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.