Introduction to Sociology
Syllabus
Spring 2008
Instructor:
Pam Flaherty
Campus Phone: 916- 650-2940
Dept. Office Phone: 558-2401
Office Hours M, W 1pm, T, TH 2:30-3:30pm, and by apt. Office RS282
E-Mail Address: flaherp@scc.losrios.edu
Mailbox in RN 226
Text:
Macionis, John. 2007. Ninth edition Society-the basics. Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Course
Objectives: Sociology is the study of social life. It provides the context for a fascinating
inquiry into the world around us. This inquiry demands a critical eye, and yet
we live so much of our lives without ever questioning the common reality we
experience every day.
This course addresses the need to see our world from a sociological perspective.
By developing the sociological imagination we will learn to ask questions, to
become scientific in our answers, and to enrich our understanding of our own
lives. What are the social forces that create inequality? What determines an
individual's life chances? Why do our lifestyles and culture change?
We will learn about the concepts, language and research used to explore the
scientific study of society, sociology. We will learn about the challenges and
major problems of living in an advanced industrial society and gain a deeper
understanding of our "social landscape."
Grades:
Students may check on grade progress any time during the semester, by apt.
Each student will also receive a midterm progress report. Approximate
points:
 Attendance
50
points
 Class Participation/Pop Quizzes
100
points
 4 Doing Sociology Assignments
100
points
 3 Exams
150
points
 Comprehensive Final Exam
75
points
 Total
470
points
 Extra Credit
up to 30 pt.s
As a per cent of total points A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C= 70-79%, D= 60-69%, F below 60%
 Attendance: Required. A seating chart will be used. Each student starts with 50
attendance points and loses 5pt.s for each unexcused absence. (Excused absences must be
verified by a Dr. s excuse, counselor etc.) Students are expected to call the instructor and
report absences before the class that they are about to miss.
Class participation, pop quizzes etc., cannot be made up under any circumstances.
You will receive your average-assignment, class participation grade for each excused absence, to
be calculated at the end of the semester.



Class Participation: This is a “hands-on” class. Students who participate regularly, often
receive high grades in this class. Class participation papers (based on class activities) will
be called for frequently and can be turned in only at the conclusion of that day’s class.
Note that there will be No make-ups of class participation work under ANY
circumstances, including excused absences.
 Class participation papers will be spot-checked. They are designed to help reinforce
conceptual ideas discussed in class. Points will be awarded for class participation papers
on a random basis by class activity. Many class participation papers can be used to help
prepare for exams. There will be no way to make up class participation points even with a
counselor’s release. As described in the Attendance Section, I will take a point average of
class participation scores for excused absences.
 Tardiness: Students who are tardy will enter the room as unobtrusively as possible and
sit in a designated late seat area. Please note the Student Etiquette Guide attached to your
syllabus. Since attendance is taken at the beginning of the class period, you will be
marked absent if you are not in your assigned seat when attendance is taken. See the
instructor after class for partial credit. If you miss a class activity, quiz etc. due to
tardiness, it will be treated as though you were absent.
 Reading Note Cards: You may use Reading Note Cards on all examinations. You can
use up to one 4X6" card, both sides, written in your own handwriting, for each chapter
covered on the exam. The cards will be collected at the beginning of the class period that
the reading is due (usually a Tuesday) and returned to you to use on the exam. Reading
note cards will NOT be accepted after they are collected in class, under any
circumstances, including excused absences. You may turn cards in before they are due,
but not after they are collected. You can also mail them (postmark on day they are due)
which works for students who have completed the cards by the day they are due but for
some reason, cannot deliver them in class the day they are due.
Preparing the reading material in advance of class discussion and pop quizzes is
designed to help you with the concepts. You must be able to organize the chapter material
and synthesize it to reflect important issues and concepts. Rather than record definitions
of concepts, it is recommended that you think about concepts and write out examples on
your cards.
Examinations: There will be a total of four examinations including the final. You will be
able to use your "legal" reading note cards on the exams as described above.
All Exam make-ups (with approved absences only) will be arranged with the
instructor by appointment and are often oral exams. To be eligible for a make-up
you must have prior approval (by phone message or email) and the exam must be
rescheduled within one week of the regular scheduled exam.
Doing Sociology Assignments:
Four (4) Doing Sociology (DS) assignments are required. They must be turned in
on their respective due dates, as noted in the syllabus. Doing Sociology assignments will
be verbally assigned by the instructor in class. If you are absent you will need to get the
assignment from another student or meet with the instructor during office hours or by
appointment. Some DS assignments require less time than others but most require one to
one and one-half hours of outside time. If you have an idea for “Doing Sociology” you
are encouraged to present it to the instructor. Perhaps you might choose to do two of one
type of experiment. These assignments offer you an opportunity to explore sociology in
personally satisfying and creative ways.
**Extra Credit: Students may earn ten points for sociological film application papers.
You may select a film and apply sociological concepts in a two-page typed paper.
Sociological film application papers are limited to three papers for a total of thirty points.
All papers must be turned in by the Thursday after Spring Break, 3/27/08.
Student Conduct: All regulations from the SCC Student Code of Conduct and
suggestions from the Etiquette Guide attached to your syllabus will be adhered to in this
class.
CLASS CALENDAR
*Note: All reading assignments are to be completed BEFORE the date on the calendar.
Week 1- What is Sociology? What is the sociological imagination? How do we study
society? How do we make sense of social life? The benefits of asking the right questions.
1/22/08
Overview of the course. Critical thinking exercise.
1/24/08
Week 2-
What is sociology? Study strategies for Soc 300
DS1 Social Location Assigned Due 2/5/08 Tuesday
What tools do sociologists use to study society?
1/29/08
CH 1 Perspective, Theory and Method
1/31/08
Week 3-
Methods and ethics, "value-free" sociology
The Concept of Culture
2/5/08
2/7/08
CH 2 Culture DS1 Social Location due today.
DS2 Telephone/Elevator Experiment Reflection Paper Due 2/12/08
Values, beliefs and a "Material World"
Week 4- Social Experience--the Key to Our Humanity
2/12/08
2/14/08
CH 3 Socialization Is it nature or nurture? DS2 Due Today
EXAM 1 (CH 1,2,3)
Week 5- How do people construct social reality?
2/19/08
CH 4 Social Interaction in Everyday Life
role, status, performance
2/21/08
Body language, embarrassment, tact, and
The social construction of humor, emotions and gender
Week 6- How is modern society organized ?
2/26/08
CH 5 Groups and Organizations
2/28/08
Formal organizations and the "McDonaldization" of society
Week 7--How does society shape and control our sexual behavior?
3/04/08
CH 6 Sexuality and Society
Sexual controversies and inequalities
Sociologists look at the issue of abortion
3/06/08
CH7 Deviance: the social construction
Week 8-- How do societies determine what is deviant?
3/11/08
CH 7 Deviance
Labeling theory and medicine
3/13/08
EXAM 2 (CH 4,5,6,7)
Spring Break 3/17-2/21/08
Week 9-- Why does social inequality exist?
3/25/08
CH 8 Social Stratification
DS3 "The Uses of Poverty; the Poor Pay All" Herbert Gans Due
4/01/08
3/27/08
The difference class makes ALL EXTRA CREDIT DUE TODAY
Week 10-What difference does gender make?
4/01/08
CH 10 Gender Stratification DS3 DueToday
4/03/08
How is gender a creation of society? Intersection Theory
Week 11-How are race and ethnicity socially constructed?
4/08/08
CH11 Race and Ethnicity
DS4 Bogardus Social Distance Due 4/15/08
4/10/08
Race: the Power of an Illusion (film)
Week 12
How do Native Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans
Experience life in the United States?
4/15/08
CH 11 continued DS 4 Due Today
Minority populations
4/17/08
EXAM 3 (CH 8,10,11)
Week 13
Week 14
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: How do societies use institutions to meet
societal needs? Family, Religion, Education and Medicine
CH 13 Family and Religion Pages 375-377, Pages 391-394
CH 14 Education, Health and Medicine Pages 413-420 and Pages 440-443
Are families changing?
Bring text to class. We will review significant graphs and research.
4/29/08
5/01/08
Demography
Environment
Week 15
5/6/08
5/8/08
Week 16
5/13/08
Triggers and Consequences of Social Change
Social Change Dynamics
Final Review Part I
Putting it all together
Final Review Part II
4/22/08
4/24/08