Grades and Assignments (1000 total points for course)

Reading summaries and discussion questions (150 points): Before every class, students have the opportunity to post 1 key point summary and discussion question on the Canvas discussion board before the before class at 11am related to the readings that could be potentially discussed in class that day. You will write a total of 5 postings for the semester (this means you can pick and choose the days you want to do). These questions should involve critical thinking skills thus critical questions of the authors’ arguments are allowed. For each question, you should also provide a few sentences explaining the relevance of your question to the readings. Weekly questions and summaries will receive a 30 for excellent questions, a 20 for average, and a zero (0) for no posting at all. Both questions can be posted in one post for the week (you do not have to do separate postings for each question).

For example, a good question would be: “In the Growth of the City by Ernest Burgess, the author outlines his concentric circle theory of the growth of cities. In particular, it argues that a city core is typically surrounded by poorer communities, and as you move farther away from the city center you encounter more affluent and orderly communities. Do all cities in the United States follow this pattern? And how might the growth of cities be different in European or non-Western cities?” An example of a poor question would be “What is concentric circle theory?” (Note: You are welcome to ask clarifying questions during class or by email. They just will not work for the weekly questions portion of your grade.) If students are clearly not reading, I reserve the right to change this portion of the grade to random pop quizzes on the readings.

Classroom participation (100 points): Students are expected to be in class whenever possible and participate in discussion of the readings. I will be taking attendance this semester. It is difficult to participate when you are not in class. Occasionally, in class writing assignments may also be assigned to aid in the writing assignments for the class and will be graded if attendance gets poor over the semester.

Community biography interviews (200 points): The goal of this assignment is for you to critically reflect on your own life, as well as the life of other students in the class, and both describe and analyze the communities you have lived have shaped your own life. Some of the following questions will be explored: Have the places (or place) you have lived given you any opportunities or restricted others? How has your community shaped the person that you are today? How has your experience been different from others that grew up in the same community? Then you will be required to write a reflection paper, at least 4 pages long, will account for 200 points.

IRB Training Completion (100 points): Because we are doing student and community engaged research, you will need to complete the Group 2 Social / Behavioral Research Investigators and Key Personnel Basic IRB CITI training course in order to

understand the ethics associated with doing research, particularly in relation to human subjects. This guided process should take around 2 hours to complete. Please save a PDF version of the confirmation page and upload it to Canvas for credit.

East Lake Meadows Reflection Papers (150 points): For this assignment, there will be a short 3- to 4-page reflection papers in response to the documentary East Lake Meadows. These reflection papers will be guided by prompts that are shared later in the semester.

Final Course Project (300 points): The major writing component of the class will be a report that either a) describes the process of creating an exhibit related to YMCA Cape Flats goals around culture, forced relocation, and community heroes in the Cape Flats of Cape Town, South Africa or b) summarizes the interviews of 2-3 Grove Park or other West Side of Atlanta residents. In the interview version of the assignment, you should also reflect upon the interviewees’ answers using theory and literature learned throughout the course. In the YMCA Cape Flats assignment, students will reflect upon the data and lessons learned and how it relates to urban sociology. This paper (250 points) will be formally written with proper citation of sources and should be 6-8 pages. A 1-page rough draft or outline will be due for some initial feedback (50 points). More info on this assignment will be provided as the semester progresses and may change the details pending discussions with the community partner.

Final Grades Rubric out of 1000 points possible (what appears on your transcript)

900 and above = A 800-899 = B

700-799 = C

600-699 = D

Less than 600 points = F

Late assignments: The policy for late assignments is that you will need a documented health, funeral, or university sponsored excuse for turning in late assignments at full credit. Assignments turned in after their due dates without an excuse will receive a drop in letter grade every two days beyond their due date.