Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Structure
This 8-week course is divided into 16 modules (2 per week). Each week:
- The first module will unlock at 12:00 a.m. on Sunday
- The second module will unlock at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday
To access course content, you must first complete the Start Here module, which provides more information about course requirements and your instructor's expectations. In addition, the Major Assignments module provides you with access to all the free-standing assignments discussed in the syllabus. You are not required to complete any of these assignments early. This module simply serves as a bookmark space where you can access the assignments in order to work on them and submit them when you are ready.
Course Materials
Required Course Materials
- All the required reading materials will be available on Canvas. There will not be a textbook for this course.
- Materials posted in the weekly modules
- For the book review, I recommend you identify an academic book of your choice.
Recommended Course Materials
- American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). American Psychological Association.
Grades
Breakdown
| Graded Activities & Assignments |
Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|
| Hypothes.is Participation | 20% |
| Position Paper | 20% |
| Book Critique | 30% |
| Discussion | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage Earned |
Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90-100% | A |
| 80-89% | B |
| 70-79% | C |
| 60-69% | D |
| <60% | F |
Course Components
Hypothes.is Interaction
Each week has reading linked to Hypothes.is. You are expected to have at least have two digital annotations and respond to peers. Hypothes.is is a software that provides interaction between students. You are expected to complete this part prior to our weekly meeting over zoom. The grade for each Hypothes.is reading is 2 points.
Discussion
There is a discussion board for each topic/week. The purpose of the weekly discussion is to bring the multiple perspectives on each issue into an articulated piece. The discussion should not be based on personal views but research. Elements included in the evaluation of discussion board participation will include evidence of critical thinking, clear identification of the issue, understanding of the problems, and the ability to propose and evaluate solutions. All participants are expected to welcome open expression of opinion, attitudes, and beliefs and to accept the legitimacy and value of dissent. In addition to respect for the ideas of your classmates and the instructor, common courtesy is also expected. There are 4 discussion points for every issue (2 for the original posting and 2 for replies). You are expected to post your original posting before replying to another student. The original posting should be at least 300 words with research support of your ideas/ claims. You need to at least reply to 2 classmate postings. The reply should be more than “I agree” or “Good Job”. You need to make substantial contribution to the discussion. You must use at least 100 words in each reply. You can encourage to have an open-ended question to engage students with your thoughts. The discussion board opens on Wednesdays at 12:01 am (Central) each week and close on Sunday at 11:59 pm (Central).
Position Paper
For this paper, you will be expected to select a Current Problem issue. You may select any of the topics is covered or not in the class.
Your paper should include an overview of the topic that you have selected. You should explain the various dimensions of the problem (e.g., the ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, culture, etc. interact when considering this problem). Your discussion should include research to support your perspective. Any claim should always be supported by research. The paper should not be based only on personal experience but on research. Please note that personal experience is significant but does not equal knowledge. The paper should facilitate how to understand a multi dimension issue with support of research. The paper should include the discussion of the issue and its general understanding.
To facilitate your paper's structure and argument, consider the points below:
- Why is this issue important?
- The ignored elements of the issus and its critiques
- What would happen if this issue is not addressed?
Your paper should follow these formatting guidelines:
- Be at least 10 pages in legnth (not including cover and reference pages)
- Use 12-point font and conventional margins
- Have at least seven research resources
- No Wikipedia or online sites
- All sources should be cited appropriately using correct APA formatting
- Have headings and subheadings
- Conform to APA formatting guidelines
- We will be using the 7th edition of the style guide
All papers should be submitted to Canvas.
Book Critique
Each student is responsible for reading and writing a review of an academic book of your choice which presents a current social problem and approved by the instructor. The book should not be older than 12 years old and not self-published. You need to check with the professor for book approval before starting.
I highly recommend that you start researching a topic and communicate with me soon about a book.
Within the book review paper, you will discuss the following:
- State the theme or the research statement of the book.
- Why is the theme discussed in the book?
- How is this theme connected to current problems?
- Present the authors proposed argument supporting the books’ theme.
- Provide at least 3 critiques on the book or the theme. Critiques are not necessarily in opposition to each other to the book’s theme, but rather provide multi-perspectives to the understanding of the issue. The critique should be supported by reviewed journal articles (No Wikipedia or online sites).
- Integrate the discussion of the book with the critiques.
- Reflect on how the book and the process of writing enforce or contradict some of your personal beliefs regarding the issue(s) discussed in the book.
Your paper should follow these formatting guidelines:
- Do not exceed 10 pages in legnth (not including cover and reference pages)
- Use 12-point font and conventional margins
- Have 7-9 research resources
- No Wikipedia or online sites
- All sources should be cited appropriately using correct APA formatting
- Have headings and subheadings
- Conform to APA formatting guidelines
- We will be using the 7th edition of the style guide
All papers should be submitted to Canvas.
Course Policies
Communication
Email is always the best way to reach your instructor. You should expect a response within 48 hours (including weekends and holidays). If 48 hours or more have passed without a response, a follow-up email may be sent. Any urgent questions or concerns that require more immediate attention should be flagged as such in the subject line (simply write "urgent"). During the week, you can expect a response to an urgent request within a few hours. However, on weekends there may be a delay of a few hours to a day before you can expect a response. The professor will communicate with you via the "Announcements" section of your Canvas page as well as through Canvas messages. No email will be sent to personal email addresses. It is essential that you check the Announcements regularly as well as that you read your OU email.
Late Policy
Late work will only be accepted for full credit if an acceptable excuse is provided. An acceptable excuse takes the form of a documented personal illness or emergency (e.g., a doctor’s note) or documentation of required participation in a work or government-sponsored activity that precludes the completion of the required coursework (e.g., a notice of jury duty). However, students should always contact the professor in the event that they experience difficulties completing their work in a timely manner. Each case will be considered on its own merits, and a student who is struggling for any reason should reach out for assistance as this is the best way to ensure success in the program. If your instructor does not know that you are struggling, they cannot help you!
If you anticipate that you will need additional time to complete an assignment or that you will be unable to meet the original deadline for any reason, it is your responsibility to communicate with your professor earlier rather than later in order to discuss a possible extension. Otherwise, if you hand in an assignment late, it is necessary to get in touch with your professor ASAP in order to discuss the reasons for your late assignment and to provide documentation where appropriate.
Outside of an excused late assignment (extensions will be granted at the discretion of the instructor), any work handed in more than ten minutes after the deadline will be considered late. All late work will receive a 10-point deduction for every 24-hours it is late. Note, the policy for module-specific assignments is different, and these will receive a 50% deduction when handed in late.
Incomplete Grades
A grade of Incomplete “I” will be given only for a justifiable reason (due to unavoidable circumstances, not lack of planning on the student’s part) and only if the student is passing the course. It is the responsibility of the student to request a grade of “I” and to consult with me as early as possible to determine requirements for completing the course. Any incomplete granted must be removed by the deadline specified by the instructor. The time limit set for removal of an incomplete will consider the circumstances of the situation may not exceed one calendar year. Professors are not required to allow students a year to make up grades of “Incomplete.” Exceptions will be made only for documented Provost-approved University-sponsored activities or legally required activities such as emergency military service, jury duty, or documented serious illness or emergency and then only after discussion with me. Contact me by telephone or email if an emergency occurs.
Administrative Withdrawal
If a student has not completed at least half of the required assignments, a final grade of AW "Administrative Withdrawal" will be assigned with no grade or credit.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog .
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries .
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity .
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding of the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center .
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office .
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar , which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|