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Sociology 101 – Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2004
Instructor: Jeremiah Coldsmith
Office Number: 426 Social Sciences
Office Phone Number: 621-1089
E-mail Address:
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 12-1; Friday 11-12
Welcome to Sociology 101. The primary objective of the class is to introduce you to the discipline of sociology. What I want to show you is that sociology is a tool that will enable you to better understand and think critically about the world around you. From a sociological perspective we can analyze a wide range of topics from the interpersonal to the intergovernmental. First and foremost in developing a sociological perspective is realizing that the social world is not a given. It is something to be explored and understood.
Because sociologists concern themselves with such a wide range of topics, it would be impossible to cover even the most basic elements of every area. In order to give you an idea of the different topics and approaches sociologists take in exploring the world, a wide range of diverse topics will be covered in this course. As we will discover, the approaches sociologists take in examining the world are almost as diverse as the topics covered. However, sociologists are bound together by our determination to explore and explain the world around us all.
Again, the main goal of the course is to introduce you to the discipline of sociology. I will consider our time together successful, if you come out of the class with the ability to see the social world as something other than a given and apply some of the theories we cover to events in your own life.
I believe the following quote sums up what I hope you take away from the course.
“The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is its task and its promise.” – C. Wright Mills The Sociological Imagination
Welcome to Sociology 101.
Readings:
There is only one required text for this class, which can be purchased at the Book Store here on campus. You will get the most out of the class by reading the assigned readings prior to coming to class. The required text is:
Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Duneier, and Richard P. Appelbaum. (2003) Introduction to
Sociology. 4th ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company.
There will be other assigned readings. These can be found on the e-res system by going to the following URL:
Here you can find this class by finding my last name (Coldsmith) in the list of instructors. If you have any problems accessing these readings, please e-mail me, and I’ll walk you through the process in greater detail. The password for the class is “soc101”.
Assignments, Quizzes, Exams, and Grading:
Policy on late and makeup work:
Work can only be handed in late or made up if you make arrangements with me prior to the absence. Any unforeseeable absences must be documented in order for work to be accepted late or made up.
Assignments:
The class has two short writing assignments (2-3 pages). The assignments are intended to have you apply the material we are covering in class to your own experiences. On the day the assignments are due, we will divide into small groups in order to better discuss the topics. In the classes following the group discussions, each group will do a 10 minute presentation of what was discussed in the group and what conclusions the group came to concerning the topic.
Each writing assignment is worth 15 points. The class presentations are worth 10 points. Specifics about the criteria for and content of the assignments will be handed out closer to the time the assignments are due.
Quizzes:
The class has four quizzes. The quizzes are not cumulative. They only cover material from the section of the class in which they are located. Each quiz is worth 25 points and has 15 multiple choice, 5 short essays, and one long essay. The multiple choice and short essays are worth one point each. The long essay is worth five points.
Exams:
The only exam in the class is the final. It is cumulative and worth 50 points. It will consist of 25 multiple choice questions and one essay.
Grading:
The class has a total of 200 points.
15 writing assignment 1
10 group presentation 1
15 writing assignment 2
10 group presentation 2
25 quiz 1
25 quiz 2
25 quiz 3
25 quiz 4
50 Final Exam
200 total
Therefore, the grade distribution breaks down as follows:
180-200 A
160-179 B
140-159 C
120-139 D
199 and below E
While participation in class is not assigned any points, participating in class will encourage me to round up, if you have a borderline grade. Not participating, participating rarely, and missing more than three classes will strongly encourage me to round your grade down, if you have a borderline grade.
Other Important Things:
DisabilityResourceCenter (DRC) Statement:
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements must register with the DisabilityResourceCenter. If you qualify for services through DRC, bring your letter of accommodations to me as soon as possible.
Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center:
The SALTCenter provides a number of programs for students having trouble in classes. These range from learning disability support to tutoring. If you are having problems keeping up with the material in class please feel free to talk to me, but also feel assured that the people at SALT are also willing to help.
Code of Academic Integrity:
Academic misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated. Misconduct includes (but is not limited to) cheating on exams, failing to properly cite sources in papers and turning in another student’s work as your own. I reserve the right to follow through on any incidents of cheating with sanctions in accordance with the university’s Code of Academic Integrity, available online at:
Schedule of Classes:
Week 1
Monday August 23
Lecture: Introduction
Wednesday August 25
Lecture: What is Sociology?
Reading: Text Chapter 1 p.1-24
Friday August 27
Lecture: What is sociology continued
Reading: e-res Berger, Peter. (1963) Invitation to Sociology. New York, NY: Anchor Books. Chapters 1 and 2
Week 2
Monday August 30
Lecture: The sociological imagination
Wednesday September 1
Lecture: The sociological imagination continued
Reading: e-res Mills, C. Wright. (1959) The Sociological Imagination. New York, NY: Oxford UP. Chapter 1
Friday September 3
Lecture: Founding sociological thought
Reading: Reread Text Chapter 1 p11-24
Week 3
Monday September 6
No Class. Labor Day.
Wednesday September 8
Lecture: What makes sociology different from other forms of knowledge?
Reading: Text Chapter 2
Friday September 10
Lecture: Birds of a Feather or Opposites Attract; why people get married? A sociological approach versus experiential and common knowledge.
Reading: e-res Murstein, Bernard I. (1980) “Mate Selection in the 1970s.” Journal of Marriage and the Family. Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 777-92.
Week 4
Monday September 13
Review Day
Wednesday September 15
Quiz 1
Friday September 17 – Last day to drop courses resulting in deletion of enrollment from the record.
Lecture: The Sociology of Everyday Life
Reading: Text Chapter 5
Week 5
Monday September 20
Lecture: The thin veil of society. What breaching experiments can tell us about the rules of everyday life.
Wednesday September 22
Lecture: The works of Erving Goffman
Friday September 24
Lecture: Goffman continued
Hand out writing assignment 1
Week 6
Monday September 27
Writing Assignment 1 due
Small Group Discussions
Wednesday September 29
Group Presentations
Friday October 1
Group Presentations
Week 7
Monday October 4
Review Day
Wednesday October 6
Quiz 2
Friday October 8
Lecture: From Individuals to Groups
Reading: Text Chapter 6
Week 8
Monday October 11
Lecture: How who you are not helps define who you are.
Reading: e-res Myers, David G. (1999) Social Psychology. 6th ed. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill, p.353-56 and 363-74.
Wednesday October 13
Lecture: Social Networks: It’s a small world after all.
Reading: e-res Milgram, Stanley. (1967) “The Small World Problem.” Psychology Today. Vol. 2, May, pp.60-7.
Friday October 15 – Last day to drop a class with a grade of “W” (if passing) or to change from audit to grading; the instructor’s signature on a Change of Schedule form is required.
Lecture: Social Networks: You are whom you know.
Week 9
Monday October 18
Lecture: Organizations
Reading: Reread Text Chapter 6 p.149-74
Wednesday October 20
Review Day
Friday October 22
Quiz 3
Week 10
Monday October 25
Lecture: Stratification-Class
Reading: Chapter 8
Wednesday October 27
Lecture Class stratification continued
Friday October 29
Lecture: Stratification-Gender
Reading: Text Chapter 10
Week 11
Monday November 1
Lecture: Gender stratification continued
Wednesday November 3
Lecture: Stratification-Race and Ethnicity
Reading: Text Chapter 11
Friday November 5
Lecture: Racial and ethnic stratification continued
Week 12
Monday November 8
Lecture: The multiplicative effect of class, gender, and race
Wednesday November 10
Lecture: In-groups, out-groups, social learning, and social networks in relation to class, gender, and race.
Friday November 12
Lecture: Different perspectives continued
Hand out writing assignment 2
Week 13
Monday November 15
Writing Assignment 2 due
Small Group Discussions
Wednesday November 17
Group Presentations
Friday November 19
Group Presentations
Week 14
Monday November 22
Review Day
Wednesday November 24
Quiz 4 If you are leaving early for break, COME SEE ME!!!
Friday November 26
No Class. Thanksgiving.
Week 15
Monday November 29
Lecture: Globalization
Reading: Text Chapter 9
Wednesday December 1
Lecture: Global Classes
Reading: Text Chapter 20
Friday December 3
Lecture: Global Classes continued
Class Vote on Final Topic
Week 16
Monday December 6
Lecture: TBD by Class
Wednesday December 8 – Last Day of Class
Lecture: continued/Review Day
Final Exam: Friday December 17, 11:00am—1:00pm