Sociology

Syllabus Spring 2014

Ms. Fontnett

Email: ______

Website:

Textbook and Computer Resources:

Holt Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships

Personal email address (free email at yahoo.com, gmail.com, hotmail.com)

Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, students will be able to (a) demonstrate knowledge of basic sociological concepts about social processes (e.g., socialization, deviance, social control, stratification, etc.) and social institutions (e.g., the family, religion, the state, etc.) ; (b) be able to apply several basic theoretical approaches to social phenomena; (c) apply these concepts and theories to contemporary events or personal experience; and (d) demonstrate on examinations and in writing assignments a knowledge of cultural, class, religious, and other differences within and between societies, as well as scientifically grounded ways to account for these differences.

Course Description: Sociology explores some of the ways in which social scientists explain human behavior. In contrast to psychology, sociology shows how social processes and structures and the collective experience of groups shape the way that people live, think, and believe. In contrast to journalism, to give another example, sociology uses the methods of science to ask and answer questions about the nature of social life. Among some of the characteristic questions to be answered are: What makes some people wealthy and some poor, and how does this mold peoples’ lives and views of one another? How are adult roles developed, and how are children brought up to occupy them? In what ways do conflicts develop between groups or subgroups, and in what ways are these conflicts managed? How do societies come to designate some behavior as “deviant” and what are the consequences of these deviant designations? By grappling with questions such as these, students should develop an appreciation for the differences between groups and an appreciation for the complexities of social life.

Course Requirements: Read and review, daily assignments, Special projects, research paper, and exams.

Grading: Based on total possible points

Task / Percentage
Tests/Exams / 40%
Lab/Activities/Quizzes / 30%
Daily / Homework / 20%
Non-Academic (Participation & time mgmt) / 10%
Total / 100%

LATE WORK POLICY

“The penalty for not doing the work is doing the work.” –Rosalind Barley All assignments will be turned in and assessed prior to the end of grade collection each six weeks. The Non-Academic category will be used to grade students on the participation and/or time-management aspect of assignments. To use this category correctly, think in these terms: any assignment given outside of class, or one which requires group participation, will receive two (2) grades in GradeSpeed. The first grade will be added based on actual assessment and student understanding. The second grade will be added to the Non-Academic category based on criteria such as participation or the number of days late the assignment was turned in. Late work in the Non-Academic category will be graded according to the following criteria:

1 Business day latemaximum grade of 80

2 Business days latemaximum grade of 75

3 Business days latemaximum grade of 50

> 3 Business Days lateGrade of zero

MAKE-UP WORK

Students who are absent due to illness are not expected to complete schoolwork during their illness. If a student misses only one day of school, they will have two business days to make-up the work. After the first day, students will have one day for every subsequent absence to make up the work. Religious holidays are excused absences.

Schedule:

Week 1-3:

Unit 1: Culture and Social Structure, social life, sociological imagination, points of view, cultural diversity, cultural conformity.

Week 4-Week 6:

Part II: Individuals in society, socialization, society and social interaction, the adolescent in society, the adult in society, groups and organization, crime and criminal justice, and deviance.

Week 7- Week 10:

Part III: Social inequalities, social class and social stratification, global stratification, race and ethnic relations, gender, age, and health inequalities.

Week 11- Week 14

Part IV: Social institutions, families, education, religion, economy and work, power, politics and authority.

Week 15-Week 18

Part V: The Changing Social World, population, urbanization and environment, collective behavior and social movement, social change in global perspective, and modernization.

My signature below acknowledges I have read and understand the course syllabus and ALL requirements for Sociology.