Introduction to Sociology
Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor: Pam Flaherty
Campus Phone: 916- 650-2940
Dept. Office Phone: 558-2401
Office Hours M, W noon, T, TH Noon, and by apt. Office RS282
E-Mail Address:
Mailbox in RN 226
Class meets in Room RS263
Text: Macionis, John. 2007. Ninth edition Society-the basics. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Course
Objectives: Sociology is the study of social life. It provides the context for a fascinating
inquiry into the world around us. This inquiry demands a critical eye, and yet
we live so much of our lives without ever questioning the common reality we
experience every day.
This course addresses the need to see our world from a sociological perspective.
By developing the sociological imagination we will learn to ask questions, to
become scientific in our answers, and to enrich our understanding of our own
lives. What are the social forces that create inequality? What determines an
individual's life chances? Why do our lifestyles and culture change?
We will learn about the concepts, language and research used to explore the
scientific study of society, sociology. We will learn about the challenges and major problems of living in an advanced industrial society and gain a deeper understanding of our "social landscape."
Grades: Students may check on grade progress any time during the semester, by apt. Each student will also receive a midterm progress report. Approximate points:
· Attendance 50 points
· Class Participation/Pop Quizzes 100 points
· 4 Doing Sociology Assignments 100 points
· 3 Exams 150 points
· Comprehensive Final Exam 75 points
· Total 470 points
· Extra Credit up to 30 pt.s
As a per cent of total points A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C= 70-79%, D= 60-69%, F below 60%
· Attendance: Required. A seating chart will be used. Each student starts with 50 attendance points and loses 5pt.s for each unexcused absence. (Excused absences must be verified by a Dr. s excuse, counselor etc.) Students are expected to call the instructor and report absences before the class that they are about to miss.
Class participation, pop quizzes etc., cannot be made up under any circumstances. You will receive your average-assignment, class participation grade for each excused absence, to be calculated at the end of the semester.
· Class Participation: This is a “hands-on” class. Students who participate regularly, often receive high grades in this class. Class participation papers (based on class activities) will be called for frequently and can be turned in only at the conclusion of that day’s class. Note that there will be No make-ups of class participation work under ANY circumstances, including excused absences.
· Class participation papers will be spot-checked. They are designed to help reinforce conceptual ideas discussed in class. Points will be awarded for class participation papers on a random basis by class activity. Many class participation papers can be used to help prepare for exams. There will be no way to make up class participation points even with a counselor’s release. As described in the Attendance Section, I will take a point average of class participation scores for excused absences.
· Tardiness: Students who are tardy will enter the room as unobtrusively as possible and sit in a designated late seat area. Please note the Student Etiquette Guide attached to your syllabus. Since attendance is taken at the beginning of the class period, you will be marked absent if you are not in your assigned seat when attendance is taken. See the instructor after class for partial credit. If you miss a class activity, quiz etc. due to tardiness, it will be treated as though you were absent.
· Reading Note Cards: You may use Reading Note Cards on all examinations. You can use up to one 4X6" card, both sides, written in your own handwriting, for each chapter covered on the exam. The cards will be collected at the beginning of the class period that the reading is due (usually a Tuesday) and returned to you to use on the exam. Reading note cards will NOT be accepted after they are collected in class, under any circumstances, including excused absences. You may turn cards in before they are due, but not after they are collected. You can also mail them (postmark on day they are due) which works for students who have completed the cards by the day they are due but for some reason, cannot deliver them in class the day they are due.
Preparing the reading material in advance of class discussion and pop quizzes is designed to help you with the concepts. You must be able to organize the chapter material and synthesize it to reflect important issues and concepts. Rather than record definitions of concepts, it is recommended that you think about concepts and write out examples on your cards.
· Examinations: There will be a total of four examinations including the final. You will be able to use your "legal" reading note cards on the exams as described above.
All Exam make-ups (with approved absences only) will be arranged with the instructor by appointment and are often oral exams. To be eligible for a make-up you must have prior approval (by phone message or email) and the exam must be rescheduled within one week of the regular scheduled exam.
· Doing Sociology Assignments:
Five (4) Doing Sociology (DS) assignments are required. They must be turned in on their respective due dates, as noted in the syllabus. Doing Sociology assignments will be verbally assigned by the instructor in class. If you are absent you will need to get the assignment from another student or meet with the instructor during office hours or by appointment. Some DS assignments require less time than others but most require one to one and one-half hours of outside time. If you have an idea for “Doing Sociology” you are encouraged to present it to the instructor. Perhaps you might choose to do two of one type of experiment. These assignments offer you an opportunity to explore sociology in personally satisfying and creative ways.
**Extra Credit: Students may earn ten points for sociological film application papers. You may select a film and apply sociological concepts in a two-page typed paper. Sociological film application papers are limited to three papers for a total of thirty points. All papers must be turned in BEFORE Thanksgiving break (November 20, 2007).
Student Conduct: All regulations from the SCC Student Code of Conduct and suggestions from the Etiquette Guide attached to your syllabus will be adhered to in this class.
CLASS CALENDAR
*Note: All reading assignments are to be completed BEFORE the date on the calendar.
Week 1- What is Sociology? What is the sociological imagination? How do we study society? How do we make sense of social life? The benefits of asking the right questions.
August 26, 2008 Overview of the course. Critical thinking exercise.
August 28, 2008 What is sociology? Study strategies for Soc 300
DS1 Social Location Assigned Due 9/11/08
Week 2- What tools do sociologists use to study society?
September 2, 2008 CH 1 Perspective, Theory and Method
September 4, 2008 Methods and ethics, "value-free" sociology
Week 3- The Concept of Culture
September 9, 2008 CH 2 Culture
DS2 Telephone/Elevator Experiment Reflection Paper Due 9/16/08
September 11, 2008 Values, beliefs and a "Material World"
DS1 Due today
Week 4- Social Experience--the Key to Our Humanity
September 16, 2008 CH 3 Socialization Is it nature or nurture?
DS2 Due today
September 18, 2008 EXAM 1 (CH 1,2,3)
Week 5- How do people construct social reality?
September 23, 2008 CH 4 Social Interaction in Everyday Life
role, status, performance
September 25, 2008 Body language, embarrassment, tact, and
The social construction of humor, emotions and gender
Week 6- How is modern society organized ?
October 30, 2008 CH 5 Groups and Organizations
October 2, 2008 Formal organizations and the "McDonaldization" of society
Week 7--How does society shape and control our sexual behavior?
October 7, 2008 CH 6 Sexuality and Society
Sexual controversies and inequalities
Sociologists look at the issue of abortion
October 9, 2008 CH7 Deviance: the social construction
Week 8-- How do societies determine what is deviant?
October 14, 2008 CH 7 Deviance
Labeling theory and medicine
October 16, 2008 EXAM 2 (CH 4,5,6,7)
Week 9-- Why does social inequality exist?
October 21, 2008 CH 8 Social Stratification
DS3 "The Uses of Poverty; the Poor Pay All" Herbert Gans Due 11/4/08.
October 23, 2008 The difference class makes
Week 10-What difference does gender make?
October 28, 2008 CH 10 Gender Stratification
October 30, 2008 How is gender a creation of society? Intersection Theory
Week 11-How are race and ethnicity socially constructed?
November 4, 2008 CH11 Race and Ethnicity
DS4 Bogardus Social Distance Due 11/18/08
November 6, 2008 Race: the Power of an Illusion (film)
Week 12 How do Native Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans
Experience life in the United States?
November 11, 2008 CH 11 continued
Minority populations and evaluation of affirmative action
November 13, 2008 EXAM 3 (CH 8,10,11)
Week 13
November 18, 2008 Review, social problems theory application activities
DS4 Due Today
Thanksgiving break--All Extra credit due by November 18, 2008
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: How do societies use institutions to meet societal needs? Family, Education and Medicine
Week 14
November 25, 2008 CH 13 Family Pages 372-390,
Are families changing?
November 27, 2008 CH 14 Education, Health and Medicine (Last note card option Ch 14)
Week 15 No reading assignment this week.
December 2, 2008 Population and the environment
December 4, 2008 Social change
Week 16 Putting it all together
Dec 9&11, 2008 Review Activities (2)