ÒThe aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity. One is unable to notice something – because it is always before oneÕs eyes.Ó  Wittgenstein.

 

DREXEL UNIVERSITY

 

Course: SOC. 101-006                                  Instructor:  Dr. Diamantino Machado

Title:  Introduction to Sociology                    Office:  Culture & communication, Room 318

Summer Term:  06-07                                   Office Hours:  By Appointment

Email:  machadod@drexel.edu                      Phone:  215-895-2402

                                   

SYLLABUS

 

THE COURSE: Sociology is more than Òcommon senseÓ and more than the study of social (group) behavior.  The true object of sociological inquiry is Human Social Practices.  Hence, the goal of this introductory-survey course is to provide the student with a Òsociological imaginationÓ, i. e., to make the student aware of the nature of the social world that surrounds her/him and of which s/he is a part.

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: 1. Seeing Ourselves, 7the ed. , by J. Macionis and N. Benokraitis  [MB]

in the readings and 2. Taking It BigÉ , by S. Dandaneau [SD]

  

EXAMINATIONS/GRADES: The evaluation of your accomplishment in this course will be based on two in-class exams, and a short term paper of five/six pages in length.  Each  exam and the term paper  will be  worth 33% of the course grade.

 

TENTATIVE EXAM DATES: The First Exam will be given Friday,  7/20, and the Second Exam will be given on Friday, August 17, The Term Paper is due on the last day of classes, which is Friday, August 31st.

 

NOTE: I do not curve grades, and make up exams will be given only in cases of documented justifiable reason.

 

LECTURES:  Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lectures and discussions. Moreover, studentsÕ questions, comments and observations are welcomed and expected.

 

BEFORE CLASS REQUIRED READING ASSIGNMENTS & COURSE CALANDAR

 

Week 1    6/25         General introduction, The Three Worlds, PlatoÕs                                                                                                                                                                                   

        Allegory of the Cave, This Syllabus,                           

                                Sociology É..                                                                            SD ch 1                               

 

Week 2    7/2         **NO CLASS ON W 7/4

                                  Invitation to Sociology                                                            MB Reading 2

                                  Women and the Birth of Sociology                                         MB R 4

                                               

                               

 Week 3   7/9            The Big PictureÉ.The Small Picture,  Toward a

                                  Postmodern  Sociological Imagination                                    SD chs 2,3,4

 

 

Syllabus Soc 101, Intro Soc. Summer 06-07         Dr. Machado                      p.  2                                                                      

 

 

                                            

Week 4   7/16             Culture                                                                                    MB R 9

                               **EXAM 1 ON F  7/20               

                                 

                     

Week 5   7/23             Society                                                                                   MB Rs 13,14 

                               A Wrong ChildÉ.                        SD ch 5                

 

Week 6   7/3                Generation X                                                                        SD ch 6

                                    Socialization                                                                         MB Rs 17,18

                                    Social Interaction                                                                  MB Rs 21,22, 23

 

Week 7   8/6                Groups and Organizations                                                     MB R s 26,28

                                     Social Stratification                                                               MB Rs  38, 39,

                                     Gender, Race, Ethnicity                                                         MB Rs 40,41, 46

 

Week 8   8/13                Politics, GovernmentÉ.                                                       MB Rs 54, 55          

                               **EXAM 2 ON F  8/17

                                                 

 

Week 9   8/20              The Degradation of the Public Sphere    And

                                     The End of History , Sociology Without Society                   SD chs 8,9,10

 

                                                       

 

Week 10  8/27             The Disenchantment  of Modern Life  (Weber)  &

                                     The American ParadoxÉ. (Myers)                                          MB Rs  80, 81                                                                        

 

 

TERM PAPER IS DUE

 

 

NOTE:  Several relevant videotapes may be shown during the course.

 

 

NOTE:  THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER ANY ASPECT OF THIS SYLLABUS, IN WHICH CASE THE STUDENT SHALL BE INFORMED IN ADVANCE.