Sociology 101 02: Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2006
Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10:10 to 11:00 am.
115 Wilson Hall
Professor Jennifer C. Lena
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 1130-1230 & by appointment
and by appointment
321C Garland Hall
Email: Jennifer.c.lena@vanderbilt.edu
Teaching Assistant: Claire Dawson
Email: Claire.s.dawson@vanderbilt.edu
Please direct all questions concerning Blackboard and on-line quizzes to Claire
Course Overview:
From the course catalogue: The study of human society: the nature of culture and its organization. Processes of communication, socialization, mobility, population growth. Credit not given for both 101 and 103.
This course introduces students to the fundamental questions and perspectives that guide sociological inquiry. Sociology is the study of people in groups, and we begin the course by understanding the significance of the sociological perspective, and what it means to apply this perspective to everyday phenomena. We will begin by learning about how we are taught to become individuals, and members of society, and then how these individual behaviors aggregate into group dynamics. In particular, we’ll examine organizations, social class and stratification. After spring break, we’ll turn to an examination of the key social dynamos: politics, the economy, racial and ethnic stratification, religion, work, the mass media, the family, religion, education, the health care system and social movement dynamics.
By the end of the term, you should have the basic tools and skills needed to:
1. Understand the role of sociology as a disciplinary pursuit, in particular, its function as a science, a tool for advocacy and social change, and its utility to the economy, the health care system and social change.
2. Understand the connections between events in your own life and the world around you.
3. Proceed to any other sociology course offered in our department.
Required Texts:
The readings listed below are the required texts for the course. The books are available at the campus bookstore. The text and reader listed below are bundled together.
Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Duneier and Richard Applebaum. 2005. Introduction to Sociology. Fifth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., Inc.
There will be additional readings (indicated in the syllabus as (Addn)); these will be made available as PDF files on Blackboard.
Companion Website: Norton has created a companion website for the text, at which you can find helpful research and study tools. I highly recommend that students utilize this resource.
Explanation of Course Requirements:
The course is designed as a lecture course, with discussion and practica secondarily emphasized. Students are expected to attend every class, read the assigned texts prior to the due date, and actively participate in class and on-line discussions.
Practica: We will perform 8 practica over the course of this term. These are exercises designed to utilize your ‘sociological imagination,’ and as such they require that you utilize the course material to illuminate practical experiences designed for you. The preliminary schedule includes watching and responding to a film, creating a budget for a low-income family, and listening to and interrogating a guest speaker. These written assignments should be typed and typically two to three pages in length. They are due at the start of the class period on which they are assigned. Practica will be docked one grade increment (e.g., from an A to an A-) for each DAY they are late, including weekends. For our purposes, the “day” begins at the start of our class period. Practica will not be accepted if they are more than two days late. All papers must be double-spaced, 12 point font, with one-inch margins, and without excessive carriage returns between sections. 5% each; 40% of final grade.
Quizzes: You will complete take-home quizzes on each chapter we read. There are 20 of these over the course of the semester. They will be distributed on-line; specifically, they will be posted on Blackboard in the session for which they are due. You complete them on Blackboard, and then they are digitally submitted for us to grade. Quizzes are due at the start of the class period on which they are assigned. Quizzes will not be accepted after the start of class. There are no extensions without an agreement between the dean’s office and the instructor that you have experienced a personal or medical emergency. 2% each; 40% of final grade.
Midterm and Final Exams: 10% each, 20% total of final grade. Details of the material to be tested and the format of exams will be announced no less than one week in advance of the exam. Exams will likely follow a “traditional” format—some mix of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions to be completed in class, in advance of the exam but turned in on the exam date, or some combination thereof.
Class Participation: Class participation is based not only on the frequency of your contributions but their substance. Useful, substantive contributions use course terms or concepts accurately and explicitly, and illustrate a comprehension of the course material and an ability to integrate the text, reader, and current events. Students who are unwilling or unable to participate orally will be expected to participate on-line instead. On-line participation will be located on the Blackboard Discussion Board for our class. Periodically, the instructor will post a topic for discussion, but it is our expectation that students will often post topics for discussion. Topics should explicitly link the course material with sociological dynamics witnessed in everyday life—whether that be gendered interactions at Fraternity Parties, discussions of religion and politics in the Hustler, or news briefs on Sharon’s illness and the consequences for Arab social movements. The same criteria of quality apply to written and oral comments. We have no objective standards of frequency, but I would advise that students contribute substantively to discussion (either on-line or in-class) at least once a week.
Blackboard and Email: This class will rely heavily on the use of Blackboard and email for communication and changes to assignments. All students are required to learn how to use both and to check both on a daily basis.
Grading policy: A grade of A is reserved for truly exemplary work—a mastery of the readings and discussions matched with well-written and insightful text. «A papers» ask questions, even as they propose preliminary or informed answers to others. «A papers» provide substantial evidence for their claims. «A papers» illustrate that the student has not only read the assigned material, but has thought about it and developed their thought through additional research, comparison with other material on the syllabus, material from other classes, etc. Competently completed assignments will earn a B or B+. Incomplete, messy, disorganized or intellectual irresponsible work will earn a C or C-.
All grades are final, unless an error in calculation has been made. The instructor reserves the right to change the substance or weighting of individual assignments, at any time, but with due warning.
On Email attachments:
If there is a need for you to email a docuemtn to the instructor or the TA, you must use Word (.doc), Rich Text Format (.rtf) or PDF (.pdf) file formats. No Word Perfect (.wpf) documents will be accepted. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the docuemtn is received by the instructor. I will send a confirmation email as soon as I am able to open an email attachment. Until you receive such an email, assume that I do not have the document.
On Writing: Allow me to make some specific general suggestions for your writing, based on prior experience:
1. Write plainly. Avoid rhetorical flourishes. Use the theseurus sparingly.
2. Avoid unsubstantiated claims. If the facts you state are not self-evident, provide supporting evidence, or cite an expert who provides said evidence. Don't say «most Americans think Lost is the best show on television» without citing a scientific study that supports this claim. Don't say «many sociologists argue that Americans have good taste in television» without including a list of those sociologists in parens.
3. Spell and grammar check. If we can't understand what we are reading, we can't gauge its qualities.
4. Add page numbers.
5. Introduce your argument clearly with a thesis statement. Back up your thesis statement with salient points and evidence. Close with a «twist»--encourage your reader to ask this or that question, or investigate some sub-argument more closely.
6. Use course concepts. Define them in your own words (although if you are paraphrasing, you should cite the text page number, parenthetically).
7. Avoid hyperbole and moral evaluations.
Some other things we run into frequently, and dislike:
1. You assert opinion as fact. For example, «Bush's policy on the environment is the best practical approach» is a fine opinion, but until you provide evidence of alternative approaches to environmental policy and illustrate the relatively weak practicality of these approaches, you haven't convinced us of anything.
2. You assert «old» is intrinsically better than «new» (esp. values and culture).
3. You assert humans are stupid and easily manipulated. Or, you assert humans are independent automitons who make decisions and act without any societal influences.
Citations: Please follow the following format in all your Practica (and any other writing assignments for the course):
Citing the textbook:
Giddens, Duneier and Appelbaum, page number.
Citing material distributed electronically (ADDN readings):
Author's name, page number.
Citing class notes:
Class notes, date.
Citing any other material:
Book, One Author
De Anda, Roberto M. 1995. Chicanas and Chicanos in Contemporary Society. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Book, Two Authors
Herrera-Sobek, María and Helena María Viramontes. 1995. Chicana (W)rites: On Word and Film. Berkeley, CA: Third Woman Press.
Chapter in Book
Nathan, Peter E. and Raymond S. Niaura. 1987. "Prevention of Alcohol Problems." Pp. 333-354 in Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems: A Resource Manual, edited by W.M. Cox. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, Inc.
Book, No Author
Manual of Style. 1993. 14th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Journal Article, One Author
Garcia, Alma M. 1998. "An Intellectual Odyssey: Chicana/Chicano Studies Moving into the Twenty-first Century." Journal of American Ethnic History 18:109.
Journal Article, Two or More Authors
Exum, William H., Robert J. Menges, Bari Watkins, and Patricia Berglund. 1984. "Making it at the top: Women and minority faculty in the academic labor market." American Behavioral Scientist 27:301-324.
Magazine
Jana, Reena. 2000. "Preventing culture clashes - As the IT workforce grows more diverse, managers must improve awareness without creating inconsistency." InfoWorld, April 24, pp. 95.
Newspaper
Rimland, Bernard. 2000. "Do children's shots invite autism?" Los Angeles Times, April 26, A13.
Web Version of Newspapers
Clary, Mike. 2000. "Vieques Protesters Removed Without Incident." Los Angeles Times, May 5. Retrieved May 5, 2000 (http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/updates/lat_vieques000505.htm).
Information Posted on a Web Site
American Sociological Association. 2000. "Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Workshop." Washington, DC: American Sociological Association, Retrieved May 5, 2000 (http://www.asanet.org/members/socwkshp.html).
For those of you who would like additional help with your writing, Vanderbilt's Learning Center provides tutors free of charge. Appointments are recommended, and you can obtain the location and phone number of the Center from the Vanderbilt Directory.
Honesty: Vanderbilt University's honor system was instituted in 1875 and presumes that all student work submitted to fulfill academic requirements (including papers and examinations) is the student's own work, unless otherwise indicated in the text with proper footnoting, bibliographic technique, or as prescribed by the instructor. A complete description of the honor code and types of violations is available in the Student Handbook. Each student bears the responsibilty to read this text, to best protect themselves and their peers. Students should particularly note that acts of plagiarism may not solely include premediated acts of deception, but may be the result of carelessness or ignorance of acceptable citation formats. Plagiarism cases will be handed over to the Honor Council and can result in a failing grade for the course, suspension or expulsion from the University. The instructor strongly encourages students to ask specific questions about what is considered dishonest academic work, if they are ever unsure.
Other Obligations: I will expect you to be respectful at all times. In this context, respect entails showing up to class on time, listening while others are speaking, and turning off your cell phones and pagers. The instructor reserves the right to ask any student to leave the classroom at any time if they violate these simple codes of respect.
A special note to athletes in season: Please inform me in writing ASAP of all approved absences due to travel to away games. If you miss a “regular” class day, please procure notes from a classmate. If you will miss a Practicum, special arrangements need to be made, as follows:
A. If it is an “in class” Practicum, we will schedule a required make-up session and will adjust the due date of the assignment accordingly (you will be given exactly the same amount of time to complete the assignment as your peers).
B. If it is a “take home” Practicum, it is your responsibility to get a copy of the assignment before you leave for your travel, and the due date will be unchanged.
Quizzes are due by the class period on the date assigned, regardless of your travel schedule—you may turn in these assignments early, or submit them electronically. There are no exceptions to this policy. If you are struggling to complete your work and compete on the playing field, I urge you to make an appointment to speak with me—I’m happy to work with you to figure out a solution.
Course Schedule:
Date Topic Reading Assignments
August 23 Orientation
August 25 The Sociological Imagination (T) Chapter 1 (Addnl) Mills, C. Wright. The Sociological Imagination. Quiz: Chapter 1
August 28 Methods (T) Chapter 2 Quiz: Chapter 2
August 30 Methods (Addn.)Dunier, Mitch. Sidewalk. Appendix.
August 30 Methods (Addn) TBA
September 1 Culture (T) Chapter 3 (Addn) TBA Quiz: Chapter 3
September 4 Culture (Addnl) Kilbourne, Jean. Buy This 24-Year-Old and Get All His Friends Absolutely Free. Practicum 1
September 6 Socialization (T) Chapter 4 (Addn) Anderson, Eli. Streetwise. Quiz: Chapter 4
September 8 Socialization (T) Chapter 5 Quiz: Chapter 5
September 11 Socialization (Addn) Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Practicum 1 Writing Assignment due Practicum 2
September 13 Groups, Networks and Organizations (T) Chapter 6 (Addn) TBA Quiz: Chapter 6
September 15 Groups, Networks and Organizations Practicum 2 Writing Assignment due Practicum 3
September 18 Groups, Networks and Organizations (Addn) Erickson, Bonnie. Social Networks: The Value of Variety.
September 20 Deviance (T) Chapter 7 Practicum 3 Writing Assignment due Quiz: Chapter 7
September 22 Social Class and Social Stratification (T) Chapter 8 (Addn) Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Quiz: Chapter 8
September 25 Social Class and Social Stratification (Addn) Conley, Dalton M. Wealth Matters.
(Addn) Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel-and-Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Practicum 4
September 29 Social Class and Social Stratification TBA
October 2 Global Inequality (T) Chapter 9
(Addn) Hochschild, Arlie Russel. The Nanny Chain. Quiz: Chapter 9 Practicum 4 Writing Assignment Due.
October 4 EXAM
October 6 Gender (T) Chapter 10 Quiz: Chapter 10
October 9 Gender (Addn) Messner, Michael A. The Politics of Masculinities.
(Addn) Kimmel, Michael S. Masculinity as Homophobia.
October 11 Race and Ethnicity (T) Chapter 11 Quiz: Chapter 11
October 13 Race and Ethnicity (Addn) DuBois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk.
(Addn) Martinez, Elizabeth. Seeing More Than Black & White. Practicum 5
October 16 Fall Break
October 18 Race and Ethnicity (Addn) Gallagher, Charles A. Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the Color Line in Post Race America
October 20 Race and Ethnicity TBA Practicum 5 Writing Assignment due
October 23 Government, Political Power and Social Movements (T) Chapter 13 Quiz: Chapter 13
October 25 Government, Political Power and Social Movements (Addn) Foucault, Michel. Selections from Discipline and Punish.
October 27 Government, Political Power and Social Movements (Addn) Barber, Benjamin R. Jihad vs. McWorld.
(Addn) Ritzer, George. September 11, 2001: Mass Murder and Its Roots in the Symbolism of American Consumer Culture.
October 30 Work and Economic Life (T) Chapter 14 Quiz: Chapter 14
November 1 Work and Economic Life (Addn) Presser, Harriet B. Toward a 24-Hour Economy.
November 3 Family (T) Chapter 15 Quiz: Chapter 15
November 6 Education (T) Chapter 16 (pp. 475-490) Quiz: Chapter 16.1
Practicum 6
November 8 Education (Addn.) Taylor, Howard F. Intelligence.
(Addn) Orenstein, Peggy. School Girls Practicum 6 Written Assignment Due
November 10
November 13 Mass Media (T) Chapter 16 (pp. 490-504)
(Addn) TBA Quiz: Chapter 16.2
November 15 Religion (T) Chapter 17 Quiz: Chapter 17
November 17 Religion (Addn) Chaves, Mark and Dianne Hagaman. Abiding Faith.
(Addn.) Ayella, Marybeth F. Insane Therapy. Practicum 7
November 20 Thanksgiving
November 22 Thanksgiving
November 24 Thanksgiving
November 27 The Body (T) Chapter 18 Quiz: Chapter 18
November 29 Urbanization, Population and the Environment (T) Chapter 19 Quiz: Chapter 19 Practicum 8
December 1 Urbanization, Population, and the Environment TBA Practicum 8 Written Assignment Due
December 4 Globalization (T) Chapter 20 Quiz: Chapter 20
December 6 TBA TBA
December 13th, 9am EXAM
December 16th, noon Alternate EXAM
