Assessment Metrics

Successful students don’t have things happen to them. They do things. Seth Godin

First, your input is welcomed and appreciated in this class through class discussions. Secondly, our classes will include lectures, group discussion, computer lab work, small group work, and formal workshops (guest speakers). In small group sessions, you will discuss reading and course assignments, practice applications of new concepts, and perform critical thinking exercises. You are expected to participate in the class student-learning community and to master independent study during the semester.

All of your Assignments are scheduled in GAME PLAN. You will be regularly assessed over the COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES through metrics that include exit surveys, formal exams, unannounced quizzes, journal writing assignments, class projects, presentations, class discussions, class participation and attendance.

(1) PLAYBOOK

You should create and maintain a personal copy of PLAYBOOK in a three-ring BINDER, bring it to the first day of class and continue to bring your PLAYBOOK to class every class period. The PLAYBOOK BINDER must have a plastic cover. Publish a thoughtful and creative PLAYBOOK BINDER cover sheet that you slide inside the plastic cover of the BINDER. The cover sheet is your own personal creation. It may feature items such as a single or multiple photograph(s), a collage of some type and/or your own art work. However, you may think of something content to include on your cover sheet. The cover sheet can be black and white or color. You may change your cover page anytime you wish. In fact, changing your cover sheet is encouraged. The cover sheet should also contain three lines of typing along with your visual creation. The first line should read "PLAYBOOK." The second line should read "Introduction to Sociology." The third line should display your name. The font you use for the three lines of typing should be large enough to read from a distance. Probably at least a 24-point font. If you have major questions about the Binder assignment, you may email me anytime. However, give it a try. See what you can do.

The PLAYBOOK BINDER should include content Dividers or Tabs marked with headers on the Tabs on the dividers that read GRADED ASSIGNMENTS, SYLLABUS, READING SCHEDULE, CALENDAR, NOTES, HAND-OUTS, AND CAMPUS SERVICES FLIERS. You will store your course content in PLAYBOOK. PLAYBOOK may also be created and maintained on a laptop or tablet as long as the electronic file contains all the required documents in ONE complete pdf file. (Hardcopy handouts and returned assignments should be scanned and filed as part of your electronic file).

I will evaluate your PLAYBOOK at the end of each quarter of the semester for quality, content, appearance, organization and completeness. The evaluations are worth a maximum of 25 points each. The total score possible for the PLAYBOOK BINDER is 100 points. The PLAYBOOK BINDER can be used as a reference during each four scheduled Formal Exams.

The PLAYBOOK BINDER measures student competencies in note-taking, information organization, acquiring and evaluating information, organizing and maintaining files, time management, comprehension and reliability.

(2) CLASS PARTICIPATION

Class Participation includes discussions that occur every class period when we analyze sociological topics. You should regularly and actively participate in class discussions. You will participate in small discussion groups during the semester for you to experience a more personal instructional strategy with your classmates. You may score points through my evaluation of your informed participation. These points will be posted on Blackboard at least twice during the semester: at HALFTIME and during the end of the FOURTH QUARTER the week before final exams. Class Participation measures competencies in note-taking, information organization, acquiring and evaluating information, public speaking, critical thinking, comprehension and reliability.

(3) WRITING ASSIGNMENT: JOURNALING

Many famous creatives, writers, innovators and original thinkers keep journals. For many, it is a creative necessity. For some, it is a way to reduce stress or focus their thoughts. For others, it is a place for exploration. For some, it is an art form in and of itself. You will learn to journal some of your assignments in this class. There are ten short writing assignments called Journals worth a maximum of 20 points. Journaling measures competencies in self-expression, writing, information organization and integration, acquiring and evaluating information, critical thinking, comprehension and reliability.

(4) CLASS PRESENTATION

You are also required to give a 5 to 7-minute PRESENTATION using a visual aid such as Power Point, Presi, Emaze or other visual computer-based application. using sociological concepts to analyze a current topic or event. You should use your own Sociological Imagination to apply to a real-life situation. We will review the terms of an acceptable PRESENTATION and schedule your PRESENTATION during first few weeks of the semester. There are absolutely no make-ups if you do not give your PRESENTATION when scheduled.

If a scheduling conflict arises before the date of your PRESENTATION, you should contact me to reschedule your PRESENTATION at a more convenient time. (The discretion for granting a rescheduled PRESENTATION rests solely with me.) Your PRESENTATION measures competencies in critical thinking, information organization, communication, and presenting information in a social situation and is scored at a maximum of 100 points.

(5) EXAMS

There will be four EXAMS during the semester that will be made up of objective questions including of True-False, Multiple Choice and Fill-in-the-Blank and short answer questions. You may score up to 100 points on each EXAM. Although the Final EXAM will cover the final 25% of course content, it will also contain questions covering all of the material presented in the course. There will be Reviews before each scheduled EXAMS. You may use your class notes on each of the four EXAMS. EXAMS measure competencies in memory, information organization, note-taking, critical thinking and test-taking.

(6) CLASS ATTENDANCE

By enrolling in this course as a college student, you have accepted the adult responsibility of attending every class period during the entire semester. There are a very few exceptions for non-attendance, i.e., personal sickness, family illness where you are the primary care-giver, pregnancy or emergency child-care, and funerals of close family members or friends. Regular, consistent attendance and participation are required and essential to be successful in this course. If you accumulate four or more unexcused absences, the final grade may be reduced a minimum of one-letter grade and/or you may be automatically administratively withdrawn from the course depending upon the circumstances. Unexcused absences are absences for which you do not inform me of your impending absence by email before the absence occurs. You may obtain an excused absence by emailing me about your absence prior to the class absence unless there is an extreme emergency which necessitates sending me an email after the absence. Attendance and participation measure competencies in reliability, dependability, goal setting, time management, critical thinking and social interaction. GAME ATTENDACE is scored by your official attendance record.

(7) EXTRA POINTS

There may be other short unannounced assignments and pop quizzes Exit Quizzes covering the material presented in the text. If you are absent the day of an assignment or are absent on a day when an assignment is due, you will not receive full credit unless the absence was an Excused Absence. However, assignments may always be submitted before the due date. EXTRA POINTS may include but not limited to information presented by representatives from a variety of TCC Campus Services such as the Campus Police, Reading and Writing Center, Library, Student Life, etc. EXTRA POINTS are worth 5 to 25 points depending upon the rigors of the task..Journaling and pop quizzes measure competencies in listening, memory, and time management.

(8) LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP WORK

· I must approve the submission of Late Assignments in writing within 24 hours of the Assignment due date or else Late Assignments may not be submitted under any circumstances. Please to not try to seek approval for taking late tests or submitting late assignments outside of the prescribed terms of the Syllabus.

· Late Assignments will not be accepted after one week past the Assignment due date under any circumstances.

· The maximum score for Late Assignments will be automatically discounted by 50%.

It is advised that should an unforeseeable problem (that could interfere with class performance) occur, notify the instructor so that alternate arrangements may be made. The material accompanying the text and handouts should be treated as required reading and may be included in the class discussion and exams. You are, therefore, responsible for all assigned text reading, as well as all the information that is discussed or otherwise included in class. You should be aware of all assignment, presentation, and exam dates that are listed in the accompanying calendar without reminder from the instructor. You are expected to be prepared (completed assigned readings) to discuss pertinent topics each class period as scheduled. You who attend class unprepared should expect your grades to be negatively affected as a result. All assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the date due unless otherwise instructed. Any assignment handed in late on the date due will receive no credit unless prior arrangements have been made with me to submit a late assignment. There are no exceptions.

(9) TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE: GAME PLAN

All Course Content, Assessment Metrics, and Assignment/Exam due dates can be found on GAME PLAN on drjohnlamberton.com. GAME PLAN is a living document that may be amended during the semester.

COURSE DIVISION: FIVE QUARTERS

The course content and assessment metrics are divided into FIVE QUARTERS during the semester. The dates for the end of each quarter are posted on GAME PLAN. There will be an EXAM after each quarter during the semester. The cumulative score for the assessment metrics for each quarter will be posted in the GRADE CENTER on Blackboard.

WEEKLY COURSE REVIEWS

Every Monday and Friday you should review the text, your reading assignments, your notes and your assessment metrics during weekly blocks of time that you have pre-scheduled on your PLAYBOOK calendar.

(1) Monday Status Report - Review the learning objectives scheduled for the new week.

(2) Friday Status Report - Review your attendance, your participation in class, assessment metrics and the course content that was presented during the week.