Urban Sociology (6182)
Instructor: Dr. Neema Noori
Class Time and Place: Thursdays 5:30 - 7:45pm (Pafford 202)
Office: Pafford Hall 209 A
Email address: nnoori@westga.edu
Office hours: Mondays 1-4pm, Tuesdays 9-12pm, or by appointment
Office phone: 678-839-6329
I.
Course Description
This class is a graduate-level introduction to urban sociology with a focus on major American
cities. Topics covered include segregation, urban planning and renewal, poverty, and crime.
This course will be structured as a seminar, meaning that classes will be discussion-based rather
than lecture-based.
Definition of Social Science Writing
Social science writing is formal and analytical, using concise, clear expository prose to 1.
describe, explain, report, and evaluate the outcome of research; or 2. interpret, evaluate or
discuss in a thoughtful and contemplative manner the theories or research of others. Social
Science writing contains social science content and contains clearly formulated arguments.
II.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand and Apply Sociological Theories
UWG policies
Americans with Disabilities Act
Students with a documented disability may work with UWG Accessibility Services to receive
essential services specific to their disability. All entitlements to accommodations are based on
documentation and USG Board of Regents standards. If a student needs course adaptations or
accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if he/she needs to make special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, the student should notify his/her instructor
in writing and provide a copy of his/herStudent Accommodations Report (SAR), which is
available only from Accessibility Services. Faculty cannot offer accommodations without timely
receipt of the SAR; further, no retroactive accommodations will be given.
UWG Email Policy
University of West Georgia students are provided a MyUWG e-mail account. The University
considers this account to be an official means of communication between the University and the
student. The purpose of the official use of the student e-mail account is to provide an effective
means of communicating important university related information to UWG students in a timely
manner. It is the student’s responsibility to check his or her email.
Credit Hour Policy
The University of West Georgia grants one semester hour of credit for work equivalent to a
minimum of one hour (50 minutes) of in-class or other direct faculty instruction AND two hours
of student work outside of class per week for approximately fifteen weeks. For each course, the
course syllabus will document the amount of in-class (or other direct faculty instruction) and outof-class work required to earn the credit hour(s) assigned to the course. Out-of-class work will
include all forms of credit-bearing activity, including but not limited to assignments, readings,
observations, and musical practice. Where available, the university grants academic credit for
students who verify via competency-based testing, that they have accomplished the learning
outcomes associated with a course that would normally meet the requirements outlined above
(e.g. AP credit, CLEP, and departmental exams).
University of West Georgia Honor Code
At the University of West Georgia, we believe that academic and personal integrity are based
upon honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Students at West Georgia assume
responsibility for upholding the honor code. West Georgia students pledge to refrain from
engaging in acts that do not maintain academic and personal integrity. These include, but are not
limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, aid of academic dishonesty, lying, bribery or threats,
and stealing.
The University of West Georgia maintains and monitors a confidential Academic Dishonesty
Tracking System. This database collects and reports patterns of repeated student violations
across all the Colleges, the Ingram Library, and the School of Nursing. Each incidence of
academic dishonesty is subject
IV. Course Requirements
Reaction Papers
You must write a total of 7 reaction papers over the course of the four week term; each reaction
should paper be between 2-3 pages in length. Your
Reading Discussants
Each week a group of two or more student will be appointed to present the assigned readings and
lead the class in discussion.
Essay Exams
You will be assigned two take-home essay exams over the course of the semester. Each exam is
worth 30 points.
Grading
Reaction Papers (7): 21 points
Reading Discussant: 10 points
Participation: 10
Essay Exams (2): 60
Grading Scale
A 95-100
A- 90-95
B+ 88-90
B 84-88
B- 80-84
C+ 78-80
C 74-78
C- 70-74
D 60-70
F Less < 60
V. Dates:
October 1: Essay 1 is Assigned
October 8: Essay 1 is Due
November 19: Essay 2 is Assigned
December 3: Essay 2 is Due
VI. Class Policies




Please do not attempt to carry on conversations with other students during class. Even
whispering creates a distracting buzz. Please turn off your cell phones and beepers.
To maintain an environment that is conducive to learning, no disruptions will be
tolerated. I reserve the right to expel disruptive students from the class.
Attendance is mandatory: If you miss more than three classes, you will lose two points
from your accumulated point total for each additional absence.
If you wish to use a laptop in class, you must sit near the front of the classroom (rows 12).







As discrepancies with regard to grades can occur, it is recommended that students retain
all graded materials until such time as final grades have been sent out.
PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL PAPERS.
Extra-credit or make-up work is not available in this course.
Assignments must be submitted no later than the beginning of the class scheduled on the
due date. Late work will be penalized at 10% of the total value for each day late,
beginning immediately during the class on the due date. No work will be accepted after
the last scheduled class of the semester. The instructor is not responsible for lost papers.
If you are unable to turn in the assignment personally, please your own arrangements to
have the paper submitted on your behalf. Students are strongly encouraged to keep a copy
of each assignment until final grades are recorded. Any exceptions must be approved well
in advance of the due date with the instructor.
No coursework will be accepted after the final exam.
Plagiarism is a serious infraction. Proven plagiarized work will be treated as not
submitted, resulting in an F for the course.
Permission for make-up exams/quizzes will only be granted in unusual circumstances.
To obtain permission, I need to be notified via email in advance of the day of the
exam/quiz. In the interest of fairness, make-up exams/quizzes will be more challenging
than the original.
VII. Required Textbooks
Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American
Douglas Massey, American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass
Xavier de Souza Briggs, Moving to Opportunity: The Story of an American Experiment to Fight
Ghetto Poverty
Robert Sampson, Great American City: Chicago and the Enduring Neighborhood Effect
VIII. Schedule of Lectures, Discussions, Films/Slides and Readings
Introduction
Urban Planning and Renewal
August 27
No Class
September 3
Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Chapters 1-6
September 10
Documentary on New York City
September 17
Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Chapters 7-14
September 24
Douglas Massey, American Apartheid, Chapters 1-4
*October 1
Douglas Massey, American Apartheid, Chapters 5-8
Essay 1 Assigned
Crime and Policing
*October 8
Robert Sampson, Great American City, Chapters 1-5
Essay 1 Due
October 15
Robert Sampson, Great American City, Chapters 6-9
October 22
Robert Sampson, Great American City, Chapters 10-14
October 29
Robert Sampson, Great American City, Chapters 15-17
Urban Ethnographies
November 5
Alice Goffman, On the Run, Chapters 1-3
November 12
Alice Goffman, On the Run, Chapters 4-7
November 19
Xavier de Souza Briggs, Moving to Opportunity, Chapters 1-4
Essay 2 is Assigned
November 26
Thanksgiving
December 3
Xavier de Souza Briggs, Moving to Opportunity, Chapters 5-10
Essay 2 is Due