| Readings | Study Questions | Assignments and Grading | Course Outline |
Meeting Time:
Monday and Wednesday, 8:00–8:50 a.m., 10:00–10:50 a.m.Instructor: Dr. Alan Barton
Office: 201A Kethley Hall
Telephone: 846-4097
E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00–9:50 a.m., 11:00–11:50 a.m., or by appointment
Course Text: Henslin, James M. 2002. Essentials of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach. 4th Edition. New York: Allyn Bacon/Longman.
Course Reader: Henslin, James M. 1997. Down to Earth Sociology: Introductory Readings. 9th Edition. New York: The Free Press.
Books are available at the University Bookstore. Students should purchase the text and reader, or otherwise make arrangements to access the course readings.
Course Overview:
This course is designed to introduce college students to topics that sociologists study, results of sociological research, and the logic of sociological inquiry. The course covers the general rubrics of social structure, social action, and social change, presenting theories that sociologists use to understand these dimensions of social life, and empirical research upon which these understandings are based. Course material is presented in the class meetings, and in assigned readings from the course textbook and the course reader.
The course meets three times per week. Some meetings will consist of lecture and discussion on a weekly topic, drawing upon material presented in the course text. Students should read the assigned chapters before the meeting for which the chapter is assigned, and come to lectures prepared to discuss the material in the text. During other sessions, we will discuss readings assigned from the course reader. Again, students should read these before the session, and come prepared to discuss the assigned readings.
Each week, a set of study questions pertaining to that week's topic will be available to students. These questions are designed to assist students with the week's reading assignments. It is recommended that students prepare short answers to these questions to prepare for lectures and discussions. Essay exam questions will be drawn from these study questions.
Click on hyperlink for study questions:
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 11 |
| Chapter 2 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 12 |
| Chapter 3 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 13 |
| Chapter 4 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 14 |
| Chapter 5 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 15 |
Course Web Site:
A course web site will be established during the first week of classes. Check the web site periodically for information on the course, changes on the syllabus, weekly study questions, and other information pertaining to the course.
(1) Reading, attendance and participation (15% of course grade)
· Each student is expected to do all of the assigned readings and attend all class sessions (two lectures/discussions and one discussion section per week). Please arrive on time.
· Frequent absences suggest a lack of interest in the course material, and this will be reflected in the final grade.
· Please do not come to class meetings unprepared (i.e. not having done- and thought about- the assigned readings).
(2) Exams (50% of course grade)
· Each student must take both the mid-term exam (20%) and the final exam (30%).
· The final is comprehensive.
· The exams test the student’s ability to absorb and synthesize course material presented in the readings and lectures
· Exams include multiple-choice, short answer, and short essay questions.
(3) Discussion Sections (20% of course grade)
· Each student is expected to engage actively in discussion sections on reading assignments that apply the concepts presented in lectures and the text (10%).
· Each student will prepare and lead a Friday discussion on one of the assigned readings from the course reader, either alone or in conjunction with another student (10%).
(4) Writing Assignments (15% of course grade)
· Five in-class or take-home writing assignments will be assigned during the semester.
· Students should complete each assignment and submit it at the specified time.
· Students should prepare papers using standard college prose, and should check for spelling and grammar errors prior to submitting the paper.
Additional Course Policies:
You are expected to do your own work for this course. Academic dishonesty (as defined in the University’s handbook) will not be tolerated. In order to be fair to all students, anyone caught cheating will receive an F for this course, with zero tolerance.
No late assignments or make-up examinations are possible without permission from instructor or without a legitimate and documented excuse (e.g., medical, sports, death in the family). If you are unable to take an exam or complete an assignment on the scheduled day, you must notify the instructor in advance. Once an exam has been given or an assignment is due, no make-ups are possible.
If you have documentation of a diagnosed disability, the University will attempt to make reasonable accommodations for you. For assistance contact Dr. Richard Houston, Reily Health Center, 846-4690.
Note that you simply cannot pass this class unless you attend the lectures and discussions regularly. One-half of the course grade depends on attendance and active participation in class discussions, and assignments given out during class.
Students that complete all of the course material satisfactorily can expect to pass the course. To receive a grade of "B" or "A," students must demonstrate superior or exceptional ability and interest in the subject matter. If you are concerned about your grade in the course, please talk to me during my posted office hours. DO NOT wait until the end of the semester, however, to rectify an unsatisfactory performance – by then it will be too late. We will move quickly this semester and a lot of material is presented; if you fall behind, it will be difficult to catch up.
|
Week |
Day/Date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
1 |
Topic:
Introduction to Sociology |
||
|
Mon.
1/6 |
REGISTRATION |
||
|
Wed.
1/8 |
Course
introduction; Review syllabus; Expectations; Terms and concepts; Major
theoretical paradigms |
None |
|
|
Fri.
1/10 |
Section
introduction; Discussion leader assignments |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
2 |
Topic:
Becoming a Social Being |
||
|
Mon.
1/13 |
The
sociological imagination; Thinking like a sociologist; The social
construction of reality |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
1/15 |
Socialization:
Microsociological perspectives (Interaction) |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
1/17 |
Socialization:
Structural perspectives (Institutions) |
||
|
3 |
Topic:
Perspectives on the Nature of Society |
||
|
Mon.
1/20 |
MARTIN
LUTHER KING HOLIDAY |
||
|
Wed.
1/22 |
Socialization
Processes and Products |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
1/24 |
Social
Structure and Social Interaction |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
4 |
Topic:
Culture |
||
|
Mon.
1/27 |
Internalizing
Culture |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
1/29 |
Culture
as Symbolic Understanding |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
1/31 |
Norms
and Values |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
5 |
Topic:
Social Groups and Social Control |
||
|
Mon.
2/3 |
Groups
and Organizations: Group Dynamics |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
2/5 |
Bureaucracy |
||
|
Fri.
2/7 |
Forms
of Social Control |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Week |
Day/Date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
6 |
Topic:
Deviance and Social Control |
||
|
Mon.
2/10 |
Deviance
and Social Control, Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
2/12 |
Deviance
and Social Control, Functionalist and Conflict Approaches |
||
|
Fri.
2/14 |
Understanding
Deviance |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
7 |
Topic: Social Inequality |
||
|
Mon.
2/17 |
Stratification
and Social Class |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
2/19 |
Poverty
in the U.S. |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
2/21 |
Review
for Midterm Exam |
None |
|
|
8 |
Topic:
Globalization |
||
|
Mon.
2/24 |
Midterm Exam |
None |
|
|
Wed.
2/26 |
Globalization
and the World System |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
2/28 |
Wealth
& Poverty in a Global Society |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
9 |
Topic:
Social Stratification |
||
|
Mon.
3/3 |
Social
Class in the U.S. |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
3/5 |
Race
and Ethnicity |
||
|
Fri.
3/7 |
Social
Class in the U.S. |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
--- |
Mon.
3/10 |
SPRING
BREAK |
|
|
Wed.
3/12 |
|||
|
Fri.
3/14 |
|||
|
10 |
Topic:
Social Stratification (continued) |
||
|
Mon.
3/17 |
Gender |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
3/19 |
Age |
||
|
Fri.
3/21 |
Stratification:
Race and Gender |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Week |
Day/Date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
11 |
Topic:
Social Institutions |
||
|
Mon.
3/24 |
Governance |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
3/26 |
Economy |
||
|
Fri.
3/28 |
Bureaucratic
Functioning in Economy & Law |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
12 |
Topic:
Social Institutions (continued) |
||
|
Mon.
3/31 |
Marriage
and the Family |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
4/2 |
Families
and Diversity |
||
|
Fri.
4/4 |
Family
and Modern Society |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
13 |
Topic:
Social Institutions (continued) |
||
|
Mon.
4/7 |
Education |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
4/9 |
Religion |
||
|
Fri.
4/11 |
The
Role of Education and Religion in Society |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
14 |
Topic:
Social Change |
||
|
Mon.
4/14 |
Population |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
4/16 |
Urbanization |
||
|
Fri.
4/18 |
EASTER
HOLIDAY |
||
|
15 |
Topic:
Social Change (continued) |
||
|
Mon.
4/21 |
Social
Movements & Resistance |
Down
to Earth Sociology: |
|
|
Wed.
4/23 |
Social
Movements |
Essentials
of Sociology: |
|
|
Fri.
4/25 |
Course
Summary: The World as a Social Construction |
||
|
16 |
Mon.
4/28 Discussion |
Sociology
as a Career; Opportunities for Sociologists |
None |
|
Wed.
4/30 Discussion |
Review;
Prepare for Final Exam |
None |
|
|
Fri.
5/2 |
Course
Evaluation |
None |
|