It would be hard to participate in discussions and understand lecture material without actively reading the assignments.  In order to help ensure active reading and attendance (sometimes we all need a little push), we will have a combination of short quizzes, in-class assignments, and homework assignments throughout the semester.  I will drop your lowest of these grades when I calculate grades at the end of the semester. To encourage you to get readings for the first half of the class, those who print out all of the web readings by January 20th (and show me) will get a perfect quiz grade added to their quiz scores.  Because of the dropped quiz grade and the opportunity to get a perfect score added, make-up for quizzes will only be provided when you have 3 or more excused absences on quiz days.  These quizzes and assignments will count for 15% of your grade in this course.

In addition, each student will write a review (3-4 pages - due February 10th, copy of title page of book due to me by January 27th) of a book by a sociologist. It is important to remember that a good review provides both a summary of the major arguments and a critique of the book’s arguments and evidence.  More information about this assignment will be provided as we get closer to the due date.  This review will count for 20% of your final grade and it will be used for your ...

Group Project and presentation.  Based on the topical area of the book reviewed, each student will be assigned to a group.  The group project has several stages.  First comes a group proposal describing what the group project will be, along with a description of how the books you read got you there.  The project can involve interviews, a textual analysis of different magazines, a survey, or whatever else you can think of (within reason and subject to my approval, of course) to help analyze and understand an issue.  This paper will be due February 24th.  Second, a final group paper, along with a one-page summary of the project for each member of the class, will be due the class before your presentation.  This presentation will take place in the last few days of the class.  Added all together, this group project will count 20% of your course grade.  In order to ensure the accountability of each group member, peer evaluations by other students in the group will be an important component of the group grade.
 
Lastly, a midterm and a final will count 20% and 25%, respectively, of your final grade.  These tests will likely be some combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay.  They will be primarily designed to test your understanding of material and ability to apply concepts instead of rote memorization.