Xavier SOC 101
Sociology 101: Introduction to Sociology
FALL 2015 MTWTHF mornings
Instructor: Dr. Gregory Peter
Office number: 920-832-2655 (answering machine available)
Email address: gpeter@xaviercatholicschools.org
Office: UW-Fox Valley Room 1511
Office Hours: by appointment
“Sociology…is a science concerning itself with the interpretive understanding of
social action and thereby with a causal explanation of its course and
consequences.” –Max Weber (1920)
Course Description
Sociology is a delightful blend of theory, methods, applied work, and instruction. This
will be our main focus this semester, but we will also touch on the other elements in the
sociological toolkit including empirical elements, connecting theory with practice, and
continuing educational experiences using what C. Wright Mills once called our sociological
imaginations.
In this class we will explore diverse ideas of sociology from the past, in the present, and
looking toward the future. Since it is impossible to cover all your favorite theorists, we will
instead focus the class on analyzing, critiquing, and evaluating theoretical arguments as well as
identifying narrative and rhetorical techniques used by the authors. I hope that by the end of the
semester you will have not only fine tuned your sociological lenses to argumentative writing, but
will also be more confident in expressing your own ideas.
This class is above all an open discussion. All ideas expressed here are simply that-ideas. When we are critical of an idea, we are not critical of the individual expressing or
representing it, we just focus on the idea itself. I expect each student to be a critical listener and
participant in class and I will do you all the same service. If this is done respectfully and with a
certain tolerance level on the receiving end, we will all learn a great deal from each other this
semester!
Course Readings
[1] Ferguson, Susan (ed.) 2010. 6rd edition Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in
Sociology. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company
Course Website: The course website is available on Haiku just like your other Xavier classes.
https://xaviercatholicschools.haikulearning.com
Course Objectives
 Analyze basic theoretical and methodological perspectives of the sociological imagination
and learn application to everyday life.
 Thinking and writing from a sociological perspective with respect to contemporary issues
and the local community context.
 Apply sociological concepts in collaborative field studies to build student’s sociological
skills.
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 Develop creative problem solving and writing skills in a small group setting.
Course Requirements
Papers
= 20% final grade
Class Assignments
= 50% final grade
Exams (mid and final)= 30% final grade
----------------------------------------------= 100% course grade
Papers (20%)
Reaction Paper (5%): One paper 4-5 pages long (1000-1500 words) a topic of your
choice from the course readings. This paper will be a critique of a theoretical issue we
read about and discussed in class. In this paper you must make and argument and support
it citing the course readings throughout. All late papers will receive half credit
maximum. Please see the handout on Haiku for more details.
Group or Solo Research Project Paper (15%): Although the topic choice is up to the
group, it would be appropriate to focus on elements of the Fox Valley area. This paper
will be a thorough report of the research using material gathered by the group, including
previous studies, a theoretical argument, and conclude with limitations of your study and
suggestions for further research. Each write-up will be a group effort (around 12-15
pages). Be sure to include the names of your group members at the top of your
document. Group members will turn peer evaluations at the end of the semester. All late
papers will receive half credit maximum.
Class Assignments (50%)
In addition to discussing course reading materials, we will raise several theoretical and
methodological issues in class assignments. This includes assignments (2%), discussion
papers (10%), class quizzes (24%), and a group presentation (5%). There will be some in
class screenings of documentaries with assignments afterwards (9%), if you miss a movie
you must make it up to get full credit. There will be 6 class quizzes throughout the
semester on the readings as well as lecture material. You must attend class and
complete all assignments to receive maximum points. Students who miss class are
responsible for accessing missed material.
Exams (30%)
Students will take two exams (15% midterm, 15% final) on class materials this semester.
The first exam will be mid-term and the second will be the final exam.
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Xavier SOC 101
Final Grading Scale:
95-100 = A
90-94 = AB
85-89 = B
80-84 = BC
75-79 = C
71-74 = CD
68-70 = D
-67 = F
I will follow the Xavier High School scale.
Course Policies
Cell Phones: please turn them off when in class and do not text message or check your
phone while in class. Cell phone use in class is a distraction to the other students as well as your
instructor.
Side conversations: Please keep side conversations to a minimum during class time. You
are encouraged to contribute to the class discussion, but only one person can speak at a time.
Side conversations interfere with the discussion flow and make it difficult for others to follow.
Academic integrity: Students are subject to the Honor Code and all policies of the current
catalog including academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating on exams etc). Plagiarism is
claiming another person’s words and thoughts as you own without properly citing them. If you
have any questions about these policies, please ask the instructor. When in doubt, always cite
your sources of statistics, data, and quotations.
Course Calendar
Here is the tentative schedule so far; some of it may change by the end of the semester.
Please come to class having read the assigned materials and be prepared to discuss them
in class.
Week 1 (8/26-8/28)
W Sociological Understanding
Class logistics and schedule/ review of haiku site/textbook signout
TH How do Sociologists see the world?
Introduction to Sociology lecture begin
Schwalbe “An idea whose time has come” Reading 4 in FERGUSON.
Discuss Reaction Paper requirements and course reading.
F How Sociologists conduct research I
Introduction to Sociology lecture finish?
Paradigms lecture (if needed)
Research project overview
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Week 2 (8/31-9/4)
M How Sociologists conduct research II
Research methods lecture
Haney, Banks, and Zimbardo “Interpersonal Dynamics in a simulated prison” Reading 5
in Ferguson
Discussion of reading and research ethics
T The Genesis of the Interpretive Paradigm
Culture lecture
Weber lecture
Discussion paper #1 begin discussion questions in class
Weber, Max 1905. "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism." Reading 44 in
FERGUSON.
Are there examples of combining religion and economics today?
Dandaneau “Religion and Society” Reading 45 in FERGUSON.
How have various Sociologists studied religion as an institution?
Shorto “Faith at Work” Reading 46 in FERGUSON
How does this apply to the Weber reading? What do you think of bringing
faith into the workplace?
W The Power of Socialization
Socialization lecture
Lorber “Night to his day” Reading 11 in FERGUSON
How do we “do gender” today?
Lucal “What it means to be gendered me” Reading 12 in Ferguson
What does Lucal mean by a dichotomous gender system?
Granfield “Making it by faking it.” Reading 13 in Ferguson
How is working class culture different from upper class culture?
Dyer “Anybodys son will do” Reading 14 in Ferguson
How does the military use Sociology?
Discussion paper #1 due at the end of class today
TH Furthering Sociological Understanding
Discussion paper #2 due today
Mills, CW 1959. "The Promise." Reading 1 in FERGUSON.
Do we still get trapped by our personal troubles today and have problems
seeing the public issues out there?
Gaines “Teenage Wasteland” Reading 2 in FERGUSON.
What are the social aspects of suicide? How does this research apply to the
recent suicides in the area?
Romero. “Intersection of Biography and History.” Reading 3 in FERGUSON.
How does what we do to earn money (jobs) fit into our own biography?
Start Devil’s Playground video
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Xavier SOC 101
F Continuing with Socialization and Culture
Finish Devil’s Playground video and discuss assignment
Review for the week, plan for next week
Research project/reaction paper questions?
Week 3 (9/7-9/11)
M Labor day, no classes today
T The Genesis of the Critical Paradigm
Karl Marx lecture
Discussion paper #3 due today.
Marx, Karl and F. Engels 1888. "Manifesto of the Communist Party." Reading 41 in
FERGUSON.
What is the difference between the bougiousie and the proletariat? How does
this apply to the people working in the mills in the Fox Cities?
Mills, CW 1956. "The Power Elite." Reading 35 in FERGUSON.
Does the power elite still exist today? How does this apply to the war in
Iraq/Afghanistan?
Clawson et al. “Dollars and Votes” Reading 36 in Ferguson
How is our democracy changed into one dollar, one vote rather than one
person, one vote? Does this apply to local elections as well as national level?
Derber “One world under business” Reading 37 in FERGUSON.
Why is the author so critical of corporations?
REACTION PAPER DUE IN CLASS TODAY
Start The Corporation today if time?
W When Corporations Rule the World?
Finish The Corporation video and discuss assignment
TH Ethnicity and Social Class issues
Race and Ethnicity lecture
Discussion paper #4 due today
Bonilla-Silva “New racism color blind racism and the future of whiteness in america”
Chapter 31 in FERGUSON.
What are some of the elements of the new racism the author talks about?
LeDuff “ At the slaughterhouse some things never die” Chapter 32 in FERGUSON
How does this workplace make racism worse?
Kim “out of sorts” Chapter 33 in FERGUSON
How does race influence adoption decisions?
Anderson “The cosmopolitan canopy” Chapter 34 in FERGUSON.
How does this urban space encourage diversity
F
Review the week, plan for next week, Question
Quantitative literacy assignment due today
Devil’s playground video critique due today
Group project proposals
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Xavier SOC 101
Week 4 (9/14- 9/18)
M A Closer Look at Minority groups in the US
Minority groups lecture
T The Hmong population as a case study
Split Horn video and discuss assignment
W The Genesis of the Naturalistic Paradigm
Emile Durkheim lecture
Groups and organizations lecture
Discussion paper #5 due today (discussion may get pushed back?)
Adler and Adler “Peer power” Chapter 15 in FERGUSON
What can we do about cliques?
Jankowski “Gang Business” Chapter 16 in FERGUSOn.
How can gangs function like a business?
Williams “Shopping as symbolic interaction” Chapter 17 in FERGUSON
How do the stores present race, gender, and class issues?
Colvin “Descent into madness” Chapter 18 in FERGUSON
How did the breakdown of the prison system happen?
Group consults?
Corporation writeup due
TH Social Structure and gender
Gender lecture
Risman “Gender as structure” Chapter 27 in FERGUSON
Pascoe “Dude you’re a fag?” Chapter 28 in FERGUSON
Young et al. “Drinking like a guy” Chapter 29 in FERGUSON
Loe “Working at Bazooms” Chapter 30 in FERGUSON
Gender discussion in class
F Finish up lectures/Review for midterm exam/work on group projects
Week 5 (9/21- 9/25)
M Deviance, Identity, and Culture
Deviance lecture
Discussion paper #6 due today
Rosenhan. “On being sane in insane places.” Chapter 19 in FERGUSON.
What did they learn after doing this experiment? Should we try to
replicate it today?
McLorg, Penelope and Diane Taub “Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia” Chapter 20 in
FERGUSON.
How are eating disorders also about the notion of control?
Draus and Carlson “Down on main street” Chapter 21 in FERGUSON
Why are people in these rural small towns using drugs?
Boswell and Spade "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape culture." Chapter 22 in
FERGUSON.
How can college students remain safe at fraternity parties?
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Xavier SOC 101
Bowling for Columbine start?
T
W
Midterm exam in class, finish Bowling for Columbine.
Culture continued
Discussion paper #7 due today
Glassner “The culture of fear.” Chapter 7 in FERGUSON.
What is the main argument in this reading?
England and Thomas “Decline of the date” Chapter 8 in Ferguson
What is college dating culture like on this campus?
Sandhu “Instant Karma” Chapter 9 in FERGUSON
How has India’s culture become commercialized?
Trask, Huanani-Kay "Lovely Hula Hands." Chapter 10 in FERGUSON.
What is your reaction to this reading?
Discuss group projects, work on projects in class, catchup day if needed
Split horn video writeup due
TH Social stratification
Social strat lecture
Davis and Moore “Some principles of stratification” Chapter 23 in FERGUSON
Domhoff “Who rules America?” Chapter 24 in FERGUSON
Shapiro “The hidden cost of being African American” Chapter 25 in Ferguson.
Ehrenreich “Nickel and Dimed” Chapter 26 in FERGUSON.
Class discussion of stratification
FR Education
Education lecture (push back religion section?)
Discussion paper #8 due today
Crow Dog and Erdoes “Civilize them with a stick” Chapter 50 in FERGUSON
What role did religion play in the resocialization of native American
children?
Kozol “Still separate still unequal” Chapter 51 in FERGUSON
How are schools still racially segregated in the US?
Ferguson “bad boys” Chapter 52 in FERGUSON.
What role does racial stereotyping play in education?
Week 6 (9/28-10/2)
M Families
Family lecture
Discussion paper #9 due today
Cherlin “The deinstitutionalization of American marriage” Chapter 53 in FERGUSON
What are some changes the author notes in American marriages?
Crittendon “The mommy tax” Chapter 51 in FERGUSON
What is the mommy tax?”
Lareau “invisible inequality” Chapter 52 in FERGUSON
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Xavier SOC 101
What are some of the social class differences in parenting styles?
Group consult time
Begin Affluenza?
T Materialism and family
Affuenza part II and discuss assignment
W Economy and government
Economy and government lecture
Work on group projects
TH A Global view
Social problems lecture
Begin Life and Debt?
FR Dr. Peter attending Wisconsin Sociological Association meetings, no class today, work on
groups
Week 7 (10/5-10/9)
M Health and Environment
Health and envir lecture
T Environmental Sociology
Environmental Soc lecture
Fox River cleanup case study
Ecofootprint due
W The Global Food system
Global banquet video and discuss assignment
TH Social change
Social movements lecture
Discussion paper #10 due
Harper and Leicht “American Social trends” Chapter 56 in FERGUSON
What are some of the trends the authors notice?
Eitzen “the atrophy of social life?” Chapter 57 in FERGUSON
Do you agree with this author’s analysis?
Johnson “What can we do?” Chapter 58 in FERGUSON
Which two suggestions do you think would have the most influence on
change?
FR Workshop group projects today in class, bring laptops if possible?
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Xavier SOC 101
Week 8 (10/12- 10/16)
M Sociology of China
China lecture
China from the inside I
T China from the Inside II and discuss assignment
W Family II lecture
Leidner “Over the counter McDonalds” Reading 42 in Ferguson
Hoschild “The time bind” Reading 43 in Ferguson
Class discussion on family issues
TH Media and monopolies
Mantsios “media magic” reading 38 in Ferguson
Nacos and Torres-Reyna “muslim americans in the news” reading 39 in Ferguson
Sternheimer “its not the media” reading 40 in Ferguson
Class discussion of the media
F health and medicine
Short lecture on sociology of health and medicine
Rubin “sand castles and snake pits” reading 44 in Ferguson
Klinenberg “dying alone” reading 45 in Ferguson
Karp “illness and identity” reading 46 in Ferguson
Week 9 (10/19 - 10/23)
M Crime research lecture?
T Religion lecture?
W Critical thinking lecture and prep for college discussion
TH Catch up day, group work, review for final exam?
F group presentations ___________/_________/__________
Week 10 (10/26- 10/28)
M Group presentations _____________/____________/__________
T group presentations ____________/_____________/__________
W Final exam in class today
NO late assignments will be accepted after final exam period.
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SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY CODE OF ETHICS FOR HUMAN RELATIONS:
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology is committed to providing a professional and
educational environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. The procedures for filing
complaints of discrimination or harassment are in the Student handbook.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SHOULD CONTACT THE
INSTRUCTOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER. I AM HAPPY TO
MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS TO CREATE A FAVORABLE
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
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