INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY



INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY 201:

Fall, 2010

PROFESSOR ELAINE LEEDER

office: Stevenson 2078

e-mail: leeder@sonoma.edu

phone #: 6642112

website: sonoma.edu/users/l/leeder/

office hours: call my assistant to make an appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course aims to familiarize students with the basic concepts utilized in understanding society and the place that we, as individuals, fit in that society. To these ends we will study American society and social institutions, while learning to view both from a theoretical and critical sociological perspective. We will look at various aspects of social life, including our behavior in large and small groups, the place of the individual in social-historical perspective, the nature of socialization, deviance and the social-structural conditions of inequality as they are reflected in race, gender, class, sexual orientation and gender expression. Further, we will explore the field of social change and social movements as these forces try to influence the course that society takes.

THIS IS A D1 GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. To give students a working definition of sociology as a social science

2. To explore and define basic sociological concepts and terms

3. To develop a definition of the major schools of sociological thought: structural functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interaction

4. To develop a beginning critical perspective on the structure of our society

5. To begin to explore the bases of inequality in American society

6. To begin to develop a cross-cultural perspective to social problems

7. To begin to understand what the idea “The Sociological Imagination” means

8. To begin to look at various social institutions such as the family, prisons, and mental hospitals from a critical and sociological perspective

COURSE FORMAT:

The large lecture class will meet on Monday and Wednesday for fifty minutes. In these meetings there will be lectures, films, guest speakers and large class discussion. You are required to participate in a once-a-week fifty-minute small section meeting that is facilitation by a student assistant. Your specific time is designated by your section number (the three-digit number following Sociology 201). Please remember your section number since most of the course activities are dependent on your knowing that number. The format of large and small groups is used to help you understand the intersection of your personal lives with the sociological perspective.

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GRADING FORMAT:

Preliminary Quiz 20%

Two Papers each worth 20% 40%

New York Times Presentations/Journal 20%

Final 20%

100%

REQUIRED READINGS:

Abbott, Jack Henry. In the Belly of the Beast: Letters from Prison. Vintage Books

Conley, Dalton (2008) You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist. WW Norton and Company.

Rosenhan, D.L. (January 19, 1973). “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” Science 179

(xerox available from your teaching assistant)

Mathabane, Mark.1986. Kaffir Boy. Touchstone.

New York Times. You must obtain a daily or Sunday subscription to the NYT

Yezierska, Anzia (1925). The Breadgivers. Persea Books.

All books and newspapers except the Rosenhan article are on sale at the SSU Bookstore

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

1. You are allowed only THREE (3) unexcused absences (counting both discussion group and large lecture.) More than 3 absences will negatively influence your grade. Be forewarned: attendance is taken daily in both the large and small sections, sit with your sections EVERY DAY so you will be counted. It is NOT up to your T.A. to notice where you are sitting in the auditorium. Do not have anyone else sign for you. That too will negatively influence your grade.

2. Arrive on time for lecture and small group. Being late is highly disruptive to others.

3. Do not leave lecture or small group early. This too is highly disruptive to others.

4. If you have a disability that requires accommodation in this class, you must notify

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Intro. Syllabus

me before the end of the second week of class regarding the nature of the accommodation you need. You must register with the Disability Student Services

Center, which is located in Salazar Hall, 6642677. The Center will then provide you written documentation of your verified disability and the recommended accommodation, which you must then present to me. I will then assist you in meeting your needs.

5. Plagiarism is taken very seriously in this class. Do not use a paper from anyone who has taken this class before. If you do so I will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

FINAL EXAMINATION:

The final exam will be during finals week and will be short answer, fill-in and essay. The exam will be one to two hours long and will also include the key sociological

concept sheet that was handed out at the beginning of the semester. The final will also cover all the novels and lectures from the beginning of the semester.

THE NEW YORK TIMES JOURNAL

As part of the requirement for the course you must subscribe to the daily NYT by signing up through the internet or mail (cards provided in class). Read the paper daily or weekly and look for articles with real life stories that address the issues we are covering in class. You will then be partnered with another student (or you may work independently) in your discussion section with whom you will write up a two-page summary and analysis of an article you have chosen to present and discuss with your section. You are in charge of summarizing your article; tying it to a sociological concept or theory you have studied, leading a discussion with your section on the topic. You should have 5-10 discussion questions prepared. Your presentation should take about 15 minutes of class time. This will be an important part of your grade so take it seriously. You are also expected to keep a journal of the NYT. You will cut out 1 article per week for a total of 10 articles. In those journals you will comment on what you learned in the article and how it ties to sociology. You will be expected to turn those journals in two times during the semester for a grade.

In the last section of the NYT assignment you will examine sources from the media by analyzing ads, commercials, billboards, TV shows and film clips. The last four of the 14 New York Times articles will be replaced by a sociological assessment of the media that pervades our society.

Students will be able to choose from a variety of genre topics, which will narrow and specify what will be discussed in the media observation. Obviously there may be an intersection of themes, as more than one may be applicable.

Rough list of topics:

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Intro. to Soc. Syllabus

Race and ethnicity (racism)

Gender roles (sexism)

Social change

Stereotypes and social stratification

Conformity

Deviance

Class and socio-economic status

Sexual orientation, sexuality

Socialization

Prejudice and discrimination

Power and conflict theory

Beliefs and structural functionalist theory

Culture

Social interaction theory and norms

Violence

REQUIREMENTS

The analytical responses to media should be at least one page double spaced; times new roman 12 pt. font, and should be no longer than three pages. Real commitment to the assignment will be seen through the students’ critical response, utilization of relevant sociological terms, and an assessment of the significance and influence the subject matter has in our society.

TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT SERIOUSLY; IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR GRADE.

FINAL NOTE:

I look forward to a challenging and rewarding semester for us all. I know that this is a very large class, but I hope that with discussion in the lecture hall, as well as my visits to your small group sections, I will get to know you personally. I invite you all to visit my office by appointment. Call my assistant, Holly Sautner at 664-2112 to schedule a time. Don’t be frustrated if it takes awhile to get an appointment. As dean

sometimes I have to go to meetings, which makes getting in to see me a bit of a challenge. Or you could just drop by Stevenson 2078 and ask if I am available for a quick hello.

Sociology is both fun and stimulating to study and I hope that you will enjoy the “terrible and magnificent lesson” (C.Wright Mills)

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SECTIONS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

The following section numbers list the name of your teaching assistant and where you will meet. The sections will begin the second week of classes.

001 Monday 9-9:50, Ives 45 Rebekah Bitterman

002 Monday 1-1:50 pm, Ives 45 Sarai Jacobson

003 Monday 2-2:50 pm, Ives 45 Kelsey Harris

004 Tuesday 3-3:50 pm. Ives 45 Emily Sparks

005 Tuesday 2-2:50 am, Ives 45 Dana Johnson

006 Wednesday 9-9:50 am, Ives 45 Chad Bower

007 Thursday 3-3:50 am, Ives 45 Chelsea Serrano

008 Thursday 4-4:50 pm, Ives 45 Kevin Meyer

009 Friday 10-10:50 am, Ives 45 Chase Andrieu

010 Friday 11-11:50 am, Ives 45 Alyssa Hara

WEEKS ONE – THREE

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE: WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? The sociological perspective, the social/historical moment, the sociological imagination, definitions of power, sociological theories.

READING:

Conley, Chapters 1, 2 and 3

Yezerska, all

Rosenhan, all

Begin reading the NYT at least 3 times a week and begin journal

PRELIMINARY QUIZ TO BE GIVEN THE MONDAY OF WEEK FOUR

The format will be fill-in, short answer and brief essay on the readings and lectures in the course so far.

WEEKS FOUR AND FIVE

THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY: A look at culture, society, deviance social control, and what occurs to the individual when s/he encounters society.

READING:

Conley, Chapters 4, 5, 6, 11

Abbott, all

NYT continue reading at least once a week and keep journal with reaction entries

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FIRST PAPER DUE:

Guidelines will be provided for a three to five page paper synthesizing the text and Abbott’s book on the issues of deviance and social control. Paper will be due the Monday of week six.

WEEKS SIX THROUGH NINE

SOCIAL INEQUALITY: A sociological look at the social stratification system as it relates to social class, race, ethnic minorities, poverty, gender and sexual orientation and gender identity.

READING:

Conley, Chapters 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15

Mathabane, all

NYT continue reading 3 times a week and keep journal with reaction entries

SECOND PAPER DUE: Guidelines will be provided for a three to five page paper synthesizing the textbook and Mathabane’s book about issues of race and ethnic inequality. The paper will be due the Monday of week 10.

WEEKS TEN THROUGH TWELVE

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: A look at the American family, including domestic violence. A cross-cultural look at family life in the context of globalization.

READING:

Conley, Chapters 7, 16 and 17

NYT continue reading 3 times a week and keep journal of reactions to readings. This period is a time for you to catch up on your NYT reading and get your journal in order.

NEW YORK TIMES JOURNAL DUE: Submit your journal to your T.A. for evaluation and reaction. Due the Monday of week 13.

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WEEKS THIRTEEN - FIFTEEN

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE: A look at collective behavior and how people mobilize to influence the course of their society. We will look at both revolutionary and evolutionary social change.

READING:

Conley, Chapter 18

Begin preparing for the final exam.

FINAL EXAM: This is non-cumulative on the textbook, but is cumulative on the novels, NYT and terms used throughout the course. Use your concept sheet, lecture notes and papers to study for this exam that will be the same format as the preliminary exam.

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