SYLLABUS
Introduction to Sociology (Soc 150-section 01)
Fall Semester 2008, MW 2:00-3:20
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Phone:
Dr. Brian C. Aldrich, Professor
223 Minné Hall
MTWR 3:30-4:30 p.m. and by appointment
BALDRICH@WINONA.EDU
507-457-5421
The faculty of the Department of Sociology has voted to restrict the use in the classroom of all
electronic devices except those required by the professor for use in the class. Computers are not
needed in this class, therefore computer/other electronic devices are not to be used in this course
during class time. Thank you.
Objectives of Course
To introduce students to basic sociological concepts, methods, and substantive conclusions about
human society.
Social Science University Studies Outcomes
Course requirements and learning activities are organized around the following objectives in regard to
student learning outcomes. The numbers in parentheses indicate which of the objectives are associated
with a particular learning activity. Student achievement in each of these areas will be independently
assessed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Understand humans as individuals and as parts of larger social systems;
Understand the historical context of the social sciences;
Identify problems and frame research questions relating to humans and their experience;
Become familiar with the process of theory-building and theoretical frameworks used by the
social sciences;
5.
Understand research methods used in the social sciences;
6.
Describe and detail discipline-specific knowledge and its applications;
7.
Understand differences among and commonalities across humans and their experiences.
(Numbers in parens in syllabus refer to these learning activities)
Required Text
Joan Ferrante, Sociology: A Global Perspective. Thomson/Wadsworth, 7th edition, 2008.
Academic Assessment
Active learning write-ups-films, data analysis
33% (P/NC)
Chapter quizzes-first day of chapter assignment
33% (narrow, green 50-Q scantrons
required; No. 2 lead pencil; six multiple choice questions about concepts from chapter)
Multiple-choice exams
33% (narrow, green 50-Q/side
scantrons required; No. 2 lead pencil)
The Professor reserves the right to change the syllabus content during the semester.
(Make-ups can be arranged for the exams; no make ups for chapter quizzes and write-ups)
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Part I. Introduction
Week 1.
8/25 Organization of Course
Ch 1 The Sociological Imagination (2)(3)
Lecture
8/27 Ch 2 Theoretical Perspectives and Methods/Mexico (2)
Lecture
Data Analysis-Family types across cultures (3)(5)(7)
Quiz-end of period, over Ch 2
Week 2.
9/1
Labor Day
9/3
What holds societies together?
Ch 3 Culture/South Korea (1)(5)
Written work: What holds society together? (U.S. & S. Korea)
Quiz-end of period, over Ch 3
Week 3.
9/8
Ch 4 Socialization/Israel, West Bank, Gaza (1)(5)
Lecture
Quiz-end of period, over Ch 4
9/10 Data Analysis – Comparative Cultures – cooking, sexual permissiveness (3)(5)(7)
Film: Revisiting Palestine
Written work: comparing socializations – Israeli & Palestinian
Week 4.
9/15 Ch 5 Social Interaction and Social Construction of Reality/Congo/Rawanda (6)(1)
lecture
Quiz – end of period
9/17 Film (7) “Invisible Children”
Written work – From the Congo to the Olympics – How?
Week 5.
9/22 Ch 6 Social Organization/McDonald’s (4)(6)(1)
Lecture;
Quiz end of period
9/24 Contemporary Organizations
Written work: Why/why not shop at a Big Box?
Week 6.
9/29 Review
10/1 Exam – multiple choice – 100 questions – scantron answer sheets and #2 pencil
Chapters 1-6
Week 7.
10/6 Ch 8 Social Stratification/South Africa (6)(1)
Lecture
Quiz: end of period
2
10/8
Social Mobility Research in the U.S./world
Data Analysis (3)(5)(7)
Written work: occupation and family values in social mobility
Week 8.
10/13 Ch 9 Race and Ethnicity/U.S. (1)(6)
Lecture: What the 2000 Census shows
Case Study - Japan
Quiz: end of period
10/15 Native Americans – The Dakota (7)
Film: The Dakota Conflict
Written work: what’s to be done?
Week 9.
10/20 Ch 10 Gender/American Samoa (1)(6)
Lecture
Quiz: end of period
10/22 Data Analysis – Gender Role Attitudes (3)(5)(7)
Written work: Gender – the same or different?
Week 10.
10/27 Ch 11 Economics and Politics/Iraq
Lecture
Quiz: end of period
10/29 Exam – 100 questions over Chapters 8-11
Week 11.
11/3 Ch 12 Family/Japan (1)(6)
Lecture - Quiz
11/5 Human Development Index/Correlates (3)(5)(7)
Data Analysis – Urbanization Correlates
Written work: urban outcomes
Week 12.
11/10 Veteran’s Day – no class
11/12 Ch 14 Religion/Afghanistan (1)(6)
Lecture – written work: religion in society comparison
Quiz at end of period
Week 13.
11/17 Film: Religion around the world
Written Work
11/19 Thanksgiving Break
Week 14.
11/24 Ch 15 Population and Urbanization (1)
Lecture
Quiz
11/26 Human Development Index/Correlates (3)(5)(7)
Data Analysis – Urbanization Correlates
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Week 15.
12/1 Ch 16 Social Change/Global Interdependence (1)(6)
Quiz
Lecture
12/3 Data Analysis – Predicting positive human development (3)(5)(7)
FINAL EXAM – CH 12, 14, 15, & 16 - SEE FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE FOR TIME
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