SOC 1: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
________________________________________________________________________
CRN: 30442
Class Day: Tuesday & Thursday
Class Room: COB 102
Class Time: 3:00-4:15 PM
________________________________________________________________________
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
E-Mail:
Kyle Dodson
COB 337
Thursday, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (or by appointment)
kdodson2@ucmerced.edu
Teaching Assistants:
Katie Butterfield (kbutterfield@ucmerced.edu)
Katie Daniels (kdaniels2@ucmerced.edu)
Michael Eissinger (meissinger@ucmerced.edu)
Ashley Metzger (ametzger@ucmerced.edu)
Course Description:
The “sociological imagination” provides a useful framework for exploring the causes and
consequences of social behavior. During the semester, we will take this framework and
apply it to a variety of topics, including racial inequality, education, and social change.
In so doing, you will become acquainted with the terms and concepts that are central to
sociology as well as some of the unique insights provided by the discipline. Ultimately, I
hope this class equips you with some of the tools that sociologists use in understanding
our society.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Think critically about the causes and consequences of social inequality: In this class
you will learn how systems of privilege organized around gender, race, class, and
sexual orientation structure the world in which you live.
2. Explain and apply the major theoretical perspectives: The class addresses some of the
major theoretical paradigms within sociology, and helps you to develop multiple
ways of understanding the same issue.
3. Be able to use your sociological education outside the classroom: The ultimate goal of
this course is to help you—even if this is the one sociology course you ever take—to
apply sociology to the rest of your schooling, future career, and everyday life.
Course Requirements:
Required Text:
Ferguson, Susan J. 2013. Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology.
Toronto: Mc-Graw Hill. 7th Edition.
You are expected to read all assigned readings before they are listed for class. If you
have any questions regarding these readings, please email or meet with me. You will be
responsible for the material covered in the readings as well as lecture material.
We will spend some time each day addressing the assigned material. Therefore, you
should come to class prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. Anticipate
spending 1-3 hours in study for every hour spent in class meetings.
Discussion Sections:
I expect all students to attend discussion sections, be on time, not leave early, and be
prepared to engage in discussion. If you have more than three unexcused discussion
absences, I will drop you from the class. The ONLY exception to this policy is for
religious observance, a serious medical condition, or a family emergency. Attendance
will be taken during discussion sections, as attendance (actually being there) is a
necessary first step for participation. TA’s will keep a record of your attendance and
participation, as it will determine 10% of your overall grade.
Lecture Attendance:
I expect all students to attend class, be on time, not to leave early and be prepared by
reading the assigned material. I do not grade on the basis of attendance. That said,
students who attend lecture generally perform better on exams than students who miss
class. Under no circumstances will I or the TAs provide lecture notes or lecture slides.
Exams:
There will be three, multiple-choice exams in this course (October 2, November 6, and
December 11). Exams will cover lecture material as well as all of the reading material,
even if it was not discussed in class. The exams will not be cumulative with respect to the
topics covered in each test, but they will build on your knowledge of sociological
perspectives and methods.
Make-ups:
Make-up exams will not be given. The only exceptions to this policy are extreme and
unusual circumstances, and these must be documented. If you cannot take the exam for
some reason, you must contact me prior to the exam. With my permission, you may take
the exam at a later date. Failure to do so will mean that you will not be able to take a
make-up exam. If there is an emergency the day of the exam, e-mail me before the exam
is given.
Grading:
Test 1—Oct 2
Test 2—Nov 6
Test 3—Dec 11
Discussion Section Attendance
Total
30%
30%
30%
10%
100%
Course grades will be determined according to the following grading scale:
A+
A
A-
97-100%
93-96
90-92
B+
B
B-
87-89
83-86
80-82
C+ 77-79
73-76
C
C- 70-72
D+
D
DF
67-69
63-66
60-62
Less than 60
Course Guidelines and Policies:
Class Discussion and Participation:
I expect students to participate in class discussion. We will be discussing a variety of
social issues in this class including race, gender, and politics. Each person comes to class
with a unique background and perspective; I encourage students to draw on that
perspective when discussing the sociological issues in class. Please keep in mind that
sharing opinions and experiences is a valuable but sometimes uncomfortable experience,
and everyone must make the commitment to create an atmosphere of respect for each
person’s contribution.
Honor Code:
If you plagiarize, or otherwise cheat, on any exam or assignment, you will fail this course
and your transcript will note your violation of the academic honesty policy. Plagiarism
involves intentionally representing someone else’s words or ideas as your own. If you use
outside sources—either in the form of quotes or ideas—you must cite them to indicate
where they come from. Please see or email me if you need help with citations. When in
doubt, ask! If you cheat, or let someone else represent your work as their own, you are in
violation of the student code of conduct. You will fail this course and your failing grade
will be identified on your student transcript as resulting from academic dishonesty. Please
consult the office of student life web site if you require further information:
http://studentlife.ucmerced.edu/ (then go to “Student Judicial Affairs” and look at the
“academic honesty policy”). Your enrollment in this course indicates your willingness to
comply with all requirements and policies.
Student Responsibility:
Students must take responsibility for their performance in this class. Students are to
come prepared, to engage in class assignments and discussions, and initiate conversations
with the instructor regarding issues and questions about the course. Course notes will not
be made available to students, it is your responsibility to keep good notes over the
lectures, including the days you miss class.
To this end, it might be useful for you to get the name and email address of at least one
classmate so that if you must miss class, you can get the notes, and be caught up on any
announcements made in class. Understand, though, that these people are not responsible
for providing you with any pertinent information. Whether or not they choose to is solely
up to their discretion.
Name:__________________________ E-mail:____________________________
Name:__________________________ E-mail:____________________________
Incompletes:
In accordance with departmental and university policies, I will not grant an incomplete
except within unusual circumstances.
Special Needs:
Students with special needs that might impact their ability to complete the course should
inform me as soon as possible and provide appropriate documentation from university
services. I will do my best to accommodate special needs.
Class Schedule:
Note: This is a tentative schedule. Readings and topics may be adjusted based on how
quickly we cover material. If there are changes to this schedule, you will receive
adequate notice. Exam dates will not change. You are expected to read all of the
assigned material for a given week by the beginning of your discussion section for that
week. I would encourage you to read them in the order listed.
Week 1
R
Week 2
T
Date
Aug 28
Topic
Introduction
Readings
Syllabus (seriously, READ IT)
Sept 2
Sociological
Perspectives
Mills: The Promise 1-6
Romero: An Intersection of Biography and
History 19-32
R
Sept 4
Sociological
Methods
Schwalbe: Finding out How the Social
World Works 59-68
Haney et al: Interpersonal Dynamics in a
Simulated Prison 69-78
Week 3
T
Sept 9
Socialization
Kane: No Way My Boys 121-133
Granfield: Making It by Faking It 145-157
Dyer: Anybody’s Son Will Do 158-168
Culture
Becker: Culture: A Sociological View 95104
Glassner: The Culture of Fear 105-112
Williams: Shopping as Symbolic
Interaction 194-204
Deviance & Social
Control
Rosenhahn: On Being Sane in Insane
Places 48-58
McLorg & Taub: Anorexia Nervosa and
Bulimia 205-215
Colvin: New Mexico State Prison Riot
229-242
R
Week 4
T
Sept 11
R
Week 5
T
Sept 18
R
Week 6
T
R
Sept 25
Sept 16
Sept 23
Sept 30
Oct 2
Catch-Up/Review
Test 1
Week 7
T
Date
Oct 7
R
Week 8
T
Oct 9
R
Week 9
T
Oct 16
Oct 14
Oct 21
R
Oct 23
Week 10
T
Oct 28
R
Week 11
T
R
Week 12
T
R
Topic
Social Class
Readings
Davis & Moore: Some Principles of
Stratification 243-252
Domhoff: Who Rules America 253-265
Shapiro: Race, Homeownership, and
Wealth 266-277
Ehrenreich: Nickel-and-Dimed 278-290
Race & Ethnicity
Desmond & Emirbayer: What is Racial
Domination? 338-353
LeDuff: At the Slaughterhouse 354-363
Kim: Out of Sorts 364-376
Anderson: The Cosmopolitan Canopy 631643
Gender & Sexuality Boswell & Spade: Fraternities and
Collegiate Rape Culture 216-228
Risman: Gender as Structure 291-300
Pascoe: “Dude, You’re a Fag” 315-323
Loe: Working at Bazooms 79-94
Religion
Weber: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit
of Capitalism 502-507
Dandaneau: Religion and Society 509-518
Read: Muslims in America 519-526
Oct 30
Nov 4
Nov 6
Catch-Up/Review
Test 2
Nov 11
Nov 13
No Class
Family
Veterans Day Holiday
Lareau: Invisible Inequality 606-622
Hochschild: The Time Bind 491-501
Week 13 Date
T
Nov 18
Topic
Education
Readings
Dog and Erdoes: Civilize Them with a Stick
557-563
Stevens: A School in the Garden 564-577
R
Nov 20
Week 14
T
Nov 25
Power & Politics
Mills: The Power Elite 391-397
Zweigenhaft & Domhoff: Diversity in the
Power Elite 398-412
Freeland: The Rise of the New Global Elite
413-422
Thanksgiving Holiday
R
Nov 27
Week 15
T
Dec 2
No Class
R
Social Change
Dec 4
Week 16
T
Dec 9
R
Dec 11
Technology
Catch-Up/Review
Test 3
Messner & Cooky: Gender in Televised
Sports 437-452
Lindner: Controlling the Media in Iraq
453-463
Leidner: Over the Counter 464-478
Eitzen: The Atrophy of Social Life 623-630
Alwin: Generations X, Y, and Z 644-652