INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Fall 2014
SOC 105 013 TR 12:30pm-1:45pm RL AUD
INSTRUCTOR:
Stephen McNamee, Ph.D.
OFFICE:
230 Bear Hall
OFFICE HOURS:
TR 2:00-4::00pm and other times by appointment or by
E-MAIL:
mcnamee@uncw.edu
PHONE NUMBERS:
OFFICE: 962-7413; HOME: 763-2160
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT:
Blair Yates, B.A.
TA E-Mail:
bvy5451@uncw.edu
TA OFFICE:
201 D Bear Hall
chance
Course Materials:
1. Text: Society: The Basics. (2014) by John Macionis. 13th Edition. Boston: Pearson.
2. MY SOC LAB : This is an online resource contains access to additional readings assigned for
this course and includes a variety of learning tools and study guides including practice tests,
flash cards, videos on key concepts, and links to supplemental readings, demonstrations,
exercises, and web sites. To access this resource you will need an access code. An access
code for My SOC LAB is packaged with new textbooks purchased at the UNCW bookstore. If
you are buying your book elsewhere, you can still purchase supplemental access to this
resource on line. After you obtain an access code you will also need a course identification
code. To register for MY SOC LAB go to: http://www.mysoclab.com/
The course name is SOC 105 and the course identification code is: mcnamee33998.
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to Introduction to Sociology. This course is about why people behave the way they do and why
society is the way it is. In short, sociology is the scientific study of society and social behavior. The
"society" part of sociology has to do with social issues and the organization of society as a whole. The
"social" part of sociology has to do with how people act with and toward one another.
Sociology examines a wide range of social circumstances, from the briefest of encounters between two
individuals to social change occurring among nations over centuries. The central insight of sociology is
that we are who we are largely because of the groups to which we belong. Although we like to think of
ourselves as rugged individualists, no one is free from the influence of groups, including society as a
whole.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Just as it is important for every college educated person to know something about the physical world we
live in (natural sciences), it is also important for every college-educated person to know something
about the social world we live in (social sciences). In general, my goal for you is to become more
informed and sophisticated about the social world as a result of completing this course. At a practical
level, a sophisticated understanding of the social world will help you to navigate and negotiate your way
within social space. In other words, if you are going to “work” the system, then you should know how
the system “works.” Specifically, the goals of this course are:
1. Students will learn the basic terminology, concepts, and theoretical approaches in sociology.
2. Students will learn to recognize and understand sociological methods of research and how they differ
from non-scientific processes.
3. Students will learn to apply scientific principles to specific myths and common sense understandings
in society.
4. Students will learn to develop critical thinking skills in consuming information from the government,
media, and other sources.
5. Students will learn to apply the processes and results of sociological analysis to issues and problems in
the larger society
MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS:
What you can expect from me:
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Class starting on time and ending on time
Prepared for every class
Material presented in an understandable and interesting way
Willingness to entertain questions and different points of view
Reasonable turnaround on returning tests and assignments
Fair and impartial grading
Honesty and integrity
Prompt reply to email
Treat you with respect and courtesy
Individual assistance upon request
In return, what I expect from you:
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Come to class regularly and on time
Come to class prepared
Be attentive and engaged
Complete assignments when they are due
Solid preparation for tests
Honesty and integrity
Check your university email regularly
Treat other students and me with respect and courtesy
Seek assistance when you need it
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
Your final grade for the course will be based on the following:
First Test
Second Test
Third Test
Fourth Test (Final)
Application Assignments
TOTAL
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
100%
Tests:
The tests will cover material from both the readings and class presentations/activities.
You are responsible for all the assigned material in the text including that which is not
covered in class as well as material presented in class above and beyond what is
included in the texts. The format for the tests will be multiple choice.
A general rule of thumb is that one-third of the test material comes from the readings
not covered in class, one-third from material presented in class that is not covered in
the readings, and one third is reinforcement between the two.
In short, there are no short-cuts; you have to get to both the readings and classroom
presentations to be adequately prepared for tests.
Each test covers roughly one-fourth of the material for the course. Each test covers a
separate section of material; the fourth test is the final exam.
Make-Up Tests:
You are expected to take tests on the assigned days.
Make up tests are given only if you (a) have just cause (e.g. hospitalization, court
subpoena), (b) notify me in advance, and (c) provide written documentation. All make
up tests will be essay format and are given on reading day prior to the final exam period.
Application Assignments:
You are required to complete four application assignments. These take-home
assignments give you the opportunity to “do” sociology beyond just hearing or reading
about it. For each assignment, you will complete a typed two to four page double
spaced written report (approximately 250 to 1,000 words). Instructions for each
assignment are posted on the Blackboard site for this course. The reports should be
written in complete sentence and paragraph form using correct grammar. Each report
is worth a total of five points toward your final grade. The reports will be graded on the
basis of completeness, specificity, interpretation and organization. Especially important
will be your ability to apply sociological concepts and theories. Hard copies of your
reports are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated in the course outline
below. One point will be deducted for each day a report is late.
Class Attendance and Participation:
Regular attendance and participation is essential in this course. If you are not in class
you will miss important material not covered in the readings including lectures, class
discussions, demonstrations, films, etc.. As indicated above, tests are drawn heavily
from material presented in class beyond what is in the textbook so it is in your interest
to attend every class. In short, you are expected to attend class regularly, actively
participate in class discussions, and complete reading assignments when they are due.
In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, you are entitled to two excused absences for
religious observances per academic year. You must inform me in writing the first week
of class if you will be missing any classes due to religious observance and using one of
the two permissible absences for the academic year. In addition, please inform the
Registrar the first week of class who will then confirm your intentions to miss class with
the impacted course instructors. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered
unexcused unless you submit the request in writing the first week to me and the
Registrar.
By enrolling in this class, you are contracting for your availability to otherwise attend
class during the scheduled class times and to be available for the scheduled final exam.
If you are not otherwise available for those scheduled times, then you should not enroll
in this course.
NOTE: There is no provision for extra credit in this course.
Power Point Notes
I use Power Point in this class for most the lectures; however, I will not post or distribute the
slides. You need to be present to take notes from them. The slides are used to aid the flow of
class presentations and provide a general template for your notes but by no means are meant to
represent the entirety of your notes or the material presented.
Grading:
Your grade for this course is entirely performance driven based on your demonstrated
comprehension, understanding, retention, and command of the material presented in
this course. I use the "criterion" system of grading which means that if you demonstrate
a certain level of knowledge of the material, then you earn the appropriate grade.
There is no fixed “curve” as such. In other words, I do not have a "quota" of As, Bs, Cs
and so on. Theoretically, if everyone performs at A level (or F level), then everyone
earns an A grade (or F) as appropriate, although in practice either of these scenarios is
highly unlikely. This means that you are not in direct competition with each other for
grades. Instead, you are in competition with yourself in terms of how well you learn the
material from the course. I use a ten point grading scale with 90s=A, 80s=B, 70s=C,
60s=D, and below 60=F. If you score within those ranges, then you earn at least that
letter grade. In other words, I will not “curve” down. However, I do reserve the right to
“curve” upward to adjust for degree of difficulty. I reserve the option to use +/- grades
at my discretion as circumstances warrant.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and CIVILITY
Freedom of expression is actively encouraged in this class. I strongly believe that the university
is and ought to be the marketplace of ideas and I encourage vigorous academic and scholarly
debate. Debate on ideas and issues is part of the learning process but personal or ad hominem
attacks will not be tolerated.
As an institution of higher learning, the University of North Carolina Wilmington represents a
rich diversity of human beings among its faculty, staff, and students and is committed to
maintaining a campus environment that values that diversity. Accordingly, the university
supports policies, curricula, and co-curricular activities that encourage understanding of and
appreciation for all members of its community and will not tolerate any harassment or
disrespect for persons because of race, gender, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed,
religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, or relationship to other
university constituents.
Other rude or discourteous behavior that is disruptive to others’ ability to focus and concentrate
or is disruptive of the learning process such as coming to class late, leaving early, or talking to
classmates outside of authorized classroom discussion periods, or engaging in any other nonclassroom activity during class will also not be tolerated. Let’s work together to create a positive
learning environment in which all class members’ comments and interests are listened to and
respected.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Please silence your cell phone and do not make calls, access applications or text during class. If
you have a personal, urgent matter for which you need to be on call, please let me know in
advance. In addition, please do not have active any PDAs or laptops/netbooks/iPads or other
electronic devices open and active during class. There is one exception to this general rule. If
you have a documented disability that requires such devices then see me in advance and I will
make the appropriate accommodation.
YOUR UNCW E-MAIL ADDRESS:
I may send announcements, updates, and other information related to this course to your
official UNCW e-mail address. It is your responsibility to check your UNCW e-mail address
regularly. A common problem is a “full mailbox” so make sure that your mailbox doesn’t
become filled.
STUDENT HONOR CODE:
Please note that in this course I expect you to abide by the policies on academic integrity as set
forth in Section V of the UNCW Student Handbook and Code of Student Life which prohibits
cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty including any unauthorized
collaboration or assistance on any text, assignment, or project.
SAFETY:
UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind. For
emergencies contact Campus Police at 962-2222, UNCW CARE (Collaboration for Assault,
Response and Education) at 962-2273 or Wilmington Police at 911.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED STUDENTS:
I am happy to make appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities as specified in
federal regulations. If you have a disability and need accommodation please follow this
procedure. First, contact and register with the Office of Disability Services (962-7555 DePaolo
Hall). Second, obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter and then make arrangements to
speak with me. Assistance will be gladly provided based on the recommendations of the Office
of Disability Services and our mutual agreement.
HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS COURSE:
There is no secret or magical formula for doing well in this course. The strategy for doing well in
this course is the same as it is for most other courses that you take at the college level. In order
to establish an ‘A’ pace for this course, you should therefore:
1.
Carefully and thoroughly read and study the assigned material when it is due. “Reading
over” the assigned material is NOT good enough. You should notate and outline assigned
reading material as you read it. If there are any parts of the reading that you do not
understand or feel that you need additional elaboration or clarification, then you should
raise the appropriate questions in class or arrange to see me during office hours to go over
any parts of the assigned material that you do not understand. The rule of thumb for ‘A’
level pace in a college course is that you should spend at least one to two hours of
homework preparation for every one hour of class time.
2.
Attend class regularly, be attentive, take good notes, and actively participate in class
activities and discussions. Getting someone else’s class notes for classes you miss is NOT
good enough. If you are not in class, you will miss important material not covered in the
readings including lectures, class discussions, demonstrations, exercises, films, etc that will
be included on the tests. If you are in it for the ‘A’ then you need to be there and actively
participate to get full benefit. Also, getting someone else’s notes for classes you miss is a
poor substitute for not being there yourself. People write notes to themselves, not to a
generalized audience. Notes are taken in order to jar your memory of what material was
presented in class. If you were not there in the first place, you have no memory to jar. What
might make sense to other students taking notes for themselves may make no sense to you.
Also, you can not presume that the person who took notes “for you” recorded the
information accurately or completely.
3.
Know about the forest and the trees. Knowing just the “main points” is NOT good
enough. I expect all students who pass the course to get the general ideas and the main
points (forest). However, if you are in it for the ‘A,’ then I expect that you have both breath
(forest) and depth (trees) of understanding of the material. Obviously, you don’t need to
“know” every detail but your knowledge and understanding of the material should be deep
enough so that you will be able to determine which details are important.
4.
Take adequate time to make final preparations for tests. Cramming is NOT good enough.
There is no quick substitute for keeping up with the readings and spending adequate time
studying throughout the semester. If you are unsure about how to go about preparing for
tests, you should see me in office hours during the course. Do not wait to the end of the
course to see me if you are struggling with the material or assignments. You can also
consult my study skills handout on taking college level examinations (see “Study Skills
Handout” listed below under the section on “Other Resources”) and make full use of the MY
SOC LAB student resource materials.
OTHER RESOURCES:
In addition to your text and your classnotes, there are several other resources available to assist
you to help you in this course.
1.
Office Hours:
I am happy to see you on a one-to-one basis during my office hours, or by appointment,
or by chance. I encourage you to stop by my office throughout the semester. I
encourage you to see me for extra help, to follow up on points raised in class, or just to
stop in and chat. In addition, I am happy to answer questions after class. Unless I have
to dash off to some meeting somewhere immediately after class, I will usually be the
last person to exit the classroom in case anyone wants to follow up with me after class.
I especially encourage you to see me if you experience any difficulty in the class or if you
do poorly on a particular test so we can develop a study plan and discuss ways for you
to improve.
2.
Teaching Assistant
Blair Yates is the graduate teaching assistant for this class. She is available to meet with
you and assist you in meeting your learning objectives for the course. Her contact
information is listed on the front of this syllabus.
3.
E-Mail:
I encourage you to stay in touch with me through e-mail (mailto:mcnamee@uncw.edu).
You can ask questions and/or make comments, observations, or suggestions regarding
any aspect of the course throughout the semester. I usually check my e-mail several
times a day so you can ordinarily expect a prompt reply.
4.
Study Skills Handout
This is a brief three-page handout on how to prepare for college-level
examinations. It provides tips on how to study efficiently and effectively.
You can access it by clicking on the subtitle for this section.
5.
MY SOC LAB
This is an online resource that is packaged with most new textbooks. If you are getting a
used book, you can still get access to this resource at an additional cost. It includes a
variety of learning tools including practice tests, chapter outlines, videos on key
concepts, and links to supplemental readings, demonstrations, exercises, and web sites.
You can access it by clicking on the subtitle for this section.
6.
The Learning Center
The Learning Center (962-7857-DePaolo Hall) offers a variety of academic services to
students including individual tutoring, study skills, writing, computational, and test
taking skills. All of these services are available to you as part of your regular tuition.
7.
Student Counseling Center
The Student Counseling Center (962-3746-DePaolo Hall) offers a variety of services to
students including stress management, counseling, and special services for students
with learning disabilities. These services are available to you as part of your regular
tuition.
COURSE OUTLINE
The following page is a tentative outline of readings and test dates for the course. Depending on how
well we keep pace with the schedule, I may make adjustments as we go along. You are expected to
complete the reading assignments on the dates they are due unless changes are otherwise announced
in class.
The amount of reading is modest for a college class. The tradeoff is that I expect that you get to the
readings that are assigned in a thorough and careful manner. I expect that you thoroughly and carefully
read and study each assigned reading. You should outline, take notes, and review each of the readings
as they are assigned.
DATE
TOPIC
ASSIGNMENT
AUG 21
Welcome and Introduction
AUG 26
The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1
AUG 28
The Promise (Mills)
My Soc Lab
SEPT 2
Culture
Chapter 2
SEPT 4
Body Ritual Among the Nacirema (Minor)
My Soc Lab
SEPT 9
Socialization
Chapter 3
Application Assignment # 1 DUE
SEPT 11
Final Note on Extreme Isolation (Davis and
Moore)
My Soc Lab
SEPT 16
FIRST TEST
STUDY !!!
SEPT 18
Social Interaction
Chapter 4
SEPT 23
Presentation of Self (Goffman)
My Soc Lab
SEPT 25
Groups and Organizations
Chapter 5
SEPT 30
The McDonalization of Society (Ritzer)
My Soc Lab
Application Assignment # 2 DUE
OCT 2
Deviance
Chapter 6
OCT 7
The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison
(Reiman)
My Soc Lab
OCT 9
SECOND TEST
STUDY!!!
OCT 13-14
Fall Break!!!!
OFF!!!
OCT 16
Social Stratification
Chapter 8
OCT 21
The Meritocracy Myth (McNamee and Miller)
WEB reading
OCT 23
Race Stratification
Chapter 11
OCT 28
Color-Blind Privilege (Gallager)
My Soc Lab
Application Assignment #3 DUE
OCT 30
Gender Stratification
Chapter 10
NOV 4
Sex Segregation in the U.S. Labor Force (Bose
and Waley)
My Soc Lab
NOV 6
THIRD TEST
STUDY!!!
NOV 11
Economics and Politics
Chapter 12
NOV 13
Campaign Finance (Liptak)
My Soc Lab
NOV 18
Family and Religion
Chapter 13
NOV 20
The Way We Weren’t: The Myth and the
Realty of the Traditional Family (Coontz)
My Soc Lab
Application Assignment #4 DUE
NOV 25
Population, Urbanization, and Environment
Chapter 15
NOV 27-28
Thanksgiving Break
OFF!
DEC 2
Sixteen Impacts of Population Growth
(Brown, Gardner, and Hamel)
My Soc Lab
DEC 11
FINAL (FOURTH TEST): 11:30am-2:00pm
STUDY !!!
CONCLUDING NOTE:
Sociology is a fun and fascinating subject. I hope you enjoy the class and benefit from it.