San Diego Community College District Course Syllabus

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BLAS 115 (81517) SOCIOLOGY/BLACK PERSPECTIVE 2011 - FALL

INSTRUCTOR: DARIUS SPEARMAN TELEPHONE: (619) 388-3187 E-MAIL VIA BLACKBOARD OFFICE HOURS: MON & WED 9:30-11:00AM; TUE & THUR 11:05AM-12:35PM AND BY APPOINTMENT, ROOM A-1(E) CLASS MEETS: TTH, 12:45PM2:05PM FROM 8/22/2011 TO 12/17/2011; ROOM A215

ADVICE: English 51 and passing score on English 51 exit exam THIS 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. WHATS INSIDE:
REQUIRED TEXTS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 COURSE DESCRIPTION & STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................. 2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 ATTENDANCE AND GRADING ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 HONEST ACADEMIC CONDUCT ................................................................................................................................................... 5 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 5 COURSE SCHEDULE............................................................................................................................................................7

San Diego Community College District Course Syllabus

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REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Alexander, Michelle, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, The New Press, 2010, ISBN: 9781595581037 2. Keim, Curtis A., Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind, Second Edition, Westview Press, 2008, ISBN: 0813343860 3. Smiley, Tavis, ed., The Covenant with Black America, 1st ed., Third World Press, 2006, ISBN: 9780883782774

COURSE DESCRIPTION & STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course is a study of African American society and culture. Emphasis is placed on analyzing the origins, nature, structure and dynamics of African American life from a systemic perspective. Upon successful completion of the course the student will have gained experience in: 1. Define and explain the field of Sociology from a Black perspective. 2. Apply the concepts set forth by Systemic Nationalist philosophers to explain the Black experience from a Sociological perspective and to critique the Black Colony Theory and the Cultural Philosophy of Paul Robeson. 3. Analyze the African American rhetorical tradition as it has been applied as a response to United States imperialism and in support of the ideals of Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism. 4. Evaluate African American experiences with the social welfare system as well as African American theological and cultural perspectives on issues such as healthcare, social work, racism in workplaces, poverty and Black liberation. 5. Assess, compare and contrast the philosophies and ideologies of a variety of African American writers and/or educators regarding the current state of African Studies and education for African Americans.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This is a web enhanced course. We have created an online companion to this course that will allow you to communicate with your online community and access useful tools. After the first week of class you will be automatically enrolled in the Blackboard community. To log on: Login URL: http://online.sdccd.edu Username: CSID number Password = 8 digit birthdate: (mmddyyyy) 4 Response Papers (50 points each) Write a 500-700 word typed paper on a prompt to be determined in class. To adequately address each question, we would suggest a minimum of 3 main points explored in a fair amount of detail. The assigned readings should be sufficient to adequately address the topic, and should be the only materials referenced in your essays. DO NOT CITE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. Key points must be supported and cited with evidence from the required readings. You MUST cite from at least two sources per paper i.e. (Author, p. 10). Allow the material to speak to you and for you. Doing so should also permit you to be creative in how you piece the material together. Be SPECIFIC in your answer. Eliminate the following words from your vocabulary: this, these, that, they, its.

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Please see the Response Paper Grading Rubric for specific details on how you will be assessed for this assignment. 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 four print sources such as books or scholarly journals no more than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Your oral presentation will be 5-7 minutes in length, and the topic will interweave a particular theme or question 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 scholarly journals no more than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Please discuss and clear 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 need University 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 this assignment. Additionally, class participation will be based in part on your feedback given to fellow classmates. 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 should demonstrate some degree of reflection on the material and should be intended to stimulate discussion, such as, The author makes an interesting point on page NOT In what year did the Reconstruction end? Be sure to cite a page reference with each point. Your Talking Points or journal will be turned on the due date for that weeks 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 in the discussion section, your ability to answer questions, and to initiate dialogue based on the required readings, will be graded. Each student is expected to have read the assignments and have given them careful thought. In class discussion will be based in part on a random check of preparedness. When asked What should we be talking about today? Your response should be along the lines of The author 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 your choice. Your paper should include no less than four print sources such as books or scholarly journals no more than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Please discuss and clear your topic with 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/.

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Computer Skills Advisory Enter level of computer skills expected or types of assignments requiring computer skills. (In most college courses 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 the colleges or Continuing Education.)

ATTENDANCE AND GRADING

Attendance Requirements Active participation in the class requires that you be present. Students are expected to attend every class meeting, arrive on time, and stay throughout the class period. Class will be in session and the classroom door will be closed within ten (10) minutes of the scheduled start time. You may not enter the classroom once class is in session and anyone not seated at that time will be considered absent. Students may be dropped 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 help you work through them. It is the students 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 class schedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in this class.

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

REGULAR SCALE
A B C D F = = = = < 400-360 Points 359-320 Points 319-280 Points 279-240 Points 240 Points

HONORS OPTION*
A B C D F = = = = < 500-450 Points 449-400 Points 399-350 Points 349-300 Points 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 Credit Beginning 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: LATE WORK WILL BE FORGIVEN ONCE (FOR ANY REASON) AFTER THAT NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED**
*

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

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HONEST ACADEMIC CONDUCT

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) grade on the assignment in question with no opportunity to make up the grade. Additionally students may be referred for disciplinary action in accordance with Procedure 3100.2, Student Disciplinary Procedures. This policy applies to all work submitted in class or online including, but not limited to, emails, discussion postings, assignments, essays, and exams.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT

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

**

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San Diego Community College District Course Syllabus

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COURSE SCHEDULE
WEEK
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

UNIT 1: THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT OF RACE (5 WEEKS) DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT

Aug 23 Aug 25 Aug 30 Sep 1 Sep 6 Sep 8 Sep 13 Sep 15 Sep 20 Sep 22 Intro Keim, Part 1, Evolutionism/Eugenics Keim, Part 2 (Chapters 3-4) Misperceptions and their Consequences (Part 1) Keim, Part 2 (Chapters 5-6) Misperceptions and their Consequences (Part 2) Keim, Part 3 Alternative Visions Keim, Part 4

UNIT 2: SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS & SOCIAL INEQUITY (4 WEEKS)

Week 6 Sep 27 Sep 29 Oct 4 Oct 6 Oct 11 Oct 13 Oct 18 Oct 20 A Bit of History: Slavery and the Failure of Reconstruction Response Paper 1 Due Alexander, CH 1 A Plan of Action: Securing Health Care and Combating Environmental Racism Education and the Digital Divide Smiley, Covenant II & X Connecting our Communities to Sources of Wealth Smiley, Covenant VIII &V Smiley, Covenant I & IX

Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

UNIT 3: NO JUSTICE JUST US, PART 1 (3 WEEKS)

Week 10 Oct 25 Oct 27 Week 11 Week 12 Nov 1 Nov 3 Nov 8 Nov 10 The Hypercriminalization of Black and Brown People Alexander, Chapter 2 The Color of Justice Alexander, Chapter 3 The Era of Mass Incarceration Response Paper 2 Due Alexander, (Introduction)

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UNIT 4: NO JUSTICE JUST US, PART 2 (4 WEEKS)

Week 13 Nov 15 Nov 17 Nov22-24 Nov 29 Dec 1 Week 16 Week 17 Dec 6 Dec 8 Dec 13 Dec 15
The Fire This Time

The Cruel Hand Response Paper 3 Due Alexander, Chapter 4

Week 14 Week 15

** Thanksgiving Holiday**
The New Jim Crow

Alexander, Chapter 5 Alexander, Chapter 6 Combating Unequal Justice and Community Centered Policing Smiley, Covenant III & IV Response Paper 4 Due