Daniel Ridgway Knight: Peasant Girl

Instructor

Dr. Steve Sapp
320 East Hall
294-1403
ssapp@iastate.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30-9:30, and by appointment.

Purpose of the Course

Sociology 130 reviews sociological perspectives on rural organizations, institutions, and social problems. We will use sociological theories to understand rural America within the context of the broader society and its history. We will learn about the structure of agriculture and life in rural communities. We will discuss our responsibilities as active citizens to improve the living conditions of people living in Iowa, our nation, and throughout the world.

Course Objectives

The objectives of Sociology 130 are:

• to gain an understanding of the concepts and theories of sociology.
• to gain an understanding of current issues and problems facing agriculture and rural communities, with an emphasis on midwestern agriculture.

Course Content

Unit One: The Sociological Perspective (January 10 to February 7).
Unit Two: Rural Social Issues (February 9 to March 7).
Unit Three: The Structure of Agriculture (March 9 to April 6).
Unit Four: Rural Communities (April 11 to April 27).

Textbook

There are no required textbooks for Sociology 130. We will learn the principles of sociology from notes posted at this web site. We will learn about current issues facing agriculture and rural communities by reading newspaper articles and other materials.

Grading

The four exams (70 points for each exam) will contain two essay questions at 20 points each and two essay questions at 15 points each. Two brief papers on social issues facing rural America are worth 20 points each. Class attendance and participation are worth 30 points. Students are expected to attend class and demonstrate they are reading the course materials when called upon to answer questions.

The scale for the final grade is:

A	315-350 points.
A-	313-314 points.
B+	311-312 points.
B	280-310 points.
B-	278-279 points.
C+	276-277 points.
C	245-275 points.
C-	243-244 points.
D+	241-242 points.
D	210-240 points.
D-	208-209 points.
F	Fewer than 208 points.

Sociology Code of Ethics for Human Relations

The Department of Sociology is committed to providing a professional and educational environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. The department's Code of Ethics for Human Relations and the Procedures for Filing Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment are posted on the bulletin boards on all five floors of East Hall.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Any student who needs an accommodation based on a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Also, please contact the Disability Resources Office (Room 1076, Student Services Building, 515-294-6624, awaoniyib@iastate.edu) to coordinate disability certification and accommodation.