Deviance in U.S. Society (SOCY 1004)

Spring 2006

Recitation Syllabus

Teaching Assistant: Eric Bonds

Email: Eric.Bonds@Colorado.edu

Phone: (303)817-3425

Office: Ketchum 8

Office Hours:  Thursday from 9:00 to 11:00 and by appointment.

Recitation Sessions:

Assistant Teaching Assistant: Meredith Pearse

Monday 8:00-8:50 Ktch 303

Tuesday 8:00-8:50 Ktch 119

Assistant Teaching Assistant: Kelly Crane

Wednesday 3:00-3:50 Educ 231

Thursday 8:00-8:50 Muen E130

Required Text:

Adler, Patricia and Peter Adler. 2005. Constructions of Deviance: Social Power, Context, and Interaction Custom Edition.. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

Recitation Goals:

The purpose of this recitation is to provide a deeper understanding of deviance in U.S. Society than would otherwise be possible through readings and lectures alone.  Ultimately—of course—the responsibility of achieving this understanding is yours.  Here are some strategies that will help make this possible… as well as making our time together much more enjoyable:

• Ask questions!  You and your classmates will benefit when you do.
• Engage in discussions.  We learn more fully not by absorbing information, but by applying it.
• Do the readings.  You can’t bring questions or issues for discussion to class without first reading the assigned material.

Behavioral Expectations:

• Expressions of bigotry – sexism, racism, homophobia, etc – will absolutely not be tolerated.
• Be respectful of others with differing opinions.  Due to the nature of the discipline of sociology, we will inevitably discuss controversial issues in class.  While we should not shy away from controversy or from disagreement with one another, we must always treat each other with respect.
• Please do not limit other students’ ability to get as much as out of the recitation as possible through rude behavior such as leaving cell phones on in class, leaving class early, talking out of turn, etc.
• Any behavior that is determined by me to be disruptive to the class will not be tolerated.  For further information on appropriate classroom behavior, please go to www.colorado.edu/policies/classroombehavior.html.

Grading

Your recitation grade will be tabulated accordingly:

• Attendance (40%).  You will be allowed one free unexcused absences.  If you should be absent more than one days, 5% of your attendance grade will be deducted per additional absence.
• Participation (20%).   Class participation is extremely important.  It includes expressing thoughtful reflections on a topic, sharing applications of concepts from the news or from your daily life, engaging in discussion, actively listening to lectures, and fostering an environment where divergent opinions are welcome.  In a nutshell, I want to see you actively engaged with the material, even if you don’t have an opportunity to say something every class.  For those of you who are uncomfortable speaking in class at all, try to overcome your discomfort.  If you can’t, find some other way to demonstrate that you are engaged with the material, for instance by emailing me your reflections.
• Pop quizzes and unscheduled assignments (40%).  You will be given five pop quizzes in the course of the semester to further encourage you to read before class.  Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.  Additionally, I will from time to time assign short assignments such as short essays on your readings, asking that you bring typed questions to class that are based on the readings, or by undertaking any number of other in-class activities. 

If you have any questions about the grading system or questions about your individual grade, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Don’t Cheat!:

I’ll say it again: Don’t cheat!  I don’t want to be put in the situation of catching you, and you don’t want to be caught.  All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code Council and will carry severe penalties.  Information about the honor code and likely penalties can be found at www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html.

Disability:

If you have any type of disability, as documented by the campus Disability Services Office, please let me know as soon as possible.  Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.  For more information, please see http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.

Accommodations for Religious Observances:

Please notify me at least two weeks in advance if any aspect of the recitation conflicts with your religious observance so accommodations can be made.  For more information, please go to http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html.