Minority Groups

George Wooddell

"Minority Groups" is a sociological specialty area. This introductory course in the field is intended to provide non-sociology majors with an understanding of the special patterns and circumstances associated with "minority/majority" relations, particularly in the U.S.. The idea is that our understanding of human social relations will be greater if we fully understand how minority group status is different from, and interacts with, majority group status. We will learn sociological concepts and how they relate in the perspectives and theories of sociologists. The course is also intended to provide sociology majors with the basic knowledge of this sociological specialty which is prerequisite to further study of the field and its practice. Again, the emphasis will be on sociological concepts and ways of thought.

Required Texts:

Web Site: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~gpw4993/

Strangers to These Shores: Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States, by Vincent N. Parrillo

Malcolm X, on video cassette

Ghandi, on video cassette

The Milagro Bean Field War, on video cassette

Suggested Readings:

"The Saints and the Roughnecks", by William Chamblis, 1973. Society, 11 pp. 24-31. - read completely

The Mis-Measure of Man, by Steven J. Gould - read completely

The Souls of Black Folks, 1903, by W. E. B. Du Bois - skim

Invisible Man, 1962, by Ralph Ellison - read carefully

Course Requirements:

The course is calculated as a total of one hundred regular points and a few (very few) extra credit points for class participation.

If your course credit is:
   > 90% then...................................."A";
   not < 80% and < 90%, then .........."B";
   not < 70% and < 80%, then .........."C";
   not < 60% and < 70%, then .........."D".

There will be four (4) comprehensive exams, one of which may be dropped at the discretion of the student (the lowest grade). Questions will be multiple choice, on scantrons. There will be 50 or fewer questions on each exam. These together will comprise nine tenths of regular class points. The other tenth will be awarded for competent completion of miscelaneous, small class assignments as will arise during the semester.

All exams and assignments are scored on a one hundred scale. The exams are averaged and multiplied by 0.9. The class assignments are also averaged and multiplied, but by 0.1. Final grades are computed by adding the test and assignment measures and the extra credit - if any:

0.9Exam average + 0.1Assignment average + Extra credit = Final grade

Makeup exams will not be given. Those who arrive at exams after the first student in the class has finished and turned in her or his exam - will not be admitted.

Class attendance is required.

Academic Integrity:

Tests may not be removed from the class. Students caught with old tests or any test outside the class room will be subject to the most severe academic penalties.

Any breach of honesty in academic conduct will be discouraged by the most severe academic penalties. These may include dismissal from the University. Students who are unclear about the general rules of academic integrity are welcome to come to office hours for an explanation, or to consult page 406 - 407, section V of the 1999 - 2001 Undergraduate Bulletin.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures: Students who may need assistance should identify themselves to the teaching faculty.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at wooddell @louisiana.edu

Background music: B. B. King

Some Good Links

NAACP

Martin Luther King Center

Martin Luther King Papers Project

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Nation of Islam

Greensboro Sit-ins

Amistad Research Center

BlackAction.Net

Black World Today

Dred Scott