research, and/or replies relevant to the theme of the ongoing online discussion.

• You can find further guidance on our expectations for online participation in the "General Class Discussion" forum in the class MyGateway site.
• Since a mark of an educated individual is the ability to communicate effectively and precisely, style, grammar, and spelling count. Poorly organized posts and those that have multiple grammatical and spelling errors will not be acceptable.
• Appropriate resources and references should be included in your forum and communication posts--even if you are only using the text book. See academic integrity statement and Turnitin information.
• "Weeks" begin and end at 12:00 Noon on Mondays. Attendance and SOL/Participation scores will be updated in the MyGateway class grade book every few weeks beginning the third week of the semester. Announcements will be made in class and MyGateway when scores are updated. See 72 hour rule.

NOTE:  Multiple messages posted on a single day to a single forum may not necessarily count towards the semester total unless they each contribute substantially to the forum topics.  Multiple messages in the final weeks and/or days of the semester by students who have not been active in the class do not reflect "class engagement," and will NOT necessarily be counted toward your point total.  All students will receive periodic feedback (public and private) from the instructor (or TAs) to keep them aware of their progress with this requirement.  It is critical that students check their campus e-mail to receive private communication from the instructor.  See the orientation message in the general discussion forum for more information.

The instructor and TAs will post questions of substantive concern for class discussion, but students are encouraged to initiate their own discussion topics.  Students are expected investigate relevant resources, and participate in the ongoing, online, class discussion; and attend weekly in-class discussions on a regular basis.

Expected: Two (2) comments a week, one point per comment/posting, 30 points over the course of the semester. Students may earn up to 2 additional points a week for more frequent and exceptional work, Additionally, students who wish to earn attendance credit via use of the mp3/mp4 recordings must make at least 2 additional posts in the SOL forum in a given week. (NOTE: missed contributions in the early weeks of the semester CANNOT be "made-up" by multiple contributions at the end of the semester).

For-credit forums will close on Sunday, May 6, 2012 (end of day)

5. Sociological Theory Wiki Project(260 points possible):

• Each Student is to create a "personal page" in the class Sociological Theory Wiki Project. (due Wednesday, February 1 by beginning of class)
• Each student is responsible for making 4 contributions to the "Sociological Theory Wiki Project."
• Wiki contributions must be the equivalent of 750 words (about the equivalent of 3, double-spaced, typed pages).
• See the Sociological Theory Wiki Project page for details.
• Dues dates are posted on the "Assignments, Readings, and Course Schedule" and on the Sociological Theory Wiki Project page.
• Students must make informed comments (125 word minimum) on at least four (4) other students' work within 7 days of a project deadline.
• See academic integrity statement and Turnitin information.
• Be sure to complete the "E-mail Feedback Consent." You can find the e-mail feedback consent "test" in the "Assignments" area of MyGateway. Until you give consent, you will have to visit Prof. Keel or a TA to receive full feedback on your wiki work.

Personal page: 20 points, Four (4) contributions to the Sociological Wiki Project, 50 points per contribution: 200 points total, and comments on other students' contribution pages (minimum of four (4) per round of contributions)--2.5 points each, 40 points total. Overall total: 260.

Students who submit work past a due date are subject to penalties, point deductions, or not having their work accepted for grading.

6.Tests (165 points possible)

Students who submit work past a due date are subject to penalties, point deductions, or not having their work accepted for grading.

• Tests may be taken from any Internet location, so in effect, the tests are "open book."
• The tests are "timed" and it is advisable to only use the Firefox web browser (MS Internet Explorer often has difficulty with the test timer).
• The mid-term can be taken twice. Your high score from the two attempts will serve as you final score on the mid-term.
• Following completion of a test, you will receive feedback--the questions, your answers, and whether your answers were right or wrong. It makes sense to use the feedback from a first attempt at a test as a study resource prior to taking the second attempt
  You can also review your work on a test (after completion) by clicking on the grade in the grade reporting area of MyGateway (Student Tools: View Grades).
• You will have 75 minutes to complete the mid-term exam.  If you go over time on a test attempt, you will be subject to a penalty of two (2) points per minute (or fraction thereof) over time or not having the attempt count.
• An attempt is an attempt. You may request one reset of a failed Mid-term Exam attempt (for technological "glitches"). A submitted exam will not be available for reset.
• BE PATIENT: when you click the "Begin" button to access an exam, ONLY CLICK ONCE, a double click will count as two attempts (and an attempt is an attempt).
• Any concerns regarding your tests must be addressed before the end of the semester.

The Final Exam  (100 questions, 1 point a question, 100 points total)

• The Final Exam will be available for approximately one week and must be completed by the end of the day (11:59 PM) on Thursday, May 10, 2012.
• The Final Exam will cover both the assigned readings associated with chapters 6-10, as well as the key concepts and theories focused on throughout the semester.
• The Final Exam may be taken from any Internet location, so in effect, it is "open book." The Final Exam is "timed" and it is advisable to only use the Firefox web browser.
• The Final Exam can be taken two times. Your high score will serve as you final score on the Final Exam. Following completion of an attempt of the Final Exam, you will receive feedback--the questions, your answers, and whether your answers were right or wrong. It makes sense to use the feedback from a first attempt at a test as a study resource prior to taking an additional attempt.
• You will have 120 minutes to complete the final exam.  If you go over time on a test attempt, you will be subject to a penalty of 2 points per minute (or fraction thereof) over time or not having the attempt count.
• An attempt is an attempt. You may request one reset of a failed Final Exam attempt (for technological "glitches"). A submitted exam will not be available for reset. BE PATIENT: when you click the "Begin" button to access an exam, ONLY CLICK ONCE, a double click will count as two attempts (and an attempt is an attempt).
• Any concerns regarding your tests must be addressed before the end of the semester.
• Make-up tests will be available for students who can document exceptional circumstances that prohibited them for completing at least one attempt of a test during its regular availability period. You must contact the instructor within 24 hours following the close of a test to arrange for a make-up. There will only be one attempt available for a make-up test.
• Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in a Zero (0) being recorded for the test/final exam in question.

The class Teaching Assistants are available for review and discussion sessions (they may be online). The sessions will offered based on student interest and initiative (you need to contact the professor and course TAs to arrange review sessions). The sessions will be a general review of the material to be covered on the test.

• Syllabus quiz: 15 points possible
• Attendance: 30 points
• Online and In-Class Participation (including the Introductory message): 30 points expected.
• Sociological Theory Wiki Project: 260 points possible
• Mid-term Exam: 65 points possible
• Final Exam: 100 points

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/3210/3210syllabus.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel: rok@umsl.edu
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 3:33 PM

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