Min Li Principles of Sociology, Summer 2016
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
(SYG 2000, Section 4A06)
Summer 2016
Class: Monday to Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, in 2306 Turlington Hall
Instructor
Name: Min Li
Office: 3309 Turlington hall
Email:
Office hours: Tuesday 1:45-3:45PM, Thursday 1:45-2:45PM, and by appointment
Course content
This course is primarily an introduction to Sociology. We will begin by briefly discussing the definition, history and methods of Sociology. The reminder of the course is reserved for the study of individual in society and culture, including socialization, social groups, gender and sex, and age and aging. We will later wide our scope from individual to social life, for instance social stratification, ethnic and racial minorities. At the end of the course, you should have a basic grasp of Sociology, think and analyze in a sociological pattern and start to discern your special interest and enthusiasm in certain subdomain of Sociology.
Required reading
1. Conley D. You May Ask Yourself: An introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist [M]. New York: Norton, 2011.
Course objectives
Present a relatively complete introduction of the basic perspectives, concepts, and findings of sociology so that students will understand and appreciate the nature and purposes of the Sociology. Raise or strengthen students’ interest and enthusiasm about sociology. Help them not only accumulate knowledge, but cultivate their sociological imagination, thinking and behaving like a sociologist.
Teaching Philosophy:
My teaching philosophy of undergraduate students derives from the assumption that undergraduates are outsiders of Sociology who eager to learn more. Their process of studying Sociology is not only about gaining knowledge, but more about finding their interest. They invest time and energy on as broad field as possible in order to expose themselves to various theory and perspectives and finally find their cup of tea.
Assessment (assignments and grading):
Requirement / % of final grade / DatesAttendance/Inclass projects / 5%
Presentation / 5%
Exam 1 / 20% / July. 8
Exam 2 / 30% / July. 22
Exam 3 / 30% / Aug. 5
Notes: 1) the date of exam is tentative and might be rescheduled. 2) the exams will be given during the Tuesday two-hour class time
Final grade distribution:
A GRADE OF "C-" OR BELOW WILL NOT BE COUNTED TOWARD YOUR GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OR YOUR SOCIOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS.
Grade / GradePoints / Percent / Points
A / 4.0 / 93-1000 / 930-1000
A- / 3.67 / 90-92 / 900-929
B+ / 3.33 / 87-89 / 870-899
B / 3.0 / 83-86 / 830-869
B- / 2.67 / 80-82 / 800-829
C+ / 2.33 / 77-79 / 770-799
C / 2.0 / 73-76 / 730-769
C- / 1.67 / 70-72 / 700-729
D+ / 1.33 / 67-69 / 670-699
D / 1.0 / 63-66 / 630-669
D- / .67 / 60-62 / 600-629
E / 0 / Below 60 / 599 and below
Attendance/inclass projects:
In some weeks, I take attendance and those who are present for the entire period(s) will receive 10 points. In other weeks, I may present a pop quiz and ask students to provide a written answer to a question(s) relevant to the week's reading. Some of these projects will involve small group exercises. These answers will be assessed on a 1-10 scale. I will do this 6 times during the semester but I will only count the top 5 scores for each student.
You cannot make-up in-class projects under any circumstances. It is part of your responsibility to attend class on time. Once you miss class that day, you forfeit those 10 points. However, if you have UNIVERSITY AUTHORIZED absence for travel or illness, you can show me written documentation and I will add 1% to the weight of your final exam for each instance. Illnesses without a doctor's excuse are NOT legitimate.
Presentation:
Sociology is never separate from the society, so keep yourself informed of the lasted news. I strongly recommend you to find out what’s going on both domestic and abroad. Then, select a piece of news that is related to the theme of chapter we are going to cover, and analyze it from the perspective of the chapter theme. Give a presentation, ask some related questions, and motivate your classmates to discuss. About 10 minutes (including discussion).
Exams:
You are responsible for presenting at any of these quizzes. But I totally understand that there are conditions when you couldn’t show up. So as long as you could provide me with certain certificate, I would arrange a make-up examination. But you are really encouraged take the examination.
Students are not permitted to sell any class material the teacher gave to them.
All exams are the property of this course. Students are not permitted to take an exam out of the classroom or office nor may they write down exam questions--failure to comply will result in an "E" since non-compliance is, in effect, cheating.
I define making it convenient for others’ to copy your answer, or copying parts or whole of others’ answers as cheating. You could expect serious penalty when you are found to be cheating in an exam. You would not only fail the exam (“E”), but also the class immediately.
Tentative class schedule
Week / Topic / ReadingsWeek 1 / Introduction: Discipline of Sociology / Conley: Ch. 1
Sociology theory / Conley: Ch. 1
Introduction of Sociology Methods / Conley: Ch. 2
Week 2 / Society, Social Interaction, and Culture / Conley: Ch. 3 & Ch. 6
Social Structure, Groups, and Organizations / Conley: Ch. 5 & Ch. 8
Week 3 / Cities, Communities, & Socialization / Conley: Ch. 4
Deviance and Crime / Conley: Ch.6
Stratification and Social Class / Conley: Ch. 7
Week 4 / Race and Ethnicity / Conley: Ch. 9
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality / Conley: Ch. 8
Week 5 / The "Sociological Body": Age, Health, and Sexuality / Conley: Ch. 11
Families / Conley: Ch. 12
Families (cont.) & Immigration / Conley: Ch. 21
Week 6 / Education, Religion, and Science / Conley: Ch. 13 & Ch. 16
Sociology of Environments / Conley: Ch. 17
Social Network / Conley: Ch. 5
Special considerations:
Students, who are not confident of their writing, could seek help from UF reading & Writing Center (CWC). For further information, please refer to the website: at. Ufl.edu/rwcenter
The syllabus is tentative and everything subject to change as we move on.
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