SOC 101 Syllabus

Office Hours:

During Spring Semester, 2006, the professor holds regular office hours at the following times:

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 announcements, changes to the syllabus and information about the course. The web page is located at:

http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC101SP06/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:

A composition notebook, college ruled, with at least 40 sheets. The bookstore sells one that is suitable, the Roaring Springs Paper Products Writing Notebook, "The Original Marble Cover–80 Sheets."

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 COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK.

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

16.9% of Mississippians have a college degree. For the U.S., the figure is 24.4% (Source: U.S. Census, 2000).

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.

Learning Opportunities:

Assigned work is designed to provide you with learning opportunities, and you are responsible for completing all of the assigned work in this course in a timely fashion. All work is due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted, and missed assignments generally cannot be made up. If you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class, and you will receive a grade of zero for any assignment that you fail to turn in.

ALL work that you submit (except in-class work) should be typed/word processed. If you submit a paper with more than one sheet, please attach all sheets with a staple or paper clip BEFORE you bring the assignment to class to turn in. The instructor will NOT ACCEPT work that is handwritten or that has multiple pages that are not attached with a staple or paper clip.

Absences:

You are expected to attend all class sessions and activities. Please make sure that you sign the roll sheet at each class meeting, as this will serve as official documentation of your attendance. If you miss class, you must document your absence, or points will be deducted from your grade (See the information on grading attendance). Please notify the instructor IN ADVANCE if you must miss class. 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.

Illnesses and Emergencies: Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented with a note from a doctor or other professional. You should bring the note to the next class meeting and submit it to the instructor. 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.

Making Up Missed Work: If you miss an exam or other assignment due to a documented illness, emergency or official university activity, a make up will be given at the end of the semester. The make-up exam may use a different format, such as an oral exam with the instructor or an essay exam.

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.

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 exams or in-class assignments. If the instructor sees a cell phone or other device during an exam or in-class assignment, you will receive a grade of zero on the exam or 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, fraud 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 suspected of cheating in this course, your case will be assigned to the Division of Social Sciences Academic Honesty and Ethics Committee. The minimum sanction for a first offense will be a 10 point deduction or a zero on the assignment, whichever is greater. Repeat offenses will result in stiffer sanctions, including dismissal from the course with a grade of "F." In addition, a report will be filed with the Chair of the Division of Social Sciences, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and DSU'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. 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.

The following exercises are assigned to assist you in learning the principles of sociology:

Your grade in this course is based upon your performance in the course. That is, your grade will reflect what you do.

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. 1/9	Registration
	Wed. 1/11	Course Introduction; Review Syllabus; Course Policies and Expectations
	Fri. 1/13	Sociological Themes	Schaefer Text Ch. 1, pp. 1–9, 14–26
2	*Sociological Imagination*
	Mon. 1/16	Martin Luther King Holiday
	Wed. 1/18	Sociological Thinkers	Schaefer Text Ch. 1, pp. 9–14
	Fri. 1/20	The Sociological Imagination	C. Wright Mills, "The Promise" Intersections Reader, pp. 12–23; Bring Discussion Questions
3	*Social Research*
	Mon. 1/23	The Scientific Method and the Social Sciences	Schaefer Text Ch. 2, pp. 27–36
	Wed. 1/25	Methods of Social Research	Schaefer Text Ch. 2, pp. 36–49
	Fri. 1/27	Theory and Methods	Robert K. Merton, "The Bearing of Empirical Research upon the Development of Social Theory" Intersections Reader, pp. 41–58; Bring Discussion Questions
4	*Structure and Culture*
	Mon. 1/30	Basics of Social Structure Social Institutions Chart	Schaefer Text Ch. 5, pp. 106–117
	Wed. 2/1	Cultural Building Blocks	Schaefer Text Ch. 3, pp. 53–58, 62–68
	Fri. 2/3	Understanding Culture: Role Play	Schaefer Text Ch. 3, pp. 58–62, 68–78

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Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
5	*Social Structure, Social Change, Social Action*
	Mon. 2/6	Social Structure and Social Change	George Ritzer, "The McDonaldization of Society," Intersections Reader, pp. 129–145; Bring Discussion Questions
	Wed. 2/8	Social Structure and Social Action	Schaefer Text Ch. 5, pp. 102-106; 117–125
	Fri. 2/10	Social Movements and Social Change	Schaefer Text Ch. 16, pp. 423–429; Ch. 14, pp. 379–385
6	*Social Change*
	Mon. 2/13	Technological Bases of Social Change Technology Chart	Schaefer Text Ch. 16, pp. 429–443
	Wed. 2/15	Population and Poverty	Donella H. Meadows et al., "The Driving Force: Exponential Population Growth" Intersections Reader, pp. 24–40; Bring Discussion Questions
	Fri. 2/17	Demographic Bases of Social Change	Schaefer Text Ch. 15, pp. 388–398
7	*Socialization*
	Mon. 2/20	Learning Social Roles	Schaefer Text Ch. 4, pp. 79–92
	Wed. 2/22	The Effects of Socialization	Kingsley Davis, "Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation," Intersections Reader, pp. 73–83; Bring Discussion Questions
	Fri. 2/24	Agents of Socialization	Schaefer Text Ch. 4, pp. 92–99
8	*Understanding Social Structure*
	Mon. 2/27	Emergent Properties	Emile Durkheim, "What is a Social Fact?" Intersections Reader, pp. 1–11; Bring Discussion Questions
	Wed. 3/1	Types of Groups Primary & Secondary Groups Chart	Schaefer Text Ch. 6, pp. 128–135
	Fri. 3/3	Midterm Exam

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
9	*Social Control*
	Mon. 3/6	Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies	Schaefer Text Ch. 6, pp. 135–142
	Wed. 3/8	Deviance and Social Control	Schaefer Text Ch. 8, pp. 172–191
	Fri. 3/10	Authority and Obedience	Philip Meyer, "If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably," Intersections Reader, pp. 98–109; Bring Discussion Questions
	Spring Holidays
	Mon. 3/13 to Fri. 3/17	SPRING HOLIDAYS
10	*Stratification and Social Inequality*
	Mon. 3/20	Stratification and Poverty in the United States	Schaefer Text Ch. 9, pp. 202–222
	Wed. 3/22	Social Groups and Stratification	Max Weber, "Class, Status, Party," Intersections Reader, pp. 84–97; Bring Discussion Questions
	Fri. 3/24	A New Global Order: Stratification in the World System	Schaefer Text Ch. 9, pp. 222–235
11	Social Relations
	Mon. 3/27	Prejudice and Discrimination	Schaefer Text Ch. 10, pp. 239–249
	Wed. 3/29	Institutionalized Discrimination	Schaefer Text Ch. 10, pp. 249–255
	Fri. 3/31	Race and Ethnicity in the United States	Schaefer Text Ch. 10, pp. 255–267
12	Social Relations and Social Institutions
	Mon. 4/3	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; Bring Discussion Questions
	Wed. 4/5	Gender Roles, Sex Discrimination, Women's Movement	Schaefer Text Ch. 11, pp. 270–285
	Fri. 4/7	Marriage and the Family	Schaefer Text Ch. 12, pp. 299–308

Week	Date	Topic	Reading/Assignment
13	*Social Institutions*
	Mon. 4/10	Diversity and the Family	Schaefer Text Ch. 12, pp. 309–324
	Wed. 4/12	Functions of Religion; Religious Markets;	Schaefer Text, Chapter 13, pp. 325–343
	Fri. 4/14	EASTER HOLIDAY
14	*Social Institutions*
	Mon. 4/17	The Protestant Ethic & Capitalism	None
	Wed. 4/19	Functions of Schools; Role of Schools in Society	Schaefer Text, Chapter 13, pp. 343–355
	Fri. 4/21	Issues in U.S. Education	Jonathan Kozol, "Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools," Intersections Reader, pp. 110–128; Bring Discussion Questions
15	*Social Institutions*
	Mon. 4/24	Types of Authority; Power and Pluralism	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 366–377
	Wed. 4/26	Economic Systems; Economic Change	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 359–366
	Fri. 4/28	Corporations in the Global Economy	Schaefer Text, Chapter 14, pp. 377–379, Chapter 6, pp. 142–146 Chapter 7, pp. 163–168
16	*Sociology in Practice*
	Mon. 5/1	Social Change	None
	Wed. 5/3	Sociology as a Profession	Handout
	Fri. 5/5	The Value of Sociology Course Evaluation	None
Exam Week	*Final Exam*
	Tue. 5/9	FINAL EXAM, Sec. 1 (MWF 8:00 – 8:50 am)	8:00 am, 206 Kethley Hall
	Wed. 5/10	FINAL EXAM, Sec. 4 (MWF 10:00 – 10:50 am)	8:00 am, 204 Kethley Hall

Section	Days	Time	Place
1	Monday, Wednesday & Friday	8:00 − 8:50 a.m.	206 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

Monday	9:00 – 10:00 am, 11:00 – 12:00 noon, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Tuesday	2:15 – 3:45 pm
Wednesday	9:00 – 10:00 am, 11:00 – 12:00 noon
Thursday	2:15 – 3:45 pm
Friday	9:00 – 10:00 am, 11:00 – 12:00 noon

	• 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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