US RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOCY 1021-200
Instructor: Lisa A. Engweiler
Office: Ketchum 409
Phone: 303-554-0532 (please do not call after 10 p.m. or before 6 a.m.)
Email: lisa.engweiler@colorado.edu (best way to contact)
Office Hours: Fridays 11:00 – 12:00 and by appointment
Website: http://sobek.colorado.edu/~engweile
Please read this syllabus carefully.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The objective of this course is to enhance your awareness of major theories, concepts, issues and research studies related to racial and ethnic minority groups in American society. Particular emphasis will be based upon race as a social and historical construction, and not as a biological fact. This course will examine the experiences of selected racial and ethnic minority groups, focusing on economic exploitation, political domination, social exclusion, stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, segregation and current socioeconomic status. The dominant sociological theories will be utilized to evaluate race and ethnicity in the United States.
COURSE MATERIALS
The required textbook for this class is Richard Schaefer’s 10th edition of Racial and Ethnic Groups. This disk comes with a CD, but you will not be required to use the disk for class work. There will be a text available on reserve at the Norlin library.
This course has been set up on WebCT so that students can access assignments and their grades at their convenience. Additionally, feel free to email the student discussion board if you have questions you feel other students may be able to assist with. To access WebCT, you use your Identikey account information and password. Students new to CU Connect can see me during office hours and I will show you how to access WebCT. There will be additional readings required and available from either WebCT or the electronic reserve in the library.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Assignments
Assignments are always due at the beginning of class. With the exception of in-class exercises, all assignments need to be typed with 1” margins all around, using 10 to 12 point font. There will be 2 outside-of-class homework assignments which you will be given one week to complete. These are worth 100 points apiece, so equivalent to the value of an exam. In addition, there will be movies shown and structured evaluations of each movie. Last, there will be two responsive writing assignments.
For responsive writing, I would like for you to record your reaction to the online readings. Each week we will have scheduled readings, found on WebCT. We will discuss many in class, but we will not get to all that are available for you to respond on before the semester is out. This should be very informal writing. My recommendation to you is to do this in two steps. First, jot down notes as you read- quick thoughts about things you might want to come back to (you don’t need to turn in these notes). Second, sit down with your notes beside you and write for an hour or two after you’ve finished the week’s readings. Write whatever comes to mind: these writing assignments should provide an opportunity to wander around a bit after putting down your reading. I expect these assignments to be somewhere between 1 ½ to 3 typed, double-spaced pages long (this is not a firm rule, just a guideline). You will do two responsive writings for the semester, but you may choose when to do them. Responses may always be turned in early, but I will never accept a response after we have discussed that particular reading in class. The deadline to submit responses is August 5th.
Exams
There will be 2 exams over the duration of the course, one mid-term and one final. The final will not be comprehensive. You will be responsible for all the material in the text as well as the lecture material. You must make arrangements with me ahead of time if you will be missing an exam. Make up exams will be granted for excused absences only! Not having a telephone is not an excuse for failure to excuse an absence.
Late work policy
Work turned in late is an inconvenience to me as it requires me to adjust my grading schedule. I understand, however, that students often have good reasons for turning in late work. If you need to turn something in late, you must inform me no later than the beginning of the class period in which it is due. While you may inform me in person, you must also send me an email (by the same deadline) detailing your reasons for needing extra time. For students who follow these instructions, I am generally willing to grant an extension of a couple of days. I consider this to be a very reasonable late policy, and therefore I will not accept any late work from students who do not follow these instructions.
Attendance
Regular attendance and participation are crucial to your success in this class. Increased interaction with the course material will help you better grasp the issues and give you a chance to apply these materials to a variety of situations, helping your chances of success on papers and exams. There will be occasional in-class exercises which I will record for attendance and participation points. These activities cannot be made up, even for excused absences.
Class Participation
Please come to class having read the assigned material. Discussion will go more smoothly and have more meaning if you have prepared ahead of time. While discussion is an integral part of classroom structure, please do NOT talk during class lectures or during class discussions unless you have been given permission to do so. Given the diversity of backgrounds and life experiences among the enrolled students, the input and opinion of each student is to be reflected upon and respected. Likewise, turn off all pagers/cell phones when entering the classroom.
PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Appropriate Classroom Behavior Policy
Students and faculty each have a responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at:
http:// www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Disabilities and Assistance
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let us know by the end of the third week of the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Services Office in Willard 322 at 303.492.8671.
Honor Code
The University of Colorado has adopted a student Honor Code. You must read the Honor Code and know your responsibilities as mandated by it. You can find more information regarding this policy at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/. Additionally, anyone representing someone else’s ideas or work (i.e., cheating, plagiarism) as his or her own will receive an F for the course and may be subject to disciplinary action by the school
Accommodation for Religious Observances
Please notify me as soon as possible if you recognize any conflict with test dates, assignment due dates, and/or class attendance that will occur as the result of religious observances. Notification must be made no later than two weeks prior to the date of conflict so that you and I have time to make other arrangements.
Sexual Harassment Statement
Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between any combinations of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Any student who believes they have been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at: http://www.colorado.edu/sexualharassment/
GRADE DETERMINATIONS
Students will be graded on satisfactory completion of assignments, attendance, class participation, and tests.
Points Possible:
Exam 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts Attendance . . . . . . . . . 100 pts
Exam 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts Mass Media . . . . . . . . . 100 pts
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts Reading Responses . . . 100 pts
Stratification . . . . . . . 100 pts
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 pts