Sociology 301 -- American Society

Fall 2004 (CRN 14525)

Professor Michael Dreiling

Meets:4-5:20, TU & TH In:MCK 129

Phone:346-5025;Email:

Office Hours:740 PLC, T 10-11; W 10-11:30

Course Framework

Thiscourse is designed as a broad, but in-depth introduction to American societyand culture. We will examine aspects of American culture and institutions thatshape modern human experience and the ways in which they are changing. We willbe paying particular attention to relations of power and conflict. In doingthis, I predict we will tune-in to some of the most pressing questions andproblems facing our minds and the world. What is ÒnormalÓ? Who (or what)decides normality? Why has inequality persisted so much in the U.S. (and world)over the last 2 decades? How does economic power get converted to politicalpower, and why? How and why does racial/ethnic segregation and inequalitypersist? How have modern institutions -- such as family, media and education-- shaped our understandings of ourselves, our goals, our loyalties, our genderidentities and sexuality? What is culture and how is "it" related tosocial power? Who controls the mass media and does it matter in the Òmaking ofmeaningÓ? Where is our society and world headed, and what are thepossibilities? How do social movements play a part in shaping history and theallocation of power? How do you feel while the world teeters on an edge ofsocial and ecological crisis? Why do you feel that way? By no means shallthis be an uncomplicated journey. To really engage these and other questions,you can expect to read a lot (about 100 pages per week, or about 1.5 hours ofreading for every hour of class time), think a lot, and write someÉ but not alot. It will be impossible for you to take this journey unless you link heart,mind and body into the learning process, or in other words have a passion tolearn and the discipline to read.

Readings

Availableat the U of O Bookstore.

1)Coontz, Stephanie. 1992.TheWay We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap. New York:Basic Books.

2)Domhoff, G. William. 2002.WhoRules America? Power and Politics.

3)Coursepack:A ÒPrimisÓ Reader will be available at the U of OBookstore. Readings indicated with an asterisk (*)

Course Boundaries

Myintention is to help create an environment where each of us can safely shareour views and expand our perceptions of ourselves and the world that we arecreating. Maintaining a common ground in the course readings will help us towardthat end. I encourage you to complete the readings as they are listed in thereading table at the end of this syllabus. Please do your best to complete theassigned sectionbeforethe respective lecture times, as there will beclose links between the lectures, discussion and readings. Finally, since wemeet under compressed circumstances, with this much reading, it would be abenefit to all if we raise questions and comments in class.

Belowyou will find my proposal for evaluating how each of you engage the coursematerial. My intention with this proposal is to provide a framework from whichI can assess how much and to what depth each of you pursue the course material.

PROPOSAL:4 graded activities. First, 20% of your total gradeis determined by your attendance and participation in class. Each day accountsfor 1.2 % of your grade, so be sure to attend and sign the role sheet. Everyonewill receive two free (unmarked) absences. IÕve adopted this policy toeliminate the negotiations, explanations, and justifications for absences. Noneed to report your absences to me unless significant life changes impact yourability to participate in your school activities. Use the absences wisely.Secondly, three quizzes will be distributed throughout the term (see courseoutline below for the dates). Each of these is worth 15% of your grade,totaling 45%. The third component of this proposal is that you respond to atake-home essay question in about 3 pages, worth 15% of your total grade. Thisis due on December 10, during the final exam. You will receive instructions forthis in class. Fourth, there will be an in-class final exam scheduled forWednesday Dec. 8that 1:00pm.This component of the final is worth 20% of your total grade.

SOC 399 CreditÐ pursue an alternative method of evaluation.

If you find that the proposalabove does not meet your needs for learning in this class and would like yourgrade to reflect some other course-related work, you may pursue an alternativemethod of evaluation by enrolling in a 1 credit experimental class. My hope isto create a small classroom learning environment within this larger course.There, up to 15 of you may participate in more advanced discussions and developprojects that cover the material presented in American Society. The project youdevelop in that course will determine your grade for this course. It is myguess that those of you who wish to learn with more depth, creativity, and withmore opportunities for participation will find this option enriching. Soc 399(16235) meets Thursday from 3-3:50 in CON 330.

Course Outline

I)Introduction: Weeks 1-2

A)Sociology Ð Knowledge andBeing in the Modern World

StephanieCoontzÐ Introduction and Chapter 1

B)The Expansion of Capitalism

áMax Weber, Selection from ÒTheProtestant Ethic and the Spirit of CapitalismÓ

áKarl Marx and Friedrich Engels, ÒBourgeois and ProletariansÓ

StephanieCoontzÐ Chapter 2

C)Social Identity, the Self, and the Power of theSocial:

áBerger & Luckmann,ÒSocialization and the Internalization of SocietyÓ

áGoffman, ÒPresentation of SelfÓ

áMilgram, ÒThe Perils of ObedienceÓ

II) Post-war USA

A)Family, Gender, andSexuality:Weeks 2-3

StephanieCoontz-- Chapters 3 - 5

áTaylor, Whittier, ÒGenderInequality and SexismÓ

StephanieCoontz7 - 9

QUIZ #1ÐOctober 21

B)Social Difference, Crime,and the Politics of Social Control:Week 4-5

áRosenhan, ÒOn Being Sane in InsanePlacesÓ

áCrouch & Alpert, ÒThe AmericanPrison CrisisÓ

áPaternoster, ÒMyths andMisconceptions about the Death PenaltyÓ

áSimpson, ÒCorporate CrimeÓ

StephanieCoontz, Chapter 10

C)Race, Ethnicity, and UrbanConflict:Week 5-6

áYetman, ÒRace and EthnicityÓ

áWacquant and Wilson, ÒThe Cost ofRacial and Class ExclusionÓ

FILM: At the River I Stand

QUIZ#2ÐNovember 6

D)Economy, Class and InequalityWeek 7

áRitzer & Moran: ÒThe EconomyÓ

StephanieCoontz, Chapter 11

E)A Shadow Cast Over Democracy?Week7-8

áMills, ÒThe Power Elite.Ó

Domhoff, Chs. 1-4

QUIZ #3 Ð November 20

F)Militarism, Mass Media and Public OpinionWeek8-9

áMarullo, ÒWar and MilitarismÓ

áKellner, ÒTelevision andDemocracyÓ

Domhoff, Chs. 5-7

H)Globalization, Ecology, andthe Big PictureWeek 10

Domhoff,Ch. 8

Coontz, Epilogue

FINALEXAM: December 8th, Wednesday, 1:00pm

Reading Table

Youmay use this table as a daily reminder of the readings that correspond(roughly) to the lectures. You may also pay attention to the sub-headings inthe course outline (above). These will help locate the readings and lectures ina larger sequence of themes and topics.

Tuesday / Thursday
Week 1: / READ: * Begin Coontz, Intro. & Ch. 1 / READ: *Weber; *Marx and Engels
Week 2: / READ: *Berger & Luckmann; *Goffman; *Milgram;CompleteCoontz, Ch. 2 / READ: Coontz, Ch. 3-4;
Begin*Taylor, Whittier
Week 3: / READ: Coontz, Ch. 5;
Complete*Taylor, Whittier / READ:
Coontz, Ch. 7-8
Week 4: / READ: Coontz, Ch. 9
QUIZ #1 / READ: *Rosenhan; *Chambliss; *Crouch & Alpert; *Paternoster
Week 5: / READ: *Simpson;
Coontz, Ch. 10 / READ: *Yetman
Week 6: / READ: *Wacquant & Wilson
FILM / QUIZ #2
Week 7: / READ: Coontz, Ch. 11;
*Ritzer &Moran / READ: * Mills; Domhoff Intro and Ch. 1
Week 8: / READ:
Domhoff, Chs. 2-4 / QUIZ #3
FILM
Week 9: / READ:
*Marullo; * Kellner / READ: Domhoff, Chs. 5-7
Week 10: / READ: Domhoff, Ch. 8
FILM / READ: Coontz, Epilogue
REVIEW