SOC 101 - 001: Introduction to Sociology
Course Syllabus Fall, 2006
Tuesday and Thursday, 8am 9:20am, MATHESN Room 411
INSTRUCTOR: Jon Rogers
EMAIL: jroger04@temple.edu
PHONE: 895-2763 or 895-2571 FAX Number 895-1333
OFFICE LOCATION: PSA Building Room 305
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday
9:30-10:30 (or by Appointment)
__________________________________________________________________________________
Course Description:
Sociology is broadly defined as
the study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins,
organization, institutions, and development of human society. This course is designed to examine
principles underlying human interaction in contemporary societies. Areas of
study deal with the learning and development of social roles, the development
and meaning of culture and social organizations, and various institutions in
society, e.g., class and power structure.
Course Goals:
Generally, this course will
provide students with an understanding of the extensive and complex nature of
human variation that exists in the United States. In particular, students will be introduced to major
theoretical and methodological pursuits of sociology and learn how these can be
applied to examine our society. Second, this course intends to raise studentsı
awareness of Race/class/gender as social/cultural/historically constructed
concepts. Third, this course aims
to familiarize students with various social theories of prejudice and
discrimination. Fifth, students will examine and comprehend the relationship
between their personal lives and the structure and culture of their own society
in order to contemplate and gain greater insight into some of the most salient
issues in contemporary social relationships. Lastly,
the enhancement of studentsı critical thinking, reading, writing, and
presentation skills are also goals of this course.
Required Texts
Readings for Sociology: Fifth Edition edited by Garth Massey
Grading
Class attendance, participation and (6) reaction papers 10%
Quizzes 1-4 40%
Paper Topic 10%
Annotated Bibliography 10%
Final Paper 20%
Final Presentation 10%
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COURSE WORK
Reaction papers:
As you complete weekly
assigned readings, write a brief reaction paper. You should isolate a particular idea you find hard to
understand or interesting--preferably an idea that makes a thematic link
between two or more of the assigned readings and films or videos-- to serve as
a basis for class discussion or your response papers.
Four to five people will
volunteer/be called on each week to read/present their reaction papers to the
class and lead a brief discussion of their ideas on Thursday. I will
collect these papers on Thursdays throughout the semester. These
papers will not be graded individually, but they will be recorded and their
overall quality will be taken into consideration as part of the attendance and
in-class participation portion of your final grade. Late papers will not be accepted.
**First Reaction paper is
due Thursday October 5, 2006**
Unit Quizzes:
After the completion of each
unit (4total) there will be a brief quiz on the assigned readings. No make up quizzes will be given. Your final cumulative grade will be
calculated based on the number of quizzes you have taken and your scores. The
lowest quiz score will be dropped. Missing quizzes will have a negative affect
on your attendance record and hence on your final grade.
Paper Topics (Due 10/26)
Write a
short (1-2 paragraphs) description of the topic for your final paper. This
should include a specific sociological question, a hypothesis as to what you
think you will find and a description of the methodologies you will use in your
investigation. Methodologies should include: where you will find information, how you will conduct your
research (participant observation interviews, surveys etc.) and what kinds of
scholarly texts you will use. Be specific.
Annotated Bibliography ( Due 10/31)
Using at
least 5 sources you must create an annotated bibliography. I want to know the references you will
use in your paper and the relevance of these sources to your argument. Each annotation must be at least 4 sentences.
Final Paper (Due 12/12)
Your final paper will give you the opportunity
to demonstrate your comprehension and application of the concepts, as well as
your understanding of the themes and issues that have been presented in the
course materials.
You must
approach a contemporary social phenomenon and ask a sociologically based
question on the topic. Your paper will be an investigation into that question.
You must use at least 5 sources to support your argument.
Consult the Criteria for
grading written assignments on last
page of syllabus before writing and handing in your
papers
Presentations
You must
give a 5-7 minute presentation of your work, your sociological question,
methods and results. Please
practice beforehand so as not to exceed the allotted time limit.
**During weeks your paper
topic, annotated bibliography & final paper are due, no weekly reactions
papers are due**
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COURSE GUIDELINES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION
Late Assignments & Quizzes
All
assignments must be turned in by their due date. Late
assignments will be penalized one third of a letter grade for each day past the
due date. For example a B becomes
a B- if one day late, a C+ if two days late, unless you've made arrangements
with me prior to the due date or have a valid documented excuse afterward. Upon submitting your paper, retain a
paper copy for your files. For
example, if you are absent on the day a quiz is given it is your responsibility
to secure a make-up of the quiz. The
final paper must be turned in on the due date no exceptions
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is a serious offense. When your writing includes someone else's ideas or words you
must cite the reference. Failure to do so can result in a
failing grade for the course. For more information, please visit http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/policies/student_handbook_03_04.html
You will find information in the Judicial
Affairs section.
Writing Center
The
Writing Center is located at 32 MacAlister (x6633). It is a free tutorial service.
For more information, visit http://www.drexel.edu/academic
/coas/writingcenter/index.html
Disability Disclosure
Students with
disabilities requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need
to present a current accommodation verification letter (³AVL²) to faculty
before accommodations can be made.
AVLıs are issued by the Office of Disability Services (³ODS²). For additional information, contact the
ODS at www.drexel.edu/edt/disability, 3201 Arch St., Ste. 210,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, V
215.895.1401, or TTY 215.895.2299.
Class attendance and In-class participation:
Attendance to class on time
is mandatory. More than two unexcused absences will count toward your
participation grade.
You are expected to attend
class having completed assigned readings and course work prior to class each
week, and to contribute to and participate in all class discussions and
activities. Both will affect your
final course grade and are a means by which a record of your attendance will be
kept. If you will miss class
please notify me first by email or contact me ahead of time. It is important
that you turn in weekly reaction papers on time and that you are present for
weekly quizzes.
Class Communication:
I have designated 1 hour
after Tuesdayıs class to address your needs as they relate to class. However, I am flexible about finding
other locations that better suit you during this time frame. Otherwise, it will probably be best to
rely on e-mail for communications. When you send me an e-mail, please make sure
you include SOC101 in the subject line and your full name in the body of the
e-mail. I will do my best to reply
to your e-mails within 24 hours. I
am also accessible via cell phone (215)280-5898.
Course Schedule
Fall 2006 Term
(9/26-12/7)
Course schedule is subject
to change during the course of the Semester.
You will receive
notification of updates
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Unit 1
Week 1 Sociological Perspective & Investigation
Tues. 9/26 - Introduction
Reading Assignment: ³The Sociological Perspective² Peter Berger pgs. 3-12
Thurs. 9/28 - Fundamental Elements of Sociology
Reading Assignment: ³What makes sociology Different?² Emil Durkheim pgs.
19-27 & ³Body Rituals of the
Nacirema² Horace Miner online at http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html
Unit 2
Week 2 Culture & Society
Tues. 10/3 - Culture
Film: The Nature of Culture
Reading Assignment: ³Queer Customs² Clyde Kluckholm pgs 73-80
Thurs. 10/5 Culture Contıd
**Unit 1 Quiz**
Reading Assignment: ³From Amish
Society² John Hosteller pgs.
444-448.
1st Discussion
Paper Due
Week 3 Society
Tues. 10/10
Society
Reading Assignment: ³Growing up as a Fore Is to be In Touchı &
Free² E. Richard Sorenson Pgs.
81-87.
Thurs. 10/12 Society & Socialization
Reading Assignment: ³On Face Work² Erving Geoffman pgs. 104-114
2nd Discussion Paper Due
Week 4
Socialization Contıd
Tues. 10/17 Socialization
Reading Assignment: ³My Secret Life as a Black Man² pgs. 135-130
Film: Racial
Profiling and Law Enforcement
Thurs. 10/19 Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Reading Assignment: ³From the Panoptican to Disney World² Shearing and Stenning. Pgs. 296-301
3rd Discussion
Paper Due
Unit 3
Week 5 Structures
of Power: Social order
Tues. 10/24 Preserving Social Order: Conformity
Reading Assignment: ³Police
Accounts of Normal Force² Jennifer Hunt pgs.322-337.
Film: Social Control
****Unit 2 Quiz****
Thurs. 10/26 Crime and Justice System
Reading Assignment: ³Manifesto of the Communist Party² Marx & Engles pgs. 218-227.
**Paper Topics Due**
Week 6 Structures of Power: Stratification, Class
& Inequality
Tues. 10/24 - Social Stratification,
Reading Assignment: ³Upward Mobility Through Sport?² D. Stanley Eitzen
pgs. 202-209
Film (tentative): Mickey
Mouse Monopoly. [videorecording].
Thurs. 10/26 Class in the US
Reading Assignment: ³Uses of the Underclass in America² Herbert Gans. Pgs 248-260
4th Discussion
Paper Due
Week 7 Structures of Power Contıd
Tues. 10/31 Inequality
Reading Assignment: ³ıGettingı and Makingı a Tip² Greta Foff Paules pgs. 193-201
**Annotated
Bibliography Due**
Thurs. 11/2 Gender
Inequality
Reading assignment: ³Optional Ethnicities: For Whites Only?² Mary C.
Waters pgs. 136-151.
Unit 4
Week 8 The Individual and Society: Social Identity
Tues. 11/7 Race
Reading assignment:³Border State Patrol² Leslie Silko pgs. 316-321
*******Unit quiz 3********
Thurs. 11/9 Race Contıd
Reading assignment:³Go North, Young Man² Richard Rodriguez pgs. 184-192.
Film: Race: The Power of an Illusion part 1
5th Discussion
paper due
Week 9 Ethnicity & Age
Tues. 11/14 Social notion of Race
Reading assignment: ³Love and Race
Caught in the Public Eye² Ardizzone & Lewis. Pgs. 146-151
Thurs. 11/16 Film:
Race the Power of an Illusion part
3
6th Discussion
paper Due
Week 10 Individual & Society Contıd
Tues. 11/21 Final Presentations
Reading assignment: ³Foundations of Third world Poverty..² John Isbister
pgs. 338-346
Thurs. 11/23 NO CLASS!!!! Due to Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 11 Presentations
Tues. 11/28 presentations
Thurs. 11/30 presentations
*****Unit 4 Quiz******
Final Paper are Due No
later then December 5th, 2006
Criteria for Grading Written Assignments
The following is intended to
give you a sense of how your written assignments will be evaluated and graded.
Papers will be graded using
the standard letter - grade system (A, B, C, D, and F) as well as +/-
notations.
A: outstanding. An A
paper demonstrates analytic, independent, and creative thinking about the topic
and source materials. It is well
organized and well structured, i.e.; it consists of well-formed sentences and
paragraphs and has a clear and well-developed introduction, body and
conclusion. It addresses the topic
fully and presents a strong argument or position that is well-supported and
relevant facts and information.
There are very few (if any) grammatical or spelling errors. The paper is logically cohesive,
written and engaging, and enjoyable to read.
B: Good. A B paper presents a solid argument or position and
demonstrates good understanding of the topic and source materials, but is
somewhat lacking in clarity, supports, organization, logical cohesiveness, or
focus. It addresses the topic
fully, but not in a very creative or insightful way. There may be a few problems of grammar and spelling, and the
writing may need improvement.
The paper is fairly interesting but needs more information, more
in-depth analysis and more independent and creative thinking.
C:
Satisfactory a C paper
demonstrates basic understanding of the topic and source materials, but is
somewhat lacking in clarity, support, organization, logical cohesive, or
focus. It does not present a solid
argument or tie information together in an insightful way. It lacks clarity and is not well
developed and it lacks focus, organization, detail, and logical cohesiveness.
It is hard to read because it does not flow well and has grammatical and
spelling errors.
D: Unsatisfactory. A D paper demonstrates little knowledge and understanding
of the topic the source materials, and shows little or no analytic
thinking. It may present some
information correctly, but is does not do anything meaningful with that
information. It is poorly
organized and structured. It lacks
focus, clarity, logical cohesiveness, etc. It has numerous grammatical and spelling errors, and is very
difficult and frustrating to read.
F: Failing. An F paper is not worth turning in, nor is it worth
reading. It is better to continue
working on the paper and turn it in a few days late.