SOC 111 - Introductory Sociology
Winter 2014
Section 004: B002 JFSB on T Th from 1:35 pm - 2:50 pm
Instructor/TA Info
Instructor Information
Name: Dallan Flake
Office Location: 2036 JFSB
Office Phone: 801-422-2488
Office Hours: Only By Appointment
Email: dallan_flake@byu.edu
TA Information
Name: Tinesha Zandamela
Office Location: 1053 JFSB
Email: tinesha.zandamela@gmail.com
Name: Rachel Swendsen
Office Location: 1053 JFSB
Office Hours: Mon 1:00pm-3:00pm
Wed 1:00pm-2:00pm
Email: rachelswendsen@gmail.com
Name: Mandy Workman
Office Location: 1053 JFSB
Office Hours: Mon, Wed 2:00pm-4:00pm
Thu 11:00am-12:00pm
Fri 11:00am-2:00pm
Or By Appointment
Email: mandyworkman831@gmail.com
Course Information
Materials
Image
Item
Vendor
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach
BYU
CORE Concepts (5th Edition)
Bookstore
Price
Price
(new)
(used)
102.20
76.65
Required
by Henslin, James M.
Pearson Learning Solutions; Edition 5
(1324796400)
ISBN: 9781256195412
Additional readings are posted on
Learning Suite
(1969-12-31)
Please note, earlier editions of the
Henslin text are fine -- you can
purchase used versions on Amazon or
from the Bookstore.
Description
Sociology attempts to uncover aspects of the social world that we often take for granted. It
does this by focusing on how the structure of social relations and institutions influences
members of society. In contrast to individual explanations for behavior, sociologists focus
on the context or social structures that shape individual behavior. Majors in sociology
develop three primary abilities: (1) problem-solving skills, (2) the ability to work with diverse
populations, and (3) the ability to use data to address social issues.
Sociology students generally pursue careers in (1) social work, counseling or social
services; (2) international development and/or program assessment; (3) criminology and
law; (4) business and organizational behavior; or (5) demographic and survey research.
You can learn more about career options in sociology by going to the department website
at https://sociology.byu.edu.
Please remember this is an introductory sociology course. I assume you are coming into
the class without any background in sociology. The curriculum is designed to give you a
broad overview of the primary themes and topics within the discipline of sociology, as well
as to help you develop specific skills in scientific reasoning such as critical thinking and
writing. This course meets the general education requirement for social science scientific
principles and reasoning.
Please note that in addition to a broad introduction to sociology as a discipline, social
inequality in the United States will be an overarching theme that we will focus on over the
semester. In particular increasing food insecurity and hunger in the United States will be
examined in readings, class discussions, and in assignments. We will consider both
potential causes and solutions to poverty from various perspectives over the course of the
semester.
Grading Scale
Grades Points
A
465 points
A-
450 points
B+
435 points
B
420 points
B-
400 points
C+
385 points
C
370 points
C-
350 points
D+
335 points
D
320 points
D-
300 points
E
0 points
Grading Policy
All due dates listed in the class schedule refer to submitting group assignments and
quizzes prior to the start of class (by 1:35 p.m.) the day due. Your two individual papers
can be submitted by midnight of the due date. In some cases late assignments and papers
can still be submitted but will receive a penalty. Please note any assignments or papers
turned in after the class deadline will be credited 80% of their value – thus there is a 20%
deduction for late work and late work will only be accepted within a two-week
window. Remember that you can always turn an assignment in early for full credit if you
know you are going to miss class. Online chapter quizzes cannot be taken late, so plan
ahead!
It is your responsibility to check on Learning Suite/Gradebook to see that the correct scores
have been entered and to see if you are missing assignments. Please do not wait until the
end of the semester to see what you are missing; check regularly during the semester.
If you are seriously ill or have other personal problems that inhibit your ability to complete
assignments on time, please contact me by email (dallan_flake@byu.edu) ASAP. I am
generally willing to work with people if they let me know what is going on right away. I am
not willing if you wait until the last week of the semester or especially after classes are over
and grades are in. I will not respond to any emails or phone pleas to redo or turn in late
work after the last day of class, so please don’t bother tugging at my heart strings. There is
no extra credit.
If you have questions or concerns about the final, you can email me during reading days or
finals week – but please no pleas to give you “special” treatment, especially after grades
are in.
Please note: Understand now that many of you will be ONE point away from a higher
grade. Think about that now, not at the end of the semester. If you want the best grade
possible, do the work on time, study, and perform during the semester. Begging for extra
credit or points at the end won’t change anything at the end of the semester. I will not give
one student preference over others just because they request special treatment after the
semester ends.
Chapter Quizzes
Generally there will be a chapter from the Henslin textbook assigned each week
(see the class schedule). You need to read the chapter and take the quiz
available on Learning Suite before the start of class on the due date noted on
the class schedule (5 possible each quiz). These are open book and not timed.
Questions highlight some of the main points in the text that we will cover in
class lectures. NO chapter quizzes will be available after the deadline in the
schedule unless I inform you of an extension in class and by email. If you have
problems accessing the quizzes, just email me (sometimes the system goes
down!). This is how I give credit for reading the textbook.
Short In-Class Writing Assignments
Generally once a week you will be asked to read an additional article or two
before class that you will respond to in an in-class writing assignment. There
will be 14 of these short in-class assignments during the semester, but only 12
will count towards your grade. Each is worth up to 5 points. You will get partial
credit if you are in class for the discussion, but did not complete the reading
assigned prior to class. Partial credit may also be given if your responses show
little thinking or effort. By only counting 12 assignments (there are 15 weeks in
the semester), you have some flexibility if you miss class due to illness or other
activities. You need to be in your seat when these are handed out -- not coming
in to class late. These cannot be made up. This is essentially how I give credit
for attendance and completing the readings in addition to the text.
Group Assignments
There will be three group assignments during the semester that will allow you to
work in groups and apply concepts related to scientific reasoning. These
assignments must be submitted by the start of class on the days noted in the
class schedule. Each group will designate a group leader who will be
responsible to submit the assignment online -- assignments will list all in the
group that should receive credit because they contributed to the final product.
Assignments after the deadline will be accepted with a 20% penalty up to two
weeks from the deadline. These assignments will require you to work in groups
of 3 to 4 students -- so start making friends!
Working in groups to produce a product is an important skill that is essential in
today's workplace, as well as in community and church service, so yes, you
have to do these assignments in a group. These days, students can coordinate
electronically (email, texting, facebook, etc) with each student contributing to the
final product, as well as "discuss" ideas without ever getting together in person.
I think face-to-face interaction is a good thing, but you have complete flexibility
as to how your group works.
These assignments will be an opportunity to conduct your own "mini"
research. As a group you will (1) develop a research question, review the
literature and determine a hypothesis (with an independent and dependent
variable); next (2) gather information from classmates through an online survey
to test your hypothesis; and last (3) present your findings in a short report. This
group project will be broken into three assignments (as noted above) over the
course of the semester. The first assignment is worth 10 points, and the final
two are worth 20 points each.
Papers
There will be two short (about 4 pages, double-spaced) papers due during the
semester that you will complete individually. Each paper will require you to
develop a thesis and then support your thesis based on evidence from
academic readings. You are highly encouraged to meet with the TA or me prior
to paper due dates for input. Also a grading rubric will be provided for each
paper assignment. Papers will be submitted online by midnight of the day noted
in the schedule. Late papers will receive a 20% penalty and will only be
accepted up to two weeks from the deadline. Readings for the papers will be
posted on Learning Suite or you can find your own from the library or other
academic sources.
The focus of the first paper will be on causes of poverty in the United States,
and the second paper will look at potential solutions. Increasing food insecurity
and poverty will be an overarching theme that we will discuss over the
semester. Class discussions and in-class writing assignments will focus in part
on the readings for the paper assignments -- so coming to class and
participating in class discussions should help you develop a thesis for your
paper.
The purpose of these assignments is for you to further develop critical reading
and writing skills and to examine real-world social problems drawing upon social
scientific evidence to support your conclusions. Papers are worth 70 points
each.
Exams
There will be a mid-term and final exam in the testing center. These exams will
emphasize material covered in class lectures, assignments, readings, and text
materials. They will require you to apply what you have learned in a multiplechoice and/or matching format. I will give you a review sheet before each
exam. NO LATE EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN -- if you need to miss an exam for
some reason, talk to me BEFORE the exam date to make arrangements. NOTE
THE FINAL EXAM CANNOT BE TAKEN EARLY according to university policy - I'll only consider exceptions if you have extenuating circumstances outside
your control -- such as needing to report to the MTC early, etc. -- talk to me
first!!! Please plan your wedding, plane tickets home, etc. so that you can take
the final during finals week (those are within your control).
Assignments
Assignment Description
In-class Write #1
Due: Thursday, Jan 16 at 11:00 am
In-class assignment
Chapter 2
Due: Tuesday, Jan 21 at 1:35 pm
Culture
Chapter 1
Due: Tuesday, Jan 21 at 1:35 pm
The Sociological Perspective
In-class Write #2
Due: Thursday, Jan 23 at 11:00 am
In-class assignment
Chapter 3
Due: Tuesday, Jan 28 at 1:35 pm
Socialization
In-class Write #3
Due: Thursday, Jan 30 at 11:00 am
In-class assignment
Chapter 4
Due: Tuesday, Feb 04 at 1:35 pm
Social Structure and Social Interaction
In-class Write #4
Due: Thursday, Feb 06 at 11:00 am
In-class Assignment
Group Assignment #1
Due: Tuesday, Feb 11 at 11:00 am
literature review & hypothesis
Chapter 5
Due: Tuesday, Feb 11 at 1:35 pm
Societies to Social Networks
In-class Write #5
Due: Thursday, Feb 13 at 12:00 am
In-class Assignment
Paper #1
Due: Thursday, Feb 13 at 11:59 pm
Models of poverty -- potential causes
Mid-term Exam
Due: Tuesday, Feb 18 at 8:00 am
Testing Center Mid-term exam
In-class Write #6
Due: Thursday, Feb 20 at 11:00 am
In-class Assignment
In-class Write #7
Due: Thursday, Feb 27 at 11:59 pm
Chapter 6
Due: Tuesday, Mar 04 at 1:35 pm
Deviance and Social Control
In-class Write #8
Due: Thursday, Mar 06 at 11:00 am
In-class assignment
In-class Write #9
Due: Tuesday, Mar 11 at 11:00 am
In-class assignment
Chapter 7
Due: Thursday, Mar 13 at 1:35 pm
Social Stratification
In-class Write #10
Due: Tuesday, Mar 18 at 12:00 pm
In-class writing assignment
In-class Write #11
Due: Thursday, Mar 20 at 12:00 pm
In-class writing assignment
Group Assignment #2
Due: Thursday, Mar 20 at 1:30 pm
Chapter 8
Due: Tuesday, Mar 25 at 1:35 pm
Sex and Gender
In-class Write #12
Due: Thursday, Mar 27 at 11:59 pm
Chapter 9
Due: Tuesday, Apr 01 at 1:35 pm
Chapter 9 Race and Ethnicity
In-class Write #13
Due: Tuesday, Apr 08 at 11:59 pm
Group Assignment #3
Due: Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:00 pm
final report of results
Chapter 10
Due: Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:35 pm
Chapter 10 Marriage & Family
Paper #2
Due: Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:59 pm
Potential solutions to poverty
In-class Write #14
Due: Tuesday, Apr 15 at 11:59 pm
Final Exam
Due: Friday, Apr 18 at 8:00 am
Testing Center Final Exam
Schedule
Date
T-
Topic
Reading/Assignment
Course Introduction
Jan
07
Th -
Models of Poverty
Jan
09
T-
Unit 1: Sociological
Jan
Perspective
Henslin, Chapter 1
14
Th -
Liz Murray Breaking Night.pdf Download
Jan
16
M-
Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan
Holiday
20
T-
Unit 2: Culture
Jan
Henslin, Chapter 2Online quizzes for
Chapters 1 and 2 due
21
Th -
Paul Tough Whatever It Takes.pdf Download
Jan
23
T-
Unit 3: Socialization
Jan
Henslin, Chapter 3Online quiz for Chapter 3
due
28
Th -
Charles Murray Coming Apart Fishtown &
Jan
Belmont.pdf DownloadGroup Assignment #1
30
due
T-
Unit 4: Social Structure
Feb
Henslin, Chapter 4Online quiz for Chapter 4
due
04
Th Feb
06
T-
Unit 5: Social Networks
Feb
Henslin, Chapter 5Online quiz for Chapter 5
due
11
Th -
McLanahan
Feb
Demography.pdf DownloadIndividual Paper
13
#1 due (upload to Learning Suite by
midnight)
M-
Presidents Day Holiday
Feb
17
T-
Monday Instruction
Feb
18
Th -
Documentary: Waiting
Feb
for Superman
Midterm in Testing Center (February 18-21)
20
T-
Qualtrics and Group
Urban Institute 2013 -The-Moynihan-Report-
Feb
Assignment
Revisited.pdf DownloadHousehold Food
25
InstructionFood
Security 2011.pdf DownloadGood Food
Insecurity
Revolution Will Allen.pdf Download
Th -
Documentary: A Place at A Place at the Table Witness to
Feb
the Table
27
Hunger.pdf DownloadPaul Roderick Gregory
Forbes op-ed.pdf DownloadA Place at the
Table The Grocery Gap.pdf Download
T-
Unit 6: Deviance and
Henslin, Chapter 6Online quiz for Chapter 6
Mar
Social Control
due
04
Th -
Resistance Contexts
Mar
2012_Redacted.pdf Download
06
T-
Documentary: The
Mar
House I Live In
11
Th -
Unit 7: Social
Henslin, Chapter 7Online quiz for Chapter 7
Mar
Stratification
due
13
T-
Solutions to PovertySandel.pdf Download
Mar
18
Th -
Documentary: Waging a
A Place at the Table Beyond The Charity
Mar
Living
Myth.pdf DownloadGroup Assignment #2
20
TMar
25
Th Mar
27
due
Unit 8: Sex and Gender
Henslin, Chapter 8Online quiz for Chapter 8
due
T-
Unit 9: Race and
Henslin, Chapter 9Online quiz for Chapter 9
Apr
Ethnicity
due
01
Th -
Group Assignment #3 due
Apr
03
T-
Documentary: Nobody
Apr
Knows - Untold Story of
08
Black Mormons
Th -
Unit 10: Marriage and
Henslin, Chapter 10Online quiz for Chapter
Apr
Family
10 dueIndividual Paper #2 due (upload to
10
Learning Suite by midnight)
T-
Deseret News July 2013 Food insecurity
Apr
single parents.pdf Download
15
Th -
Exam Preparation Day
Apr
17
F-
First day to take Final
Apr
Exam (testing center)
18
W-
Last day to take Final
Apr
Exam (testing center)
23
University Policies
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.
Sexual 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
and pertains to admissions, academic and athletic programs, and universitysponsored activities. Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment of students by
university employees, other students, and visitors to campus. If you encounter
sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your
professor or contact one of the following: the Title IX Coordinator at 801-4222130; the Honor Code Office at 801-422-2847; the Equal Employment Office at
801-422-5895; or Ethics Point at http://www.ethicspoint.com, or 1-888-238-1062
(24-hours).
Student Disability
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 University Accessibility Center (UAC), 2170
WSC or 422-2767. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all
students who have qualified, documented disabilities. The UAC can also assess
students for learning, attention, and emotional concerns. Services are
coordinated with the student and instructor by the UAC. 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
The first injunction of the 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.
Respectful Environment
"Sadly, from time to time, we do hear reports of those who are at best
insensitive and at worst insulting in their comments to and about others... We
hear derogatory and sometimes even defamatory comments about those with
different political, athletic, or ethnic views or experiences. Such behavior is
completely out of place at BYU, and I enlist the aid of all to monitor carefully
and, if necessary, correct any such that might occur here, however inadvertent
or unintentional. "I worry particularly about demeaning comments made about
the career or major choices of women or men either directly or about members
of the BYU community generally. We must remember that personal agency is a
fundamental principle and that none of us has the right or option to criticize the
lawful choices of another." President Cecil O. Samuelson, Annual University
Conference, August 24, 2010 "Occasionally, we ... hear reports that our female
faculty feel disrespected, especially by students, for choosing to work at BYU,
even though each one has been approved by the BYU Board of Trustees.
Brothers and sisters, these things ought not to be. Not here. Not at a university
that shares a constitution with the School of the Prophets." Vice President John
S. Tanner, Annual University Conference, August 24, 2010