SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Sociology

Northeast College

Sociology 2336: Sociology of Criminology

CRN# 18256

Spring 2017

Distance Education Canvas On Line

3 hour lecture course | 48 hours per semester |

Instructor: Johnny Sexton

Instructor Contact Information:

Phone: 713-718-5481

E-mail: johnny.sexton@hccs.edu

Office location and hours

By appointment

6:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

The professor will make every effort to meet with, speak with, and assist students.

The best way to get in touch with me is by sending an email to johnny.sexton@hccs.edu.

You must include your last name and the course CRN in the subject line (ex: Smith

56722) or your email will be deleted. I do not respond to personal student emails only

HCC student emails. I will do my best to respond to all emails within a timely basis. I do

not respond to emails or phone calls from Friday through Monday at 8:00 A.M.

Northeast College Public Safety Range, 555 Community College Dr., Houston, TX.

77013. Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing

in this course. You do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before

asking for my assistance. Your performance in my class is very important to me. I am

available to hear your concerns and just to discuss course topics. Feel free to come by

my office anytime during those hours.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

Important: It is important that you buy and use the proper book for this class!

Schram, P., and Tibbetts, S. G. (2014). Introduction to Criminology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE

Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-1-4129-9085-1

Note: If you cannot open any of the items on the course site (Canvas) contact IT and let

them know the problem you are having with the program. (713) 718.2000.

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

COURSE DESCRIPTION and GOALS:

This course will familiarize students with the issues surrounding concepts of crime, criminals,

crime typologies, and societal responses to crime. Students will examine the theoretical,

methodological, and policy issues in criminology and criminal justice.

Class Activities All activities will be posted online and students are expected to participate and

complete any given assignments that are required by them. Activities will include discussions,

debates, and online activities. Activities will be based on current lecture information and

discussions and may require the students to be aware of current events and be able to discuss

those events.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Examine the historical evolution of criminological theory;

2. Recognize the basic concepts associated with criminological theory;

3. Recognize and examine the advantages and disadvantages of the major sources of data on

crime trends and patterns collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and Office of

Justice Programs, and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service;

4. Assess the empirical status of the five major criminological theories (Classical, Rational

Choice, or Deterrence; Positivist, Strain, Social and Self-Control, and Social Learning);

5. Examine theoretical developments in criminology including Critical Criminology,

Feminist Criminology, Re-integrative Shaming, and Developmental or Life Course

Criminology.

6. Examine crime typologies and/or activities including white-collar crime, organized

crime, cybercrime, hate crimes, terrorism, homeland security, and drugs.

Course instructional methods

The course will be taught using multiple instructional methods. These methods will include

lecture, group discussion and oral presentations with an associated critical discussion. Typically,

course topics will be introduced via lecture format incorporating interpretive discussions.

Literature discussions will utilize small group discussions following by classroom presentation

and discussion.

CORE CURRICULUM SKILLS AND ASSESSMENT

Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account global,

national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will develop the

essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities,

and in life. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of

human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential

for all learning.

These objectives will be assessed as follows:

Critical Thinking: Nearly all the work in this course will require critical thinking about the

societal topics that we address. Your critical thinking skills will be assessed through the written

work that you submit and questions on your exams.

Communication: Nearly all the work in this course will also require that you be able to

communicate well orally and in writing. Your communication skills will be assessed primarily

through the written work you submit, and class participation.

Empirical and Quantitative: You will be required to answer a series of multiple choice

questions on exams that assesses your empirical and quantitative skills. Furthermore, you will be

expected to critically assess various research projects and comprehend various quantitative facts.

Social Responsibility: This entire course, reading and class material, is largely focused on

social responsibility as an element of Sociology is the understanding that we are interconnected

social beings.

COURSE CALENDAR

Week I Review Syllabus

March 20-25 Assignment Chapter 1 Due

Week II

March 26- Apr 1 Assignment Chapter 2 Due

Week III

April 2-8 Assignment Chapter 3 Due

Week IV

April 9-15 Assignment Chapter 4 & 5 Due (Worth up to 5 points each) & Exam 1

Week V

April 16-22 Assignment Chapter 6 Due

Week VI

April 23-29 Assignment Chapter 9 & 12 Due (Worth up to 5 points each) & MidTerm

Week VII

April 30-May 4 Assignment Chapter 13 Due

Week VIII

May 4 Assignment Chapter 14 Due Final Exam to Be Announced

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Final Exam scheduled on a date between April 30 and May 4, 2017

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Methods of Instruction may include lecture; various assigned readings from textbooks, peer-

reviewed articles, books, original source seminal texts and other original source material, films,

field trips, etc.

ASSIGNMENTS and ASSESSMENTS

Exams will consist of multiple choice, true and false, short answer and or essay responses:

Exam 1- Chapters 1-5

Midterm Exam – Chapters 1-12

Final Exam- All Textbook Chapters

Course Procedures and Expectations There will be no opportunities throughout the course for extra credit opportunities.

Examinations and Assignments MUST be submitted on the assigned date. Failure to do

so will result in a grade of zero for that particular assignment. There will be NO makeup

examinations given. The only exception to this is hospitalization, or death in the family.

Please contact your instructor IMMEDIATELY if any of the aforementioned

circumstances occur to make arrangements. You must provide documentation.

Be sure that you are aware of the due date and time of all course assignments. Please be

respectful to the comments of others. Class Discussions may center on intense topics, but

the expectation is that you understand that each person is entitled to his or her own

opinion concerning certain subjects, those opinions are welcomed. Please refrain from

verbally attacking other students. Conflict and Controversy in the class should be

viewed as an opportunity to learn and a sign of a healthy learning environment if used

properly. Be mindful! There is never an excuse for being disrespectful to anyone in the

classroom and this behavior will not be tolerated and will be handled accordingly.

Purchase your textbooks IMMEDIATELY. You are expected to keep up with the

assigned readings in your textbook and to be thoroughly familiar with the organization of

the text, critical concepts, and definitions.

Student Assignments

Assignments and activities are designed to enhance your learning. To help you master the course

material and develop some specific skills, you will be asked to complete assignments and

activities that cover key information necessary for success in this course and beyond. Below is a

description of all the assignments and activities planned for this course.

Readings: You are required to read all of the text book chapters in its entirety. This material

includes the textbook and any additional readings posted on Eagle Online. This will ultimately

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

improve your ability to be an effective, efficient, perceptive and critical reader and will ensure

you are prepared to participate in all assigned activities. Your ability to succeed in this class is

dependent on your preparedness each day and your ability to stay focused and not procrastinate,

so it is imperative that you complete the readings as they are assigned (refer to the Course

Calendar for details).

Quizzes: You will be required to complete a quiz (listed as “Check Your Knowledge”) on the

assigned reading from the textbook for each major unit. Quizzes require you to answer

approximately 20+ or - questions. It is your responsibility to be prepared for each quiz and to

ensure that you complete each quiz before the due date. You will be able to see which questions

you missed along with the correct answers after the quiz deadline has passed. I have a zero-

tolerance policy for late work, so if you miss a quiz then you will receive a 0 for that quiz. This

is an institute of Higher Education this is not a public high school.

Assignments: Each chapter has a specific number of objectives for each major assignment. I have

designed all of the assignments to help you master important concepts and ideas and to give you

an opportunity to develop and enhance several specific skills (such as building presentations,

giving speeches, creating videos, researching, writing, etc.). All of your submissions should be

well-written and well thought-out meaning they should utilize full sentences with proper

grammar, spelling, and punctuation and should demonstrate critical thinking skills and subject

knowledge. All of the assignments and detailed instructions for completion and submission are

available on Canvas Online. I strongly encourage you to avoid procrastinating and to work on the

assignments early and often. Assignments are worth 1 to 10 points each. If all assignments are

completed you have the opportunity to achieve 100 points if all are completed as mandated.

NOTE: ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA CANVAS ONLINE BEFORE

THE DUE DATE. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS OR EMAILED SUBMISSIONS WILL BE

ACCEPTED. This is an institute of Higher Education this is not a public high school.

Participation: In order to best facilitate your success and to nurture the most productive and

useful learning community possible.

Extra Credit: There will not be any extra credit in this course.

HCC POLICY STATEMENT: ADA

“Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing,

etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the appropriate HCC

Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is

authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services

Office.

“Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the appropriate

(most convenient) DSS office for assistance:

“Disability Support Services Offices:

System: 713.718.5165

Central: 713.718.6164 – also for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Students

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Outside of the HCC District service areas.

Northwest: 713.718.5422

Northeast: 713.718.8420

Southeast: 713.718.7218

Southwest: 713.718.7909

“After student accommodation letters have been approved by the DSS office and submitted to

DE Counseling for processing, students will receive an email confirmation informing them of the

Instructional Support Specialist assigned to their professor.”

HCC POLICY STATEMENT: ACADEMIC HONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

Cheating on a test includes:

o Copying from another student’s test paper.

o Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test.

o Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization.

o Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or

in part the contents of an un-administered test.

o Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for

one’s self, to take a test.

o Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.

‘Plagiarism’ means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation

of that work in one’s written work for credit.

‘Collusion’ means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered

for credit.” (HCC Core Sociology Curriculum.)

HCC POLICY STATEMENT: CLASS ATTENDANCE

The following statements appear in the College catalog regarding class attendance:

“Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students are responsible for material covered

during their absences, and it is the student’s responsibility to consult with instructors for makeup

assignments. Class attendance is checked daily by instructors. Although it is the responsibility of

the student to drop a course for non-attendance, the instructor has the authority to drop a student

for excessive absences. A student may be dropped from a course for absenteeism after the

student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5 percent of the hours of instruction (including

lecture and laboratory time). For example: For a three credit-hour lecture class meeting three

hours per week (48 hours of instruction), a student may be dropped after six hours of absences.

For a four credit-hour lecture/lab course meeting six hours per week (96 hours of instruction), a

student may be dropped after 12 hours of absences. Certain departments or programs may be

governed by accrediting or certification standards that require more stringent attendance policies.

NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO WITHDRAW OFFICIALLY

FROM A COURSE. Administrative drops are at the discretion of the instructor. Failure of a

student to withdraw officially could result in the student receiving a grade of "F" in the course.

For the deadline for course withdrawal, check the current course Schedule of Courses.”

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

HCC POLICY STATEMENT: COURSE WITHDRAWAL

To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early

Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and HCCS counselors that you might fail

a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. Contact your professor

regarding your academic performance or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC

interventions might be available to assist you—online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job

placement, etc.—to stay in class and improve your academic performance.

In order to withdraw from a class, you MUST contact your professor and this must be

done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. If you do not

withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you have earned by the end of the

semester. Zeros averaged in for required assignments/tests not submitted will lower your

semester average significantly, most likely resulting in a failing grade (“F”). If you do not feel

comfortable contacting your professor to withdraw, you may contact a counselor. However,

please do not contact both a counselor and your professor to request a withdrawal; either one is

sufficient.

Classes of other duration (mini-term, flex-entry, 8-weeks, etc.) may have different final

withdrawal deadlines. Please visit the online registration calendars or contact the HCC

Registrar’s Office to determine class withdrawal deadlines.

“Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email and/or

telephone with a professor and/or counselor. Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal

options less than a day before the deadline.” If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you

will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade.

The following statements appear in the HCCS Student Handbook regarding withdrawal

from a course:

Be certain you understand HCC policies about dropping a course. It is your

responsibility to withdraw officially from a class and prevent an “F” from

appearing on your transcript. When considering withdrawal from a course,

remember that:

No grade is given and your transcript reflects no record of the course if you

withdraw before the Official Date of Record. [Please see the HCCS Official

Academic Calendar].

A “W” (indicating withdrawal) appears on your transcript if you drop a course

after the Official Date of Record and before the final deadline. [Please see the

HCCS Official Academic Calendar].

The final deadline to drop a course is four weeks before fall or spring semester

finals and one week before summer semester exams. [Please see the HCCS

Official Academic Calendar.]

There are three ways to withdraw from a course:

Complete an official withdrawal form available at any campus.

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Write a letter stating your request to withdrawal. The effective date of your withdrawal is the

post marked date of your letter:

Office of Student Records

Houston Community College System

P. O. Box 667517

Houston, TX 77266-7517

Fax a letter of withdrawal to Registrar’s office: 713-718-2111.

http://www.hccs.edu/hcc/System%20Home/Departments/Student_Handbook/academic_info.pdf

http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/future-students/catalog.

HCC POLICY STATEMENT: COURSE REPEAT FEE

NOTICE: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant

tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your

instructor / counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering course

withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades. Course Withdrawals-First Time Freshman

Students-Fall 2007 and Later Under Section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code:

“An institution of higher education may not permit a student to drop more than six courses,

including any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution of higher education.”

This statute was enacted by the State of Texas in the Spring 2007 and applies to students who

enroll in a public institution of higher education as a first-time freshman in fall 2007 or later.

Any course that a student drops is counted toward the six-course limit if “(1) the student was

able to drop the course without receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty; (2) the

student’s transcript indicates or will indicate that the student was enrolled in the course; and (3)

the student is not dropping the course in order to withdraw from [sic] the institution.” High

school students enrolled in HCC Dual Credit and Early College are waived from this requirement

until they graduate from high school.

All college-level courses dropped after the official day of record are included in the six-course

limit unless the student demonstrates to an appropriate college official that one of the following

events occurred to the student during the semester or summer session:

A severe illness or other debilitating condition that affects the student's ability to

satisfactorily complete [sic] the course.

The student's responsibility for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person if the

provision of that care affects the student's ability to satisfactorily complete [sic]

the course.

The death of a person who is considered to be a member of the student's family or

who is otherwise considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student

that the person's death is considered to be a showing of good cause.

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

The active duty service as a member of the Texas National Guard or the armed

forces of the United States of either the student or a person who is considered to

be a member of the student's family and such active duty interferes with the

student's ability to satisfactorily complete [sic] the course.

General Course Information 1-47 Front section 09-11. inddrev.indd 41 11/30/09 8.

http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/future-students/catalog.

USE OF CAMERA AND/OR RECORDING DEVICES

Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in

classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or

testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable

accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information

regarding reasonable accommodations.

GRADING

Your instructor will conduct quizzes, exams, and assessments that you can use to determine how

successful you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and

skills) outlined in the syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, you are

encouraged to reflect on how you study and prepare for each class. Your instructor welcomes a

dialogue on what you discover and may be able to assist you in finding resources on campus that

will improve your performance.

Houston Community College’s standard grading system, which will be used in this class, is: 100-

90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-0=F.

ASSIGNMENT AND TEST PERCENTAGES

Homework

10 Assignments valued between 1 & 10 points each (1 being the lowest point and 10

being the highest point)

Exams

3 Exams valued at 100 points each

Discussions scored

GRADE CALCULATION

500-400 points = A

399-300 points = B

299-200 points = C

199-100 points = D

Below 100 points = F

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Instructor Grading Criteria

The quizzes, assignments, and other assessments are tools that you can use to determine how

successful you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and

skills) outlined in the syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, I

encourage you to reflect on how you study and prepare for each class. I welcome a dialogue on

what you discover and may be able to assist you in finding resources on campus that will

improve your performance. All of your grades will be available to you on Canvas Online. Please

note that I rarely round scores up at the end of the semester even if you are within half of a point

of the next letter grade. Students must dedicate themselves to learning while in college. You

should follow the syllabus, read each chapter, and use the study questions at the end of the

chapters to your advantage, completing. It is your responsibility to drop this class if you no

longer plan to participate and complete this course. You should identify the last day to

drop this course through HCCS catalog.

Assignment Submissions:

During this course, you will be required to complete an assignment for specific chapters of the

text book on specific objectives & criminological theories. Below are the assignment guidelines

for submission:

1. Give a brief summary of the objective. This portion should be 3-4 paragraphs

summarizing the main points for the objective. If you have 4 objectives, then you should

submit between 12-16 paragraphs for those specific chapter objectives.

2. The summary should be typed, doubled spaced, using 12-point font. Be sure to cite your

sources using American Psychological Association 6th edition format.

EGLS3 -- EVALUATION FOR GREATER LEARNING STUDENT SURVEY SYSTEM

At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary

to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short

online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the

survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement

of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System

online near the end of the term.

Requirements

As your instructor, it is my responsibility to:

Facilitate an effective learning environment through discussions, assignments and activities via

Eagle Online.

Describe any special projects or assignments.

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Make adjustments and changes to the course as necessary to best serve the needs of the class.

Keep an open line of communication.

Provide the course outline and calendar.

Provide a detailed grading formula explaining how student grades will be derived.

Inform students of HCC and classroom policies.

To be successful in this course, it is your responsibility to:

Login to Canvas Online and check HCC email DAILY.

Participate meaningfully in all activities, discussions and other assignments before the due date.

Successfully complete all of the scheduled quizzes before the due date.

Take responsibility for your own learning.

Comply with all policies and expectations.

I can’t care more about your education than you do!

Ask for assistance when you need it.

Two principles should guide you through your education: (1) your education should teach you

“How to Think, not what to think”. Second principle includes the following ten items:

Quality and presentation count.

Preparation is the key to success.

Work is good, hard work is better.

Revision improves all things.

Learn to use all tools available to you.

Work must be completed on time.

Nothing stays the same.

Either you get better or you get worse.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

This is an institute of Higher Education this is not a public high school.

Late Work: There is a zero-tolerance policy for late work in this course. You must submit all

quizzes and other assignments in their entirety via Canvas Online before the posted deadline – no

exceptions or excuses.

Disclaimer

The material in this syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Any changes made

will be clearly described and explained. The ability to alter the syllabus provides us with the

flexibility necessary to ensure success.

SOCI 2336 Criminology I Spring 2017 I Johnny Sexton I Houston Community College

Important Dates:

TEST DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE Assignments & Exams: Listed in 2017 online and in your Course Calendar. All assignments and

exam due dates are subject to change by the instructor.

Instructor Contact Information: Phone: 713-718-5481

E-mail: Johnny.sexton@hccs.edu

E-mail messages to my HCC e-mail must be from your HCC student email, personal emails will

not be answered. Your HCC student email message shall contain your name, SOCI 2336 #18256

on the message line or they will not be read.

Nichole (Nikky) Boutte-Heiniluoma

Houston Community College - Southwest

Chair, Department of Social Sciences

n.boutteheiniluoma@hccs.edu

713-718-2087

The best times to reach me at work are: Monday-Friday from 6am-2 pm. If you call after

hours, I will return the call the following date. If the call came in Friday or the week-end,

your return call will be the following Monday unless it is a holiday.

The instructor has the right to make changes as he deems necessary to the syllabus or other

course content as it applies to the course of instruction. This is an institute of Higher

Education this is not a public high school.