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What is this about? Processes involved in defining behavior patterns as deviant; factors that influence conformity and change; examination of behavior patterns such as sexuality, alcoholism, drug use, and selected mental and physical disabilities; public reaction to such behavior.

What will you get out of this? 1. Increased knowledge of particular forms of

deviant behavior2. Understanding of how deviance becomes

part of a person's identity3. The pleasure of debunking pseudoscientific

explanations for deviance4. The skills and knowledge to evaluate

extraordinary claims and beliefs

Lecture format SOC 224 follows a lecture format, broken up by videos and occasional in-class assignments. I may also include a guest lecture or two. I base my lecture material on the textbook readings, but I include my own content depending on the topic and how I’m feeling that particular day.

Textbook Thompson, W. E., & Gibbs, J. C. (2016). Deviance & Deviants: A Sociological Approach. John Wiley & Sons.

I will make all other course materials available on eClass

Instructor info Jonathan SimmonsOffice: TBA on eClassOffice Hours are by appointment. If you need to contact me, I much prefer e-mail: jssimmon@ualberta.ca.

Email policy I strive to respond to e-mails within 48 hours during the week. I do not check my e-mail or eClass on Saturdays. When you e-mail me, please include “SOC 224” in the subject line.

“The deviant and the conformist are creatures of the same culture, inventions of the same imagination.” ― Kai Theodor Erikson

SOC 224 (B2), Winter 2017 Tue/Thur 2:00-3:20 Tory Lecture 12

Information for this course can be found through the eClass at https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/portal/.

The course website includes links to quiz and exam information, lecture slides, discussion forums, and anything else relevant to students.

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Grading

Syllabus Quiz 3% Exam Assignment 4% Review Quiz 5% Pop Quizzes 18% Exam 1 20% Exam 2 20% Final Exam 30%

Syllabus Quiz (3%) After reading the syllabus in its entirety, click on Syllabus Quiz under Assessment on eClass. You may retake this quiz up to two times to get a perfect score, but be mindful that you are responsible for the contents of the syllabus at all times during the term. You have until January 31 at 11:55 PM to complete and submit your answers. Do not forget to hit submit! If you fail to submit your answers on time, your saved responses will be accepted “as is.” I do not provide makeups for this assignment.

Exam Assignment (4%) During the term, you will submit one multiple choice question for each of the first two exams in the relevant discussion forums on eClass. Your submission for Exam 1 (2%) is due January 26 at 11:55 PM. Your submission for Exam 2 (2%) is due March 2 at 11:55 PM. I will set aside some class time to talk about the assignment, and you will find instructions for constructing your questions on eClass. I do not provide makeups for this assignment.

Review Quiz (5%) This eClass quiz primarily contains questions on material from your textbook. You will have until Thursday, April 6 at 11:55 PM to complete and submit your answers. If you fail to submit your answers on time, your saved responses will be accepted “as is.” I do not provide makeups for this assignment.

Pop Quizzes (18%) Quizzes will consist of multiple-choice and true-false questions on textbook content and/or any documentaries, films, or clips shown in class. You can only submit your answers once (no retries), and if you fail to submit your answers on time, your saved responses will be accepted “as is.” You will have about 48 hours to complete each quiz from 2:00 PM on the date and time that I post it on eClass.

Exams (20%, 20%, 30%) Bring a pencil, eraser, and your ONEcard to each exam. The exams will consist of multiple-choice questions on any readings or lecture materials including videos. Each exam will feature one or more bonus questions that may or may not relate to course content.

Each exam, including the final, is semi-open book. You are allowed to bring in a single sheet of 8.5″ x 11” paper, double-sided. On that sheet, you can write anything you want, as long as it’s in your handwriting (not typewritten or in a font made to look like handwriting [don’t ask!]). You must submit the “cheat” sheet with the exam.

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Can I make-up one of the “pop” quizzes? There are no makeup quizzes unless you have a documented excuse for not being in class on the day of the quiz announcement. You must deliver this documentation to me within two days of the quiz announcement. In other words, contacting me a week later because you were ill on the day of the announcement, just found about the quiz, or forgot to contact me with information about your absence will not fly. This policy may seem harsh, but at the end of the year, I will discard your lowest-scoring quiz and use only the remaining quizzes in the calculation of your final grades.

Can I get extra credit? I do not give extra credit because it’s unfair to students who were able to perform well consistently throughout the term. Some students do better than other students on quizzes and exams for a reason. To respect all of my students, I honor those reasons. Anything else is unfair to those who did their best at the start.

Can I change my grade? I know that your grades are important to you, but I do not change grades unless I made an addition error, or I made an incredibly obvious or egregious mistake.

I missed a class. What should I do? You are responsible for all material covered in class. I won’t repeat lecture material. If you must miss a class, check the course website to access any lecture slides, and ask another student for a copy of their notes.

Is the final exam cumulative? Yes. I understand that cumulative exams frustrate many students, but the evidence is overwhelming that they promote deep learning and lasting retention of course content.

Can I make-up one of the exams? You can do a makeup exam if you have a documented excuse and if you contact me within two working days of the scheduled exam. The format and time of the makeup, however, is at my discretion. Since you’ve had more time to study, the questions will likely be harder than on the regular exam. If you miss a makeup exam, there will be no subsequent opportunities, and you will receive a grade of zero for that exam.

Course Policies

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Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings Class lectures do not follow the text exactly and may change in response to the needs and pace of the course. Changes will be announced in class and on eClass throughout the term. It is the student’s responsibility to make themselves aware of these changes.

Topic Date What to Read What’s Due

Week 1 Introduction to the course and the sociological imagination

Jan 10/12

No readings.

Week 2 Defining deviance

Jan 17/19

Chapter 1

Week 3 Deviance and social identity

Jan 24/26

Chapter 2 Exam assignment

Week 4 Pseudoscience

Jan 31/Feb 2

Chapter 3 Syllabus quiz

Exam Feb 7 No readings. Exam 1

Week 5 Sociological explanations

Feb 9/14

Chapter 4

Week 6 Deviant lifestyles

Feb 16 Chapter 6

Week 7 Physical and mental deviance

Feb28/Mar 2

Chapter 8 Exam assignment

Week 8 Extreme deviance

Mar 7/9 Chapter 10

Exam Mar 14 No readings Exam 2

Week 9 Violence

Mar 16/21

Chapter 11

Week 10 Elite deviance

Mar 23/28

Chapter 12

Week 11 Cyber deviance

Mar 30/Apr 4

Chapter 13

Week 12 Social control

Apr 6/11

Chapter 14 Review quiz

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Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading section of the University Calendar.

Academic integrityThe University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behavior (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behavior which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offense. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

For further information about Academic Integrity and to access the Academic Integrity Handbook for students, visit the Student Conduct and Accountability website at http://www.osja.ualberta.ca/en/Students.aspx

Recording of lecturesAudio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).

Exam AttendanceNeither absence from class nor travel plans will be accepted as legitimate reasons for failure to attend an exam. An unexcused absence will result in a grade of zero for that exam. Should a student miss an exam, he or she must contact the instructor via email within two working days of the originally scheduled exam or term work (or as soon as the student is able to concerning the circumstance) to apply for an excused absence. Students with an excused absence from a term exam must write the exam rather than shift the weight of that exam to other course requirements.

Absence from a Final ExamStudents must apply to their home Faculty for a deferred final exam, regardless of the reason. Instructors cannot grant deferred final exams. Deferred exams are not granted automatically and will be considered only for acceptable reasons such as incapacitating mental and/or physical illness, severe domestic affliction, or for circumstances described in the University’s Discrimination, Harassment and Duty to Accommodate Policy (including religious belief). Unacceptable reasons include, but are not limited to personal events such as vacations, weddings or travel arrangements. Students will need to present appropriate supporting documents–-they should contact their home Faculty to find out what documents they need.

Students approved by their Faculty for a deferred final exam will write on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 9:00 AM. Location TBA.