Social Sciences Department
ISS 1161
The Individual in Society
Classroom:
4306 Section 05: Class Time: M & W 7:05 PM – 8:20 PM
Course Description: This is an interdisciplinary course
that emphasizes understanding of oneself as a unique individual who, as part of
global community, is responsible for decisions affecting his/her psychological,
social, environmental, and physical well-being. Main themes include personality
and self, society and culture, development and the life cycle, and the
maintenance of physical and psychological health. (3 hr. lecture)
Credits: 3 credits
Textbook: Weiten and Lloyd, Psychology Applied to Modern Life, Eighth Edition.
Maximum Number
of Absences: Number of class meetings per week + 1 = 3
This is the MAXIMUM number of classes
you are allowed to miss. Remember…this
is College—there are normally no excused or unexcused absences. If you exceed this number of absences you may
be dropped WITHOUT NOTICE by your instructor. See your instructor if you have questions
about this policy.
Date / Time
of Final Exam: 4-28-10 – Final Exam: 7:30 PM – 9:00
PM
Instructor Information: Robert E. Beneckson,
M.S.
rb@vorlon1.com
Office hours by appointment
Building 6, Room 6206
305-237-2215
Department Information: Social Sciences –
Building 6, Room 6206
305-237-2215
Your instructor may require that you use Scantron sheets for this class. If so, please purchase the “Green FORM
882-E” forms (available at the MDC Bookstore). Ask your instructor for more information.
Grading: This
course will be taught through study of the textbook, lecture, video programs,
discussion, and dialogue. Class participation will be highly emphasized
and rewarded. There will be 2 exams, with multiple choice and/or essays. The
highest exam grade will be counted twice, the lowest score once, for a total of
three test scores. Students are required to keep a journal applying the
material from each chapter to real aspects of their lives, and to make a class
presentation of approximately 15 minutes.
Your final grade in the course is based on the total of the
3 exam scores, points for the journals, plus extra credit points, plus credit
for the class presentation, and class participation. All mandatory
assignments must be done or points are subtracted for each missing
assignment. Each student is required to participate in a small group or
individual presentation based on a specific application of material from
selected chapters. The maximum for the class presentation is 10
points. The personal journal is worth a minimum of 5 points and a maximum
of 16 points. Additional specialized
journals are worth varying amounts of points based on the type of special
assignment.
Other extra credit points depend on the specific project,
but generally are between 5 and 10 points.
A = 280+
B = 245-279
C = 215-244
D = 185-214
F = 0-184
MDC’s General
Education Outcomes:
As graduates of Miami Dade
College
- Communicate
effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
- Use
quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.
- Solve
problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
- Formulate
strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
- Demonstrate
knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical
perspectives.
- Create
strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social
responsibilities.
- Demonstrate
knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
- Use
computer and emerging technologies effectively.
- Demonstrate
an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
- Describe
how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the
environment.
Tentative
Schedule/Due Dates: (This information is subject to change)
COURSE OUTLINE
Topic:
Textbook Weitan
& Lloyd
1-6-10, 1-11-10 Adjusting to Modern
Life
Chapter 1
Personality Test
Personality Test
New
Findings in Stress and Health
1-13-10 Theories of Personality
Chapter 2
1-27-10 Psychological Disorders
Chapter 15
2-3-10
Psychotherapy Chapter
16
2-10-10 Stress and Its Effects
Chapter
3
2-22-10 Coping
Processes Chapter
4
2-24-10 The
Self Chapter 5
3-1-10 Social Cognition
and Social Influence
Chapter 6
3-8-10 Review
3-10-10 Exam 1
3-15-10 Interpersonal
Communication
Chapter 7
3-22-10 Friendship and Love
Chapter
8
3-29-10 Development and Expression of Sexuality Chapter
13
3-31-10 Marriage and Intimate Relationships
Chapter
9
4-7-10 Gender and
Behavior
Chapter 10
4-12-10 Careers and
Work
Chapter 12
4-19-10 Psychology and Physical Health
Chapter 14
4-21-10 Review, Catch up on
Reports
Final Exam
4-28-10 7:30 – 9:00
PM
Please, when you write your journals,
leave two spaces between sentences. Also, when using “quotation marks,”
make sure that periods and commas are included within the “marks.” This
is proper English usage in writing. Thank you.
Class Rules /
Guidelines:
- ABSENCE/TARDINESS POLICY:
Roll is taken at the beginning of every class meeting. It is your responsibility to attend
class meetings and to arrive on time to be counted on the roll. There are generally no “excused”
absences in College beyond a court summons, military deployment, or brief
hospitalization (documentation will be required). You are considered either PRESENT or you
are ABSENT from class at the time roll is taken. If you leave class early, it is the
instructor’s prerogative to mark you as being absent for the full class
meeting. See your teacher if you
have questions about whether or not your absence may be deemed as
excused. Use your absences as
leave in the event of an emergency, sickness, or unforeseen event.
You are not allowed to sign the roll for a student who is absent. This is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. You may be referred for disciplinary action if you do this.
NOTICE: IF YOU MISS MORE THAN THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
ALLOWABLE ABSENCES, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE CLASS BY THE INSTRUCTOR
WITHOUT NOTICE AND MAY NOT BE READMITTED.
- CELL PHONES/PAGERS/TEXT MESSAGING/MP3
Players/Music Devices: All
cell phones, pagers or text messaging devices should be muted or turned
off during class. Please do not
answer your phone in class or repeatedly leave class to answer your
phone/send a text message. You may be asked to leave by the instructor if
you interrupt class and may not return until you have been cleared by the
Dean of Student Services.
Sending text messages or listening to an MP3 player/music device of any type during class is distracting and considered inappropriate classroom behavior. If you are seen texting or listening to a music device during class, you may be asked to leave the class by the instructor and may not return to the class until you’ve been cleared by the Dean of Student Services.
Proper classroom etiquette
requires you to not use any features of your cell phone during class. You are also not allowed to use a cell phone
during a test. You must put the cell
phone away, out of sight, during a test.
- IF YOU ARE DROPPED FROM THE CLASS:
If you are dropped from this
class by the instructor or by the College for non-payment of student fees,
you will no longer be allowed to attend the class. You will also not receive a grade for
the class and the instructor will not accept your assignments, papers, or
tests. The instructor can only allow a person to re-enroll in a class
for two reasons: 1) The student was
withdrawn due to instructor error, or 2) The student was withdrawn due to
a financial aid issue (documentation may be required). The instructor has the discretion
whether or not to allow a student to re-enroll in his/her course.
If you are dropped from the class and the instructor allows you to re-enroll, you must submit the paperwork to the Registrar’s Office and receive a receipt showing that you’ve been re-enrolled in the class BEFORE YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CLASS. You must provide proof of registration and payment of fees from the Registration Office before the instructor will let you attend the class.
TO RECEIVE A GRADE IN THE CLASS, YOU MUST BE PROPERLY ENROLLED PRIOR
TO THE START OF FINAL EXAM WEEK. WE WILL
NOT RETROACTIVELY RE-ENROLL A STUDENT AFTER THE FINAL EXAM WEEK HAS BEGUN OR
PASSED.
- LATE/MISSED WORK/MAKE-UP WORK: You are responsible for submitting work
by the due date/time. The
instructor may impose a penalty for work submitted late. If you should miss class due to an
absence or from being temporarily dropped from the course, you (not the
instructor) are solely responsible for making up the work/ material/tests
missed. The instructor is not
responsible for reminding you about missing work/test.
The instructor does not have to accept any late work or to allow you
to make-up missed work!
Unless
an incomplete is arranged through the instructor, ALL COURSEWORK IS DUE BY
THE END OF THE ACADEMIC TERM BEFORE THE START OF FINAL EXAMS. WORK SUBMITTED AFTER THE END OF THE TERM OR
AFTER THE START OF FINAL EXAMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND YOUR GRADE WILL NOT BE
CHANGED.
- PLAGIARISM/CHEATING: All plagiarized papers will receive a grade of zero and the student will not be allowed to re-do the assignment. Cheating is the deliberate act of GIVING OR RECEIVING unfair assistance or help on a test or assignment or the submission of someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s work without properly citing it in a bibliography or putting appropriate quotations around the work. Should an instructor determine that a student has plagiarized or cheated on an assignment, you will receive a grade of zero for the work and not be allowed to make-up the grade. The student may also be referred to the Dean of Student’s Office for disciplinary action.
- REQUESTING AN INCOMPLETE GRADE FOR THE COURSE: Instructors and the department will only consider issuing a grade of “I” or incomplete if the student has satisfied the majority (75%) of required work in the class, has faithfully attended the class, and has an extremely extenuating circumstance which prevents him/her from attending the final course meetings. An Incomplete Agreement Form must be completed by the student and signed by the instructor if the incomplete is deemed valid. Students who are past due on assignments/tests/papers or who have exceeded the allowable number of absences are usually not granted the opportunity to do an incomplete. Incomplete requests are NEVER accepted after a term has ended or after the fact (arrangements must be made in advance with the instructor).
NOTICE: A STUDENT HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE NEXT MAJOR SEMESTER (FALL / SPRING) TO SETTLE THE INCOMPLETE OR THE FINAL GRADE ASSIGNED WILL BECOME AN “F.” The instructor is not responsible for reminding the student about the incomplete.
- EXTRA CREDIT POLICY: The instructor may only grant extra credit opportunities to the entire class. No one student or select group of students will be allowed an extra credit opportunity any different than what has been offered to the entire class. Please do not ask for special exceptions as none will be granted.
- GRADE DISPUTES/REQUEST FOR CHANGING A FINAL GRADE: Final course grades are only changed for two reasons:
· Changing from an incomplete or “I” to a final grade, or
· Due to a grade calculation error by the instructor.
Remember, the instructor cannot curve or adjust a student’s grade for any personal reasons. Nor can the instructor accept work submitted after a term has ended unless the student has received permission to do an incomplete and the proper paperwork has been filed in advance with the department.
If you feel that the grade you
received on an assignment or the final grade you received in a course is due to
an error, the proper way to resolve the situation is as follows:
a. Communicate your concern in writing or via email to the Professor. Ask to meet with him/her during his/her office hours to discuss the issue.
b. Allow the Professor adequate time to respond (usually 3-5 business days except during periods when school is not in session such as weekends, breaks between terms, or holidays).
c. Try to resolve the situation with your Professor in a respectful manner. Keep all your written correspondence.
d. If, after you have met with your instructor, you feel the need to appeal the faculty member’s decision, contact the Department Chair at 305-237-2215 to schedule a meeting. Be prepared to bring all your documentation to the meeting.
- DISRUPTING CLASS: Any student who intentionally disrupts
the teaching/learning process or who acts in a disrespectful, threatening,
or intimidating way toward the instructor will be asked to leave the
class. Campus Security will be
called if the student refuses to leave.
The student will be referred to the Dean of Students and must
receive his/her approval before returning to class.
Any student who deliberately causes a class to be cancelled due to his/her inappropriate actions will be immediately reported to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. An inquiry may be made by the academic department and the responsible student may face suspension or expulsion.
- PRESSURING/INTIMIDATING/BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE/USING PROFANITY WITH THE TEACHER OR ANOTHER STUDENT IN THE CLASS: Any student who participates in pressuring or “ganging up” on a professor with other students as a means to get him/her to change a grade or course requirement will be dismissed from the class and not allowed to return to class until he/she has been cleared to return to class by the Dean of Student Services. The student may also face disciplinary action by the College. The appropriate way to handle a disagreement or personal grade issue with an instructor is to meet with him/her one on one during his/her office hours.
Any student who uses profanity toward, intentionally verbally insults, or becomes verbally aggressive with a teacher or other student in a class will be dismissed and not allowed to return to the class until he/she has been cleared to return by the Dean of Student Services. The student may also face disciplinary sanctions by the College.
- Can’t Afford The Textbook? Two copies of all Social Sciences textbooks are on file at the reference desk of the MDC Kendall Library. You cannot remove these books from the Library and are limited to 2 hours of use per visit.
- EMAILED CORRESPONDENCE: Our
teachers make heavy use of email to share class information and correspond
with students. You are responsible
for regularly checking your MDC email account while enrolled in this
class. Your instructor is not
responsible for the student’s failure to regularly check his/her MDC email
or to respond in a timely manner.
Students who are allowed by an instructor to submit their
assignments via email should always keep a copy of the sent document on
file in the event that the email does not make it to the instructor. Students who claim to have submitted a
document via email must be able to produce a record showing the date, time,
and a copy of the file sent to the professor should he/she request it.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WITH THIS CLASS:
ACCESS Services Room 2121 305-237-2767
(Services for Student with Disabilities)
Campus Counseling Services Room 3166 305-237-0529
Computer Courtyard Room 2100 305-237-2502
(Computer / Internet Access for Students)
Natural & Social Sciences Media Ctr Room 2125 305-237-0812
(Computer Help, Study Areas, Social Sciences Computer Tutorial Packages,
Internet Access)
College Prep Writing Lab Room 6337 305-237-2062
(For students in College Prep Reading, Writing)
(For students who are taking or have passed ENC 1101)
Reading Lab Room 6334 305-237-2832
(For students in College Prep Reading)
Math /
Public Safety Room 5118 305-237-2100
Testing Services Bldg 5, 2nd Floor 305-237-0892
EMERGENCIES:
FIRE ALARM Leave the building immediately. Remain outside of the building at a safe
distance until cleared to re-enter the building by authorities.
SHOOTER/SNIPER Once notified, comply
with instructions from authorities. If
you are instructed to remain inside, stay away from doors and windows. If you see a person wielding a gun on campus,
immediately call Public Safety at 305-237-2100.
Know your location!
HURRICANE THREAT Tune to local
television and/or radio stations for information about MDC class cancellations
or call 305-237-7500.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY Know
your location on campus before you call! Call
Public Safety at 305-237-2100 and report the emergency. If an Ambulance is needed, tell the
dispatcher. Stay with the injured person
until released by a Public Safety Officer.
FIGHT / DISRUPTION Know
your location on campus. Call Public
Safety at 305-237-2100 and report the emergency. Do not intervene in the conflict.
STALKER Immediately report your situation to Public
Safety at 305-237-2100.