Spring 1998
SYG 2010.003 & .004
Drew Hurley
Instructor Data = Office: A-207, Unit 3
Textbook: Mooney, Knox & Schacht, Understanding Social Problems, West Publishing Co., 1997.
This is NOT a Gordon Rule course.
There will be six major components to this course; each will comprise an equal (100 point) portion of your grade for this semester
(600 points total). There will be two class exams during the semester and a final exam (100 points each). The other course
components will be your Social Problems Research Paper, your Critical Thinking Analysis Paper, and your Attendance. A limited
amount of extra credit will also be available.
You must write a sociological Reseach Paper (using MLA format) on a social problem of your choice (that must be approved by the
Instructor). The specific requirements of this paper will be discussed in class, as a part of our discussion on social research, on
January 15, 1998. Your Research Paper (typed and double spaced) is due in class on April 2, 1998. Your paper is is
expected to adequately cover the topic you have chosen. However, since this is not a Gordon Rule course, no additional mandatory
requirements will be imposed as a condition for acceptance. Please note, if you are currently taking English Composition (which
requires that you write a Research Paper), you may be able to chose an appropriate Social Issue and use the same paper for both
classes. If you elect this option, you must provide your sociology instructor with a copy of the requirements given you by your English
Professor.
A strict attendance policy will be enforced. Your class attendance grade will be determined by your presence in class. You will begin
the semester with an attendance grade of 100 points. You will be allowed three absences -- for any an all reasons -- beyond that, for
every day that you miss class five (5) points will be deducted from your attendance grade. If you arrive for class after the attendance is
completed, after the class session is concluded, you must ask the Instructor to count you as tardy and deduct two (2) points from your
grade instead of the five point absence penalty.
Each of the three exams for this course will cover only the specific material covered in preparation for each exam. In all instances,
exams will focus primarily upon the concepts and research strategies emphasized in this course.
One of the major advantages of this course's structure is that class participation is vital to our collective academic success. To this
end, the class will select the topics we will investigate during the third phase of this course. If there is a particular subject or topic
that interests you, be sure to talk it up to your classmates and make sure that you attend class on March 31, 1998. Your class
will select the topics you will research for the rest of the semester on this day.
Spring 1998
Social Problems Schedule of Class activities and discussion topics:
Jan 6 & 8 ............. Thinking About Social Problems, Chapter 1
Feb 17 ................. FIRST EXAM
Feb 19 & 24 ....... Wealth And Poverty, Chapter 11
Mar 9 - 13 ......... Spring Break
Mar 17 & 19 ...... Crime And Violence, Chapter 4
Mar 26 ................. SECOND EXAM
Mar 31 ............... Selection of Class Topic for Discussion
Critical Dates to Remember:
Jan 15 ................ Research Paper Assignment Given to You
Final Exam Schedule:
SYG 2010.003 .. Thursday, April 30, 1998; 8:00 - 10:00am, A-012
Have a productive and successful Semester as we engage in systematic people watching. Enjoy the show!
Note: The following websites can provide you with extremely valuable assistance in this course (whether you
access them from the Computer Lab [N-210], from your home, or elsewhere).
1. The Social Science and History Department Homepage at SFCC is at:
http://www-hss.santafe.cc.fl.us/hss/ssh.htm
2. Drew Hurley's Sociology Resourse Index Page is at:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5824
3. Drew Hurley's email address at SFCC is:
drew.hurley@santafe.cc.fl.us
4. Drew Hurley's personal Homepage is at:
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/drewhurl/
SET YOUR BOOKMARKS TO THESE 'URL' ADDRESSES!
.........Office Hours = 7:30 - 8:00 M-F; 9:00 - 10:00 & 11:00 - 12:00 MWF
....................................9:30 - 11:00 TH & 12:30 - 2:00 T
.........Office Phone: 395-5008; Home Phone 462-3128
SYG 2010.003 & .004
Drew Hurley
Jan 13 ................... Conducting Social Research
Jan 15 ................... Your Research Assignment
Jan 20 & 22 ......... A Field Guide To Critical Thinking
Jan 27 & 29 ........ Common Logical Fallacies
Feb 3 & 5 ............ How You Know What To Believe
Feb 10 ................. How To Be Persuasive
Feb 12 ................. Social Research in the Modern World
Feb 26 ............... Racial And Ethnic Relations, Chapter 9
Mar 5 ................. Racism
Mar 24 ................ Common Themes and Potential Solutions
Apr 2 - 23 ......... Class Discussion Topics
Apr 7 - 23 ......... Oral Reports and Class Discussions
Feb 19 ............... Critical Thinking Analysis Paper Given to you
Feb 26 ............... Critical Thinking Analysis Paper Due
Feb 26 ............... Last Day to Withdraw with a "W" Grade
Apr 2 ................. Social Problems Research Paper Due
SYG 2010.004 .. Thursday, April 30, 1998; 10:30 - 12:30am, K-028