This course is designed to combine the best characteristics of traditional and web based formats.  Essential class material is presented off of this web site.  This material includes formal presentations, study guides, reading assignments, visual aids, and practice tests. Rather than attend lectures, it is expected that students will access this material in a timely fashion and come to classes prepared to discuss reading and presentation materials.

The idea behind this format is to free you from the inherent limitations of traditional oral lectures. Such lectures serve a very important role in providing a forum for an instructor to synthesize and integrate complex information.  The goal of such lectures, of course, is to model the critical thinking process.  I can achieve this goal more effectively, I believe, through these web based materials. Through this modeling process I hope to encourage you to develop your own critical thinking skills and to apply these skills in understanding the social world around you. 

What I cannot easily do through the web, however, is encourage the development of your verbal skills of discussion and debate. Nor can I design a web course that will provide you with a structured learning environment that will assist you in integrating the class material into your own coherent world view. Therefore, our scheduled meetings will often be given over to these tasks.

Students must have access to the Internet (RSU has student labs) and an e-mail account (many offer accounts free over the Internet). You must inform me of your e-mail address and check your e-mail regularly for important class information (such as reminders of reading material, discussion topics, or assignments). The course, however, does not require sophisticated computer use, just competent use of a browser and e-mail.