\ 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: 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 concepts and theories discussed in the text.  Students will engage is discussions in class, as well as writing essays related to the text readings and lecture material.
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\ 5.   By the end of this course, learners will be able to apply the ideas in this class to real world social situations, such as dealing with prejudice and stereotyping, changing attitudes and behaviors through persuasive techniques (such as those used in politics and advertising), and in creating a sustainable future on our planet, as a few examples.
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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: What is expected of you!

IF THIS IS AN ON CAMPUS COURSE: Students are expected to attend class, to participate in class and to prepare for class lectures and discussions by reading the text and doing homework assignments. Students are expected to turn off all electronic devices (if you have a sick child, you may bring your phone and put it on vibrate). Please do not engage in side conversations during class time, texting, reading newspapers, taking naps, and any other distracting behaviors. If you miss class, you are expected to contact the instructor and/or other students in the class to get information about the class. 

FOR ALL COURSES: Since this instructor emails reminders via the AC ONLINE classroom announcement page, it's best to check into your AC ONLINE class frequently.  As well, all course notes and assignments are in the AC ONLINE classroom folders, as directed by your instructor.   It is your responsibility to get the information and printed materials, as well as take EXAMS in the AC Online classroom. If you don't have a computer, simply check the ones in the library.  You can get onto AC ONLINE from any computer anywhere!

Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty, refraining from cheating on EXAMS or plagiarism. YOUR EXAMS ARE MEANT TO BE TAKEN BY YOU!  IF THIS INSTRUCTOR LEARNS THAT YOU ARE COLLABORATING ON EXAMS, YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE!  Plagiarism on written work will NOT be tolerated.  PLAGIARISM IS USING SOMEONE ELSES’ MATERIAL AS IF IT WERE WRITTEN OR ORIGINATED BY YOU.  If you plagiarize, you can fail the assignment and receive a 0.  Plagiarism means copying off of the internet, quoting directly without giving credit to the source, or using parts of another persons work as your own. Copying and pasting material off the internet is strictly forbidden!   YOU MUST CITE ALL SOURCES AND HAVE A REFERENCE SECTION WITH APA STYLE CITATIONS FOR YOUR PAPER! PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR.  We have access to a plagiarism checker program and any paper that this instructor sees is plagiarized in part or in full, will be getting a 0 on the paper, and a letter of reprimand will be filed in your academic record.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER SOMETHING IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM, PLEASE ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR!  AGAIN, I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE AND WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!!!

FOR ONLINE COURSES AND ONLINE PORTIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND HYBRID COURSES: Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" in the ONLINE PORTIONS of this class AT ALL TIMES.  Inappropriate online behaviors, such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the course room 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!   You are encouraged to debate others, and your instructor, in a polite BUT WELL INFORMED manner!  If you want to debate a point made, all this instructor asks, is that you bring your sources and do a good job of backing up your ideas.  In academics, we like well informed opinions!  This is KEY to analytical and creative thinking and is the hallmark of what it means to have academic freedom!  If you are not comfortable expressing your opinions in front of the class, you may obtain 10 extra credit points by WRITING a rebuttal paper.  If your instructor feels that you have backed up your point of view with sources that are informed and expert on the topic, your instructor will READ your paper to the class (with your permission of course!).  Let's enjoy the spirit of debate and differing viewpoints.  I look forward to a REAL educational experience with you all! 

If you have a complaint about this course, please contact me first.  If you are uncomfortable doing that, you may contact my supervisor, Dr. Alan Kee, at DUTTON HALL 202-N, or call him at 371-5183. 

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!  Thank you for making our class a safe place to discuss ideas and to learn!   ~ Dr. Harding

Grading Criteria

YOU CAN SEE YOUR GRADES FOR THIS COURSE AT ALL TIMES BY GOING TO THE COURSE HOMEPAGE, AND CLICKING ON the "MY GRADES" TAB in the MENU to the left of your screen. IF YOU THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR GRADE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY, SO WE CAN GET IT CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY! THANKS!

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 49.5 - F

YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
1 Syllabus Quiz worth 10 points                                                                                             = 10 points

4 Unit Exams worth 100 points each

• You get to drop the lowest exam from Units 1-3,   Unit 4 is final required for everyone                                                                                                                  = 300 points

Unit 1 SCIENCE LAB & QUIZ:  Watch Class Divided, Read Ch 2, Do Science Lab (20 pts) & Take Quiz (20 pts)                                                                                                                                                   = 40 points

Unit 2 Discussion Assignment: INTRODUCTION and SELF-CONCEPT                                =20 points

Unit 3 Discussion on PERSUASION and ATTITUDE CHANGE Assignment:                                                                                                                                                                                        =30 points

Unit 4 PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR SERVICE PROJECT:  POST TOPIC (5 pts) and POST PROJECT Documentation (45 pts) over “Using social psychology to make the world a better place”                                                                                                                                                                       =50 points 

EXTRA CREDIT: You can earn up to 20 Extra Credit points for donating up to $20.00 worth of food to either the AC PANTRY or the HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK. This is strictly voluntary. TO PARTICIPATE, you must either:       1) MAIL your DOCUMENTATION OF DONATION along with your PURCHASE RECEIPT for the food to your instructor (mail to Dr. Deborah Harding, 3909 Huntington Dr Amarillo, Tx 79109) or 2)  EMAIL a SCREEN SHOT of your DONATION RECEIPT and PURCHASE RECEIPTS in the AC CONNECT BLACKBOARD EMAIL (don’t send it via text or by other device..it has to be in he classroom email account or it will not get credit)  OR 3) TO MY OFFICE: You can bring it by Dr. Hardings office on Washington St in DUTTON HALL 202-J where there is a manila envelope by her office door to submit your receipts. Please make sure your name and class and section number are on all receipts and that they are in an envelope or stapled together.   Thanks!                                                                                                                                                     = +20 points                                                                                                          

Total=  450 points total plus up to 20 Extra Credit points

Attendance

"90% of Success is SHOWING UP"  ~ Woody Allen

While it may be tempting to skip class if this is a traditional on campus course OR not check in frequently in an online class, know that the #1 factor linked with good grades , whether the class is traditional OR ONLINE, IS class attendance!!!  You can work ahead in this class, BUT note that each unit, exam, lab and assignment has a closing time.  You MUST stay current with your work and it’s highly suggested that you fill out the study guide as your read your chapters before you take the exam for that unit!

The people that will do the best in the class are those that are in the class every CLASS or ONLINE FREQUENTLY if it’s an online course, that do their study guides and practice quizzes, along with watching all required 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!  ~ Dr. Harding

Calendar

Additional Information

HOW TO REVIEW YOUR EXAMS & QUIZZES, and VIEW GRADES, INSTRUCTOR's FEEDBACK COMMENTS AND RUBRICS FOR YOUR LABS AND DISCUSSIONS:

  You can REVIEW YOUR EXAMS AND QUIZZES ONCE THE DUE DATE AND TIME HAS PASSED. In order to review your exams, click on MY GRADES TAB, go to the exam or quiz in the list that you want to review and Click on the exam.  It will show you what you missed.  In order to view your assignments, discussions, papers, and other work for YOUR INSTRUCTOR’s FEEDBACK, again, go to MY GRADES tab in the left hand menu, click.  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!