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)