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Syllabus for Introduction to Sociology Spring, 2011 Section
4360 (revised 1/24/11) NOTE: Read and retain this syllabus throughout the semester. It has important dates you need to keep track of. It also lists policy issues on topics such as late papers and late exams. Course Syllabus: Sociology 1, Introduction to Sociology Fall 2010 Instructor: Eric Strayer Phone: 755-6739 Department of Behavioral Sciences (message only) Email: ericstrayer@pinxit.com or Website: pinxit.com Required Textbooks Hughes and Kroehler, Inside Sociology Charon, The Meaning of Sociology: A Reader e/9 (Do
NOT get the previous or other editions of the reader as the articles are not
the same.) NOTE: This syllabus can be found at the website: http://pinxit.com/soc1syllabus.html . There the links are live. Introduction Welcome to the Introduction to Sociology class. Sociology is the study of social forces upon groups and individuals. It is also the study of the “familiar,” yet often with unexpected causes and outcomes. Sociology is a special perspective and a chance to observe the world around you with a unique point of view. Do we create the circumstances in which we find ourselves? Are we alone responsible for the outcomes of our endeavors? Or are there components of the social structure around us that help predetermine such outcomes and stack the odds in one direction or another? Fortunately, others before us have wondered about such things and created a network of paths for us to explore in this course, while we discover for ourselves and by our own studies some of the apparent causes for social conditions that we might otherwise take for granted. Course Objectives You will learn to: § evaluate sociological research methods and data, and recognize the limitations of individual experience and of over generalizing from single cases and “common sense” observations. § distinguish among the principal concepts and theoretical perspectives that define the sociological perspective, and apply them in the analysis of social phenomenon. § explain the major sociological approaches to socialization and the development of the self. § compare and contrast the major theories of deviance and crime. § apply sociological approaches in the analysis of basic dimensions of social stratification (class, race, ethnicity, and gender). § apply sociological theories of collective behavior and social movements in the analysis of a major social movement in the U.S., such as the civil rights movement. § explain some of the major sociological approaches to understanding demographic processes in the U.S. and the world. § write responses to articles assigned from the reader and other sources. These responses will be in either question form (with attempted answers) or as talking points. They are designed to assure you have done the reading and to be used for classroom discussion. As with all homework, it must be typed. § write a three-page review of an article from an academic journal. Grades: Grades will be based on one three page journal review to be taken from an article of your choice in the journal Social Forces, which is in the library or available online through the library web pages. (Details will be discussed in class and may be found at the website: http://pinxit.com/journalreviewreq.html . No other resources are allowed. This is a chance to read an article from an academic journal.) Also there are five multiple choice midterm exams (of which the best four of the five count), and about 16 reading assignments, each of which requires a written response. Lastly is a final exam—its format to be determined. Some class-work will be subject to grading—this work cannot be made up, so attendance is important. (This schedule is subject to change during the semester.) Approximate values for the work are as follows (other activities may be factored in and test sizes may vary): Weekly reading responses (approximately) 10 points X 16 weeks = 160 pts The best four of five midterm exams 50 points X 4= 200 pts One review of an academic journal 100 points= 100 pts Final exam 100 points= 100 pts Total points 560 pts Additional points may be
given for one-page (or more) detailed and typed notes on films presented in the
class. Remember, you must be present to see the film and it might show up
unexpectedly. I will notify the class in advance whenever possible. Additional
in-class writings may be evaluated for points as well. Tests: All midterm tests are multiple choice and use the 882-E Scantron to be used with a pencil only. (The final is to be determined.) Late exams
are not given. To facilitate this policy I will drop the lowest graded test.
This means that if you miss one test or get a particularly low grade on one of
the five tests given it will not affect your grade. This also means that there
are NO MAKEUP TESTS. Be on time. This applies to everything but especially exams. Regarding the final, if you are twenty minutes late or more you will be refused the opportunity to take the test. If you are late for class, do NOT walk past or in front of me while I am addressing the class. Instead, take a seat near the door and wait for a polite opportunity to get to your seat. NOTE: If you are more than ten minutes late for class you will not be included on the roll. Hartnell policy stipulates that seven absences call for the student to be dropped from the class. Contacting me: Email works best. Use my ericstrayer@pinxit.com address for the quickest response. Please do not ask me for homework assignments. They are given in class and you should be in attendance and on time. Failing that, get it from another student. Don’t miss class. I will present films as they become available. You may be tested on a film so you had best not miss it. Also in-class work may be assigned. If you must miss a class, get in touch with another student to find out what you have missed. If it is a film, you may be able to rent it on your own. Being late for class may mean that you will miss important information regarding assignments and deadlines. It is your responsibility to be present for all classes and for the full duration of the class. Leaving early may result in your being marked absent for that day. Late papers and assignments will receive a reduced grade. Regular 10 point assignments will receive half credit for 5 points. A large paper will receive a drop of one full grade, meaning that an A paper will receive a B. No late papers will be accepted after Friday, May 13. This is final. Again, no late papers after May 13. Do not e-mail me your work. It will not be accepted. As this is an eCompanion class, you CAN turn it in online in your dropbox and save paper and avoid printer problems (including all the excuses that go along with them). All work must be typed and include your name and the class information (name of class, section number, day and hour—you would do well to see “Writing for the Classroom” on my website). I suggest that you get some phone numbers in the class in case you need someone to turn in your work for you. Allow yourself time should your printer run out of ink (or turn it in online). Note that the library often has printers crash so don’t put off printing until the last minute. I won’t accept excuses. (And backup your work, especially if you are using the library.) About eCompanion: eCompanion is a program by .Next that allows you to turn in and get back your work online. It is a program that also allows you to track your grade as the semester progresses and to see what assignments you are missing. It includes a discussion group relevant to the class material and an open forum, which may be used for general questions about the class. This is where you may ask other students about things you missed should you miss a class—including homework assignments. Online in eCompanion are the slides used for my lectures so you may review them again if needed. Additionally are slides from the textbook publisher. I highly recommend that you get acquainted with eCompanion and use it as a primary resource. It also contains prep quizzes for each chapter in the text. These quizzes can be taken as many times as you wish and have most of the same questions in them as are in the actual test. Cell phones are obnoxious little things, but nearly all of us have one. Please turn yours to vibrate or to off and refrain from texting or other playing with phones during the class as well. If you continue, you may be asked to leave the classroom. Plagiarism, copying and just plain cheating: If you have any doubts about the seriousness of this issue, I suggest you look at the policy in the Hartnell College Catalog. If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism in a particular instance, ask me. Aside from a clearly cited quote, the direct copying of anyone else’s work or presenting someone else’s work as your own, copying from a book or the internet, downloading or buying a paper written by someone else is plagiarism. The penalty is an F in the class. If you are behind or are tempted for some other reason, see me first and we will work something better out. I do catch this stuff. Really. Extra Credit: Extra Credit work is only allowed if all other work is completed to date. I have a list of films on my website that qualify. A one-page response is required and must include a description as to how the film relates to sociology. I do not need a literal description of the film as I have already seen it. Each film is worth ten points and I will accept up to five films for a total of 50 points. Be sure you are familiar with the Hartnell College Attendance Policy. If you wish to drop a class, it is your responsibility to initiate and complete the drop process. If you don’t drop and your name remains on the roll at grading time it will likely result in an F. Approximate schedule for the Spring, 2011 semester follows: The week of: 1. 1/24/11 Introduction
to class and a discussion of some key terms in sociology. The sociological
perspective of C. Wright Mills. 2. 1/31/11 Theoretical
perspectives. Classical approaches and some newer ideas. 3. 2/07/11 The
social construction of reality. A bit of film to go along with it. Friday is
Lincoln’s Day 4. 2/14/11 Culture
and the socialization process. Social reproduction. 5. 2/21/11 Social
structure. Bureaucracy and Max Weber. Monday is Washington’s Day Test One 6. 2/28/11 Deviance
and social control. Don’t deviate: show up! I need you for class discussion. 7. 3/07/11 Crime
(and more deviance). 8. 3/14/11 Social
stratification. What class are you in? (I don’t mean ‘sociology one’ either.) Test
Two 9. 3/21/11 More
on class and a segue into race and ethnicity. 10. 3/28/11 Issues
of inequality: race, ethnicity, gender. (I’ll try to show a film or two
on race.) 11. 4/04/11 Family. Are you really normal? Let’s find out. Test
Three 12. 4/11/11 Social Institutions: The state and the economy. 13. 4/18/11 Spring
Holiday 14. 4/25/11 Social institutions: Religion and education.
15. 5/02/11 Population and the environment. Test Four 16. 5/09/11 Social Change. Friday the 13th
(lucky day) is the last day to turn in all work due to date. 17. 5/16/11 Social Movements. What got us here and do we
have to keep things the way they are? 18. 5/23/11 Review and prep for final. Test Five 19. 5/30/11 Finals week is
May 26 through June 2—Monday is a holiday |
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