GENERAL INFORMATION
PROFESSOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Prof. Xu, Bin
Phone:
(305) 348-4418
Office:
SIPA 303 (MMC)
Fax:
(305) 348-0000
Office
Hours:
8-10pm, Friday (Adobe
Connector)
E-mail:
Please use Blackboard course
mail
Website:
www.binxu.net
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to sociological thinking. We will not only learn how professional sociologists think but
also use the thinking methods and concepts to analyze social phenomena in our everyday life. You are encouraged
to learn actively, think actively, and collaborate with your peers actively.
We will read two accessible and insightful books: one (Social Things) is more theoretical, and the other (The
Contexts Reader) empirical. The readings cover major concepts and theories that sociologists have developed to
think about social things as well as a variety of social phenomena, from immigration to globalization, from ADHD
medication to gender roles in family planning, from feminism to hip hop.
Every week we read 2 chapters from Social Things, about 40 pages, and two short articles from The Context
Reader, about 16 pages. The number of pages is few, but you need to read the texts very carefully to grasp the
ideas. The instructor will provide a PowerPoint file each week to summarize the major ideas, provide some
background information, and guide your reading. After read the PowerPoint file, you need to re-read the texts in
order to deepen your understanding of the topic. Keep in mind that the PowerPoint should not replace your own
reading.
You are also encouraged to think actively and discuss relevant topics in online forums. In doing so, you will work in
groups: you will work with your peers to undertake group activities. Thus, this course provides an opportunity for
you to develop your teamwork ability in addition to in-depth learning.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
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Identify and recall the trajectory of development of sociological theory.
Summarize major theories and concepts discussed in the course.
Exemplify the theories and concepts in everyday life cases and social phenomena
Evaluate the theories and concepts in empirical studies in sociology.
Develop meaningful dialogs with peers
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
POLICIES
Please review the policies page as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses
at FIU and additional information on the standards for acceptable netiquette important for online courses.
Additional Technical Requirements & Skills
NO.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
No prerequisites.
PROCTORED EXAM POLICY
Please note that the information contained in this section applies only if your course requires a
proctored exam.
It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether this online course requires a proctored midterm
and /or final exam by carefully reviewing this syllabus. For detailed instructions please visit our
Proctored Exam Resources page on the FIU Online website.
TEXTBOOK
Social Things
Charles Lemert,
Rowman & Littlefield, 2012, 5th Edition.
ISBN: 978-1-4422-1162-9
Click here to buy your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
The Contexts Reader
Douglas Hartmann and Christopher Uggen,
W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, 2nd Edition.
ISBN: 978-0-393-91232-6
Click here to buy your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COURSE
This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations
for performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses
require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more
demanding for some students.
Students are expected to:
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Review the how to get started information located in the course content
Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self introduction
in the appropriate discussion forum
Interact online with instructor/s and peers
Review and follow the course calendar
Log in to the course at least 4 times per week
Respond to discussion boards, blogs and journal postings by deadlines
Respond to emails/messages within 48 hours
Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline
The instructor will :
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Log in to the course every day
Join the online discussion and comment on students’ postings as often as possible
Respond emails/messages within 24 hours
Grade assignments within 6 days of the assignment deadline
COURSE DETAILS
COURSE COMMUNICATION
Communication in this course will take place via Blackboard communication system.
The message feature is a private, internal Blackboard only communication system. Users must log on to the
blackboard system to send/receive/read messages. There are no notifications in Blackboard to inform users when
a new message has been received; therefore, it is recommended that students check their messages routinely to
ensure up-to-date communication.
The email feature is external communication that allows users to send emails to users enrolled in the course
including the instructor and other students. Emails are sent to the student's FIU email on record.
This is the best method to communicate with your instructor privately.
DISCUSSION FORUMS
Keep in mind that forum discussions are public, and care should be taken when determining what to post.
Work Group: The class will be divided into work groups, each of which contains at most 5 members. The group is
the basic unit of completing group activity (see below). Members of the group also need to comment on each
other’s discussion posts.
Instructor (use these guidelines to populate this section)
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Response to discussion topics: You need to follow the instructions for each week and
post your response to discussion topics by corresponding deadlines.
1. Each response should be no less than 300 words.
2. Write every response as an essay, which should consist of your central point, solid
evidence, and logic coherence.
3. Responses that meet the standard and are posted by deadlines will get the full score. No
late posting will accepted.
4. In addition to automatic grading system, the instructor will look at content of the response
and comments to make they meet the requirements and if any adjustment of the grade is
needed.
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Group Activity: Every week, you need to work with your members to finish a group
activity, such as to find a video, article, and picture to share with the rest of the class. Such videos
and articles need to be accompanied by the group members’ brief discussion (no less than 400
words).
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Group cooperation and peer review of participation: You need to work with your group
members to divide the work of group activity. The instructor grade group activity as a whole, and
every member gets the same grade. But in order to reward those active members, members will
anonymously review your peers’ participation according to a rubric specified in the end of the
course.
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Deadline: specified in each week’s learning module
QUIZZES
In each week, after finish reading the textbooks and Powerpoint presentations, you will take a timed, multiplechoice quiz to make sure you can recall and identify basics of the readings.
In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the
"Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your
responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.
ADOBE CONNECT PRO MEETING
The Adobe Connect Pro Meeting is an online meeting room in which you can interact with your
Professor and fellow students by sharing your computer, screens or files, chat, broadcast live audio and
take part in other interactive online activities.
The professor will hold two virtual office hours through Adobe Connect Pro.
Requirements for using Adobe Connect Pro Meeting:
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Disable any window pop-up blocker.
Adobe Flash Player is required to successfully run your Connect Pro meeting. You can test
your computer to make sure that you are set up with all of the tools you will need to
participate in the meeting.
Use of a combination headset and microphone with USB connection is recommended to
ensure quality sound and reduce technical difficulties.
Please click here for additional information on Adobe Connect (Tutorials & Help).
FINAL EXAM
The final exam will be taking place on-campus or remotely through a certified proctoring service. The time will be
June 22. The exam will cover all the course materials.
GRADING
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
WEIGHT
Quizzes (6 quizzes, 5% each)
30%
Discussion Response (12 posts, 1.5% each)
18%
Group Activity (6 activities, 2% each)
12%
Group participation peer review
5%
Final Exam (On campus)
35%
Total
100%
LETTER
GRADE
RANGE
LETTER
GRADE
RANGE
LETTER
GRADE
RANGE
A
Above 93
B-
81-83
D+
67 - 70
A-
91 - 92
C+
77 - 80
D
64 - 66
B+
87 - 90
C
74 - 76
D-
61 - 63
B
84 - 86
C-
71 - 73
F
< 61
COURSE CALENDAR
Module Weekly Schedule
Week I May 7-May 11
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Form groups
Sign up for the group
Introduce yourself to your fellow members
Discussion division of labor among the members
Social Things: Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter2
The Context Reader: #10 “The Prescription of a New Generation”
PowerPoint file
Quiz
See discussion topics in the forum
Find an online materials about drugs and medications
1 hour
Reading texts
Review the texts
Check your understanding
Discussion and Comments
Group Activity
3 hours
2 hours
5 minutes
1.5 hours
25 minutes
Week II May 14-May 18
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Reading texts
4 hours
Social Things: Chapter 3, Chapter 4
The Context Reader: #17 “Hip Hop Culture and America’s Most
Taboo Word”; #25 “A Sociology of Bubbles”
Review the texts
PowerPoint file
2 hours
Check your understanding
Quiz
5 minutes
Discussion and Comments
See discussion topics in the forum
1.5 hours
Group Activity
Find an online materials about the Occupy Wall Street movement
25 minutes
Week III May 21-May 25
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Reading texts
4 hours
Social Things: Chapter 5, Chapter 6
The Context Reader: #11 “How Schools Really Matter”; #31 “LowCalorie Feminism”
Review the texts
PowerPoint file
2 hours
Check your understanding
Quiz
5 minutes
Discussion and Comments
See discussion topics in the forum
1.5 hours
Group Activity
Find an online materials about a Panoption-like architecture
25 minutes
Week IV May 28-June 1
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Reading texts
4 hours
Social Things: Chapter 7, Chapter 8
The Context Reader: #19 “Amidst Garbage and Poison: An Essay on
Polluted Peoples and Places”; #7 “Men Are Missing from African
Family Planning”
Review the texts
PowerPoint file
2 hours
Check your understanding
Quiz
5 minutes
Discussion and Comments
See discussion topics in the forum
1.5 hours
Group Activity
Find pollution in your neighborhood
25 minutes
Week V June 4-June 8
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Reading texts
4 hours
Social Things: Chapter 9, Chapter 10
The Context Reader: #35“Race as Class”; #60 “Permanent
Impermanence”
Review the texts
PowerPoint file
2 hours
Check your understanding
Quiz
5 minutes
Discussion and Comments
See discussion topics in the forum
1.5 hours
Group Activity
Find materials about Jeremy Lin
25 minutes
Week VI June 11-15
Activity
Materials
Estimated Work Time
Reading texts
Social Things: Chapter 11, Chapter 12
3 hours
“Seawalls Offered Little Protection Against Tsunami’s Crushing
Waves” (from New York Times)
Review the texts
PowerPoint file
1 hour
Check your understanding
Quiz
5 minutes
Discussion and Comments
See discussion topics in the forum
1.5 hours
Group Activity
Find a sociologically courageous figure
25 minutes
Week 7 June 18-21
Review and preparation for the Final