Senior Seminar in Sociology (Soc490)
Winter, 2005
Meets:
Room:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
MW 6-8:05 p.m.
DDH 108A
Dr. Patricia Jennings
DDH, Room CC202/ Office Phone: 664-3456/E-mail pjennings@csub.edu
MW 10 a.m. - noon, W 5-6 p.m., and by appointment
Overview
This quarter in the Senior Seminar we will revisit the topic of social structure—a topic that you
were first introduced to in your introductory sociology course. The political structure of the U.S. is
grounded in liberal philosophy, which emphasizes the principal of individual liberty. Thus, social
structure is a concept that can be extremely difficult for U.S. citizens to grasp. Accordingly, social
structural analyses are often absent from private and public discourse on social “problems.” This
absence impacts the formation of public policy and law, and it impacts the direction that social change
takes in the U.S. We will begin the course by grounding ourselves in the concept of social structure.
Charles Lemert’s book, Social Things: An Introduction to the Sociological Life, will serve as our guide.
We will then read a series of studies that address a specific social problem. For instance, we will read
Elaine Bell Kaplan’s work on single teenage mothers. We will read Barbara Ehrenrich’s work on
poverty wage jobs. We will read Annette Lareua’s work on class, race, and childhood. We will end the
course with a reading of Gary Soto’s critical treatment of race and poverty in his novel, Nickel and
Dime. We will relate each of the books that we read to Charles Lembert’s analysis of social structure.
That is, we will read each book through the lens of social structure. We will ask: Does the author’s
analysis challenge dominant perspectives on the topic at hand? To what extent does a structural analysis
figure into the author’s argument? Is culture addressed in each study? How is the link between culture
and structure depicted in each study?
Course Goals
In this course we will:
1.)
solidify our understanding of social structure.
2.)
learn to generate a structural explanation of a social “problem.”
4.)
learn to identify and evaluate the theoretical underpinnings of the works that we read in
this course.
5.)
learn to identify and evaluate the methodological approaches used in the empirical works
that we read in this course.
Prerequisites
Sociology 301, Sociology 300, and Sociology 400 (this may be taken concurrently with this course) are
prerequisites for this course.
Assignments & Term Paper
Reaction Papers (5 papers @ 30 points each for a total of 150 points)
You are required to write a reaction paper for each of the books that we read in the course. The
first reaction paper will be on Charles Lemert’s, Social Things.... In subsequent reaction papers I
will ask you to analyze the book in relationship to Social Things.... These reactions papers will
allow you to: a.) demonstrate your comprehension of social structure, b.) compare and contrast
readings, and c.) evaluate theoretical arguments and empirical claims.
Applied Paper (50 points)
You are required to apply the points in Lemert’s book to a social structural analysis to a
contemporary social problem. You must choose a problem that is not a “problem” that we will
address in class. For instance, you cannot look at teenage parenting. You will be required to lay
out the “popular” interpretation/explanation of this problem. You will then provide a more
complex understanding of the problem by providing a social structural analysis of the
problem. You are required to find and integrate data (e.g., census data, Kern County school
data, etc.) on your topic into your analysis. You will also be required to present your findings
orally (see below).
NOTE:
YOU WILL LOSE 10 POINTS FOR EACH DAY THAT YOUR PAPER IS LATE
REGARDLESS OF YOUR REASON THAT YOUR PAPER IS LATE.
Class Participation (Total participation points = 30)
Form 1
Thought Questions: You are required to write thought questions on selected
readings. The questions must demonstrate your knowledge of the material—they
must be thoughtful. You are required to bring a typed question to class on the
day that we discuss the reading (you cannot write your question while you are in
class). Questions will be graded for how well they reflect your understanding of
the material. Dues dates on thought questions are listed on the syllabus.
Points: You will automatically assigned 20 points for thought questions. You are
allowed to miss one thought question with no penalty. I will deduct 5 points from
the 20 points allotted for each subsequent thought question that you do not hand
in. Also, I will deduct points for thought questions that fail to convey knowledge
of the reading.
Form 2
Oral Presentation: You are required to conduct a short oral presentation on your
analysis of a social “problem.” Further instructions will be handed out in class.
(The oral presentation is worth 10 points.)
NOTE:
PARTICIPATION ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE MADE UP.
Total points for the course = 230
Grading (To calculate your grade divide the total points you earned by 210)
98-100 = A+
94-97 = A
90-93 = A-
88-89 = B+
84-87 = B
80-83 = B-
78-79 = C+
74-77 = C
70-73 = C-
68-69 = D+
64-67 = D
60-63 = D-
Below 60 = F
Attendance
Attendance is extremely important. You are expected to attend each class. You cannot make-up in-class
participation points. If you are ill or having other difficulties that affect your attendance please see me
and working together we can resolve the problem.
Disability Services
Please let me know if you are working with Disability Services and you have needs that I should know
about.
Reading
You must read the assigned work in accordance with the calendar of readings (see below). You will be
expected to read the assigned articles before you come to class. You may find that some of the reading
is a little dense, so be sure to give yourself enough time to read the material twice. If you are having
difficulty understanding the material please see me during my office hours and I will do my best to help
you. Also, I encourage you to form study groups. Discussion is part of the learning process; discussing
the readings with other students can help you to develop a deeper understanding of the material.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when you use material (e.g., exact written or spoken words, a summary of written or
spoken words/sentences, and even an idea that you heard about on TV, the radio, or read in an article or
book) that someone else has produced without giving credit to the original author. When you use
someone’s words, arguments, and ideas you must be sure that you indicate (cite) where the material
came from in your paper. Also, buying a paper, book report, or essay or having someone else write your
paper, book report, or essay counts as plagiarism. I will follow the guidelines for plagiarism in the
CSUB Catalog which includes assigning a failing grade for the course and placing a note in your
academic file.
Here are some examples of the proper way to cite a text for a sociology course:
Direct Quote: Memory has a social basis. As Albert Memmi (1957: 103) states, “Just as the memory
of an individual is the fruit of his history and physiology, that of a people rests upon its institutions.”
Paraphrase: Memory has a social basis. The memory of a people is rooted in their social institutions
(Memmi, 1957: 102).
Classroom Conduct
Some of the material that we cover in this course is sensitive in nature and can spark debate. I
encourage discussion and debate and I want all students to feel comfortable expressing their opinion
about the materials/themes covered in the course. However, discussion and debate should always focus
on the content of the points made in the readings, in my lectures, or during class discussions. Personal
verbal attacks are not acceptable forms of discussion and debate (see the example below).
Example
Inappropriate response:
That's a really stupid thing to say. What a dumb idea. You are wrong.
Appropriate response:
I understand your point, but I see it a little differently. I think...(express
your point).
Classroom Conduct Continued:
Please arrive on time and do not leave early. If you must arrive late or leave early please do so quietly
so that others are not disturbed. Also, please turn off your cell phones or put them on vibrate.
Required Reading Materials (Books will be read in the order they are listed.)
Books
1.
Charles Lemert. 2002. Social Things: An Introduction to the Sociological Life. Rowman and
Littlefield.
2.
Elaine Bell Kaplan. 1997. Not Our Kind of Girl. UC Press.
3.
Barbara Ehrenreich. 2001. Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by on the Minimum. Metropolitan
Books (Henry Holt).
4.
Annette Lareau. 2003. Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. UC Press.
5.
Gary Soto. 2000. Nickel and Dime. University of New Mexico Press.
Calendar of Readings and Assignments
Week One (January 3rd & 5th)
Monday
Introductions
Wednesday
Charles Lemert, Introduction and Chapters 1-3
Week Two (January 10th & 12th)
Monday
Charles Lemert, Chapters 4-7
Wednesday
Charles Lemert, Chapters 8 & 9
Week Three (January 17th & 19th)
Monday
HOLIDAY: No class
Wednesday
Finish Charles Lemert, Chapters 10-12
Week Four (January 24th & 26th)
Monday
Elaine Bell Kaplan, Part I., Chapters 1-3
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Thought paper on Charles Lemert is due
Wednesday
Elaine Bell Kaplan, Part II, Chapters 4-6
Week Five (January 31st & February 2nd)
Monday
Elaine Bell Kaplan, Part III, Chapters 7-9
Wednesday
Catch up: In class participation assignment on single unwed mothers in Kern County
Week Six (February 7th & 9th)
Monday
Barbara Ehrenreich, Introduction and Chapter 1 & 2
ASSIGNMENT DUE:
Thought Paper on Elaine Bell Kaplan is due
Wednesday
Finish Barbara Ehrenreich, Chapter 3
Week Seven (February 14th & 16th)
Monday
Finish Ehrenreich, Evaluation pp. 193-221
Erich Schlosser. “The Most Dangerous Job in America.” (Reading on reserve)
Wednesday
CLASS PRESENTATIONS on your applied paper
Week Eight (February 21st & 23rd)
Monday
Annette Lareau, Chapters 1-5
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Thought paper on Barbara Ehrenreich is due
Wednesday
Annette Lareau, Chapters 6 & 7
Week Nine (February 28th & March 2nd)
Monday
Annette Lareau, Chapters 8, 9 & 10
Wednesday
Finish Annette Lareau, Chapters 10-12
Week Ten (March 7th & 9th)
Monday
Gary Soto, Nickel and Dime, Chapters TBA
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Thought paper on Annette Lareau is due
Wednesday
Gary Soto, Nickel and Dime, Chapters TBA
Assignment DUE: Short thought question on Soto’s novel (this replaces the thought paper)
Week Eleven (March 14th: Last day of class)
Monday
Gary Soto, Nickel and Dime, Chapters TBA
Assignment Due: Short thought questions on Soto’s novel (this replaces the thought paper)
March 18th (Day of Finals)
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Applied paper is due
(There is no class on 3/18. Put your papers in my mailbox in the sociology department or under
my office door)