COURSE OF STUDY OUTLINE
Board Approved:
Revised: Spring 2015
DEPARTMENT:
SOCIAL SCIENCE
COURSE TITLE:
Sociology
Grade Level:
Length:
Number of Credits:
Prerequisites:
9-12
One semester
Five Units
None
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Sociology is the study of human social behavior. It focuses on group behavior. The
course first looks at culture and the process by which we are socialized. We will study
group behavior, why people conform to society’s expectations and why some people
deviate from that. Other topics include the sociology of racism, poverty, the family,
religion and sports.
RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE:
Why study sociology? The main reasons include: because we interact with people
everyday, because we can learn about ourselves by studying others, and because
social behavior has an impact on us all. Students interested in a wide variety of
careers that deals with people and their behavior will find this course useful and
interesting.
SOCIOLOGY
(SCOPE AND SEQUENCE)
Units of Study
I.
UNIT 1 – Introduction to Sociology and Perspectives (1-2 weeks)
A.
Difference between Psychology and Sociology
B.
What is Sociology?
C.
Three Sociological Perspectives
1. Functionalism
2. Conflict Perspective
3. Symbolic Interactionism
II.
UNIT 2 –Culture and Socialization (4 weeks)
A.
Language
Values & Norms
C.
Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism
D.
Folktales across the Cultures
E.
Culturegrams
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
IY.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
UNIT 3 – Structure and Groups (2 weeks)
Types of Groups
Status
Social Interaction
Bystander Effect
Prison Experiment
Methods of Study: Observations
UNIT 4 – Crime & Punishment (2 weeks)
Social Psychology
Deviance
Cliques
Punishment
Research: Violent Crimes
V.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
VI.
A.
B.
C.
UNIT 5 – Social Inequality (3-4 weeks)
Social Stratification
Social Class & Mobility
Gender and Stereotyping
Race and Ethnicity
Prejudice and Discrimination
Songs of Stratification
UNIT 6 – Social Institutions (5-6 weeks)
Religion
Family
Sports
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SUGGESTED TEACHING STRATEGIES
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Lecture
Cooperative learning groups
Student Presentations
Research
Simulations
Guest Speakers
Video Selections
ASSESSMENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
Oral questions/answers
Written quizzes and examinations
Written assignments
Projects
Pre-tests
Notebooks
Presentations
Power Point
Participation
RESOURCES
Textbooks: Sociology and You, Shepard and Greene
National Textbook Company 2001
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