SSC 200: Integrated Social Sciences (Theme: Animals and Society) SUMMER SESSION I 2017: ONLINE

 

INSTRUCTOR

Paul Becker, Ph.D. Email: pbecker1@udayton.edu

If you send me a message through Isidore, it will take longer to respond

Class Webpage: http://isidore.udayton.edu – Log on using your Novell username and password.

Please contact the UD Help Desk at 937-229-3888 if you have problems accessing Isidore.

There is no textbook.

Readings, videos, and presentations are available on the class Isidore site

You may also find the Libraries page for SSC 200 helpful: http://libguides.udayton.edu/ssc200

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Catalog: SSC 200 is a theme-based course that varies across sections but shares common learning outcomes.

Application of social science methods and social theory critically examine human issues and problems from the

perspective of at least three social science disciplines (in this course we will focus on Sociology, Political

Science, and Economics). The course emphasizes outcomes related to scholarship, critical evaluation of our

times, and the diversity of the human world.

 

This section of SSC 200 will explore the theme of Animals and Society though exploring various types of

human-animal interaction and the roles that animals play in our lives by focusing on research and theories from

sociology, political science and economics. Below are the Common Academic Program (CAP) Course

Objectives:

 

In Other Words . . . By the Assignments to

Official Language time you finish the class you’ll meet Objectives

Students will demonstrate the ability to locate

primary source, peer-reviewed social science

literature using library and electronic sources.

Be able to locate research published in

academic journal articles using library

and electronic sources.

All objectives

will be addressed

in the

development and

writing of the

Research

Proposal

 

Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize

primary source, peer-reviewed social science

research for academic inquiry.

Be able to incorporate the major

findings in articles published in

academic journals in to your own

writings

Students will demonstrate knowledge of

social science methods of inquiry.

 

Be able to understand the uses, pros, and

cons of different methodologies use in

social science research

Students will demonstrate knowledge of how

various social theories facilitate the critical

and imaginative evaluation of ethical,

historical, social, political, technological,

economic, or ecological challenges of the

times.

Be able to understand how theories

guide research, how different theories

can complement each other and how

theories can be suited to help solve our

problems

Students demonstrate knowledge of how

context, difference, and/or positionality shape

social issues and the power to shape social

issues.

Be able to understand how where, when

and how you grew up (including

location, time, race, gender, ethnicity)

influences our relationships with

animals and how we view the roles that

animals play in our lives

 

GRADES

500 points Online Discussion Participation

(5 x 100 pts. each)

 

500 points Research Proposal

1000 Points Point Total

 

No Additional Extra Credit – No Exceptions

 

 

DISCUSSIONS AND READINGS

 “Discussions” take place in an online forum where you will post comments during the week

 The first forum that you don’t post in will be a 0 o you will be deducted 50 points for each additional forum you fail to participate in!

 Forum will close Saturday evenings around Midnight and new forums will be open by noon on Sundays

 You should be working ahead so that when a forum opens you have already completed all assignments including readings and videos. For example, Week 2 the forum will cover Module 1 (The Social

Sciences) so during Week 1 you should be completing the readings, videos, etc. found in Module 1.

 When making a new point, click on “start a new conversation” at the top of the page – be specific when naming your thread (“Pet Over-population” rather than “Pets”)

 When responding to someone else’s post in an existing thread, click on “reply”

 It’s easier to follow (and post follow-ups) if you focus on ONE idea per post (since you should be making at least 5 posts, you don’t want to post all of your ideas in one post)

 You can make posts connected to assigned readings and videos, my presentations, or personal experiences or ideas/concerns/opinions you have about the overall theme of that Module.

 The maximum grade you can earn for o 1 post = 60 2 posts = 70 3 posts = 80 4 posts = 88 5 posts = 90 o To earn an A, your participation must be exceptional and well above average!

 If you make 3 posts you do not earn 80 points – the maximum you can earn is 80 depending on the other factors that influence your grade such as:

o Making at least one post where you are creating a new conversation. If you create a new conversation but one already exists on that topic, you will not receive credit for creating a new

thread

o Responding to the posts of others – especially if they post a question to something you previously posted

o Being insightful and showing thought, though sometimes a short post may be called for such as the posting of a question. On the other hand, posts such as ‘I agree with everything you said’ do

not add to the discussion

o Tying in ideas and concepts from material posted in the Modules (At least twice in each forum/discussion you should reference material from the module: reading, video, lecture, etc)

o Posting throughout the discussion period: consider this a discussion, so making all of your contributions the first or last 5 minutes of class won’t be worth as much as someone who

participated throughout the class

 You should break up the discussion into three parts and make at least one post in each part: #1 (Sun-Mon), #2 (Tues-Thur), #3 (Fri-Sat)

o So for example: If you made 6 posts you could earn an A; but if the posts were grouped together and IF you also did not refer to anything in the modules and did not start a new thread, your

grade would likely be in the 60-68 range.

 

A 93% C+ 78%

A- 90% C 73%

B+ 88% C- 70%

B 83% D 60%

B- 80% F below 60%

 

 

PAPER / RESEARCH PROPOSAL

 For this paper you will propose a research project to study some aspect of human – animal interactions related to pets, farm animals, or wildlife (not exotics) from the perspective of one of the following

disciplines: sociology, economics, political science, psychology, social work, criminal justice studies, or

communications (the study must involve humans; for example, it can’t be strictly on animal behavior).

You are only writing a proposal – you do not have to conduct the actual study!

 You should email me your topic (or 2-3 topics you are considering) so I can give you feedback and make sure it is a doable topic. You should be this as early in the session as possible. Do NOT wait until

he last week of the session to begin your paper! See the course schedule for when you should submit

your ideas