Sociology 322
Spring Term 2012
Section 1: B032 JFSB on T Th at 08:15 am - 10:45 am
Instructor: Benjamin Gibbs
Office: 2032 JFSB
Office Hours: M W 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Office Phone: 801-422-8284 (2-8284 if on campus)
Email: benjamin_gibbs@byu.edu
Texts & Materials
Required
Vendor Price (new) Price (used)
THE CLASSLESS SOCIETY
By KINGSTON, P
ISBN: 9780804738064
BYU
SOCIAL CLASS : HOW DOES IT WORK?
By LAREAU, A (ED)
BYU
ISBN: 9780871545077
$24.95
$18.75
$24.95
$18.75
Description
Since the inception of sociology, class inequality has been a central force in explaining how society
arranges scarce resources unfairly. Yet today the concept of class is theoretically and empirically unclear
with some scholars doubting whether class exists at all. In this course we will explore the historical and
contemporary discussions of class to unravel whether class still has a bearing on who gets what and why
in modern society. An approach to understanding "advantage" beyond class will be developed.
Learning Outcomes





Learning outcomes
Understand historical and contemporary class debates and understand the subtleties of inequality
around us
Social justice
Participate in and evaluate organizations that are attempting to create greater social justice and
form your own ideas about what can be done about inequality
Social Structure
Understand how social structure contributes to inequality
Research
Understand how sociologists do research on inequality
Connections
Learn to see the connection between sociological concepts and the inequality you observe in
everyday life
Teaching Philosophy
I believe the best way to learn is by discussion in an environment where we feel comfortable being wrong.
Aside from covering the basics, I prefer to dwell on unresolved debates rather than relatively easy
concepts and solutions.
Grading Policies
Missing an exam will automatically result in full letter grade reduction with additional reductions based on
circumstance.
Late papers (including e-mails sent during or after class) will result in a full letter grade reduction. Be sure
to allow enough time for printing and stapling of assignments. Do not send any assignments by e-mail.
Study Habits
1. Read. You cannot fully summarize or contend with an idea you have not read. In rare occasions where
the argument of the author is obvious can you skim, but I still read every word of these readings in
preparation for the class (even though I have already read most readings several times). In most cases,
there readings are enduring because the ideas within them are still meaningful for understanding the
question at hand. Therefore, it is worth the effort to untangle the arguments.
2. Read for ideas, not for completion. Read to understand what the author is saying:
a. Underline interesting, new insights.
b. Box main points, key definition.
c. Circle/question mark confusing ideas.
d. Write questions on the margins to engage in the ideas you are learning.
e. Write summaries in the margins to guide a reread of the article/chapter for testing or paper
writing.
Your notes in the reading should give you easy access to the main ideas and key contributions of the
articles weeks after you have read the article/chapter.
3. In class, take notes on new learning. The PowerPoint slides will be available a week before the tests,
so your notes should be centered on new learning, clarifying insights and summary statements either
from lecture, slides or class discussion. As a general rule, do not take notes verbatim on lecture or
discussion material.
Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
BC+
C
C-
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
D+
D
DE
67-69
63-66
60-62
59 and lower
Assignment Descriptions
Quizzes:
Pop quizzes (150 pts) are generally three questions on the assigned readings that will be randomly
administered at the start of any given class. Time allotted is either 10 minutes or whenever the majority of
the class has completed the quiz. There are no make-up quizzes in most circumstances. There will be 10
quizzes plus a bonus quiz that will replace your lowest scoring quiz.
Exams:
There are two exams, the midterm (200 pts) and the final (200 pts). The final is not cumulative.
Does Class Exist?:
This project requires you to connect the central questions of the course to interviews with 5 individuals in
the local community. Selection of the appropriate individuals is key to a successful assignment. I suggest
3 student interviews from high, middle, and low class backgrounds, 1 professor who understands the
topic (preferable outside of sociology), and 1 professional in the community familiar with poverty or
wealth. Record the interview (if the individual will allow) but transcriptions are not necessary, only written
quotes pertaining to the topic based on the interview tape or notes is required. A considerable portion of
the grade is linking interview notes with class concepts to determine if there is qualitative evidence for the
existence of class. More details of the assignment will be handed out during the course. (300 pts)
Section Summaries:
There are three sections. You will create a single-spaced, two page summary (front and back) of the main
points and arguments for each section. This will be difficult to distill the readings in a short amount of
space but this is part of the challenge of the assignment. You will need to address the big questions of
each section with conclusions drawn from the readings and class discussion. Each summary is worth 100
pts for a total of 300 pts.
Point Breakdown
Assignments
Points
Quizzes
150
Midterm
200
Final
200
Does Class Exist?
300
Section Summaries
150
Total Points
1000
Course Schedule
Date
Topics
Assignments
Reading Due
T - Apr 24
Introduction to Course
-
-
Th - Apr 26
Section One: Class
-
Selected Readings (Marx)
-
Interview Ideas
Selected Readings (Weber and Giddens)
Due
T - May 1
Th - May 3
Section Two: Classless Section One
Society
Summary Due
Kingston Preface, Chapters 1, 2
T - May 8
-
-
Kingston Chapters 3, 4, 5
Th - May 10
-
-
Kingston Chapters 6, 7, 8
T - May 15
-
-
Kingston Chapters 7, 8, 9
-
Complete
Interviews,
Transcribe
Kingston Chapters 10, 11, 12
Conclusions
Presentation of
Findings
Th - May 24
Section Three: Social
Class
Section Two
Summary Due
Lareau and Conley Intro, Chapters 1, 2
T - May 29
-
-
Lareau and Conley Chapters 3, 4, 5
Th - May 31
-
Draft Due
Lareau and Conley Chapters 6, 7, 8
T - Jun 5
-
-
Lareau and Conley Chapters 9, 10
Conclusions
Section Three
Summary Due
Lareau and Conley Chapters 11-16
Reading Day
Does Class
Exist? Due
In box 2032 JFSB by 5pm
-
-
In Class Final
Th - May 17
T - May 22
Th - Jun 7
T - Jun 12
Th - Jun 14
TA Information
Name: Miriam Clark
Email: miriamwalther@gmail.com
BYU Honor Code
In keeping with the principles of the BYU Honor Code, students are expected to be honest in all of their
academic work. Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that any work you present as your own
must in fact be your own work and not that of another. Violations of this principle may result in a failing
grade in the course and additional disciplinary action by the university. Students are also expected to
adhere to the Dress and Grooming Standards. Adherence demonstrates respect for yourself and others
and ensures an effective learning and working environment. It is the university's expectation, and my own
expectation in class, that each student will abide by all Honor Code standards. Please call the Honor
Code Office at 422-2847 if you have questions about those standards.
Preventing Sexual Discrimination and Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an
educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex
discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and studentto-student sexual harassment. BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of
the university, but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based
discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 3675689 (24-hours); or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.
Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably
accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability
to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office
(422-2767). Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified,
documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the SSD Office. If
you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of
disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures by contacting the
Equal Employment Office at 422-5895, D-285 ASB.
Academic Honesty Policy
The first injunction of the BYU Honor Code is the call to be honest. Students come to the university not
only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life's work, but
also to build character. President David O. McKay taught that 'character is the highest aim of education'
(The Aims of a BYU Education, p. 6). It is the purpose of the BYU Academic Honesty Policy to assist in
fulfilling that aim. BYU students should seek to be totally honest in their dealings with others. They should
complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic
dishonesty and misconduct in all its forms, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication or
falsification, cheating, and other academic misconduct.
Plagiarism Policy
Writing submitted for credit at BYU must consist of the student's own ideas presented in sentences and
paragraphs of his or her own construction. The work of other writers or speakers may be included when
appropriate (as in a research paper or book review), but such material must support the student's own
work (not substitute for it) and must be clearly identified by appropriate introduction and punctuation and
by footnoting or other standard referencing.