Professor Janice Newson, Course Director
2153 Vari Hall, EXT. 22291
mailto:<janewson@eagle.ca>
Website: http://www.janicenewson.ca
Teaching Assistants:
KriteeAhmed
Carmen Grillo
Shelagh Ois
York University, Department of Sociology
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Social Order and Social Organization
Sociology 2070 6.0 Section A Fall/Winter 2014-2015
This course focuses on the processes by which social life becomes ordered and
organized. We explore sociologists’ assumptions about the social actor, the relation
between the social actor and the collective, the role of social interaction in creating,
maintaining, and changing social order and social organization, and the role of context
in shaping social interaction. We examine the concepts, methodologies, analytic
devices, and theories that sociologists use to develop accounts of specific forms of social
order and social organization. We will especially focus on the interpretive grounding of
social action and the negotiated character of social order and social organization in
everyday life. Throughout the course, we will consider how sociology offers an
intellectual foundation for understanding the social processes through which social
order and social organization come into being and persist over time, as well as for
critiquing and changing them.
TO CONTACT ME, PROFESSOR NEWSON, for any reason, including informing
me that you have missed a test or require information about deadlines and make-up
assignments, DO NOT use my yorku.ca e-mail address. Instead, e-mail me at
janewson@eagle.ca AND PHONE me at my home office (1-905-349-3232). On
Wednesdays only, you can reach me up until a half hour before lecture time at my
campus office (416-736-2100 Ext 22291).
LECTURE/TUTORIAL TIMES AND LOCATIONS
LECTURES: Wednesdays, 2:30-4:20 in SLH A
TUTORIALS: Tut 1 Wed. 4:30 in TEL 1016; Tut 2 Wed. 5:30 in TEL 0013.
Tut 3 Wednesday 4:30 in SLH B; Tut 4 Wednesday 5:30 in VC 114.
Tut 5 Wednesday 4:30 in RS 127; Tut 6 Wednesday 5:30 in VH 2005.
COURSE OUTLINE
Sept. 8-12
(a) Orientation to the course
(b) Sociology as an intellectual project
Required Reading: The course outline. (An electronic copy is posted on the 2070 course
page at http://www.janicenewson.ca
Sept 10th lecture notes, "Sociology as an Intellectual Project" posted on
the 2070 course page at www.janicenewson.ca.
"Quotes From Classical Theorists," in the Reading Kit.
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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2014-2015
SECTION ONE: Groundwork
Sept. 15-19
Living Between Constraint and Freedom.
Required Reading:Bauman, Z. (1990). “Freedom and Dependence,” in Thinking
Sociologically (chapter 1). (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers), pp. 20-36.
Rios Victor M. (2012). Stealing a Bag of Potato Chips and Other
Crimes of Resistance. Contexts, Vol. 11: pp. 48-53.
VIDEO:
TBA
September 22nd is the last day to enroll without the permission of the course director.
Sept 22-26
The Rewards and Risks of A Critical/Sociological Consciousness
Required Reading:Berger, Peter. (1977). “Sociology and Freedom” from Facing Up To
Modernity. Reprinted in Charon, J. (ed). (1987, Sec. Ed). The Meaning of
Sociology. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall), pp. 355-357.
Berger, Peter. (1963). Sociology as a Humanistic Discipline. Excerpted
from Invitation to Sociology : A Humanistic Perspective. Garden City:
Doubleday and Co. Reprinted in Charon, J. (ed) The Meaning of Sociology.
(Sec. Ed) (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall), pp. 353-355
Berger, Peter (1963). “Sociology as a Form of Consciousness,” in Invitation
to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. (Garden City: Doubleday and Co.),
pp.25-38).
Sept. 29-Oct 3
Bringing a Critical/Sociological Consciousness to the University
Required Reading: Ois, Shelagh (2007) “I know, I think, I do.
Gadamer, Hans-George (1992). “The Idea of the University — Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow,” in Misgeld, D. and Nicholson, G. (eds.) HansGeorge Gadamer on Education, Poetry and History. (New York: SUNY
Press), pp. 47-59.
(2005) "Vari Hall Politics."
Schmidt, Sarah (2005, Feb 10). "Fights Over Protest Rights Grip Schools."
National Post, A7.
University of Toronto General Assembly (April, 2011). “The Third
General Assembly.” Downloaded from
http://utgeneralassembly.wordpress.com/ Accessed July 9, 2011.
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
Oct 6-10
3
2014-2015
The Natural Attitude, Stock of Knowledge, and The Member
vs The Stranger
Required Reading: Schutz, Alfred. (1977). “The Stranger” (originally from Collected
Papers) in Sennett, R. (ed.) (1977). The Psychology of Society. (New
York: Vintage Books), pp. 141-149.
Goffman, Alice. (2014) "The Art of Running," in On The Run:
Fugitive Life in an American City (Chapter 2). (Chicago: University
of Chicago Press), pp. 23-53.
Oct. 13-17
IN-CLASS TEST DURING LECTURE TIME
October 14 is the last date to enroll in this course. To enroll, you must have the written
permission of the course instructor and of the T.A. of the tutorial into which you are
enrolling.
SECTION TWO: The Language & Grammar of Social Order/Organization.
Oct 20-24
Order/orders, Order/ordering: Gender Order(s)/Ordering as an
Example
Required Reading:
Connell, R. W (2005). “Growing Up Masculine.” Irish Journal of
Sociology Vol. 14 (2), pp. 11-28.
Poisson, Jayme (May 21, 2011).“Footloose and gender-free; Toronto couple
believe children should make their own decisions, including whether to
tell people if they are a boy or a girl.” The Toronto Star, SECTION A. 26
Poisson, Jayme (May 24, 2011). “Readers rage about 'genderless' infant;
Story on pair who keep baby's sex secret, elicits anger and, yes, support.”
The Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., SECTION E.1.
Oct. 27-31
Co-Curricular Days - NO LECTURE OR TUTORIAL
Nov. 3-7
Context
Required Reading: Mills C. Wright (1959). “The Promise.” Reprinted from The Sociological
Imagination in Feigelman, Wm. (ed). (1989). Sociology Full Circle (Fifth
ed.). (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.), pp. 4-9.
Ehrenfeld, David (2002, October). The Cow Tipping Point. Harper’s
Magazine, pp. 13-20.
Pieters, Gary (2007, June 14) "If Youth Learn Violence, They Will
Live Violently." The Star.Com. Copied from
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/2007/06/14/if_youth_learn_violence
_they_will_live_violently.html
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. (May 1, 2013). "The Ghetto Is Public Policy." The
Atlantic. Downloaded from
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/05/the-ghetto-is-publicpolicy/275456/
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
Nov. 10-14
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Context continued
Required Reading: Dandaneau, S. (2001). “Toward a Postmodern Sociological
Imagination and a Sociological Imagination For Postmodern
Times,” in Taking it Big: Developing Sociological Consciousness in
Postmodern Times. (Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press.),
pp. 69- 85
Daskalos Christopher T. (Mar 2007). “Locals Only! The Impact of
Modernity on a Local Surfing Context.” Sociological Perspectives,
Vol. 50, (1): pp. 155-173.
Nov. 17-21
Social Action and The Social Actor.
Required Reading: Weber, Max. (1947) “Sociology and Science. Selections from The
Theory of Social and Economic Organisation," in Weber, Max (1994)
Sociological Writings. Edited by Heydebrand, Wolfgang. (New York,
Continuum Publications), pp. 228-239. (Focus on pp. 229-231, to the
end of item 3.)
Wolfe, Alan. (1993). “Philosophical Anthropology Re-visited,” in The
Human Difference: Animals, Computers and the Necessity of Social
Science. (Berkeley and Los Angeles), chapter 7, pp. 176-82.
Stephen Katz. (2007). “Is the Self Social?” in Pavlich, George and
Hird, Myra Questioning Sociology: Canadian Perspectives. (Don
Mills: Oxford University Press, 2007), pp. 80-86.
Information about the end of term test will be given out at this week's
lecture session.
Nov. 24-28
Social Interaction and Social Institutions.
Required Reading:Berger, P. and Luckman T. (1966). “The Origin of Institutions” from The
Social Construction of Reality. Reprinted in Charon, J. (ed.) The Meaning
of Sociology. (Sec. Ed.) (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall), pp. 231234.
Dec 1-5
In Class Test
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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SECTION THREE: Negotiating Order/organisation In Everyday Life
Jan. 5-9
Everyday Life in Sociological Inquiry.
Required Reading: Elliott, Anthony (2014, 3rd edition). "Self, Society, and Everyday Life," in
Concepts of the Self. (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press), pp. 28-44.
Scott, Susie. (2009). Making Sense of Everyday Life. (Cambridge UK:
Polity Press), pp. 16-28.
Giddens, A. (1991) “Social Interaction and Everyday Life,” in Introduction
to Sociology. New York: W. W. Norton, pp. 109-130.
THE RESEARCH REPORT ASSIGNMENT WILL BE HANDED OUT IN THE LECTURE SESSION
Jan. 12-16
Negotiating Order in Public Spaces.
Required Reading: Cahill, Spencer with William Distler, Cynthia Lachowetz, Andrea
Meaney, Robyn Tarallo and Teena Willard. (1985, April). “Meanwhile
Backstage: Public Bathroom and the Interaction Order.” Urban Life, Vol.
14, pp. 33-58.
Jan. 19-23
Negotiating Order in the Family
Required Reading: Best Amy L. (2006 January) “Freedom, Constraint, and Family
Responsibility: Teens and Parents Collaboratively Negotiate
Around the Car, Class, Gender, and Culture.” Journal of Family
Issues, Vol. 27, (1), pp. 55-84.
Jan. 26-30
Negotiating Order in City Streets.
Required Reading: Gardner, Carole Brooks. (1980). “Passing by: Street Remarks, Address
Rights and the Urban Female.” Sociological Inquiry, Vol. 50, pp. 328-356.
Nessen, Stephen (2013). "Fighting Unwanted Cat Calls, One Poster At A
Time." All Things Considered. National Public Radio (NPR).
http://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/187745940/fighting-unwanted-cat-callsone-poster-at-a-time.
Feb. 2-6
Negotiating Order in Various Contexts.
Required Reading: “The Story of Emmett Till.” Version 1. Downloaded from
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Emmett+Till on January 27,
2010.
"The Story of Emmett Till." Version 2. Downloaded from
http://www.anneandemmett.com/play/emmett-till.html January 27, 2010
(Readings continued on the next page)
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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Rao, Kavitha (2006, December 11) “’Eve-Teasing’ Makes India's Streets
Mean for Women.” Posted on http://www.janicenewson.ca, course page for
Soci 2070. Originally downloaded from
<http://www.womensenews.org/story/sexual-harassment/061211/eveteasing-makes-indias-streets-mean-women>
Mia, Salim (2010, June 13) “Bangladesh ‘Eve teasing’ Craze Takes a
Terrible Toll.” Posted on http://www.janicenewson.ca, course page for Soci
2070. Originally downloaded from <http://www.awid.org/eng/Issues-andAnalysis/Library/Bangladesh-Eve-teasing-craze-takes-a-terrible-toll>
Feb. 6th is the last day to withdraw from a course without receiving a grade.
Feb. 9-13
Catch Up and Transition to Section Four
Required Reading: Knuttila, Murray Science, Theory, and the Origins of Sociology.
In Introducing Sociology: A Critical Approach 3rd ed. (Don Mills:
Oxford University Press, 2005), chapter 6.
Madoo Lengermann , Patricia and Jill Niebrugge-Brantley. (2001).
"Classical Feminist Social Theory," in Ritzer, George and Barry
Smart. Handbook of Social Theory, Chapter 11. (Thousand Oaks:
Sage Pub.), pp. 125-137.
THE RESEARCH REPORT IS DUE THIS WEEK ON WEDNESDAY
Feb. 16-20
READING WEEK
SECTION FOUR: Theoretical Perspectives on Social Order/organization
Feb 23-27
Foundational Theories of Social Order/Organization 1
Required Reading: Marx, Karl. (1844-1867). “Selected Readings on Historical
Materialism, Existence and Consciousness, and Human
Alienation.” In Bottomore, Tom (ed). (1963, 2nd edition). Karl Marx:
Selected writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy.
(Harmondsworth, England: Pelican Books), pp. 67-81; 89-98; 177185.
Mar. 2-6
Foundational Theories of Social Order/Organisation 2.
Required Reading: Durkheim, Emile. (1893/1933). The Division of Labour. Translated by
George Simpson. (New York: The Free Press), pp. 396-409.
Simpson, George (1951). “The Aetiology of Suicide,” (Editor’s Introduction)
in Suicide: A Study in Sociology. Edited by George Simpson. (New York:
The Free Press), pp. 13-17
Mar. 9-13
Foundational Theories of Social Order/Organisation 3
Required Reading:Weber, Max. (1947). “Sociology and Science. Selections from The
Theory of Social and Economic Organisation”. In Weber, Max
(1994) Sociological Writings. Edited by Heydebrand, Wolfgang. New
York, Continuum Publications, pp. 228-239. (NOTE: part of this
reading was on the list for Nov. 18-22. This time, read all of it.)
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
Mar. 16-20
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2014-2015
Foundational Theories of Social Order/Organisation 4
Simmel, George. (1908). How is Society Possible? Translated by
Kurt H. Wolff (1959) in George Simmel, 1858-1918. (Ohio State
Press). Re-printed in Levine, Donald (1971). George Simmel: On
Individuality and Social Forms. (Chicago: University of Chicago
Press), pp. 6-22.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. (1898). From chapter I-VI of Gilman,
Charlotte Perkins (1898). Women and Economics. (New York: Small
and Maynard). Excerpted in Lengermann, Patricia Madoo and
Gillian Niebrugg. (1998). The Women Founders: Sociology and
Social Theory, 1830-1930. (Lone Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press), pp.
131-139.
Mar 24-28
Linking Classical Theories to Negotiated Orders.
Required Reading: Smith, George W. (1998, Spring). “The Ideology of ‘Fag’: The School
Experience of Gay Students.” The Sociological Quarterly, Vol. 39, (2), pp.
309-335.
Diamond, Timothy (1986) "Social Policy and Everyday Life in Nursing
Homes: A Critical Ethnography." Social Science and Medicine. Vol. 23,
(12), pp. 1287-1295.
Required Re-reading: Ehrenfeld, David (2002, October). "The Cow Tipping Point."
Harper’s Magazine, pp. 13-20.
FINAL TEST REVIEW QUESTIONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
IN CLASS THIS WEEK
Mar 31-April 4
Linking Classical Theories to Negotiated Orders, continued.
April 2nd is the last day for you to submit course work and receive credit for it. Note
that grade penalties will be applied for work that you turn in later than the
assignment's deadline (see below) unless you have made an alternative arrangement
with your tutorial instructor.
FINAL TEST DURING THE OFFICIAL EXAM PERIOD, TBA
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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READING MATERIALS
(a) A xeroxed reading kit can be purchased at The York Bookstore. BE SURE YOU GET
THE KIT FOR SECTION A OF SOCI 2070.
(b) Some required readings listed on the course outline are not in the reading kit. In some
cases, information is available in the course outline about how to access these readings. In
other cases, information about the reading will be given in class and posted on the course
page at http://www.janicenewson.ca.
(c) Readings may be assigned from time to time that are not listed on the course outline. You
will be advised of such readings and where to find them in lecture or tutorial sessions, and
on the course page at http://www.janicenewson.ca .
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
October 15th In-class test
15%
Dec 3rd End of first term in-class test
20%
Feb 11th Research report due
25%
Final Test During the Exam period
20%
Weekly Tutorial work & participation
20% (criteria etc. set by your tutorial
instructor.)
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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COURSE POLICIES AND WHAT TO DO WHEN (IF)
THINGS GO OFF THE RAILS!
PLEASE READ THE NEXT PAGES CAREFULLY. THEY SPELL OUT
POLICIES THAT APPLY TO THIS COURSE ABOUT …
MISSED ASSIGNMENTS LATENESS PROLONGED ILLNESSES
SCHEDULE CHANGES GETTING HELP MAKING APPOINTMENTS
GETTING YOUR CONCERNS ADDRESSED ACADEMIC HONESTY
You are expected to know about these policies.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS AN ASSIGNMENT
Don’t panic! But don’t wait for us to contact you – you contact us! If you do not make
arrangements with us for completing a missed course assignments, you will receive a zero for
that part of your final grade. Because of the large size of the class, we cannot contact you to
find out why you have not written a test.
Make-up tests: I schedule a make-up test after each in-class test to accommodate
students who have a confirmed health-related or personal emergency reason for missing the
test as scheduled. You will need to provide a written confirmation of your circumstances from
a health practitioner. If you do not have a health or personal emergency reason, you can write
the make-up test if given permission but you may receive lateness deductions. For each test,
ONLY ONE make-up test will be scheduled. We will post the date and time via email and in
the Sociology Departmental Office (2060 Vari Hall) as soon as the regularly scheduled test
has been written. We do NOT provide special sittings to accommodate individual schedules.
A personal emergency includes such things as family illness and other types of
unforeseen and unavoidable events that prevent you from doing an assignment. It does
NOT include conflicting academic, employment, or travel schedules. You are expected
to arrange your employment and academic obligations and your leisure activities to not
conflict with your obligations to this course.
All other assignments: You are responsible for informing me and/or your
Teaching Assistant about why you have missed an assignment deadline and for
confirming the arrangements for submitting it late. ALL ARRANGEMENTS FOR
LATE SUBMISSIONS MUST BE CONFIRMED by the T.A. who grades your work,
even if you have discussed your situation with me or another T.A. If you turn in an
assignment after the original due date without consulting your T.A. about a later due
date, your T.A. will apply lateness deductions or assign a zero grade for the
assignment.
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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Number of Extensions: You may ONCE do a make-up test or submit an essay
after the scheduled deadline without penalty, provided you submit a signed medical
script or note from a personal advisor. I may contact your health practitioner/advisor to
confirm your medical or personal reason. If you request an extension more than
ONCE, you must submit the attending physician's statement available at
http://www.yorku.ca/laps/council/students/documents/APS.pdf. You may not complete
more than 2 assignments without penalty after the scheduled deadline unless you
discuss your situation with me and provide evidence of special circumstances.
IF YOU HAVE A PROLONGED ILLNESS or PERSONAL CRISIS
If you develop health problems or encounter a personal crisis that is going to
restrict your participation in the course for longer than a three week period, or
that will impede your ability to complete TWO or more course assignments
(including regular tutorial attendance and assignments), you or someone on your
behalf must discuss your situation with your T.A. and the course director as soon as
you become aware that this may happen.
Please note that a student who does not complete at least 80% of the course
requirements will not receive a passing grade. If, as the course progresses, you
become unable to complete course requirements, we strongly advise you to discuss your
situation with your T.A. and the course director. We will try to make it possible for you
to complete the course BUT if you require an extended period of absence, it may be
necessary for you to withdraw from the course in order to avoid receiving a grade that
is not satisfactory to you.
WHOM TO SEE ABOUT WHAT
As course director, I am available to meet with you individually to discuss your interests
in the course material, or difficulties you may be encountering with it, or problems that you
are having with any matters related to the course. I will announce in class a regular time
that I will be available in my office. In addition to this pre-announced time, you can make an
appointment that is convenient to both of us. You must arrange appointments with me
directly rather than with the Sociology Office Staff. Please talk to me during lecture time to
arrange an appointment OR phone me at ext. 22291 and if I don’t answer, listen to the
message on my phone mail which will tell you how to reach me quickly.
Since your work is graded by your own tutorial leader, you need to get information about
expectations for specific assignments from him/her, since each tutorial leader may emphasize
some aspects of the material over others and each will have their own standards regarding
presentation etc.
IF you have concerns about your grades or any other matter to do with your
participation and progress in the course, you may discuss your concerns with me. My
approach is to treat your concerns with discretion and, when necessary, to assist you
and your T.A. to come up with acceptable solutions. (See also "Notes On Grading"
below)If you are unable to get your issues satisfactorily addressed by those of us who
teach this course, you may submit your concerns to the Sociology Department’s
Undergraduate Director and pursue the various appeal routes that are available to
you.
Sociology 2070 6.0 Sec. A
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NOTES ON GRADING
We make every effort to maintain common grading standards across tutorials.
Professor Newson sets all of the assignment questions with advice and suggestions
from the Teaching Assistants. As well, the T.A.s and Professor Newson hold regular
discussions about grading. For each T.A.’s develop common guidelines about what to
look for and how to assign credit for each question. Normally, Professor Newson will
intervene into the grading of individual students only if your Teaching Assistant as
well as you request me to do so, or if you have attempted to reconcile differences over
your grade with your T.A. and have failed. However, Teaching Assistants expect and
encourage you to discuss grading concerns with them first. They are willing to
reconsider your grade if you provide them with reasons to support your concerns. In
some cases, they will ask one of the other T.A.s or Professor Newson to read your
assignment to offer views on an appropriate grade. As noted above, if you are unable to
get your issues satisfactorily addressed by those of us who teach this course, you may
submit your concerns to the Sociology Department’s Undergraduate Director and
pursue the various appeal routes that are available to you.
WHAT ABOUT SCHEDULE CHANGES?
Changes in the course outline or assignment due dates, if any, will be announced
in class. You are responsible for keeping in touch with the progress of the course
through regular attendance at lectures. If you miss a class, check with your T.A. at the
next tutorial about whether any changes have been announced.
OUR APPROACH TO ACADEMIC HONESTY
Read carefully the York Policy on Academic Honesty that is attached to your course
outline. Please take note that, if we believe that standards of academic honesty have been
violated, we will pursue all such cases through the process described in the York Policy.
INFORMATION ON RELEVANT UNIVERSITY/ SENATE POLICIES
Important information for students regarding the Ethics Review process, Access/Disability,
Academic Honesty/Integrity, Student Conduct, andReligious Observance Days is available on
the Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards (CCAS) webpage (see Reports,
Initiatives,Documents):file://localhost/<http/::www.yorku.ca:secretariat:senate_cte_main_pages:ccas>
A FINAL NOTE
YOUR BEST STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH ANY THING THAT MAY PREVENT
YOU FROM COMPLETING THIS COURSE IN A WAY THAT IS SATISFACTORY TO
YOU IS FOR YOU TO INFORM PROFESSOR NEWSON AND/OR YOUR TUTORIAL
LEADER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ABOUT YOUR DIFFICULTIES AND CONCERNS,
SO THAT WE CAN TOGETHER WORK OUT A WAY OF RESPONDING TO THEM.
That’s all for now! Welcome to the course.