LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY University Studies SSCI 205: Identity and Society (4 units) s and 3:00-4:50pm Zapara School of Business, room 235 Spring 2017 Course Instructors: Robert Thomas, EdD Health & Exercise Science annex, office D Phone: 951-785-2082 E-mail: rthomas@lasierra.edu Office: M 11-12; T 9-10; W 9-10; R 3:10-4 Daphne Thomas, MSW, LCSW Gladwyn Hall, 221 Phone: 951-785-2917 E-mail: dthomas@lasierra.edu Office: M 2:30-5:00; Thur 3:30-5:00 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A. BULLETIN Course Description: An exploration of relationships among individuals, social groups, and institutions, emphasizing the uses of power and authority and the roles of oral communication and networking in constructing social ties and mediating disputes. Major social groups such as the state, the workplace, the school, the church, and the family are examined from the perspectives of politics, economics, education, religion, and science. This is a Service-Learning course. Prerequisite: ENGL 113 or 124 B. Course Overview: This course explores the ways personal and collective identities are forged through interaction with others. Primary questions addressed throughout the course are: 1) What are the critical factors within our social environment that most affect the development of our identities (for example, significant other(s), groups, cultures, societies)? What factors structure the ways in which we conceive of ourselves and others? 2) In what ways do we, through our choices, influence our social environment? 3) How do power and difference affect the development of personal and group identity? How is conflict negotiated?
4) How does our interaction with others influence our developing sense of reality, fairness, morality, and values? We will examine these primary questions through the lenses of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, religion and ideology. Our journey of exploration will take us through key social groups and institutions, such as the family, friendship networks, the church, the school, and the media. This course utilizes concepts and methods from the social sciences and the humanities. One of the important goals in this class is for you to think about important issues. Thinking critically about both sides of the argument is the goal. C. Instructional Materials: Required Textbook: Rothenberg, P.S. (2014). Race, class, and gender in the United States: An integrated study (9 th ed). New York: Worth. 978-1-4292-4217- 2. Suggested Retail = $105; Used = $40-$60 Suggested Textbook: Newman, D.M. (2012). Identities & inequalities: Exploring the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. New York: McGraw-Hill. 978-0-07-338010-0. Suggested Retail = $73; Used = $15-$25 D. Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): The five University Studies Student Learning Outcomes (SLO s) are: 1. Students will demonstrate competencies essential for informed inquiry across disciplines. 2. Students will demonstrate competency in written and oral communication. 3. Students will recognize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives. 4. Students will demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement and service to their community and the world. 5. Students will demonstrate growth in personal integrity, moral judgment, and religious beliefs as they define their worldviews and academic goals. For SSCI theme courses, there are three SLO s: 1. Students will write in an understandable and organized fashion to explain their ideas or support a conclusion. 2. Students will become more open to questioning information and preconceived ideas, evaluate the evidence to support various positions, and integrate their conclusions into their own views and behavior. 3. Students will value diversity and respect those different from themselves
For this Service-Learning course, there are two SLO s: 1. Students will participate in Service-Learning activities within the community that respond to identified community needs. 2. Students will integrate learning from the service experience with course content through critical reflection, in-class discussions and/or papers. Those who do not know their opponents arguments completely, do not completely understand their own (Bender & Leone, 1989) II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: It is important that you demonstrate four things throughout this course: 1) intellectual curiosity, 2) individual proficiency with the content, 3) ability to work effectively as a member of a group, and 4) spur-of-the-moment problem-solving ability. Teaching methods & class decorum The teaching method for this course will be seminar/interactive in nature. Students will be expected to have read the assigned readings and have come prepared to ask questions and discuss the material with each other. Additionally, group experiences will be offered in which full participation is required. Students at La Sierra are expected to attend class with the intent of learning cooperatively with their classmates and instructors. Student behavior should not be disruptive to the learning process. Electronic items should not be in use during class unless pertinent to the group activity or required by an accommodation for a learning disability. Service-Learning This is a service-learning class. Further details will be provided during the first week of the quarter. However, it is important to note that your grade for this portion of the course will be comprised of attendance at your service commitments, regular reflections, and an integrative final paper. You may contact the course instructors or the Service-Learning office on campus in the basement of La Sierra Hall, or call 785-2185, or email service@lasierra.edu for additional information. Students MUST attend and actively participate in the two Poverty Simulation events: 1) in class on 4/13; and 2) the community s event on Sunday, 4/23 Attendance Because the student not only benefits personally from attending and participating in class, but also contributes to classmates learning experiences, regular attendance is expected and valued. Missing a quiz or other class activity cannot be made up. In addition, by University policy, missing more than 20% of classes (a total of four (4) classes) for any reason may result in the student receiving a failing grade. Arriving late or leaving early also impacts the student s experience and grade negatively.
LSU student email It is vital to your success at LSU that you regularly access your LSU student email. You will get email for this class as well as other LSU-related notices. To access your email, go to the MyCampus portal at lasierra.edu. Log in. Click on the La Sierra Gmail icon. Blackboard Blackboard will be the main course management system used for this class. Students are encouraged to regularly login to Blackboard to check for announcements, assignments, lecture information, and ongoing grades. The syllabus is also accessible via blackboard. Turnitin.com The Division of University Studies is committed to helping students utilize writing skills that avoid the unauthorized use of another s work. This class uses Turnitin.com to help ensure originality of student work. For this course, Students will submit hard copies of their assignments. Electronic copies of selected assignments will also be submitted to www.turnitin.com. The course ID is 15009621. The enrollment password is thrive. Written Work It is expected that students for this class will write clearly using proper grammar, punctuation and spelling on all assignments. A portion of the grade for each assignment will be based on the quality of writing. Students should adhere to APA writing standards. Assistance is available at the Learning Support Center or the Writing Center if a student desires additional help in this area. Writing Center The Writing Center is designed to help students develop or improve university-level writing skills. It is located in Humanities Hall, room 101. Appointments may be scheduled by emailing WritingCenter@lasierra.edu or calling 951-785-2149. Late Assignments One of the goals of La Sierra University is to prepare students for work as professionals. This includes learning task management skills. As such, each student is expected to turn in all papers at the beginning of class on their due date, AND via turnitin.com for papers #1 and #2. All late papers will be penalized 10% regardless of circumstances except for death of a close family member and/or serious illness with a physician s note. Papers/assignments submitted more than one week late will be penalized 20%. Papers will not be accepted more than 2 weeks late. No papers will be accepted after Friday of week 10. Students with special circumstances have the responsibility of contacting the instructors before the paper is due if modifications to the above policy are sought. zes Students must take quizzes when scheduled. At the end of the quarter each student s lowest quiz score will be dropped. This allows for missing one quiz without significant penalty.
Incomplete Grades According to LSU policy, incomplete grades are granted only in an emergency situation beyond a student s control. An incomplete grade can only be considered when the student has completed 75% of class requirements and is unable to complete the term (e.g. hospitalized beginning week 10 and continuing through exam week). Faculty are not to give an incomplete grade as a remedy for overload, failure of final examination, absence from final examination (for other than an emergency situation), or low grade to be raised with extra work. It is the student s responsibility to request an incomplete grade from the instructor by completing the Petition to Receive Incomplete Grade form and following the procedure outlined on this form. Requesting an incomplete grade does not automatically assure that the instructor will approve the request. Academic Integrity and Honesty Academic dishonesty falls into two categories: cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is the violation of honesty with respect to quizzes, examinations, and assignments. Plagiarism is the undocumented use of another s work without proper citation. Plagiarism is when you take the words or ideas of someone else and take credit for them yourself. So, if you use the words or ideas of a source, be sure to give credit to that source. To be sure that you have no misunderstandings about the definitions of academic honesty or academic dishonesty, refer to your La Sierra University Student Handbook. The University has significant penalties for academic dishonesty, so please take this suggestion seriously. La Sierra University s policy and other important information regarding academic honesty can be found at http://lasierra.edu/academic-integrity The student is expected to practice academic honesty in all activities related to this course. Original work is expected from the student, unless appropriate credit is given to specific work cited. Plagiarism is unacceptable as are other types of cheating. Refer to http://lasierra.edu/academic-integrity for further details. Appropriate penalties will be enforced. All instances of academic misconduct will be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee. Title IX Statement: La Sierra University is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of our campus community are safe, secure, and free from sexual misconduct in any form. When learning of conduct or behavior that may not meet the standards outlined in the policy, all faculty and staff are expected take an active role in upholding this policy and promoting the inherent dignity of all individuals. For any questions or to make a report, contact the Title IX Coordinator at (951) 785-2849 or titleix@lasierra.edu. The Title IX Policy can be located at https://lasierra.edu/fileadmin/documents/sexual-misconduct/title-ix-policy.pdf Policy on Assistance for Physically and Learning Challenged Students The University provides reasonable accommodations for students with documented physical or learning disabilities. Contact the director for the Office of Disability Services for evaluation and guidance on such matters at (951) 785-2453 or ability@lasierra.edu. The office is temporarily located in Zapara School of Business. Students with such documented disabilities that require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in course activities or meet course requirements should contact the instructor during posted office hours or by appointment during the first two weeks of the quarter.
Pre- Procedures for the Prevention of Dishonesty As stated in the University Bulletin, It is the responsibility of the students to avoid both dishonest practices and the appearance of dishonesty. Students should make the necessary effort to ensure that their work is not used by other students. They have the responsibility to protect the integrity of their academic work by doing all they can to stop dishonest practices of others. In order to implement this university policy more effectively the following procedural guidelines for preventing students dishonesty while taking a quiz will be followed. Prior to taking a quiz or exam, all purses, books, paper, cell phones, etc. will be placed at the front of the classroom. Whenever possible, students will be spread out throughout the classroom, sitting no closer than in every other chair. Students may not use the restroom during a quiz or exam. SSCI 205 Course Format and Requirements Category Item Details % of Grade Due Date Paper #1: See the handout for specific guidelines for this 10 May 4 Cultural Capital assignment. Paper #2: See the handout for specific guidelines for this 10 June 1 Identity assignment. Development Papers (20%) Oral Communication (30%) Public speaking / formal debate Group Presentation We will follow the rules of formal debate for this activity and each team will be graded and a winner selected. Each week one group will present their material to the class 20 June 8 June 13 10 Weeks 2-9 zes (20%) zes zes will be given each week. The student s lowest quiz will be dropped at the end of the quarter. 20 Weeks 2-9 S-L (20%) Service- Learning Orientation, 14 hours participation, and reflections fulfilling Service-Learning requirements. 20 See Course Schedule for Due Dates Misc. (10%) In-class Activities Several in-class activities will occur throughout the quarter. 10 Unannounced
Grading Scale Class Percentage Grade 93%+ A 90-92.9% A- 87-89.9% B+ 83-86.9% B 80-82.9% B- 77-79.9% C+ 73-76.9% C 70-72.9% C- 67-69.9% D+ 60-66.9% D 0-59.9% F SSCI 205 - Schedule for Spring 2017 Week of Qtr Date Topics To be read before class Due Week #1 04/04 04/06 Introduction to syllabus and class Identity activity Discussion of Service Learning Syllabi quiz Week #2 Week #3 04/11 04/13 04/18 04/20 Social Construction of Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality Poverty Simulation Meet at LSUC courtyard Impact of Language & Media on Race, Class, Gender 13-22; 54-62; 70-81; 189-209; 435-438 See handout for Paper #1 on BB 579-584; 592-594; 603-610; 618-626 Presentation #1, & on weekly readings SL Preflection Due (yes, at the church) Presentation #2, & Sunday, April 23: Poverty Simulation Week #4 04/25 04/27 The impact of the family, school & socialization on identity development 180-186; 304-306; 307-309; 385-388; 627-640 Presentation #3, & Week #5 05/02 05/04 Prejudice, Discrimination & Stereotypes 175-179; 215-216; 248-254; 294-295; 296-297 Presentation #4, & Paper #1 Due; SL Reflection Due (4 hours done)
Week #6 Week #7 05/09 05/11 05/16 05/18 Impact of health & Illness on Identity development; social construction of health & illness; Race, class, gender & health in the U.S. Inequalities in Law & Justice; social construction of laws; Laws & Justice Race, Class & Gender 302-303; 386-393; 448-451; 468-471 See handout for Paper #2 on BB 276-278; 279-282; 641-645; BB: Inside the Jail Wars Presentation #5, & Presentation #6, & Week #8 05/23 05/25 Inequalities in economics & work; economic imbalances in everyday life, Race, class, gender in the workplace 350-354; 355-361; 394-396; 401-405 Presentation #7, & SL Reflection Due (10 hours done) Week #9 05/30 The future of inequality 672-678; 686-688; 689-691 Presentation #8, & 06/01 Preparation/Review activities for Debates Paper #2 Due Week #10 06/06 Film screening Prep for Debates 06/08 Debates Supporting debate paperwork; SL Green Sheets SL Reflection Due (14 hours done) Finals Week 06/13 Debates / Final Evaluation 2:00pm