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Stony Brook UniversityDepartment of SociologySociology 105.02 Helana DarwinIntroduction to Sociology Helana.darwin@ Summer 2016 SBS 424MW 1:30-4:55 Office Hours by appointmentHumanities 3017 COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course is an introduction to the academic field of Sociology; as such, the aim is to familiarize students with the core concepts, foundational scholars, and emerging theories that comprise the discipline. Throughout this course, students will be challenged to recognize the ways that inequality is systematically reinforced on the national scale as well as the global scale. The research, examples, and sociological concepts that the students learn are current and relevant to the student’s everyday life. The readings and exercises will enhance students’ “sociological imaginations,” from which they will benefit as students and as social beings.LEARNING OBJECTIVESThrough weekly reading assignments, a midterm project, and a final paper/ creative project, students will demonstrate their ability to:Explain the concepts that are central to sociologyDifferentiate between four kinds of research methods: surveys, field research, experiments, and secondary data analysisAnalyze the national and global implications of the various forms of discrimination and inequality that the course addressesRecognize systematic forces that perpetuate inequalityCritique generalizations made by the textbook authorsEngage in intersectional analysesREQUIRED READINGSIntroduction to Sociology 2e (2015)- free download from Openstax College at week we will read excerpts from this text, in addition to supplementary articles that will be available on BlackboardGRADING/ ASSIGNMENTS25%- Participation- students are expected to attend every class. Students are also expected to ask questions, share critiques of the chapters, share at least one article of interest in the Facebook group, and present their projects. You are allowed one absence before it results in a 5% final grade decrease per absence. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent. Medical emergencies will be excused, but I must see documentation proving it.25%- Midterm project (due June 27th)- mid-way through the course, students are expected to be able to produce one of the following: an autoethnography, a content analysis of visual media, a discourse analysis of online comments, twitter hashtags, etc. or another assignment approved by the instructor. This should be 3-5 pages double-spaced. I will grade you based on your engagement with sociological theories, paradigms, and research methods, as well as your acknowledgment of standpoint/ theoretical/ methodological limitations.50%- Final essay or creative project (due August 17th)- on the final class, students will submit one 5-10-page double-spaced paper or one creative project that has been approved by the instructor. This final project should demonstrate the student’s ability to apply sociological theories and concepts to a real world issue. Please include approximately five citations to published academic work (including the textbook). As an alternative to a research paper, students can choose from the following options: Wikipedia page, blog series with external links, interview or survey-based paper, reflection of engagement with activism throughout the course, or another assignment approved by the instructor. I will grade you based on your engagement with sociological theories, paradigms, and research methods, as well as your acknowledgment of standpoint/ theoretical/ methodological limitations.Reading Schedule** This reading schedule is subject to change. If I make any changes, I will upload an updated version onto Blackboard and notify you via email. If you have questions about the syllabus, I expect you to check the most recent version before emailing me.Class Readings7/11CH 1 (Introduction to Sociology, pgs 1-29)What is Sociology?The History of SociologyTheoretical PerspectivesWhy Study Sociology?7/13CH 2 (Sociological Research, pgs 29-51)Approaches to Sociological ResearchResearch MethodsEthical Concerns- need for reflexivity, positionality, letting marginalized populations read prior to submission7/18CH4 (Society and Social Interaction, pgs 75-87)Types of SocietiesTheoretical Perspectives on SocietySocial Constructions of RealityCH 3 (Culture, pgs 52-67) What is Culture?Elements of CulturePop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural ChangeTheoretical Perspectives on Culture7/20CH 15 (Religion, pgs 337-347)The Sociological Approach to ReligionWorld ReligionsReligion in the United States7/25Class CancelledPlease watch two documentaries instead, which can be streamed for free on Netflix or Youtube, that I will announce on Blackboard at least one week in advance. Before the following class session post a one-page double-spaced response to Blackboard for each documentary, telling me what you found the most interesting sociologically and why. Do not simply summarize the plot. If you do not complete this assignment, it counts as an absence and can result in a 5% grade decrease (if you’ve already used your free absence or use it later in the course)Documentaries: Paris is BurningThe Mask You Live In7/27CH 12 (Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, pgs 255-277)Sex and GenderGenderSex and SexualityMidterms due, midterm presentations* *autoethnographers DO NOT have to share the content of their project with the class, but must present on the methodological process 8/1 CH14 (Marriage and Family, pgs 311-327) What is Marriage? What is a FamilyVariations in Family LifeChallenges Families FaceMidterm Presentations8/3 CH 11 (Race and Ethnicity, pgs 229-255)Racial, Ethnic, and Minority GroupsStereotypes, Prejudice, and DiscriminationTheories of Race and EthnicityIntergroup RelationshipsRace and Ethnicity in the United StatesCH 8 (Media and Technology, pgs 157-185)Technology TodayMedia and Technology in SocietyGlobal Implications of Media and TechnologyTheoretical Perspectives on Media and TechnologyMedia Representations of Race8/8 Media Representations of GenderCH 13 (Aging and the Elderly pgs 277-311)Who are the Elderly? Aging in SocietyThe Process of AgingChallenges Facing the ElderlyTheoretical Perspectives on Aging8/10CH 19 (Health and Medicine, pgs 429-455)The Social Construction of HealthGlobal HealthHealth in the United StatesComparative Health and MedicineTheoretical Perspectives on Health and MedicineCH 20 (Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, pgs 455-481)Demography and PopulationUrbanizationThe Environment and Society8/15 CH 18 (Work and the Economy, pgs 399-429)Economic SystemsGlobalization and the EconomyWork in the United StatesCH 21 (Social Movements and Social Change, pgs 481-505)Collective BehaviorSocial MovementsSocial ChangeHow social movements have changed sociology8/17Finals projects due, final presentationsPlease Note:Monday, July 25th class is cancelled. In lieu of a 3-hour class period, I am assigning you two documentaries to watch instead. If you do not complete this assignment, it will count as an absence.ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENTEach student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at Please pay attention to the section on avoiding plagiarism.Additional Information:DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENTIf you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website: Incident ManagementStony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures.WELL-BEINGSchool is important, but so are you. If anything we discuss in class is difficult for you, please reach out to the appropriate resource below:Counseling and Psychological Services2nd Floor Student Health Services Building(631) 632-6720Sexual Assault Prevention and Outreach216 Stony Brook Union(631)-632-1623Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and OutreachStudent Health Center(631)-632-6720The Wo/Men’s CenterStony Brook Union, Room 216(631) 632-9666LGBTQ* Services222 Student Activities Center(631) 632-2941Interfaith CenterUnion Bldg. 2nd floor(631)-632-6565Multicultural Affairs222 Student Activities Center(631)-632-9392Questions? Feel free to contact me to discuss the course at any point during the semester. Cometo my office hours, make an appointment with me, send me an email, or see me after class.Grading RubricAExcellent! Maximum page limit, no typos, correct grammar, paragraph structure, clear introduction and conclusion, reflective about standpoint, clear research method correctly applied, analyzed findings through engagement with at least one paradigm, acknowledgement of methodological limitationsBGood!Somewhere in the page range, few typos, ok grammar, paragraph structure, ok introduction and conclusion, some reflexivity, identifiable research method applied well (enough), engaged with one paradigmCOk…You tried, but not hard enough. You did not reach the minimum page limit, poor structure/ writing, some attempt at using a research method but incorrectly applied, no reflexivity/ too much as space-filler. Some acknowledgment for a paradigm, but little engagement with in in the analysis. No reflection on methodological limitations. The big thing is that you did not come to me or the writing center for help, thus you did not try hard enoughDYou turned something in…But it was not long enough, poorly written, lacking one of the crucial components (sociological research method, reflexivity, paradigm, limitations)FYou didn’t turn anything in!You literally didn’t do it or missed the deadline without asking for an extension (which is only granted for unforeseen debilitating reasons) ................
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