SOCY1001.02IntroductiontoSociology
Summer2015
4credits
batesju@bc.edu
JuliaBates McGuinn410
TuesandThurs6:00‐9:15pm,June23–July30 Room:Devlin227
OfficeHours:TuesandThurs4‐6:30pm
BostonCollegeMissionStatement
Strengthenedbymorethanacenturyandahalfofdedicationtoacademicexcellence,
BostonCollegecommitsitselftothehigheststandardsofteachingandresearchin
undergraduate,graduateandprofessionalprogramsandtothepursuitofajustsociety
throughitsownaccomplishments,theworkofitsfacultyandstaff,andtheachievementsof
itsgraduates.Itseeksbothtoadvanceitsplaceamongthenation'sfinestuniversitiesandto
bringtothecompanyofitsdistinguishedpeersandtocontemporarysocietytherichnessof
theCatholicintellectualidealofamutuallyilluminatingrelationshipbetweenreligiousfaith
andfreeintellectualinquiry.
BostonCollegedrawsinspirationforitsacademicsocietalmissionfromitsdistinctive
religioustradition.AsaCatholicandJesuituniversity,itisrootedinaworldviewthat
encountersGodinallcreationandthroughallhumanactivity,especiallyinthesearchfor
truthineverydiscipline,inthedesiretolearn,andinthecalltolivejustlytogether.Inthis
spirit,theUniversityregardsthecontributionofdifferentreligioustraditionsandvalue
systemsasessentialtothefullnessofitsintellectuallifeandtothecontinuousdevelopment
ofitsdistinctiveintellectualheritage.
CourseDescription
Thiscourseoffersanintroductiontoanumberofperspectivesonthesocialworld.Wewill
beginthecoursewithanexaminationofwhatdefinessociologyasanacademicfield.We
willthenanalyzedifferentwaysonecaninterpret,orframe,thesocialworld.Lastlywewill
lookatsubjugated,oroppressedwaysofunderstandingtheworld,andexaminehowsocial
positioningeffectsthewayweunderstandsociety.
CourseObjectives
1.) Toenhancestudents’criticalthinkingskillsthroughsocialtheory
2.) Toenhancetheirunderstandingoftheirsocialpositioningwithinsocietyandhow
thatrelatestotheirunderstandingoftheworld
3.) Thestudentwilldemonstrateknowledgeinanalyzingsociologyacrossculturalsettingsand
willlearntheimpactofculture,gender,andageinunderstandingsocietyasdemonstratedby
afinalpaper
4.) Thestudentwilldemonstrateethicalknowledgeinsociologypertainingtorace,classand
genderasdemonstratedbyafinalpaperwhichrelatestoasocialissueonrace,classand
gender
TheSocialScienceCore
IntroductiontoSociologyaddressesthecentralelementsoftheBostonCollegeCore:
Analyzingsocietyraisesaseriesofperennialquestions:areissuesweseeinsocietya
resultofindividualfailingsorsocietalforces?Aresocialcategorieslikeraceandgender
productsofnatureorsocialization?Howdoweunderstandsocialinjusticeandhowdowe
producesocialchange?
Thecourseisalsoguidedbyhistoricalperspective.Wewillexaminehowhistorical
contextshapesthewayweunderstandtheworld,andthewaysocialtheoristsunderstood
theworld.Issuesofculturaldiversitywillbeaddressed.Thecoursewillmakeclearthat
patternsofexperienceinfluencedbyrace,class,genderandsexualityandone’saccessto
socialandeconomicpowerbaseduponthesecategoriesgreatlyinfluencesone’s
understandingoftheworld.
Thematerialscovereddrawonarangeofdifferentmethodologies.FromErvingGoffman’s
ethnographicresearch,wherehelivedinamentalinstitution,toFoucault’sanalysisof
historicaldocuments,wewillexaminehowdifferentsociologistsmadesenseoftheworld.
Thiswillalsobeawritingintensivecourse.Themaincourseassessmentisaresearch
paper.
Iwillalsoencourageyoutoapplythecoursematerialtoyourpersonallife.Howdoesour
socialpositioningeffectthewayweunderstandandinteractwiththeworld?Whatproduces
socialinequalityandhowdowechallengeit?Ihopethecoursewillprovideaspaceforthis
sortofreflection:informingyourpersonalphilosophy,andgettingyouthinkingaboutthe
actionsthatwillmosthelpbringabouttheworldyouwanttolivein.
CourseExpectations
1. Thisisareadingandparticipationintensivecourse.Readingsaredueonthedate
theyarelisted.CometoclasswithHARDCOPIESofthereadingsandbereadyto
discussthem.THEREWILLBEREADINGPOPQUIZES.
2. Ifyoumissclass,youareresponsibleforgettingnotesfromaclassmate
3. Adoctor,schooladministratororothercertifiedofficialmustverifyanabsencein
orderforittobeexcused.Notesfromparentsorotherlegalguardianswillnotbe
accepted
4. DONOTcometoclassmorethanfiveminuteslateunlessyouhavepermissionfrom
theprofessor.Aftertheclasshasbeeninsessionforfiveminutesthedoorwillbe
shut.DONOTENTERIFTHEDOORISCLOSED.
NoElectronics
1. Nocomputerswillbeallowedoutinclass.Ifyouhaveaspecialreasonwhyyouneed
touseacomputertotakenotes,pleasescheduleameetingwithme.
2. Nophonesareallowedoutinclass.IfyouhaveaphoneoutinclassIwillaskyouto
putitawayanditwillnegativelyimpactyourattendancegrade.
Grading
1. 15%ClassParticipation/Attendance
Classattendanceisobligatoryandisapartofyourparticipationgrade.Thisgrade
willalsoincludecontributionstoclassdiscussion,andpop‐quizzes(ifneeded).Two
ofthepop‐quizgradeswillbedropped.
2. 40%Exams
Exam1willbeworth20%ofyourgradeandExam2willbeworth20%ofyour
grade.Theywillbewrittenexams.
3. 45%FinalPaper
Willbedueonthedayofthefinal.
GradeReports.AllstudentsarerequiredtologintothewebthroughAgoratoaccesstheirsemester
grades.StudentsmustutilizetheirBCusernameandpasswordtologon.Ifyourusernameor
passwordisnotknowntheHELPDesklocatedintheCampusTechnologyResourceCenter(CTRC)in
O’NeillLibrarywillissueanewone.TheCTRCrequiresavalidpictureID(aBCID,driver’slicense
orpassport)toobtainyourpassword.
GradeScaling
94‐100=A
90‐93=A‐
86‐89=B+ 82‐85=B
78‐81=B‐
74‐77=C+
70‐73=C
66‐69=C‐
62‐65=D+
58‐61=D
54‐47=D‐
53‐00=F
Theundergraduategradingsystemconsistsoftwelvecategories:A(4.00),A‐(3.67),excellent;B+
(3.33),B(3.00),B‐(2.67),good;C+(2.33),C(2.00),C‐(l.67),satisfactory;D+(l.33),D(l.00),D‐(.67),
passingbutunsatisfactory;F(.00),failure;I(.00),incomplete;F(.00),coursedroppedwithout
notifyingoffice;W(.00),officialwithdrawalfromcourse.ThegraduategradingsystemisA(4.00),
A‐(3.67),Excellent;B+(3.33),B(3.00),good;B‐(2.67),C(2.00),passingbutnotfordegreecredit;F
(.00),failure.
ImportantPolicies
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
WrittenWork
Graduateandundergraduatestudentsareexpectedtoprepareprofessional,polishedwrittenwork.
Writtenmaterialsmustbetypedintheformatrequiredbyyourinstructor.Striveforathorough,yet
concisestyle.Citeliteratureappropriately,usingAPA,MLA,CLAformatperinstructorsdecision.
Developyourthoughtsfully,clearly,logicallyandspecifically.Proofreadallmaterialstoensurethe
useofpropergrammar,punctuation,andspelling.Youareencouragedtomakeuseofcampus
resourcesforrefiningwritingskillsasneeded[http://www.bc.edu/libraries/help/tutoring.html].
ScholarshipandAcademicIntegrity
Itisexpectedthatstudentswillproduceoriginalworkandcitereferencesappropriately.Failureto
referenceproperlyisplagiarism.Scholasticdishonestyincludes,butisnotnecessarilylimitedto,
plagiarism,fabrication,facilitatingacademicdishonesty,cheatingonexaminationsorassignments,
andsubmittingthesamepaperorsubstantiallysimilarpaperstomeettherequirementsofmore
thanonecoursewithoutseekingpermissionofallinstructorsconcerned.Scholasticmisconduct
mayalsoinvolve,butisnotnecessarilylimitedto,actsthatviolatetherightsofotherstudents,such
asdeprivinganotherstudentofcoursematerialsorinterferingwithanotherstudent’swork.
RequestforAccommodations
Ifyouhaveadisabilityandwillberequestingaccommodationsforthiscourse,pleaseregisterwith
eitherDr.KathyDuggan(dugganka@bc.edu),AssociateDirector,ConnorsFamilyLearningCenter
(learningdisabilitiesorAHD)orDeanPauletteDurrett,(paulette.durrett@bc.edu),AssistantDean
forstudentswithdisabilities,(allotherdisabilities).Advancenoticeandappropriatedocumentation
arerequiredforaccommodations.Forfurtherinformation,youcanlocatethedisabilityresources
onthewebathttp://www.bc.edu/content/bc/libraries/help/tutoring/specialservices.html.
Attendance
Classattendanceisanimportantcomponentoflearning.Studentsareexpectedtoattendallclasses
andtoarrivebythebeginningofandremainfortheentireclassperiod.Whenanoccasionoccurs
thatpreventsastudentfromattendingclass,itisthestudent’sobligationtoinformtheinstructorof
theconflictbeforetheclassmeets.Thestudentisstillexpectedtomeetallassignmentdeadlines.Ifa
studentknowsthatheorshewillbeabsentonaparticularday,thestudentisresponsibleforseeing
theinstructorbeforehandtoobtaintheassignmentsforthatday.Ifastudentmissesaclass,heor
sheisresponsibleformakinguptheworkbyobtainingaclassmate'snotesandhandoutsand
turninginanyassignmentsdue.Furthermore,manyinstructorsgivepointsforparticipationin
class.Ifyoumissclass,youcannotmakeupparticipationpointsassociatedwiththatclass.Typesof
absencesthatarenottypicallyexcusedincludeweddings,showers,vacations,birthdayparties,
graduations,etc.Additionalassignments,penaltiesandcorrectivesareatthediscretionofthe
instructor.Ifcircumstancesnecessitateexcessiveabsencefromclass,thestudentshouldconsider
withdrawingfromtheclass.Inallcases,studentsareexpectedtoacceptthedecisionofthe
instructorregardingattendancepoliciesspecifictotheclass.
Consistentwithourcommitmentofcreatinganacademiccommunitythatisrespectfulofand
welcomingtopersonsofdifferingbackgrounds,webelievethateveryreasonableeffortshouldbe
madetoallowmembersoftheuniversitycommunitytoobservetheirreligiousholidayswithout
jeopardizingthefulfillmentoftheiracademicobligations.Itistheresponsibilityofstudentsto
reviewcoursesyllabiassoonastheyaredistributedandtoconsultthefacultymemberpromptly
regardinganypossibleconflictswithobservedreligiousholidays.Ifasked,thestudentshould
provideaccurateinformationabouttheobligationsentailedintheobservanceofthatparticular
holiday.However,itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttocompleteanyandallclassrequirements
fordaysthataremissedduetoconflictsduetoreligiousholidays.
Theremaybecircumstancesthatnecessitateadeparturefromthispolicy.Feelfreetocontactthe
WCASat617‐552‐3900forconsultation.
Deadlines
Assignmentsaredueatthebeginningoftheclassperiodonthespecifieddates.Lateassignments
willbegradedaccordingly.
Make‐UpAssignments/Exams
Theuniversityrequiresthatmake‐upexamsbegivenonlyinexceptionalcircumstances.
Theymaybenegotiatedonlyintheeventofanexcusedabsenceconstitutedby:(1)an
EMERGENCY,definedasadeathinthefamilyoracontagious/incapacitatingillness,or(2)
anout‐of‐townsportseventforathletes.Insuchcases,youwillneedtoproduceanotefrom
yourdean,orcoach.
TheClassroomasaSafeSpace/Ally
IntroductiontoSociologyisawelcoming,supportiveandsafeenvironmentforlesbian,gay,
bisexual,transgender,transsexual,queer,andquestioning(LGBTQ)students.When
expressingyoursentimentsyoushoulduse“Ithink…”statements,andbesuretonotcutoff
orbelittleotherstudentssentiments.
BookstoBuy
 Lemert,Charlesed.2010.SocialTheory:TheMulticulturalandClassicReadings.
Philadelphia,PA:WestviewPress.
 Matson,Ron.2005.TheSpiritofSociology:AReader.Boston,MA:Pearson.
 Appelrouth,ScottandLauraEdleseds.2012.ClassicalandContemporarySociological
Theory:TestandReadings.WashingtonD.C.:Sage.
Readingsmarkedwithan(*)indicatesthatitisfromoneofthesebooks
THERESTOFTHEREADINGSWILLBEEMAILEDTOYOUORPLACEDONCOURSE
RESERVES
Itisexpectedthat8hoursperweekofyourstudytimeoutwillbespentonoutofclassassignments
andexercises.Thesearelistedbelow.Pleasenotethatsomeweekswillrequiremoretimeandsome
weekslesstimebuttheaverageisapproximately8hoursperweekoverthesemester
SECTION1
ThePracticeofSociology
Tuesday6/23Sociology:InSearchofDistinction
 Bauman,ZygmatandTimMay,ThinkingSociologically“Introduction:The
DisciplineofSociology”,pp.1‐13.
 Lemert,Charles,SocialThings“Introduction”,pp.xiii‐xviii.
Thursday6/25TheSociologicalImagination
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter2“TheSociologicalImagination”pp.11‐21.
 Lipsitz,George,“ThePossessiveInvestmentinWhiteness”pp.369‐387.
SECTION2
InterpretingtheSocialWorld
Tuesday6/29KarlMarx–InterpretingCapitalism
 Marx,Durkheim,Weber:FormationsofModernSocialThought,“TheHistorical
ContextofKarlMarx’sWork”“TheGermanIdeology”pp.27‐43,“CapitalVol.1,Part
C:TheoryofSurplusValue”pp.77‐83,“Marx’sPoliticalWritings”pp.98‐100.
Thursday7/2KarlMarxContinued
 SocialTheory,“TheManifestoofClassStruggle”,pp.39‐43.
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter37“ThePowerElite”pp.400‐409.
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter39“DwellinginCapitalism,Travelingthrough
Socialism”pp.421‐433.
Tuesday7/7EmileDurkheim–InterpretingModernization
 Marx,Durkheim,Weber:FormationsofModernSocialThought,“TheHistorical
ContextofEmileDurkheim’sWork”pp.120‐128,“SegmentalandAdvancedSocieties:
TheCausesoftheDivisionofLabor”pp.138‐143,“Durkheim’sStudyofSuicide”pp.
163‐185.
Thursday7/9MaxWeber–InterpretingCulture
 ClassicalandContemporarySociologicalTheory:TextandReadings,“MaxWeber
(1864‐1920)”pp.125‐133,“IntroductiontotheProtestantEthicandtheSpiritof
Capitalism”pp.137‐140.
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter43“TheMcDonaldizationofSociety”pp.479‐495.
Tuesday7/14ErvingGoffman–InterpretingInteraction
 ClassicalandContemporarySociologicalTheory:TextandReadings,“ErvingGoffman
(1922‐1982):ABiographicalSketch”pp.467‐471,“Dramturgy:ASynthesis”pp.474‐
476,“IntroductiontoAsylums”492‐499”
Thursday7/16MichelFoucault–InterpretingKnowledge
 ClassicalandContemporarySociologicalTheory:TextandReadings,“MichelFoucault
(1926‐1984):ABiographicalSketch”(Foucault’sIntellectualInfluencesandCore
Ideas”616‐620.
SECTION3
SocialPositioning:Race,Class,GenderandBeyond
Tuesday7/21IntersectionalityandClass
 “UnequalChildhoods”,pp.1‐9
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter14“TheSaintsandtheRoughnecks”pp.130‐145
Thursday7/23Race
 TheSpiritofSociology,Chapter25“RaceMatters”,pp.260‐266
 “RacismwithRacists”,pp.1‐17.
 SocialTheory,“DoubleConsciousnessandtheVeil”pp.167‐172.
Tuesday7/28Gender
 “NighttohisDay:TheSocialConstructionofGender”pp.13‐36.
 “SexualAssaultonCampus”pp.483‐496.
Thursday7/30Review
Appendix
Mystudentswillenhancetheirsocialcriticalthinkingskills.Theseskillswillbe
advancedthroughinclassdiscussionandlearningwherewecritiquecommonsense
waysofviewingtheworld,andsystemsofpower.Iwillcheckstudentsprogresson
theseskillsthroughclassdiscussion,inclassexamsandafinalpaper,whichwilluse
criticalsocialtheorytoanalyzeacurrentsocialissue.