SOC 101 Syllabus

Office Hours:

During Fall Semester, 2005, the professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

      Monday: 9:00 − 10:00 a.m.; 11:00 am − 12:00 noon
      Tuesday: 3:00 − 5:00 p.m.
      Wednesday: 9:00 − 10:00 a.m.; 11:00 am − 12:00 noon
      Thursday: 3:00 − 5:00 p.m.
      Friday: 9:00 − 10:00 a.m.; 11:00 am − 12:00 noon

If you cannot make one of these times, contact the professor to set up an appointment.

Course Web Page:

You can find the most up-to-date information pertaining to the course on the course web page. Check the web page periodically for changes to the syllabus, weekly study questions, and other information about the course. The web page is located at:

http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC101FA05/SOC101Syllabus.html

Reading and writing are important elements in this course, as they are in the discipline of sociology. The following materials are REQUIRED.

Course Text:

Richard T. Schaefer. 2006. Sociology: A Brief Introduction. 6th Edition. McGraw Hill, Boston, MA. ISBN: 0-07-296158-9.

Ralph B. McNeil, Jr. and Kathleen A. Tiemann. 2005. Intersections: Readings in Sociology. Pearson Custom Publishing, New York, NY. ISBN: 0-53-693871-7.

Writing Notebook:

Roaring Springs Paper Products Writing Notebook; “The Original Marble Cover–80 Sheets,” College Ruled.

The text, reader and writing notebook are available at the campus bookstore. You should purchase the text and reader, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course reading assignments. YOU MUST PURCHASE A WRITING NOTEBOOK. Bring your notebook to each class session.

• Click here for tips on how to study the course readings.

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When you finish your degree, you will join an elite group. What is your strategy for finishing your degree?

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48

Responsibility:

YOU are responsible for learning the course material and for your progress in the course. You are expected to attend class regularly and complete all of the assignments. You are expected to know all material presented during class sessions, whether you attended the class or not. If you miss a class session, you should check with another student to see what you missed. “I didn’t know” is NEVER a valid excuse. If you don’t know something, it is your job to find out.

Assignments:

You are responsible for completing all of the assignments in this course in a timely fashion. Assignments are due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted, and missed assignments cannot be made up. If you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class. If you miss an assignment, you will receive a grade of zero for that assignment. In the first instance, this will count as your lowest grade and will be dropped. Subsequent instances will be scored as zero.

If you must miss a presentation or other in-class activity, it is up to you to arrange to trade with another student before the event. Please notify the instructor of such changes. If you miss a scheduled presentation, you are affecting the entire class, and points will be deducted from your grade for the assignment.

Illnesses and Emergencies:

Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented. If you must miss class due to illness or another personal emergency, notify the instructor BEFORE the missed class period either by e-mail or telephone. If you cannot notify the instructor in advance, bring a note from a doctor or other professional to the next class meeting.

Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others.

University Activities:

If you must miss class for an official university activity, you should make arrangements with the instructor BEFORE the missed class. Appropriate documentation is required.

If you miss a quiz or an assignment due to an illness, emergency or official university activity, this will count as your drop grade.

Absences:

If you are absent, and do not notify the instructor or bring a note, it will count as one full absence. If you notify the instructor before the absence, the missed class will count as one-half absence. If you bring a note from a doctor or other professional, the first two missed classes will count as excused, and will not count as an absence. After two excused absences, each additional excused absence counts as one-half absence. One or two absences during the semester will result in a one point deduction from your attendance and participation grade; three or four absences will result in a two point deduction; five or six absences will result in a four point deduction; seven or eight absences will result in a six point deduction; nine or ten absences will result in an eight point deduction.

You are responsible for all material presented in all classes, even during an excused absence. You should get class notes from another student for all class sessions you miss.

It is in your interest to provide the instructor with written notification (e.g. a note or e-mail) to document any missed classes. It is risky simply to tell the instructor and expect him to remember.

Make sure that you sign the roll sheet at each class meeting.

Class Participation:

Class participation is an important element in this course. The purpose of class discussions is to provide you with an opportunity to practice thinking skills in a safe environment. In discussions, you are encouraged to explore ideas presented in the readings and lectures, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.

If you repeatedly engage in disruptive behaviors during class discussions, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

If you are asked to leave the classroom for disruptive or disrespectful behavior, you cannot make up any work that you miss as a result.

Electronic Devices (Cell Phones, Pagers, etc.):

Please make sure that all cell phones, pagers, and similar electronic devices are turned off during class time. If your phone or pager repeatedly interrupts class, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

DO NOT bring cell phones or other portable communication devices to class during quizzes, exams, or in-class assignments. If the instructor sees a cell phone or other device during a quiz, exam or in-class assignment, you will receive a grade of zero on the quiz, exam or in-class assignment, and you will be asked to leave the classroom.

If you must have a cell phone or pager (e.g. if you are a volunteer fireman or emergency responder), you MUST make arrangements with the instructor in advance.

Academic Honesty:

You are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook. You are expected to do your own work in this course. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.

You should be fully aware of the Course Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating. If you are caught cheating in this course, you will be dismissed from the course with a grade of "F." In addition, a report will be filed with the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES. Make sure you know what constitutes plagiarism and cheating BEFORE turning in any assignments. Once you turn in an assignment, you are representing it as your own work. If you are suspected of committing plagiarism, pleas of “I didn’t know what plagiarism was” will not be accepted.

If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, see the DSU Library's "Plagiarism Prevention: A Guide for Students." The Course Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating also outlines examples of plagiarism. You can visit the Academic Support Lab for further assistance. If it is still unclear, see the instructor.

Special Accommodations:

Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with medical problems or diagnosed disabilities. Have Dr. Richard Houston at Reily Student Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor to make arrangements.

An international study of 13-year-olds ... found that Koreans ranked first in mathematics and Americans last. When asked if they thought they were "good at mathematics," only 23 percent of the Korean youngsters said "yes" − compared to 68 percent of American 13-year-olds. The American educational dogma that students should "feel good about themselves" was a success in its own terms − though not in any other terms.

Computing Your Grade:

Your final grade in the course will be calculated as follows:

Course Outline:

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
1	*Introduction to Sociology*
	Mon. 8/22	Course Introduction; Review Syllabus; Course Policies and Expectations
	Wed. 8/24	Sociological Themes	Schaefer Text Ch. 1, pp. 1–26
	Fri. 8/26	The Sociological Imagination	C. Wright Mills, "The Promise" Intersections Reader, pp. 12–23
2	*Social Research: How We Learn About Society*
	Mon. 8/29	The Scientific Method and the Social Sciences	Schaefer Text Ch. 2, pp. 27–36
	Wed. 8/31	Methods of Social Research	Schaefer Text Ch. 2, pp. 36–49
	Fri. 9/2	Theory and Methods	Robert K. Merton, "The Bearing of Empirical Research upon the Development of Social Theory" Intersections Reader, pp. 41–58
3	*Structure and Culture*
	Mon. 9/5	LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
	Wed. 9/7	Basics of Social Structure Social Institutions Table	Schaefer Text Ch. 5, pp. 106–117
	Fri. 9/9	Cultural Building Blocks	Schaefer Text Ch. 3, pp. 53–58, 62–68
4	*Social Structure, Social Change, Social Action*
	Mon. 9/12	Social Structure and Social Change	George Ritzer, "The McDonaldization of Society," Intersections Reader, pp. 129–145
	Wed. 9/14	Social Structure and Social Action	Schaefer Text Ch. 5, pp. 102-106; 117–125
	Fri. 9/16	Social Movements and Social Change	Schaefer Text Ch. 16, pp. 423–429; Ch. 14, pp. 379–385

Top

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
5	*Social Change: Social Movements, Technology and Population*
	Mon. 9/19	Technological Bases of Social Change Technological Revolutions Table	Schaefer Text Ch. 16, pp. 429–443
	Wed. 9/21	Title and Theme Essay Due Demographic Bases of Social Change	Schaefer Text Ch. 15, pp. 388–398
	Fri. 9/23	Population and Poverty	Donella H. Meadows et al., "The Driving Force: Exponential Population Growth" Intersections Reader, pp. 24–40
6	*Socialization: Becoming a Social Being*
	Mon. 9/26	Quiz No. 1 Learning Social Roles	Schaefer Text Ch. 4, pp. 79–92
	Wed. 9/28	The Effects of Socialization	Kingsley Davis, "Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation," Intersections Reader, pp. 73–83
	Fri. 9/30	Agents of Socialization	Schaefer Text Ch. 4, pp. 92–99
7	*Social Structure: Groups and Organizations*
	Mon. 10/3	Emergent Properties	Emile Durkheim, "What is a Social Fact?" Intersections Reader, pp. 1–11
	Wed. 10/5	Types of Groups	Schaefer Text Ch. 6, pp. 128–135
	Fri. 10/7	Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies	Schaefer Text Ch. 6, pp. 135–142
8	*Social Structure: Keeping People in Line*
	Mon. 10/10	Deviance and Social Control	Schaefer Text Ch. 8, pp. 172–191
	Wed. 10/12	Authority and Obedience	Philip Meyer, "If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably," Intersections Reader, pp. 98–109
	Fri. 10/14	FALL BREAK

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
9	*Social Structure: Stratification and Social Inequality*
	Mon. 10/17	Social Groups and Stratification	Max Weber, "Class, Status, Party," Intersections Reader, pp. 84–97
	Wed. 10/19	Stratification and Poverty in the United States	Schaefer Text Ch. 9, pp. 202–222
	Fri. 10/21	A New Global Order: Stratification in the World System	Schaefer Text Ch. 9, pp. 222–235
10	Social Relations: Race and Ethnicity
	Mon. 10/24	Prejudice, Discrimination and Institutionalized Discrimination	Schaefer Text Ch. 10, pp. 239–255
	Wed. 10/26	Quiz No. 2 Race and Ethnicity in the United States	Schaefer Text Ch. 10, pp. 255–267
	Fri. 10/28	The Effects of Racial Discrimination	Joe R. Feagin, et al., "Black Students at Predominantly White Colleges and Universities: The Rhetoric and the Reality," Intersections Reader, pp. 59–72
11	Social Relations: Gender Social Institutions: Family
	Mon. 10/31	Gender Roles, Sex Discrimination, Women's Movement	Schaefer Text Ch. 11, pp. 270–285
	Wed. 11/2	Draft Book Review Due Marriage and the Family	Schaefer Text Ch. 12, pp. 299–308
	Fri. 11/4	Functions of Schools; Role of Schools in Society	Schaefer Text Ch. 13, pp. 343–355
12	*Social Institutions: Religion and Education*
	Mon. 11/7	Diversity and the Family	Schaefer Text Ch. 12, pp. 309–324
	Wed. 11/9	Functions of Religion; Religious Markets; The Protestant Ethic & Capitalism	Schaefer Text Ch. 13, pp. 325–343
	Fri. 11/11	Comments on Book Review Due Issues in U.S. Education	Jonathan Kozol, "Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools," Intersections Reader, pp. 110–128

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
13	*Social Institutions: Government and Economy*
	Mon. 11/14	Types of Authority; Power and Pluralism	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 366–377
	Wed. 11/16	Economic Systems; Economic Change	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 359–366
	Fri. 11/18	Corporations in the Global Economy	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 377–379, Chapter 6, pp. 142–146 Chapter 7, pp. 163–168
14	*Making Sense of Society*
	Mon. 11/21	Final Book Review Due The Value of Sociology	Handout
	Wed. 11/23	Quiz No. 3 Review for Final Exam
	Fri. 11/25	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
15	*Book Reviews*
	Mon. 11/28	Book Panels
	Wed. 11/30	Book Panels
	Fri. 12/2	Book Panels; Course Evaluation
Exam Week	*Final Exam*
	Mon. 12/5	FINAL EXAM, Sec. 4 (MWF 10:00 – 10:50 am)	3:00 pm
	Wed. 12/7	FINAL EXAM, Sec. 5 (MWF 8:00 – 8:50 am)	8:00 am

Section	Days	Time	Place
5	Monday, Wednesday & Friday	8:00 − 8:50 a.m.	204 Kethley
4	Monday, Wednesday & Friday	10:00 − 10:50 a.m.	204 Kethley

Professor: Dr. Alan Barton
Office: 201F Kethley Hall
Telephone: 846-4097
E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu Webpage: http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton

Week 1	Week 6	Week 11
Week 2	Week 7	Week 12
Week 3	Week 8	Week 13
Week 4	Week 9
Week 5	Week 10

	• You must demonstrate appropriate respect for the opinions and ideas of other students during class discussions. It is acceptable (and encouraged) to disagree with the perspectives of other students or the instructor, but you should phrase this to show disagreement with the idea or opinion, not with the person presenting the idea or opinion. If you repeatedly show disrespect for other class members, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
	• Class discussions are NOT a time to chat with other students about topics not related to the course. Talking privately with other students while the rest of the class is trying to carry on a discussion is disruptive, bothersome, and disrespectful to other students and to the professor. If you repeatedly speak when you do not have the floor, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
	• Class is NOT a time to catch up on your sleep. If you are not prepared to stay awake and participate in class discussions and other activities, you should not come to class. If you continually fall asleep during class sessions, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

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