Instructor: Alejandro Angee, Ph.D.
Office: 3506-3 Phone: (305) 237 3180 Email: aangee@mdc.edu
Web : http://faculty.mdc.edu/aangee
Office Hours: Monday: 2:00PM to 5:00PM
Tuesday and Thursday: 10:15AM to 11:00AM
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 2:00PM to 4:00PM
Course Description
This course offers an introduction to sociology as a way of understanding complex social, political, and economic phenomena in the world. Sociology is a field of study that focuses on social structures, social forces, and group interactions. Specifically, this course will concentrate on several important sociological topics such as culture, the social construction of knowledge, “race,” gender, and economic inequality, as well as political sociology.
Course Objectives
Sociologist Peter L. Berger saw sociology as a debunking perspective – that is, looking at things from different ways in which people traditionally see the world. This is one of the major objectives for this class, where combining and developing critical thinking skills are applied to the understanding of major themes in society.
Thus, by the end of the class, students should be able to:
1.
Understand the main sociological theoretical perspectives
2.
Apply these perspectives to contemporary social problems
3.
Develop insight into the critical link between social structure and individual circumstances
4.
Acquire analytical skills for understanding and evaluating social phenomena and the interactions from which they emerge.
Class Policy for Lecture and Discussion
Class lectures will result from ideas and materials associated with textbook concepts, films, and assigned readings. Thus, lectures are intended to improve your understanding of the readings and topics covered in the class. A great deal of classroom time will be dedicated to group discussion; consequently, students MUST
KEEP UP WITH THE WEEKLY READINGS and actively participate in class.

Required Textbook: Intro to Sociology, by Henry L. Tishler, 11 th Edition.
Power Points, Lectures and Class Discussions
Weekly power points are available at http://faculty.mdc.edu/aangee . It is recommended that students download and print them to facilitate the note-taking process. Because not everything will come from the book, I highly recommend that you take notes during class discussions/lectures.
Grading Policy and Procedures
There will be a book analysis worth 20 points. You will have a choice between two different books. As you read, you will be required to answer a series of questions and then prepare a packet containing all the answer sheets as well as a final evaluation of the book. This assignment accounts for 20% of your total grade.
There will be 6 essay home works. These consist of responses to a series of readings associated with the content for each week and are worth 30% of your total grade. Essays should be one full sheet, typed and doubled spaced, using 11 pt. font size with Just your name and title on the header.
4/15/2020

There will be 8 open-book, take-home quizzes during the semester. These are worth 5 points each, or 40% of your total grade. The take home activities are based on the reading that is due for that particular week and are composed of true and false or multiple choice questions. Late activities will lose 1 point for every day they are late.
There will be 10 points for attendance and participation. You are allowed 6 (excused/unexcused) absences without penalty. Any additional absence will result in the loss of 5 points from the total allocated. The other five points come from your participation in class; thus, you must be prepared to discuss weekly readings and ideas during the semester.
The breakdown of your final grade is as follows:
Item Points
Essays 6X(5pts)
Book Analysis
Angel Quizzes 8X(5pts)
Attendance/Participation
Total
30
20
40
10
100
A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 59 and below
Course/Departmental Policies

Semester deadlines and important dates can be found at: www.mdc.edu/main/academics/academic_calendar.asp

Students with Disabilities or Special Needs: Please let me know if you need any special accommodations.

Academic Honesty: Students that are found responsible for academic misconduct, will be subject to the
Academic Misconduct Procedures and Sanctions outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities
Handbook: www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf

If You Miss a Class: Please do not email your professor to ask if you “missed something important” the day you were absent! Surely you missed something important! Please follow your syllabus closely, download the power points from the website, and call or ask a classmate if you need the notes for that day.
o Please note that I will not take any assignments through email. If you are not coming to class, you must make arrangements to get the assignment into me, in paper.

Cell Phone Policy: ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONE USE IS ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM. ANY
USE OF CELLPHONES OR TEXTING IN THE CLASS WILL RESULT IN THE AUTOMATIC LOSS
OF 5 POINTS FROM THE PARTICIPATION GRADE AND MAY RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM
THE CLASSROOM IF BEHAVIOR CONTINUES AFTER FAIR WARNING!!!!
Student Learning Outcomes at MDC
According to the Miami Dade College’s Learning Outcomes website, “Miami Dade College Learning Outcomes are learning goals that emphasize the lifelong skills needed to be successful in work and life and to participate in our society as a global citizen.” At MDC, these Learning Outcomes are developed and used across the spectrum of educational and co-curricular activities that make up the students’ major courses of study
(www.mdc.edu/learningoutcomes).
As graduates of Miami Dade College, students will be able to:

Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.

Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.

Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.

Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.

Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.

Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.

Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.

Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.

Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.
2

Semester Schedule
PART 1 – THE STUDY OF SOCIETY
Week 1
1/04
Introduction to class:
What the heck is sociology anyway?

Review syllabus and class assignments

Clarify expectations for class and instructor
The Sociological Perspective

Film: Born into Brothels
Week 2
1/11
The Sociological Perspective II

Film: Born into Brothels
PART 2 – THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY
Week 3
1/18
Culture

Class Lecture and Discussion
*** Monday, January 18, MLK DAY, No Class ***
Week 4
1/25
Week 5
2/01
Socialization and Social Interaction

Class Lecture and Discussion
Social groups and Deviant Behavior

Class Lecture and Discussion
Week 6
2/8
PART 3 – SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Week 7
2/15
Class Stratification

Class Lecture and Discussion

Film: Waging a living
* Monday, February 15, President’s Day, No Class *
Week 8
2/22
Week 9
3/29
Class Stratification (continued)

Class Lecture and Discussion
Race and Ethnicity

Class Lecture and Discussion
Week 10
3/07
Gender Stratification

Film: The Light in her Eyes
Week 11
3/14
PART 4 – INSTITUTIONS AND GLOBALIZATION
Week 12
3/21
Marriage and Alternative Family Arrangements

Class Lecture and Discussion
Film: Every Good Marriage Begins with Tears
*** No Class on 3/25 ***
Week 13
3/28
Religion

Class Lecture and Discussion

Film: Unwelcome; The Muslims Next Door
Week 14
4/04
Week 15
4/11
Education

Class Lecture and Discussion

Film: Time for School 3
Political and Economic Systems

Class Lecture and Discussion

Film: Without the King
TBA Week 16
4/18

READ: Tischler, chapter 1

READ: C. Wright Mills,
The Sociological imagination

ESSAY 1: The Sociological
Imagination

READ: Tischler, chapter 3

ANGEL QUIZ 1

ESSAY 2: Queer Customs

Read: Tischler, chapter 4

Read: Tischler, chapter 7

Read: Tischler, chapter 8

ANGEL QUIZ 2

ESSAY 3:
Media and Class

Read: Tischler, chapter 10

ANGEL QUIZ 3

ESSAY 4: Radiolab on Race

Read: Tischler, chapter 11

ANGEL QUIZ 4

ESSAY 5: Why the gays came out

Read: Tischler, chapter 12

ANGEL QUIZ 5

Read: Tischler, chapter 13

ANGEL QUIZ 6

ESSAY 6: Muslims Next Door

Read: Tischler, chapter 14

ANGEL QUIZ 7

Read: Tischler, chapter 15

ANGEL QUIZ 8
3