OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Introduction to Sociology
Dr. Greg Hamill, Associate Professor
Office: 2608 (DP) or B200 (RHC); Phone: 847.376.7041; Email:
I. Course Course Course
Prefix Number Name Credit Lecture Lab
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 3 0
Syllabus for section 015 (number 32127, TR 11:00 a.m.)
II. Prerequisites: None
III. Course (Catalog) Description:
This course introduces the sociological perspective used to study contemporary society, with a focus on the United States. Content includes culture, socialization, social interaction, groups and networks, deviance and social control, inequality in society, social institutions such as family or education, and processes of social change. IAI S7 900
IV. Learning Objectives:
A. To know what sociology is.
B. To be able to employ a sociological perspective in everyday life.
C. To understand the major theories of sociology.
D. To develop an understanding of the science of sociology, learning how sociologists construct hypotheses, gather and analyze data, and use the sociological perspective to interpret their findings.
E. To critically think about existing social structures and how they change over time and across cultures.
F. To develop a global perspective.
G. To read closely and carefully and to write clearly and effectively.
H. To consider the ethical underpinnings of various social structures and arrangements.
I. To critically assess the truth of common sense understandings about social life.
J. To become critical consumers of knowledge, ideas, and material goods and services.
V. Academic Integrity
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
· cheating,
· plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
· falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
· helping others to cheat,
· unauthorized changes on official documents,
· pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
· making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
· any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years. Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Outline of Topics
The World of Sociology
Week 1 8/26 What is sociology?
8/28 Read: Chapter 1 “Perspective, Theory, and Method,” pp. 1-13
Week 2 9/2 Read: Chapter 1, pp. 14-37
On-Line Quiz due for assignment “Introducing Sociological
Resources on the Web.”
Step 1. Complete the assignment worksheet found on WebCT.
This worksheet will not be turned in, but is critical for successful
completion of the quiz.
Step 2. Complete the “Web Resources Quiz” found on WebCT
in the folder marked “On-Line Quizzes” before the start of class.
Understanding the Individual and Society
9/4 Read: Chapter 2 “Culture,” pp. 39-50
Week 3 9/9 Read Chapter 2, pp. 51-67
9/11 Read Chapter 3 “Socialization,” pp. 69-77
On-Line Chapter Quiz for Chapters 1 and 2 due by the start of class.
Week 4 9/16 Read Chapter 3, pp. 77-93
9/18 Discussion Day
Week 5 9/23 Read Chapter 4 (Social Interaction in Everyday Life), pp. 94-107
Paper #1 Due
9/25 Chapter 4 continued, pp. 107-117
Week 6 9/30 Read Chapter 5 “Groups and Organizations,” pp. 118-127
10/2 Chapter 5 continued, pp. 128-143
Week 7 10/7 Discussion Day
10/9 Discussion Day
10/11 Optional extra credit on-line midterm exam review via Elluminate, 10:00 a.m.
10/12 Optional extra credit on-line midterm exam review via Elluminate, 5:00 p.m.
Week 8 10/14 Mid-Term Exam
Uncovering the Structure and Nature of Inequality
10/16 Review exam and meet with students regarding papers
(Note: 10/19 is the last day to withdraw without a penalty grade)
Week 9 10/21 Read Chapter 8 “Social Stratification,” pp. 205-241
10/23 Chapter 8 continued
Week 10 10/28 Chapter 8 continued
10/30 Read Chapter 10 “Gender Stratification,” pp. 271-297
Week 11 11/4 Chapter 10 continued
11/6 Chapter 10 continued
On-Line Chapter Quiz for Chapters 8 and 10 due by the start of class
Week 12 11/11 NO CLASS – COLLEGE CLOSED – Veteran’s Day (observed)
11/13 Discussion Day
Week 13 11/18 Read Chapter 11 “Race & Ethnicity,” pp. 299-331
11/20 Chapter 11 continued
Week 14 11/25 Chapter 11 continued
Paper #2 Due
11/27 NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15 12/2 Read Chapter 6 “Sexuality and Society,” pp. 145-171
12/4 Chapter 6 continued
Contemporary Social Institutions
Week 16 12/9 Read Chapter 13 “Family,” pp. 371-390 (not Religion)
Optional extra credit on-line final exam review via Elluminate, 9:00 p.m.
12/10 Optional extra credit on-line final exam review via Elluminate, 10:00 a.m.
12/11 Discussion Day
Week 17 12/16 Final Exam
SUMMARY OF DUE DATES:
September 2 On-Line Quiz for “Web Resources”
September 11 On-Line Quiz for Chapters 1 & 2
September 23 Paper #1
October 14 Midterm Exam
November 6 On-Line Quiz for Chapters 8 and 10
November 25 Paper #2
December 16 Final Exam
VII. Methods of Instruction:
While there will be some lecture, I intend the course to be as interactive as possible including brainstorming and discussing topics as a group. We will employ students’ own examples whenever possible, examples from the textbook, as well as examples from popular culture (e.g., music, film, sports, entertainment) to elaborate on sociological principles and their application in every day life.
All students are required to use WebCT to secure the syllabus as well as any course updates, assignments, or references. Please see section XI below for more.
Respecting Diversity. The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.
VIII. Course Practices Required:
All reading assignments noted in section VI are to be completed prior to each class. Students should be prepared to draw upon the readings during class discussion. Students are expected to participate in class. Participation and preparedness are a component of your grade. Spelling and grammar count in all written work so please proofread and edit carefully.
Late arrivals:
Every effort should be make to get to class on time. Students can expect me to be in the classroom, ready to begin class at the start of the period; likewise, I expect students to be in the classroom at the beginning of the period. If you are late, please make every effort possible to find a seat quietly, without disturbing the class in progress. Repeated late arrivals will affect your participation and preparedness grade.
Early departures:
Occasionally it is necessary to leave class early. If for some reason you know you will be leaving class before the end of the hour, please notify me at the beginning of class, try to find a seat near the door, and slip out quietly when the time comes. Like late arrivals, early departures are interruptions that can be distracting.
Private conversation:
By this point in your educational career you should know that "talking during class" is inappropriate behavior. Yet some students continue to treat class time as an opportunity to catch up on news with friends they have not seen in the last several hours, days or weeks. In other instances, students are actually discussing the sociological topic or example, but privately, with each other. These private conversations are disturbing; they make it difficult for other students to hear what is going on, and they distract me from teaching the class. Students who find it necessary to repeatedly carry on such private discussions will be asked to leave class.
Attendance:
The classroom is a social group in which both students and professor are expected to participate. You will not learn, and I cannot teach, if you do not attend class regularly. I take attendance at the beginning of each class. If you arrive after this time, it is your responsibility to come up after class to make sure that I have recorded your attendance in my book.
If you know in advance you will miss class because of some important event or condition (e.g., a medical condition that requires periodic treatment, child and other care-providing obligations, work schedules, etc.), please let me know so that arrangements can be made for you to receive assignments and/or get completed work back to me in a timely fashion. If you must leave the area for an emergency, please make an effort to contact me as soon as possible. Email is usually the best method.
Watch alarms, cell phones, iPods, laptops and beepers:
Increasingly, students have watches with alarms that ring on the hour; likewise, they carry cell phones and beepers around with them. If you have any of these items with you, please remember to turn them off or on silent before class begins. If someone is trying to reach you, please inform them of your class schedule and ask them to call you before class begins or after it ends -- not while it is going on. Do not listen to iPods, Zunes, or other media via earpieces during class. These electronic devices are not only distracting, but also disruptive. If you use a laptop in the classroom, I expect you to use it for notetaking and other related classroom activities. Laptops are not an opportunity to check email or surf the web during class. Please confine multitasking to time outside the college classroom.
IX. Instructional Materials:
Macionis, John J. Society: The Basics, 9th Edition. Pearson/Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2007
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
Grading:
On-Line Quiz for “Web Resources”* 7.5%
On-Line Chapter Quizzes** 10%
Paper 1*** 7.5%
Paper 2*** 10%
Participation/Preparedness# 10%
Midterm## 25%
Final Exam## 30%
Extra Credit – see below^
Grading Scale:
90+% = A
80 – 89% = B
70 – 79% = C
60 – 69% = D
Below 60 = F
* On-Line Quiz for “Web Resources.” The assignment worksheet for “Introducing Sociological Resources on the Web” (abbreviated “Web Resources”) can be found on WebCT. It requires you to use some web sites to gather sociological data. This will take about 1 hour. While this worksheet will not be turned in, you must complete it prior to taking the associated on-line quiz. The on-line quiz for this assignment can be found on WebCT in the “On-Line Quizzes” folder. If you encounter technical difficulties with the quiz, I expect you to email me immediately. If we cannot correct the technical problem before the deadline, you must turn in a completed printout of the assignment worksheet by the deadline instead.
** On-Line Chapter Quizzes. There will be two open-book, open-note on-line chapter quizzes, but one will be dropped. The highest score will be kept. The quizzes can be found in the WebCT folder marked “On-Line Quizzes.”
*** Papers. Details for these 1-2 page papers are available on WebCT, including very specific guidelines, a grading rubric, and writing tips. Be sure to carefully read the writing tips, the grading rubric, AND the assignment.
Late papers. I expect everyone to turn in each part by the start of class on the due dates noted in the syllabus. Regardless of the reason, late papers will be penalized according to the following scale:
Up to 24 hours late – 10%
24-48 hours late – 25%
48-72 hours late – 50%
72+ hours late – Zero credit
Delivery of papers. I expect that all assignments will be submitted via the “upload” function on WebCT in the “Writing Assignments” tab. I will accept papers only as a Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) format. Grades and paper comments will be returned to students via this same web site.
I will accept emailed papers only as a last resort – that is, only if you are having technical difficulties with WebCT and the deadline is upon you. Emailed papers require that you receive an email confirmation from me stating that it arrived safely. If you do not receive an email confirmation from me, I did not get it and late penalties will apply. It remains your responsibility to get the paper to me. I will also accept faxed papers but it is incumbent upon you to ensure that it was received by me. Faxed papers require a follow up phone call to my office to be sure it was received.
# Participation/preparedness. 10% of your final grade will be based on class attendance, participation, and preparedness.
Attendance. Everyone will be allowed four absences. If 5 classes are missed, your grade for this component will drop by 50%, regardless of the circumstances. If 6 or more classes are missed, you will receive a zero for this component and you are at risk of failing the class.
Participation and preparedness. Participation will also be based on overall preparedness and involvement in class discussions. This is not meant to intimidate those who are reluctant to speak, nor to reward those who do so with ease. Good participation can also mean facilitating the contributions of others, not just dominating the discussion. You should listen carefully to others, ask questions of me and other students, and share your ideas. I expect all students to create an environment that encourages the participation of everyone.
NOTE: Perfect attendance does not equal a grade of “A” for this grade component. Excellent attendance, paying close attention, a clear willingness to engage the material, and an enthusiasm for learning and for others’ contributions will earn the highest marks for this grade component.