Syllabus
(Updated September 2, 2011)
SOCI 260: Deviant Behavior, W 6-8:50 pm
Instructor: Beverly Yuen Thompson
Building/Room: Siena 120
Email: bthompson@Siena.edu
Office: Hines Hall 112
Office Hours: T/Th 9:00-10:00am, W 5-6pm, and by appointment
http://deviantsociology.wordpress.com/
Course Description and Learning Outcomes: This course will introduce students to sociological concepts and contemporary issues within the sociological field of deviance: labeling, embodiment, identity, behaviors, and criminality. We will analyze the labeling process of behaviors that fall outside of the statistical norm and the sociological impact of being so labeled. Students will learn how to analyze academic articles, documentary film, lead classroom discussions, write critical short essays, and utilize web 2.0 tools to facilitate discussions and contribute content for the course.
Required Texts:
- Articles will be available on Blackboard. (Please download and print these articles at your earliest convenience, as Blackboard is occasional down. You are required to bring all assigned readings to class each period. If it is apparent that you do not have the readings with you, and/or you have not done the readings, I may ask you to leave the class.)
Course Assignments:
Attendance & Participation (100 points): Each student will being with 100 points in attendance; absences, lack of quality participation, and tardiness will be deducted. Participation in classroom discussions is required of all students and this entails quoting the assigned reading materials, analyzing the content, and applying the material to the world around us. Participation is not based upon students speaking about their personal opinion exclusively. Students will be called upon to participate; if it is clear you have not completed the assigned reading, you may be asked to leave. Points will be removed for lack of quality participation. Each day, 1-2 points may be deducted if you do not contribute to the discussion. First absence = -5 points, second absence = -5 points, third absence = -5 points, fourth absence = -10 points, fifth absence = -10 points, all subsequent absences will deduct 10 points each. You do not need to turn in your sports schedules or doctor’s notes; there will be no excused absences.
Groups: Students are assigned to six groups. Each group will be responsible for answering their particular blog prompt and contributing to the class discussion through mini-group presentations each discussion period.
Blog Responses (10 points each/80 points total): Throughout the semester, there will be 10 entries on our class blog, to which you need to response to eight, total. These blog entries will include brief highlights of the assigned material, as well as discussion questions, and requests for related links to that particular topic.
At a minimum these responses must include: 1) minimum of 250 well-written words answering blog prompt [5 points] 2) reference to the assigned material(s) (proper MLA citations) [2 points], 3) a link to a related online source [2 points], 4) personal response [1 point]
For the blog response grading, in order to achieve a high grade (8-10), your response will need to go far above and beyond the minimum requirements listed above: it should be above the minimum word count, include many references to assigned materials, more than one link to related online sources, and a thoughtful personal response. If you follow the minimum requirements, your grade will reflect the minimum performance. For extra credit, you can complete all 10 of the blog responses, for an additional 10 points each, but they cannot be turned in late. Blog entries are due the midnight before class.
Five Essay Answer Quizzes (50 points total): There will be five unannounced quizzes on the assigned reading materials. The essay question will be handed out and you can write up your response to the question in as much detail as possible. You will have approximately 10 minutes to complete each quiz. You are allowed to use handwritten notes, but not the textbooks or typed notes. Your response should be detailed, be very closely related to the text (you are allowed to use notes, so use the words and explanations that the author uses), and demonstrate that you read and understood the assigned material. Quizzes will be graded on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being an exceptionally written answer that demonstrates mastery of the topic. An adequate response will receive an adequate grade such as 5-7. If I am unable to tell whether you read the material or not, expect a very low grade.
Xtranormal.com Animation on Family Topic (25 points): Select a topic NOT covered in class, on which you will conduct research. Select three academic journal articles found on the online library database JSTOR. Quote all of these articles in your animation, citing journal name, author, and title of article. The report should be in the tone of a persuasive essay or a debate between two perspectives. You will utilize the animation website xtranormal.com to bring your report alive via a character that will read your text, so write it in a conversational tone. Create one or two characters that will discuss the topic, cite the three sources, and be a minimum of two minutes long and a maximum of five and a half minutes.
Points will be based on the following criteria: 1) quality of video (10 points), 2) proper citation of 3 academic sources by having the character speak the journal name, author, and article name (10 points), 3) time limit (5 points)
Due date: October 19. For the blog posting, include a title of your video, a 100-word summary of the topic and argument, an MLA format list of your three citations under “works cited,” and embed your video. Post the link to your animation on the blog on the Presentations of your animations will take place in class on October 19.
Research Paper (100 points): Pick a topic within deviant behavior that was not covered in class. The paper length should be 5-7 pages and cite 10 academic sources, including only print material (nothing online): books, anthology articles, and academic journal articles. (Do not include any http addresses; you should not be using online sources.) Grading criteria: topic not covered in class (5 points), introduce your argument on first page with a minimum of three sentences (10 points), grammar and spelling (20 points), quality writing (30 points), well constructed linear argument (20 points), references in proper MLA format (15 points). Due November 16, 2011 in class.
Presentation (35 points): The presentation should be the same topic as your research paper. You will need to present on a topic that was NOT COVERED in class. Your presentation should be in the format of a Prezi.com presentation, a photo essay, or a short documentary video. Your presentation should be posted to your blog and have a title, a short description, and a link to your online presentation file.
Prezi.com—make a dynamic presentation of five minutes on a topic that was not covered in class. This presentation should be academic, cite a minimum of three articles/books of non-assigned materials, and include the MLA reference directly next to the quote. PowerPoint is not allowed. Presentation date will be: December 7.
Photo Essay—For this option, take 6-8 photos that visually represents a deviance topic that were not covered in class. (You must be the photographer, stealing images from online is unacceptable.) For each image, you need to write a 75-100 word description. Cite a minimum of three academic articles/books and reference these within your description, always using proper MLA citation. You can post your pictures in an online photo website such as Flickr and make a slideshow. You must get proper consent from any people appearing in the photo (unless in a public place).
Documentary Video—create a documentary video on a deviance topic not covered in class that is a maximum of five minutes. Be sure to get proper consent from any people appearing in the video. You will need to cite three academic articles/books in your video visually. For this option, you must meet with me during office hours. You can do this project as a group.
For all of these projects, your points will be assigned according to these criteria: 1) topic not covered in class (5 points), 2) quality presentation (10 points), 3) proper citation of 3 academic articles/books not assigned in class (5 points), 4) within the 4 minute time limit (5 points) 5) following assignment rules (10 points).
Grade Scale based on a total of 390 points:
A = 100-94% (390-366)
A- = 93-90% (365-351)
B+= 89-88% (350-343)
B = 87-84% (342-327)
B- = 83-80% (326-312)
C+= 79-78% (311-304)
C = 77-74% (303-288)
C-= 73-70% (287-273)
D+= 69-66% (272-257)
D = 65-63% (256-245)
D = 62-60% (244-234)
F = 59-0% (233-0)
Make Up Policy: Late work will not be accepted.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is copying or paraphrasing someone else’s work and/or words without due credit and correct citation: it is not allowed. Consult Siena’s policy at http://www.siena.edu/level3col.aspx?menu_id=530&id=1548 . If you commit plagiarism, you will fail the assignment and be reported to the department chairperson.
Syllabus Updates: The syllabus is subject to change. Please check the latest online version of the syllabus for the most accurate information.
Pandemic/Emergency Preparedness: (a) You are instructed to bring all texts and a copy of the syllabus/course schedule home with you in the event of a college closure. The academic calendar will be adjusted upon reopening; so be prepared for the possibility of a short mini-semester; rescheduled class/exam period; and/or rescheduling of the semester, depending on the length of the closure.
(b) If your situation permits, you should continue with readings and assignments to the best of your ability, per the course schedule.
(c) You will be given instructions regarding how to deal with paper assignments requiring library or other required research by me, as needed.
(d) Online office hours will be used by me in order to maintain contact with my students. You will be able to check-in with questions that you have. If you do not have internet access available, I will also provide my home phone number and home address, as needed. Remember, internet, mail delivery, and telephone services may also be impacted by a pandemic or other emergency events.
(e) Finally, stay connected with information regarding the status of the college’s status and reopening schedule by monitoring the Siena website, www.siena.edu.
Course Schedule:
Week 1: September 7
- Overview syllabus, blog, Blackboard
- What is deviance?
- Icebreaker—ways in which you are deviant, ways in which you are normal
- Reading: Readings in Deviant Behavior, chapter 1
- Groups: overview chapters to present next class
Week 2: September 14
- Groups: Present chapters in Readings in Deviant Behavior with examples
- Blog #1
Week 3: September 21
- Movies: Sidewalks & Voices in the Tunnels: In Search of The Mole People
- Reading: Sidewalks
- Reading: The Mole People
- Blog #2
Week 4: September 28
- Movie: Live Nude Girls, Unite!
- Reading: Stripped: Inside the Lives of Exotic Dancers
- Blog #3
Week 5: October 5
- Guest speakers: Master R and Mistress Collette from La Domaine Esemar
- Reading: Master: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Master R
- Blog #4
Week 6: October 12
- Guest speaker(s): Hawk Stone
- Reading: Transgender Voices: Beyond Women and Men
- Blog #5
Week 7: 19
- Xtranormal.com Presentations
Week 8: October 26
- ROOM CHANGE: Foy 107
- Light painting with Che Rickman and Matt Crawford of Luminary (http://luminarymovie.com) and Texas by Light (http://texasbylight.com)
- Post link to pictures on blog
- Blog #6
Week 9: November 2
- Movie: Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers
- Guest speakers: The Hellions of Troy and Albany All Star players TBA
- Reading: Embodied Resistance: “Cruising’ for a Bruisin’”
- Blog #7
Week 10: November 9
- ROOM CHANGE: Key Auditorium (Roger Bacon Hall 202)
- Movie: Covered
- Guest speakers: Sofia Estrella, Emma Porcupine, Pat Sinatra
- Reading: Professionalizing Body Art
- Reading: Saints and Sinners: Elite Tattoo Collectors
- Blog #8
Week 11: November 16
- Guest speaker: Staci Newmahr
- Reading: Playing on the Edge
- Blog #9
- RESEARCH PAPER DUE
Week 12: November 23
- Thanksgiving holiday (no class)
Week 13: November 30
- Deviance in Religion
- Guest speakers: Father Linh Hoang
- Reading: TBA
- Blog #10
Week 14: Thursday, December 7
- Student Presentations
