Brooklyn College: Core 3: People, Power & Politics

Professor Shortell
Department of Sociology

3501 James Hall
professor AT shortell.org

In this section of Core 3, we will learn about how social scientists investigate and interpret the social world. Our focus will be on the concept of power and how it affects the processes and institutions in contemporary American society. To this end, we will look at the major social dimensions that give structure to our thoughts, experiences and actions as a result of our participation in society, including class, race, and gender.

Syllabus

Because this course includes a web site and internet activities, each student is required to have an email address. The college provides one to each student. Web-based email accounts are also available free of charge from a number of service providers.

Structure of the Course

Reading for this course will include a textbook, Daniel Egan & Levon Chorbajian, Power: A Critical Reader (Prentice Hall, 2005) [ISBN 0-13-183438-X], and online documents and sources, as indicated on the schedule.

Grading for the course will consist of a variety of activities. There more than 100 points available over the course of the semester, and a point is a point no matter how you earn it. There are two manditory activities during the semester: a community profile essay (10 points for the draft, 15 points for the final edited version, up to 25 points total) and a final exam (up to 21 points). You must earn some credit on both of these in order to pass the course. In addition, you may earn points from these activities: reading quizzes (up to 30 points), class participation (up to 40 points), and group essays (up to 20 points). Monitor your point total throughout the semester in order to determine which point earning activities to participate in; the more you participate, the more you can earn. Since there are more than 100 points possible, no extra credit work will be permitted.

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale: 115+ points = A+; 114-92 = A; 91-90 = A-; 89-87 = B+; 86-82 = B; 81-80 = B-; 79-77 = C+; 76-72 = C; 71-70 = C-; 69-67 = D+; 66-62 = D; 61-60 = D-; and, below 60 = F.

The community profile is an essay that addresses a series of questions about your community, drawing on material from the course. The profile will require that you collect data from various online sources and use it to make a sociological argument about the way that life in your neighborhood is stratified. The first part of the profile, a narrative description of your neighborhood, is due around the middle of the semester; the complete profile is due at the end of the term. Your participation will be evaluated in terms of content and form, so if you need help with your writing (expression, grammar, spelling) you should consult a writing tutor at the Learning Center (1300 Boylan Hall, 951-5821).

The group projects will involve comparing two of the readings from the textbook and at least three online sources. There are two topics this semester: corporate power and political violence. The group projects are collaborative; you must work in a group to participate. Each group will write a an essay articulating a particular interpretation of the material assigned to them and a shorter rejoinder to another group's essay. Essays and rejoinders will be submitted and posted on a page on this site. Each essay must be between 800 and 1200 words and properly formatted, including citations. Each rejoinder will be between 600 and 800 words and properly formatted. Up to ten points may be earned from each group project.

Participation credit may be earned from collaborative and individual in-class projects. Some of these activities will involve bringing material from the news to class for discussion. In general, there will be at least one participation activity during each class meeting. Because these are in-class assignments, you may not earn the credit for a particular activity if you are absent from the class in which it occurs.

The in-class quizzes will be short essay questions covering the articles in the textbook. Students will write one paragraph in response to each question. These quizzes are intended to assess reading comprehension, so they will focus on the main ideas in the assigned readings. Each in-class quiz is worth up to 3 points.

The final exam will be cover material from the entire semester. The format will be seven short essay questions, each worth up to 3 points. The final exam is scheduled for Monday, May 23, 6:00-8:00PM. Exam questions will come from a list of possible questions posted in advance.

Attendance is required. Every unexcused absence will result in a two point deduction. If you must miss a meeting, you are required to fill out the absence form. (Fill out the form in advance if the absence is planned. Otherwise, complete the form as soon as possible after the meeting you missed.) If I do not receive a completed form, the absence will be counted as unexcused.

You should come to class prepared to participate. Out of respect for your classmates, you should refrain from disruptive activities, such as talking in class during the lecture, sleeping, arriving late or leaving early, etc. Please do not bring your cellular phone to class, or turn it off during the class meeting. You will be marked as absent on a given day for persistent infractions.

Consult the Brooklyn College Bulletin for regulations regarding academic integrity. If you submit work for credit that is not your own, you will receive a zero on that assignment. Academic dishonesty is grounds for failure in the course. Additional penalties may result, at the discretion of the college.

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