Pre-requisites: SOC 100; Completion of Math Competency
Readings and Materials:
1) Frankfort-Nachmias, Chava and Anna Leon-Guerrero, Social Statistics for a Diverse Society, 5th Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge. 2009.
2) Articles which will be available through Blackboard
3) one electronic storage device--perhaps a thumb drive or a 3 ½ inch high density (2S/HD) computer disk
4) simple hand-held calculator
Web Sites:
The web site for this course is found at:
You can find much of the material for the course at:
www.chsbs.cmich.edu/Mary_Senter/soc200.htm
Data sets to use for the course are found at http://www.pineforge.com/frankfort-nachmiasstudy5/
These sites are referenced in Blackboard as well, so you can always begin by going to Blackboard.
To stay current with this course, you will need to access this site frequently.
Time Issues:
You will need to ensure that you have time outside of class periods to use the computers in the Social Science Computer Laboratory (Anspach 251) or elsewhere on campus. A schedule of times when the lab is open for public use will be posted in the display case in the hall. Due dates for assignments and dates of exams will be announced in class and will be posted on the web pages.
Evaluations: Your term grade will be determined by your scores on four exams and ten assignments. These assignments will be weighted as follows:
| Exam #1 | 100 points |
| Exam #2 | 100 points |
| Exam #3 | 100 points |
| Exam #4 (Final exam) | 150 points |
| Ten Assignments @ 30points each | 300 points |
| TOTAL | 750 points |
Generally speaking, you can plan on having either an exam or an assignment due each week during the semester.
Exams: There will be three exams during the semester and a final for this course. I will announce the dates for the three in-class exams in class at least one week in advance. We will also discuss the format of these exams in class. The three in-class exams will cover approximately four weeks' course material and will occur during your lab period on Wednesday evening. The final exam (scheduled at the assigned time during exam week) will cover the final few weeks of the course; in addition, a section of the final will be cumulative. Keep in mind, however, that the material in a course such as this one is inherently cumulative. That is, I will assume in week ten, for example, that you have not forgotten the material from week four. (This is the reason that the Final Exam is worth more points than the others.)
Assignments: You will be asked to complete eleven assignments during the semester. All of the assignments require computer use. We will discuss the assignments when we are in the lab on Wednesdays. I will drop your lowest assignment score; so, your course grade will be based on your points for your ten best assignments.
An assignment with five or more spelling and/or grammatical errors will returned to the student UNGRADED. The student can revise her or his work and turn it in again. The student’s grade will, however, be reduced by 10 points.
Late assignments will be accepted; however, late assignments will lose points (the later the assignments the more points lost).
Course Grades: Finally, the points that you receive on the exams, assignments, and exercises will be converted into course grades. First, the total points received by a student will be converted to a percentage. For example, 600 points out of 750 points = 80%, which is a B-(or 2.7 honor points). The percentages will be converted to letter grades as follows: 93-100 percent = A, 90-92% = A-, 87-89% = B+, 83-86% = B, 80-82% = B-, 77-79% = C+, 73-76% = C, 70-72% = C-, 67-69% = D+, 63-66% = D, 60-62% = D-, 0-59% = E.
Student Success:
My experience is that student success with courses like this is enhanced when students:
* stay current with the material (i.e., don't fall behind; it is very difficult to catch up)
* take additional notes in class, and review those notes regularly
* use class to learn current material (rather than to catch up on past assignments)
* practice what is learned in class outside of class
* seek help from instructor early on, if confused (and often, if necessary)
* ask questions in class when you have them
* actively use the print and web resources available for HELP.
Classroom Etiquette:
Our classroom on Wednesday evenings is also a computer laboratory. When the printer and machines are "on," it can be quite noisy. Use the computers only when asked to do so. Computers are great tools, but they are also great distractions!! Do not use the printer for your own work or assignments UNLESS the whole class is asked to print something.
To enhance learning for all of us, I expect you to turn cell phones and other electronic devises off during class on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays!
Do not talk with your neighbors UNLESS the whole class is engaged in group projects or pair discussions. When you have a question, comment, or concern, address it to the entire class. Your question will probably be of interest to others and will help them learn the material. I want you to ask questions; don't be shy about doing so.
Communication:
All CMU students have CMU e-mail accounts. I will communicate to YOU through your CMU account so make sure that you check your CMU account regularly. Information about your account can be found at www.oit.cmich.edu
You will need your CMU Global ID and password to use the machines in Anspach 251.
Academic Honesty:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. A student who exhibits academic dishonesty in any form or with respect to any component of an exercise, assignment, or an exam may receive a failing grade for the course. Students should consult academicsenate.cmich.edu (click on Non-Curricular Policies/Procedures, then Policy on Academic Integrity) for the university's policy on academic integrity. The direct link is http://academicsenate.cmich.edu/NonCad/ACADEMIC_INTEGRITY_POLICY.pdf
Accommodations:
ADA Issues:
CMU provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact the professor as early as possible in the course.
Religious Holidays:
University policy states: "It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with written notice of the religious holidays they will be observing and the dates on which they will be absent at least two weeks prior to the date of the religious holiday."