1

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