WARNING: ALWAYS SCROLL THE ENTIRE PAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT MISS ANYTHING EVERY TIME YOU ARRIVE ON THIS PAGE.
YOUR FAILURE TO VISIT THIS PAGE REGULARLY MAY CAUSE YOU MUCH GRIEF!

THIS IS THE CLASS HOME PAGE FOR AAS 355 ONLINE FALL 2024 CLASS

CLICK ON THESE IMAGES

IMPORTANT LINKS

See Below

ANNOUNCEMENTS

are in reverse chronological order below--You should go through all announcements since your last visit, as simple common sense would suggest! NOTE: excuses such as "I did not know this was available via the class homepage," or "I did not have time to go to the class home page," and so on, will not be acceptable.


ANNOUNCEMENT 1 (posted 8/25/24)

Dear All:
  Course Requirements, Homework Schedule, Test Schedule, etc. 

Welcome, welcome to this Fall 2024, AAS 355 course.
Below is (a) a summary of the basic course requirements from the syllabus; (b) homework assignments schedule for the first few weeks; (c) the test schedule; (d) a very important note about emails; and so on. There are images toward the bottom of this web page, you must go through them too. Note: the material on this page is from the long form of the syllabus, which will be available in a few days (via a link on this page). You may be required to electronically indicate via a disclaimer that you have have read, understood, and will abide by all requirements specified in the syllabus (as well as all university regulations applicable to all students).

Sincerely,
Instructor.
PS> Do not access this website via your cell phone because this site is formatted for desktop and laptop computers. Most communications about this course will be via course announcements on this page and/or via emails as it progresses.


(A) Basic Course Requirements

  1. First, do not access this website via your cell phone because this site is formatted for desktop and laptop computers.You must have access to a reliable internet and a computer.
  2. This an online course, but no classes on Zoom. (Therefore, no class attendance and hence no class participation). Super-important: the test schedule (see below) cannot be changed for reasons of academic integrity (meaning to prevent cheating).
  3. No required textbooks. Instead, all class lecture and homework materials will be available online 24/7 to give you flexibility in how you manage your time. NOTE: For copyright reasons they will be available only via this class home page and NOT via UBLearns (see homework schedule below). Homework assignments will consist of readings AND/OR films/documentaries. <-- Read this paragraph again.
  4. Each film/documentary homework assignment will usually comprise two sections--either together within one video or sometimes separately. Section one will comprise class lecture materials (notes, slides, film/video excerpts, still images, etc.), while section two will be the film itself. NOTE: for test purposes both sections will be equally important.
  5. Important: you must download all homework materials to your computer, so you can have access to it 24/7. Plus, if too many people are attempting to access the homework online at the last minute you may not be able to access it at all.
  6. Because this is an online course it will be heavily test-based to ensure that you are doing your homework assignments. (See below for more about the tests.)
  7. Tests/quizzes altogether will be worth 80% of final course grade.
  8. There will be an optional final exam during exam week. If you choose to take it, it will serve as extra-credit.
  9. There will be a two-part test-based term paper project, it will be worth 20% of your final course grade.
  10. Letter grade equivalents of percentage points: A =97-100   A- =93-96    B+ =90-92  B =85-89   B- =80-84    C+ =73-79    C =66-72    C- =60-65    D+ =55-59   D =51-54   F =0-50
  11. Do not use your phone to access either homework materials, and/or to do the tests.
  12. Most communications about the course will be via course announcements via this page and/or via emails as it progresses. You must read your emails from the instructor regularly AND save them in an email folder you must create in your email account. IMPORTANT: See also note below about emails format.
  13. You must know how to navigate the internet, including accessing Brightspace (UBLearns). You must know how to read text on a computer screen. You must take notes on the homework material, but your notes must be very, very brief (about two or three words per page or scene, as you go through the material--taking detailed notes means you are not digesting the material). You will need these notes for tests, since tests are open book.
  14.  If you claim that you cannot see a link for an item (or some other essential information), send me a clear picture of your entire computer screen, edge to edge (meaning EVERYTHING visible to you on your screen must be included in the picture), as an email attachment. Reminder: IF, in the extremely rare instance, there is a missing link (or some other information) it will affect the entire class, not just you. (The internet does not discriminate against specific individuals, whoever they may be.)
  15. NOTE: If you are still registered for this course beyond the final add/drop deadline for course registration, then it will be assumed that you have thoroughly read, understood, and agreed to abide by all course requirements for this class. In fact, you may be asked to submit a disclaimer that you read the syllabus diligently and will fully abide with all the course requirements, as well as all mandatory university requirements.
     What this Course is About
  1. Very briefly, this course seeks to explore how such social dimensions of society as class, race, gender, etc. have been central to the evolution of the United States as we know it today: a capitalist democracy that aspires to live up to a powerful groundbreaking principle written in blood and first articulated in the Preamble to the U.S. Declaration of Independence; specifically: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [persons] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among [the people], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
  2. This course is not intellectually demanding (in fact, compared to your other courses, it is probably the easiest course you will ever take in this school); however, it is designed for those taking no more than 15 credit hours total, and do not have a full-time job. Homework, on average, will require about one "concentrated" hour per day of your time (which equals to about 7-8 concentrated hours per week--this is similar to doing 3 hours of class time, plus about 4 hours of homework for an in-person class). Note: A concentrated hour is an hour that requires full concentration from you--that means no distractions of any kind!
  3. The learning outcomes for this course are available via the long form of the syllabus (see link below).
  4. This course has been divided into four parts: (1) Race/Racism; (2) Class; (3) Gender; and (4) Disability.

     About the Tests

  1. Tests will take place approximately every two weeks (see schedule below).
  2. Tests will comprise multiple-choice questions. Note: majority of test questions will be aimed at determining if you did do the homework at all AND that you did the homework diligently.
  3. Tests will not be proctored.
  4. Tests will be open book.
  5. Tests will carry bonus points. Why? As an insurance against the possibility of an error or against the possibility that you, as an individual, may find one or two questions problematic in some way--assuming you did all assigned homework diligently--repeat, diligently! (Needless to say, if you did not study the homework at all, or if you did not study it diligently, you probably will find all questions problematic. Yes?)
  6. Tests will be available online only via the course page (under the heading "quizzes") on Brightspace (UBLearns)--and not via this class home page.
  7. Tests will usually take place per your UB course schedule for this class; that is, on Wednesdays, between 12:30 pm and 3:10 pm--however, the exact time and duration for each test will be specified (see below). NOTE: This day/time cannot be changed (to prevent cheating). In other words, everyone must take the test at the same time on the same day.
  8. Tests will be available only for the duration of the time allocated for the test after it becomes available on Brightspace at the specified time; not before and not after. (Example: Supposing the test is 45 minutes long and it starts at 2:00 pm. It will close at 2:45 pm.) Once a test begins it cannot be “reopened” if you step away from it for any reason. If, in my estimation, you had a valid reason for stepping away from the test then a new test will have to be constructed. The same holds true for missing a test. NOTE: Claiming that you had internet connection issues is NOT an acceptable excuse. You must always have a backup--especially when taking tests--such as using campus computers or using your phone, etc.
  9. Warning: Tests/quizzes will be very demanding IF you don’t do your homework at all, or you don’t do it on on time, or if you do it SWD (studying while distracted). NOTE: Since tests will be every two weeks, attempting to cram about 14-15 hours of homework (total time) into about 3-4 hours at the very last minute on test day will NOT allow you to do well on the tests--in fact, you probably won't pass them.
  10. For additional information about the tests (and the homework they will cover) see below.
    About emails
  1. To foster professionalism, when you send me e-mails, they must be in a professional format; otherwise, you may not get a response. Example of professional format: Begin with “Dear Professor”;… and end with “Sincerely”, …. Plus, your name as it appears in school records.
  2. Emails must be sent only via UB mail and NOT via UBLearns.
  3. The subject heading of your email must always include these two items: the course number, and what your email is about in a few words.
  4. Emails will usually be read and answered on the days this course is scheduled. Again, all e-mails must be sent via regular UB e-mail (and not UBLearns).
  5. This is an online course; therefore, do not send me emails with questions that have already been answered. If you do, I will simply ask you to go back and read the relevant announcement / instruction that answers your question.
  6. Again, because this an online course, it is really important that when you write about some clarification you need regarding an announcement, an instruction, etc. that you quote the exact sentence or paragraph that you are writing about. (Quoting does NOT mean taking a picture.)


(B) Homework


NOTE
  1. Homework assignments comprise readings AND/OR films/documentaries. Note: Each film/documentary homework assignment will usually consist of two sections--either together within one video and/or sometimes separately. Section one will comprise class lecture materials (notes, slides, film/video excerpts, still images, etc.), while section two will be the film itself. Yes, for test purposes both sections will be equally important.
  2. Yes, this is the only assigned homework, but if you would like more let me know via e-mail.
  3. How to access the homework assignment for each week: follow the "click path" indicated for each assignment below. Clicking on the homework links may require you to enter your UB username and password.
  4. To what should you pay close attention, as you go through these assignments? Everything! (Repeat, everything!) Why everything? First, because completing the homework in its entirety with absolute diligence is in itself a learning objective in this course, given that most (if not all) of you have never in your entire lives ever encountered the subject matter these assignments cover. Second, because the homework load in this course is not that heavy. Third, because there is no class attendance, and therefore no class participation.
  5. To create your own subtitles, in case you need them, for material that does not have subtitles follow the instructions here.
  6. You should take notes, but your notes should be very brief--repeat, very brief--just a few key words per scene / theme / concept / idea. You will need these notes for tests, since tests are open book.
  7. This course has been divided into four parts: (1) Race/Racism; (2) Class; (3) Gender; (4) Disability.

PART ONE: Race/Racism



Week 1 (beginning Monday, August 26)
Week 2 (beginning Monday, September 2)

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Week 3 (beginning Monday, September 9)

Week 4 (beginning Monday, September 16) 
  • Topic: As above.
  • Film/Video: As above.
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Week 5 (beginning Monday, September 23)
  • Topic: Institutional Racism versus Interpersonal Racism.
  • Film/Video: Copyright Page --> Part A --> Class Films List --> Institutional Racism versus Interpersonal Racism
  • Study the slide images below.

Week 6 (beginning Monday, September 30) 
  • Topic: As above 
  • Film/Video: Copyright Page --> Part A --> Class Films List --> Judge Susan Eagan Delivers... 
  • Study the slide images below.
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NOTE: Homework for the rest of the semester will be indicated here later.

(C) Tests/Exam Schedule
NOTE:
  • All tests/exam will always be on Brightspace (UBLearns) via the Brightspace page for this course.
  • Here are some sample test questions. Study these questions very carefully to see what kinds of information (from the homework assignments) that the multiple-choice questions will cover on the tests. For example, notice that the questions fall into two main groups: conceptual and factual. What is the difference between the two? See the test preparation document available here.
  • For reasons of academic integrity (that is, to prevent cheating), not all questions will be exactly the same for everyone, and questions will be presented to you only one at a time.
  • Again, for reasons of academic integrity, once a test begins, it cannot be reopened if you fail to complete it for any reason. If the reason is legitimate, a whole new test has to be constructed as a make-up.
  • The homework in this class, as already indicated, is not intellectually demanding (e.g., as in biochem or organic chemistry). However, if you still need guidance go through the test preparation document available here with a fine tooth comb.

Test 1 (will cover homework for weeks 1 and 2, above)
Wednesday, September 11, at 2:00 pm, on Brightspace (UBLearns).
Test 2 (will cover homework for weeks 3 and 4, above)
Wednesday, September 25, at 2:00 pm, on Brightspace (UBLearns).
Test 3 (will cover homework for weeks 5 and 6, above)
Wednesday, October 9, at 2:00 pm, on Brightspace (UBLearns).


NOTE: Test schedule for the rest of the semester will be indicated here later.

(D) Test Scores
Your test scores with bonus points will be available via this link: scores. (Not yet available.)


(E) Syllabus (Long Form)
The long form of the syllabus will be available via this link: 355 syllabus. (Not yet available.) Please note that you may be required to indicate via a disclaimer that you have have read, understood, and will abide by all requirements in the syllabus (plus all university regulations applicable to all students).


(F) Learning Outcomes
 See the long form of the syllabus (link above)



(G) Slide Images
STUDY THE SLIDE IMAGES BELOW
(A PDF version of these images is available here.)

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A PDF version of these images is available here.