Sociology
Syllabus Spring 2014
Ms. Fontnett
Email: _______tfontnet@houstonisd.org____________
Website: http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/58160
Textbook and Computer Resources:
Holt Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships
Personal email address (free email at yahoo.com, gmail.com, hotmail.com)
Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, students will be able to (a) demonstrate
knowledge of basic sociological concepts about social processes (e.g., socialization,
deviance, social control, stratification, etc.) and social institutions (e.g., the family,
religion, the state, etc.) ; (b) be able to apply several basic theoretical approaches to social
phenomena; (c) apply these concepts and theories to contemporary events or personal
experience; and (d) demonstrate on examinations and in writing assignments a
knowledge of cultural, class, religious, and other differences within and between
societies, as well as scientifically grounded ways to account for these differences.
Course Description: Sociology explores some of the ways in which social scientists
explain human behavior. In contrast to psychology, sociology shows how social
processes and structures and the collective experience of groups shape the way that
people live, think, and believe. In contrast to journalism, to give another example,
sociology uses the methods of science to ask and answer questions about the nature of
social life. Among some of the characteristic questions to be answered are: What makes
some people wealthy and some poor, and how does this mold peoples’ lives and views of
one another? How are adult roles developed, and how are children brought up to occupy
them? In what ways do conflicts develop between groups or subgroups, and in what ways
are these conflicts managed? How do societies come to designate some behavior as
“deviant” and what are the consequences of these deviant designations? By grappling
with questions such as these, students should develop an appreciation for the differences
between groups and an appreciation for the complexities of social life.
Course Requirements: Read and review, daily assignments, Special projects, research
paper, and exams.
Grading: Based on total possible points
Task
Percentage
Tests/Exams
40%
Lab/Activities/Quizzes
30%
Daily / Homework
20%
Non-Academic (Participation & time
10%
mgmt)
Total
100%
LATE WORK POLICY
“The penalty for not doing the work is doing the work.” –Rosalind Barley All
assignments will be turned in and assessed prior to the end of grade collection each six
weeks. The Non-Academic category will be used to grade students on the participation
and/or time-management aspect of assignments. To use this category correctly, think in
these terms: any assignment given outside of class, or one which requires group
participation, will receive two (2) grades in GradeSpeed. The first grade will be added
based on actual assessment and student understanding. The second grade will be added
to the Non-Academic category based on criteria such as participation or the number of
days late the assignment was turned in. Late work in the Non-Academic category will be
graded according to the following criteria:
1 Business day late
maximum grade of 80
2 Business days late
maximum grade of 75
3 Business days late
maximum grade of 50
> 3 Business Days late
Grade of zero
MAKE-UP WORK
Students who are absent due to illness are not expected to complete schoolwork during
their illness. If a student misses only one day of school, they will have two business
days to make-up the work. After the first day, students will have one day for every
subsequent absence to make up the work. Religious holidays are excused absences.
Schedule:
Week 1-3:
Unit 1: Culture and Social Structure, social life, sociological imagination,
points of view, cultural diversity, cultural conformity.
Week 4-Week 6:
Part II: Individuals in society, socialization, society and social interaction, the
adolescent in society, the adult in society, groups and organization, crime and
criminal justice, and deviance.
Week 7- Week 10:
Part III: Social inequalities, social class and social stratification, global
stratification, race and ethnic relations, gender, age, and health inequalities.
Week 11- Week 14
Part IV: Social institutions, families, education, religion, economy and work,
power, politics and authority.
Week 15-Week 18
Part V: The Changing Social World, population, urbanization and environment,
collective behavior and social movement, social change in global perspective, and
modernization.
My signature below acknowledges I have read and understand the course syllabus and
ALL requirements for Sociology.
Printed name: ____________________________________
Signature: _______________________________________
Parent Name: ____________________________________
Parent Signature: __________________________________
Date: __________________________________________