BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus

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San Diego Community College District Page 1 Course Syllabus

BLAS 115 (81517)SOCIOLOGY/BLACK PERSPECTIVE

2011 - F ALL

INSTRUCTOR : DARIUS SPEARMANT ELEPHONE : (619) 388-3187E-M AIL VIA BLACK BOARD

O FFICE H OURS : MON & WED 9:30-11:00 AM ; TUE & THUR 11:05 AM -12:35 PMAND BY APPOINTMENT , ROOM A-1( E)

C LASS M EETS : TTH, 12:45 PM – 2:05 PMFROM 8/22/2011 TO 12/17/2011;

ROOM A215

ADVICE : English 51 and passing score on English 51 exit exam

T HIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE .

Students will be notified of syllabus changes during a regularly scheduled class. It will be the students’ responsibility to

ensure they possess the latest version of the class syllabus.NOTE : Controversial subjects may be the topic of discussion or readings .

W HAT ’ S INSIDE :

REQUIREDTEXTS..................................................................................................................................................................... 2COURSEDESCRIPTION& STUDENTLEARNINGOUTCOMES.............................................................................................................. 2COURSEREQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................................................... 2ATTENDANCE ANDGRADING..................................................................................................................................................... 4HONESTACADEMICCONDUCT................................................................................................................................................... 5DISABILITYSUPPORT SERVICES(DSS) STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 5

COURSE SCHEDULE............................................................................................................................................................ 7

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus


8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



Please see the Response Paper Grading Rubric for specific details on how you will be assessed for thisassignment.

Oral Presentation –

OR –

Research Paper (50 points)Write a 5-7 page research paper on the topic of your choice. Your paper should include no less than fourprint sources such as books or scholarly journals – no more than two of those sources may be from textsused in the classroom.

Your oral presentation will be 5-7 minutes in length, and the topic will interweave a particular theme orquestion relevant to the class with your own outside research. I place special emphasis on the term“research.” Your presentation should include no less than four print sources such as books or scho larly

journals – no more than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Please discuss andclear your topic with me by September 22, 2011 .

You should be creative and use at least one visual aid (such as overheads, charts, handouts), you may also

use demonstrations and other techniques to inform and interest the class. Please let me know if you needUniversity audio visual equipment, well in advance of your presentation.

Please see Oral Presentation Grading Rubric for specific details on how you will be assessed for thisassignment. Additionally, class participation will be based in part on your feedback given to fellowclassmates.

Weekly Reading Journal (100 points)To prepare you for class discussion, each week you will be expected to come to class with your own“Talking Points” on the reading. 5 -7 sentences should be adequate. Your thoughts and questions shoulddemonstrate some degree of reflection on the material and should be intended to stimulate discussion, suchas, “The author makes an interesting point on page …” NOT “In what year did the Reconstruction end?” Besure to cite a page reference with each point.

Your “Talking Points” or journal will be turned on the due date for that week’s reading assignments.Journals MUST be typed. Handwritten journals will not be accepted.

Class Discussion/Participation (50 Points)Much time will be spent in class for active discussion of the reading. Your attendance and participation inthe discussion section, your ability to answer questions, and to initiate dialogue based on the requiredreadings, will be graded. Each student is expected to have read the assignments and have given them carefulthought. In class discussion will be based in part on a random check of preparedness. When asked “Whatshould we be talking about today?” Your response should be along the lines of “The auth or makes an

interesting statement on page …” NOT “Chapter 4.” Additionally, group work will be factored into your class discussion grade.

Honors Option (150 Points) * In ADDITION to the Oral Presentation (see above), write a 7-10 page research paper on the topic of yourchoice. Your paper should include no less than four print sources such as books or scholarly journals – nomore than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Please discuss and clear your topicwith me by September 22, 2011 .

* Please contact the Honors Department for details in room A1-N (619) 388-3512, or http://www.sdcity.edu/honors/.

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



Computer Skills AdvisoryEnter level of computer skills expected or types of assignments requiring computer skills. (In most collegecourses students are expected to have a basic familiarity with computer terms and use: word processing,document manipulation, spreadsheets, email, and online services. These skills can be learned at any of thecolleges or Continuing Education.)

ATTENDANCE AND G RADING Attendance RequirementsActive participation in the class requires that you be present. Students are expected to attend every classmeeting, arrive on time, and stay throughout the class period. Class will be in session and the classroomdoor will be closed within ten (10) minutes of the scheduled start time. You may not enter the classroomonce class is in session and anyone not seated at that time will be considered absent . Students may bedropped after four (4) unexcused absences OR after having missed four (4) assignments. Unexcused

absences are at my discretion, so please keep me informed of any issues as they arise and allow me to helpyou work through them.

It is the student’s responsibility to drop all classes in which (s)he is no longer attending.

Deadline to drop classes with no “W” recorded is 9/6/2011 . Withdrawal deadline is 10/28/2011 . No drops may be accepted after this date. Students who

remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline, as stated in the classschedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in this class.

Grading will be on a point scale and will be assigned as follows:

R EGULAR SCALE H ONORS O PTION*

A = 400-360 Points A = 500-450 PointsB = 359-320 Points B = 449-400 PointsC = 319-280 Points C = 399-350 PointsD = 279-240 Points D = 349-300 PointsF < 240 Points F < 300 Points

Points for individual assignments will be broken down as follows: Response Papers: 200 points Oral Presentation: 50 points Weekly Reading Journals: 100 points In-Class Discussion/Participation: 50 points

Optional Honors Paper: 100 *

Credit/No CreditBeginning Fall 2009, the title “credit/no credit” will change to “pass/no pass” in accordance with Title 5,section 55022.

All assignments are considered due at the BEGINNING of the class period of the due date:L ATE W ORK W ILL BE FORGIVEN O NCE (F OR ANY R EASON ) – AFTER T HAT NO L ATE W ORK W ILL BE

ACCEPTED**

* Please contact the Honors Department for details in room A1-N (619) 388-3512, or http://www.sdcity.edu/honors/.

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



H ONEST ACADEMIC C ONDUCT Students are expected to be honest and ethical at all times in their pursuit of academic goals. Students who

are found in violation of district Procedure 3100.3, Honest Academic Conduct, will receive a zero (0) gradeon the assignment in question with no opportunity to make up the grade. Additionally students may bereferred for disciplinary action in accordance with Procedure 3100.2, Student Disciplinary Procedures. Thispolicy applies to all work submitted in class or online including, but not limited to, emails, discussionpostings, assignments, essays, and exams.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT Please meet with me to discuss any academic accommodations that may be necessary for students withdisabilities. An alternate from of this syllabus and other class handouts is available upon request. Furtheraccommodations can be made upon arrangement with myself and the Department of Disability SupportPrograms and Services (DSPS), Room A-115 (619) 388-3513.

**

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



C OURSE S CHEDULE

UNIT 1: T HE S OCIAL CONSTRUCT OF RACE (5 W EEKS )

W EEK DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT Week 1 Aug 23

Aug 25Intro

Keim, Part 1,Week 2 Aug 30

Sep 1Evolutionism/Eugenics

Keim, Part 2 (Chapters 3-4)Week 3 Sep 6

Sep 8Misperceptions and their Consequences (Part 1)

Keim, Part 2 (Chapters 5-6)

Week 4 Sep 13 Sep 15

Misperceptions and their Consequences (Part 2)Keim, Part 3

Week 5 Sep 20 Sep 22

Alternative Visions Keim, Part 4

UNIT 2: S OCIOECONOMIC S TATUS & S OCIAL INEQUITY (4 W EEKS ) Week 6 Sep 27

Sep 29

A Bit of History: Slavery and the Failure of Reconstruction

Response Paper 1 DueAlexander, CH 1

Week 7 Oct 4 Oct 6

A Plan of Action: Securing Health Care and Combating Environmental Racism Smiley, Covenant I & IX

Week 8 Oct 11 Oct 13

Education and the Digital Divide

Smiley, Covenant II & XWeek 9 Oct 18

Oct 20Connecting our Communities to Sources of Wealth

Smiley, Covenant VIII &V

UNIT 3: N O J USTICE … J UST US, P ART 1 (3 W EEKS ) Week 10 Oct 25

Oct 27The Era of Mass Incarceration

Response Paper 2 DueAlexander, (Introduction)

Week 11 Nov 1 Nov 3

The Hypercriminalization of Black and Brown PeopleAlexander, Chapter 2

Week 12 Nov 8 Nov 10

The Color of JusticeAlexander, Chapter 3

8/6/2019 BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus



UNIT 4: N O J USTICE … J UST US, P ART 2 (4 W EEKS )

Week 13 Nov 15 Nov 17

The Cruel HandResponse Paper 3 Due Alexander, Chapter 4

Week 14 Nov22-24 ** Thanksgiving Holiday** Week 15 Nov 29

Dec 1

The New Jim Crow Alexander, Chapter 5

Week 16 Dec 6 Dec 8

The Fire This Time Alexander, Chapter 6

Week 17 Dec 13 Dec 15

Combating Unequal Justice and Community Centered Policing Smiley, Covenant III & IV

Response Paper 4 Due

Documents

BLAS 115 (81517) Syllabus