Download Sociology 110: Introduction to Sociology

Sociology 110: Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2014
MWF 10:00-10:50
Instructor: Dr. Erin Robinson
Office: Old Main 014B
Hours: TBA, Always By Appointment
Phone: 888-2748
EMAIL: [email protected]
Course Description
This course has been developed to give you an understanding of sociology
and the sociological perspective. We will focus our attention on foundational
ideas of the discipline, research, and themes that are important to
sociologists. Sociologists examine the role of the individual, groups, and
organizations in society and their relationships to social institutions, such as
education, religion, politics, family, and media.
Primarily, we will explore what it means to develop a ‘sociological
imagination,’ so that students understand their role in society as social actors.
Through doing so, we will address important areas to sociology such as, race
and ethnic relations, gender studies, social stratification, urban life, social
movements, social justice, politics, and environmental problems. This course
offers credit for Field 5 of the CORE; Social Science.
This course is NOT traditional, lecture style. Instead, discussion and
YOUR participation lead the class. Your ideas are important! Let’s have a
great semester of insightful discussion!
Course Goals
Sociology Major Goals and Objectives:
By taking this course, students will:
Demonstrate that they are able to think critically about sociological concepts
Objective A: apply scientific methodology to the study of sociology
Objective B: evaluate the quality of quantitative and qualitative research in sociology
Demonstrate that they have the knowledge necessary for careers or graduate school.
Objective A: become familiar with the major concepts, theories, and theorists in
sociology.
Objective B: apply sociological theories and methods to real world situations.
Appreciate the diverse nature of society.
Objective A: conceptualize of diversity today and in the past.
Objective B: recognize of the vastness of human diversity.
Field 5: Social Science Goals and Objectives
Goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of human behavior from the perspective of a
social science discipline.
Objectives: Students will:
 Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of a social science discipline.
 Demonstrate knowledge of research methodologies used in a social science discipline.
Goal: Students will utilize a social science discipline to critically evaluate social, cultural,
and/or political claims.
Objectives: Students will:
 Apply social science concepts and theories to concrete problems of human society.
 Apply qualitative or quantitative analysis to situations in the world.
Students will leave this course being able to:
Explain the role of the individual in terms of the sociological imagination
Demonstrate an understanding the sociological context of current local and global
events, through writing
Use sociological terminology critically in papers, exams, and discussion
Examine and use reference materials in the area of sociology
Required Course Materials
2014. Benokraitis, Nijole. SOC. 3rd Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth,
Cengage.
2013. Warren, Frank. A Liftetime of Secrets. William Marrow Publishers.
Other Expected Readings:
These will be available online. I expect that you will read and be
prepared to discuss this material as appropriate in class.
Course Requirements and Policies
Requirements:
Course Exams
Exploration Papers
Quizzes/Class Activities
3@20%
60%
25%
15%
Course Exams (60%): You will have 3 exams in this course. Each exam is
worth 15% of your total grade. Exams are based on course material
including text reading, class lecture/discussion, videos, and course
handouts.
Exams will include both essay and multiple choice questions. Students will be
given the opportunity to review material prior to the test.
Exam 1(Ch 1-5)
October 1
Exam 2(Ch 6-10)
October 29
Exam 3(Ch 11-18)
TBA Finals Week
Exploration Paper (25%): You are asked to complete 1 paper by the end
of the semester. The specific paper assignment will be handed out in class.
The paper is designed to introduce you to sociological research. You will be
asked to explore a topic in sociology by answering specific questions and
format that I will provide to the class.
Due: November 14
Quizzes/Class Activities (15%): You will be given a short quizzes during
the semester, beginning with Week 4. The quizzes will cover the chapter(s)
that we are completing that week. Each quiz will have 4-5 multiple choice
questions. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE UP MISSED
QUIZZES.
Periodically, you will be given short homework assignments and class
activities to complete. These may include course group work, short writing
assignments, etc. I will be gauging your class participation through your
work on these activities and assignments. If you are not present to do the
work, no participation points will be granted.
No class activities, quizzes, or homework assignments will be
accepted late.
Policies
Please read the following policies carefully. This syllabus
serves as our contract for this course. Guidelines and policies are meant to
guide you to a successful completion of this course.
Attendance: Your attendance is required in class. You are responsible for
retrieving the notes and material missed on a day you are absent.
Technology Etiquette: Please turn cellphones to silence/off during our
50minute class. It is important to disconnect from distractions and focus on
connecting to the course. Although laptops/ipads are allowed, I expect that
they be used for notes and class content; i.e, digital versions of the book, or
the course access website.
Grading: The following scale will be used to determine letter grades in this
course. Please refer to ANGEL to calculate your grades. See me with any
questions or concerns you may have.
93-100=A
90-92= A87-89= B+
84-86= B
80-83= B-
77-79= C+
74-76= C
70-73= C67-69= D+
65-66+ D
Below 65= F
Late Assignments:
NO QUIZZES OR IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Assignments will be collected at the beginning of the class. If and only if you
have a verifiable excuse, for missing a paper or test, credit will be deducted
in the amount of 5 points (out of 100) for each business day (MondayFriday, not each class day) that the assignment is late.
Incompletes: Although not common, incompletes will be granted only if it
can be verified that the student has made an effort towards completing the
course. Usually, incompletes are granted if the course cannot be completed
despite the student’s best effort to deal with outside circumstances. Please
see me as soon as possible when discussing this option.
Extra Credit: Individual extra credit will not be given in this course. Please
make every effort to complete the assignments listed in the syllabus for
course credit.
However, time to time, attendance at campus and community events will be
considered for extra credit. These will be announced and available to the
entire class. Students wishing to receive extra credit for such events must
turn in a write up of the event, including their observations and analysis, by
the class day following the event.
Semester Schedule:
**Note that some of the reading dates may change slightly throughout the semester.
Films/Documentaries are often presented to supplement reading material. This along with
class discussion may change the schedule as we move from topic to topic. Any changes will
be announced in class
UNIT 1. MASTERING THE BASICS
Readings (see separate
handout for Post Secret
readings)
Week 1 8.25
Introduction
8.27 What is Sociology? A Brief History
8.29 How to think about society
Syllabus/Handout
Ch. 1
Ch. 1
Week 2 9.1
No Class- Labor Day Observed
9.3
9.5
Research and the Real World
Society and the Media
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Week 3 9.8
Culture and Society
9.10 Understanding Culture
9.12 Post Secret- Overview
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Bring Book
Week 4 9.15
Begin Socialization
9.17 Agents of the social
9.19 Through the Life Course
Week 5 9.22
Social Interaction
9.24 Sociology in the Everyday
9.26 Social Structure
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
Quiz 1
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Quiz 2
UNIT 2. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND INEQUALITY
Week 6 9.29
Understanding Conformity and Deviance
10.1 Test 1
10.3 Crime and the CRJ System
Ch. 7
Ch.1-5
Ch. 7
Week 7 10.6
What is Structured Inequality??
10.8 Stratification: Addressing Poverty
10.10 The Global System
Ch. 8
Ch. 8
Ch. 8
Week 8 10.13 NO CLASS
10.15 Gender and Sexuality
10.17 Understanding Difference
Week 9 10.20 Race and Ethnicity
10.22 Changing Relationships
10.24 Politics and Social Life
Ch. 9
Ch. 9
Quiz 3
Ch. 10
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Quiz 4
UNIT 3. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Week 10
10.27 Work and the Economy
10.29 Test 2
10.31 Families and Society
Ch. 11
Ch. 7-11
Ch. 12
Week 11
11.3
11.5
11.7
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Quiz 5
Sociology of the Life Course
As Agents of Socialization
Education and Socialization
Week 12
11.10 Impacts of Structure
11.12 Understanding Religion
11.14 Health Care and Society
Paper Due
Ch. 13
Ch. 13
Ch. 14
Week 13
11.17 Environment as a Social Problem
11.19 Addressing Population
and the Environment
11.21 Open Discussion
Ch. 15
Ch. 15
Quiz 6
UNIT 4. UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS
Week 14
11.24 Social Change
11.27 NO CLASS: Thanksgiving
11.29 NO CLASS: Thanksgiving
Ch. 16
Week 15
12.1
12.3
12.5
Ch. 16
Ch. 16
War and Terrorism
A Future Look
Semester Wrap