Sociology 101 – Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2005
Instructor: Jeremiah Coldsmith
Office Number: 426 Social Sciences
Office Phone Number: 621-1089
E-mail Address: jeremiah@email.arizona.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12-2; Tuesday 12-3
Welcome to Sociology 101. The primary objective of the class is to introduce you to the discipline
of sociology. What I want to show you is that sociology is a tool that will enable you to better
understand and think critically about the world around you. From a sociological perspective we can
analyze a wide range of topics from the interpersonal to the intergovernmental. First and foremost
in developing a sociological perspective is realizing that the social world is not a given. It is
something to be explored and understood.
Because sociologists concern themselves with such a wide range of topics, it would be impossible
to cover even the most basic elements of every area. In order to give you an idea of the different
topics and approaches sociologists take in exploring the world, a wide range of diverse topics will
be covered in this course. As we will discover, the approaches sociologists take in examining the
world are almost as diverse as the topics covered. However, sociologists are bound together by our
determination to explore and explain the world around us all.
Again, the main goal of the course is to introduce you to the discipline of sociology. I will consider
our time together successful, if you come out of the class with the ability to see the social world as
something other than a given and apply some of the theories we cover to events in your own life.
I believe the following quote sums up what I hope you take away from the course.
“The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between
the two within society. That is its task and its promise.” – C. Wright Mills The Sociological
Imagination
Welcome to Sociology 101.
Readings:
There is only one required text for this class, which can be purchased at the Book Store here on
campus. You will get the most out of the class by reading the assigned readings prior to coming to
class. The required text is:
Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Duneier, and Richard P. Appelbaum. (2003) Introduction to
Sociology. 4th ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company.
There will be other assigned readings. These can be found on the e-res system by going to the
following URL:
http://eres.library.arizona.edu/courseindex.asp
Here you can find this class by finding my last name (Coldsmith) in the list of instructors. If you
have any problems accessing these readings, please e-mail me, and I’ll walk you through the
process in greater detail. The password for the class is “soc101”.
Assignments, Quizzes, Exams, and Grading:
Policy on late and makeup work:
Work can only be handed in late or made up if you make arrangements with me prior to the
absence. Any unforeseeable absences must be documented in order for work to be accepted late or
made up.
Assignments:
The class has two short writing assignments (2-3 pages). The assignments are intended to have you
apply the material we are covering in class to your own experiences. On the day the assignments
are due, we will divide into small groups in order to better discuss the topics. In the classes
following the group discussions, each group will do a 10 minute presentation of what was discussed
in the group and what conclusions the group came to concerning the topic.
Each writing assignment is worth 15 points. The class presentations are worth 10 points. Specifics
about the criteria for and content of the assignments will be handed out closer to the time the
assignments are due.
Quizzes:
The class has four quizzes. The quizzes are not cumulative. They only cover material from the
section of the class in which they are located. Each quiz is worth 25 points and has 15 multiple
choice, 5 short essays, and one long essay. The multiple choice and short essays are worth one
point each. The long essay is worth five points.
Exams:
The only exam in the class is the final. It is cumulative and worth 50 points. It will consist of 25
multiple choice questions and one essay.
Grading:
The class has a total of 200 points.
15 writing assignment 1
10 group presentation 1
15 writing assignment 2
10 group presentation 2
25 quiz 1
25 quiz 2
25 quiz 3
25 quiz 4
50 Final Exam
200 total
Therefore, the grade distribution breaks down as follows:
180-200 A
160-179 B
140-159 C
120-139 D
199 and below E
While participation in class is not assigned any points, participating in class will encourage me to
round up, if you have a borderline grade. Not participating, participating rarely, and missing more
than three classes will strongly encourage me to round your grade down, if you have a borderline
grade.
Other Important Things:
Disability Resource Center (DRC) Statement:
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course
activities or meet course requirements must register with the Disability Resource Center. If you
qualify for services through DRC, bring your letter of accommodations to me as soon as possible.
Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center:
The SALT Center provides a number of programs for students having trouble in classes. These
range from learning disability support to tutoring. If you are having problems keeping up with the
material in class please feel free to talk to me, but also feel assured that the people at SALT are also
willing to help.
Code of Academic Integrity:
Academic misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated. Misconduct includes (but is not limited to)
cheating on exams, failing to properly cite sources in papers and turning in another student’s work
as your own. I reserve the right to follow through on any incidents of cheating with sanctions in
accordance with the university’s Code of Academic Integrity, available online at:
http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/cacaint.htm
Schedule of Classes:
Week 1
Wednesday January 12
Lecture: Introduction
Friday January 14
Lecture: What is sociology?
Reading: Text Chapter 1 p.1-24
Week 2
Monday January 17
No Class. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday January 19
Lecture: Sociology for Berger
Reading: e-res Berger, Peter. (1963) Invitation to Sociology. New York, NY: Anchor Books.
Chapters 1 and 2
Friday January 21
Lecture: Sociology for Mills
Reading: Text Chapter 1 p.24-7.
Reading: e-res Mills, C. Wright. (1959) The Sociological Imagination. New York, NY: Oxford
UP. Chapter 1
Week 3
Monday January 24
Lecture: The Founders of Sociology
Reading: Reread Text Chapter 1 p.11-24.
Wednesday January 26
Lecture: The Founders continued
Friday January 28
Lecture: The Founders continued
Week 4
Monday January 31
Lecture: What makes sociology different from other forms of knowledge?
Reading: Text Chapter 2
Wednesday February 2
Lecture: Scientific versus Other Forms of Knowledge
Friday February 4
Lecture: Scientific Methods
Week 5
Monday February 7 – Tomorrow is the last day to drop the class without a “W”
Review Day
Wednesday February 9
Quiz 1
Friday February 11
Lecture: The Sociology of Everyday Life – Introduction to Micro Sociology
Reading: Text Chapter 5
Week 6
Monday February 14
Lecture: The Founders of Sociological Social Psychology
Wednesday February 16
Lecture: Symbolic Interaction
Friday February 18
Lecture: SI continued
Week 7
Monday February 21
Lecture: Ethnomethodology
Wednesday February 23
Lecture: Dramaturgy
Friday February 25
Lecture: Presentation of Self
Assignment 1 Handed Out
Week 8
Monday February 28
Lecture: Frame Analysis
Wednesday March 2 – Tomorrow is the last day to drop the class with a “W”.
Small Group Discussion – Hand in Writing Assignment 1
Friday March 4
Group Presentations
Week 9
Monday March 7
Review Day
Wednesday March 9
Quiz 2
Friday March 11
Lecture: Groups and Collectives
Reading: e-res Myers, David G. (1999) Social Psychology. 6th ed. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill,
p.353-56 and 363-74.
Week 10 – No Class; Spring Break!
Week 11
Monday March 21
Lecture: More on Groups
Reading: Text Chapter 6 p.138-46.
Wednesday March 23
Lecture: Social Networks
Reading: Text Chapter 6 p.146-8.
Friday March 25
Lecture: Social Network Analysis
Reading: e-res Milgram, Stanley. (1967) “The Small World Problem.” Psychology Today. Vol. 2,
May, pp.60-7.
Week 12
Monday March 28
Lecture: Getting a Job and killing Terrorists; How SNA Helps us in Everyday Life
Wednesday March 30
Lecture: The Sociology of Organizations
Reading: Text Chapter 6 p.148-75
Friday April 1
Lecture: Organizations continued
Week 13
Monday April 4
Review Day
Wednesday April 6
Quiz 3
Friday April 8
Lecture: Stratification
Reading: Text Chapter 8
Week 14
Monday April 11
Lecture: Stratification continued
Wednesday April 13
Lecture: Class as Structure
Assignment 2 handed Out
Friday April 15
Lecture: Gender as Structure
Reading: Text Chapter 10
Week 15
Monday April 18
Lecture: Gender continued
Wednesday April 20
Lecture: Race versus Ethnicity and Race and Ethnicity as Structure
Reading: Text Chapter 11
Friday April 22
Small Group Discussions – Hand in Writing Assignment 2
Week 16
Monday April 25
Group Presentations
Wednesday April 27
Review Day
Friday April 29
Quiz 4
Week 17
Monday May 2
Lecture: Globalization
Reading: Text Chapter 9 p.261-68 and p.278-87.
Wednesday May 4
Lecture: Globalization continued
Reading: Text Chapter 20
Final Exam: Friday May 6th from 2-4