\ USING FILMS, READINGS SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN TOPICS, IN CLASS AND ONLINE LABS, AS WELL AS CLASS DISCUSSIONS, LECTURE AND EXAMS, STUDENTS WHO TAKE THIS COURSE WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES BY THE END OF THIS CLASS: 

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1. \ Learners will gain a working knowledge as to how individuals impact social situations and groups and how situations and groups impact individual thinking, feeling and behavior.
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2. \ Learners will gain an understanding of how scientific methodology is applied to studying social psychology.
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3. \ Learners will analyze the major concepts and theories in the field of social psychology.
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4. \ Learners will critically and creatively analyze a series of films shown in this course related to the concepts and theories discussed in the text.  Students will engage in discussions in class, as well as writing essays related to the text readings, lecture material, and film-related content.
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5. \ Once learners develop A GRASP OF these conceptual tools, research findings and theories, AND THE UNDERSTANDING THEY HAVE INCURRED THROUGH WATCHING FILMS AND engaging in CLASS DISCUSSIONS, they will be applying these ideas to real world social situations, such as dealing with prejudice and stereotyping, social perception and judgments of self and others, changing attitudes and behaviors through persuasive techniques (such as those used in politics and advertising), and in understanding aggression, love, altruism and self-concept.
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6. \ By the end of the course, learners should be able to think critically about issues in social psychology and be able to apply this knowledge in practical ways in their lives.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ STUDENT BEHAVIOR:

\ Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" in this class AT ALL TIMES.  Inappropriate online behaviors, such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the courseroom material, or any type of intolerance or rudeness to other learners will not be tolerated and may result in having to drop this course, failing the class, or dismissal from Amarillo College. Treat others as you like to be treated and everything should be fine!

\ Now, having said that, please remember that this is an COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE, and we will be discussing controversial issues in an ADULT MANNER!  You are expected to act like an adult in these discussions and realize that others may think and feel differently than you on a host of issues related to sociology!  Diversity is a GREAT THING and to be APPRECIATED in this instructors opinion.  If you find something offensive that is said by another student OR your instructor, please don't hesitate to contact me and discuss this with me.  However, it's important to remember that this course is not designed to CONFIRM YOUR OWN POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, but rather to get you to think about sociology, society, and people in a bigger way than you may have already been exposed to. IN THAT, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, AS YOU ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STRETCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! This is a part of what it means to get an education!  Obviously, learning to see the world in a different light is the goal of this course! 

\ If you have a complaint about this course, please contact me first.  If you are uncomfortable doing that, you may contact my supervisor, Mr. Jerry Moller at DURR 212A, 371-5297

\ If you have a concern that something you want to say or write that you think might offend others in the classroom or in the online course-room, run it by me first. Simply contact me via the AC ONLINE class email. As well, if you are aware of any student being mistreated or harassed in this course (including yourself), please bring it to my immediate attention.  We have zero tolerance for any student being mistreated here at Amarillo College. This will be a SAFE place for the expression of ideas and exchanges! Remember, you are an adult and differences in opinions, beliefs and ideas are a critical part of adult education!  You are expected to be an adult in this class!  Thanks! Dr. Harding

Grading Criteria

YOU CAN SEE YOUR GRADES FOR THIS COURSE AT ALL TIMES BY GOING TO THE MENU at the left hand side of your BLACKBOARD HOME PAGE.  It says MY GRADES.  Click on that and scroll down to the item you want to view.  If I've used a "RUBRIC" to grade your film lab or paper or discussion, click on the link that says VIEW RUBRIC to see the way you were graded.  As well, you can click on the COMMENTS link to see any comments your instructor has given to you about your work.

Your final grade for this course will be based on the standard grading percentages:

• 89.45 - 100 = A
• 79.45 - 89.44 = B
• 69.45 - 79.44 = C
• 49.45 - 69.44 = D
• Below 49.45 - F

Your final grade is based on the following items:

SYLLABUS QUIZ: 10 Points.  In the first week of school, you must read the ONLINE SYLLABUS and take the quiz! NO EXCEPTIONS!

EXAMS: TOTAL: 300 Points:  You will have 4 ONLINE exams that are worth 100 points each.  You may drop ONE of the FIRST THREE EXAMS (Either Unit 1, 2 or 3).  The last exam is worth 100 points a well but since the last exam has some comprehensive questions on it, YOU MUST TAKE THE FINAL EXAM.  AS LONG AS YOU TAKE ALL OF YOUR FIRST THREE EXAMS, YOU GET TO DROP YOUR LOWEST SCORE (on either exam 1, 2 or 3, but NOT 4). IF YOU DON'T TAKE ALL of the FIRST THREE EXAMS, YOU WILL NOT GET TO DROP YOUR LOWEST SCORE, AND THE 0 on the MISSED EXAM WILL BE YOUR DROPPED GRADE!  As long as you take all of your exams for EXAMS 1, 2 and 3, your total number of exam points for Exams 1, 2 and 3 will be 200 points (lowest exam dropped) and then 100 points for Unit 4 EXAM for a total of 300 exam points.   TOTAL POINTS = 300

DISCUSSIONS:  TOTAL: 70 points: You have a discussion post at the beginning of the course to introduce yourself to all of us, and to respond to at least ONE OTHER STUDENTs introduction.  This discussion is worth 10 points. 

Then, each unit has a discussion that you will be required to engage in. Unit 2, 3 and 4 discussions are all worth 20 points each for a total of 60 points towards your final grade (along with the 10 point introduction discussion). I read your discussions, and often respond to your comments.  THE WAY YOU GET A GRADE of 20 points for this discussion assignment is to:

1. Contribute to the class discussion in a meaningful way AND respond to at least ONE OTHER STUDENT's post in a dialogue regarding their thoughts.   Comments like "Nice Job" or "I agree with you" are not meaningful and will get you 0 points!
2. Use your best English grammar, and DO NOT USE TEXTING LANGUAGE, but consider your discussions a COLLEGE-LEVEL WRITING assignment! You want to create your discussion in your word processing program, such as MSWORD, and then check it with spell and grammar check, read it out loud, and then COPY AND PASTE IT INTO THE DISCUSSION BOX!  I grade on writing mechanics!
3. Watch any and all videos attached to the discussion AND ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED! Be thorough, thoughtful and complete!

 FILM LABS: TOTAL 80 POINTS  Finally, you will be watching a total of 4 films with their respective UNIT FILM LABS for this class.  Unit 1 film lab is over the film "A CLASS DIVIDED" related to chapters 1 and 2.  There is no choice on Unit 1 film lab.  The other 3 film labs have several CHOICES for you to make.  For each of the UNITS, you have at least ONE FILM that you can watch for FREE ONLINE here in the class. However, there are several choices that you can watch by RENTING THEM or GOING TO OUR LIBRARY to watch them (they are located on the 4th floor).  You can  watch choose the following films to do your written lab over:

• Unit 1 film lab is over the film "A CLASS DIVIDED" related to chapters 1 and 2. It is shown ONLINE in the class, so you do't need to rent it.   There is no choice on Unit 1 film lab.
• For Unit 2, you can choose to watch Moneyball for Chapter 3, Precious or My Big Fat Greek Wedding (My Big Fat Greek Wedding is here online in the classroom for you to watch for free, if you don't want to rent a film) for Chapter 4 or Grand Torino for Chapter 5.
• For Unit 3, you have SEVERAL ONLINE CHOICES that you can watch here in the classroom for FREE!. You can choose from  JIM JONES AND THE PEOPLE's TEMPLE documentary for Chapter 6 & 7, or THE GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB for Chapter 8 (both of these are ONLINE choices, so that you don't have to rent a film), or THIRTEEN DAYS or the OLDER VERSION OF 12 ANGRY MEN for free for Chapter 9 about group influence (again, these are free choices).   The other films you can choose to watch by renting them (or going to our library) include AMERICAN HISTORY X for Chapter 6 and 7 and THE EXERPIMENT for Chapter 8.  Note: For Unit 3, there are several videos that you are required to watch for the discussion! EVERYONE HAS TO WATCH THE SHORT VIDEOS on CH 8 and the HUMAN BEHAVIOR EXPERIMENTS FILM.  The discussion is over these videos and there will be questions over these short videos and the HUMAN BEHAVIOR EXPERIMENTS documentary on the exam!  Be sure you watch all required videos for the exam!  As well, you will complete one FILM LAB choice. 
• For Unit 4, you will have to rent a film from the four choices (OR WATCH THEM IN OUR LIBRARY).  The four choices are REMEMBER THE TITANS  for Chapter 10, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE for Chapter 11, THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES for Chapter 12, or SCHINDLER'S LIST for Chapter 13.  There is ONE ONLINE DOCUMENTARY over MOTHER TERESA as a FREE ONLINE FILM CHOICE for CHAPTER 13, if you don't want to have to rent a film.

NOTE: You will have a drop box in each UNIT where you will submit your WRITTEN FILM LAB.  Each is worth 20 points towards your grade (80 points total).   EACH UNIT has a DUE DATE, so you can WORK AHEAD in this class BUT you must submit your exams, discussions and film labs in a timely manner!    Since all films are available at the AC library OR you can always rent one online through NETFLIX or go to Hastings and rent them, there is no excuse for not getting your films ad film labs in on time.  Make sure you look at the calendar for all due dates.

FINAL PAPER: TOTAL 100 POINTS

• Finally, you will write a 4 to 6 page essay over the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY.  All of that will be turned in together, the last week of school, in the stated format shown in the instruction sheet. You will turn in your labs and final paper in an online format, in the DROP BOX delineated for that assignment.   Be sure you follow instructions for this lab.   The total project is worth  100 points.  To help you with your writing, PLEASE CONTACT THE WRITER's CORNER and have them go over your PAPER WITH YOU.  I add points to your paper for doing this when they send me your TUTORIAL REPORT!

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: You will have the opportunity to participate in an EXTRA CREDIT "SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY" opportunity for this class that will be worth up to 30 extra credit points for you.  Watch the course announcements for this chance (about the 3rd week).  We always do something to help others including raising scholarship funds for low income students, collecting food for our AC PANTRY or helping with our FOSTER KIDS program the BADGER HEARTS, collecting household goods for the foster students. This is NOT MANDATORY..it's up to you if you want to participate! Dr. Harding

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS FOR THIS CLASS ARE: 560 points + a possible 30 extra credit points (including: 300 exam points, 100 final paper points, 80 lab points, 70 discussion points and 10 syllabus quiz points, along with a possible 30 points extra credit if you choose to participate).

Note: You have lots of time to do your exams, because they will be open for the duration of the unit.  If you miss an exam, you will NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE IT UP EXCEPT IN EXTREME CASES. 

YOUR FINAL PAPER, that includes a 4-6 page essay will have a final due date.  YOU MUST turn in your paper by that time.  If you fail to, it will be a ZERO! NO EXCEPTIONS!   IT IS WORTH 100 points

Attendance

"90% of Success is SHOWING UP": While it may be tempting to let your participation in an online class lag because there isn't any accountability as in campus based courses, know that the #1 factor linked with good grades IS class attendance at least TWICE A WEEK in the ONLINE CLASSROOM.  You can work ahead in this class, and you can get extra points for turning in your paper early, BUT note that each unit has a closing time.   Don't get behind!  I expect excellent work on the labs and the essay!  The people that will do the best in the class are those that are in the courseroom at least TWICE A WEEK, that do their study guides and practice quizzes, along with watching the films and doing the written labs over the material in that chapter!  I hope you will be ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS!  Good luck with that! I LOVE GIVING A's for EXCELLENT WORK!

Calendar

Additional Information

HOW TO VIEW COMMENTS AND RUBRICS FOR YOUR PAPER AND DISCUSSIONS:

  In order to see your instructor's comments on your work (such as your discussions and your paper), GO TO "MY GRADES" tab in the menu to the left of your BLACKBOARD CLASSROOM SCREEN.  Find the item you want to look at in the LIST (they are not necessarily in order...sorry!).  Click on that and you will see a place that says RUBRIC and COMMENTS.  Click on comments to see anything your instructor has said, and click on RUBRIC to view the rubric grading system and how your instructor graded you.  PLEASE...this instructor SPENDS A LOT OF TIME to give you CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK...USE IT and make corrections accordingly! If you keep making the same error time and again, YOUR GRADES WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN!  I expect you to USE THE FEEDBACK I GIVE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER STUDENT and to IMPROVE IN YOUR SCHOOL WORK!