Sociology 1 - Introduction to Sociology
Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:05 – 10:30
Instructor: Robbin Jeffries, M.Sc.
Email: jeffrirm@lamission.edu
Office Location: Instructional Building, Faculty Room #17
Phone: (818) 364-7689
Drop in hours:
Mon. 10-12, Tues. 12:10-1 and 6:45-7:15, Thurs. 12:10-1 and 6:45-7:15, and Fridays, 12:10-1r, or by
appointment.
You are encouraged to communicate with me in person, by email, or phone during the entire course.
Course Description:
This is a survey course in sociology designed to provide you with new insights into our world, including your
own, from a sociological perspective.
C. Wright Mills argued that a “sociological imagination” lets us “understand the larger historical scene in terms
of its meaning for the inner life and external career of a variety of individuals.” That is to say, sociology focuses
on how external social forces shape our individual lives. It is a way of seeing that our personal experiences
are not exclusively personal dramas but ones that are connected to larger social patterns.
For example, our Declaration of Independence states that we [okay, “all men”] are created equal and that we
are all equally endowed with the same rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So part of your
job as young sociologists is to assess whether, as individuals shaped by our family, race, ethnicity, sex,
gender, age, and social class locations (i.e. the social groups and categories we belong to), this claim and
claims like it are accurate. Are we all truly equal, endowed with the same rights to life, liberty and happiness?
To quote a friend, “your answer will depend on your theory!”
In more general terms, sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interaction. Sociologists
analyze everything from personal relationships (and how or whether we communicate in them), culture,
socialization, sexuality, gender, race, and social class to large institutions like the economy, military, and mass
media. And, we explore the privileges and constraints social class, race, ethnicity and sex exercise on our
daily lives as in the paragraph above.
Basically, sociology has the ability to help us understand our usual experiences in unusual ways so it helps us
understand society more critically. Through research and theory building, sociologists ideally challenge
everyday understandings of our social reality (like whether we are truly free or truly equal) which may, in turn,
influence the decisions politicians, doctors, media makers, other scientists, etc. (supposedly?) make on our
behalf. There are a lot of areas to explore, and I hope you find one of particular interest to you!
Required Reading:
1. Society in Focus: an Introduction to Sociology by William E. Thompson and Joseph V. Hickey, 7th Ed.
(A copy has been placed in the Library on a 2-hour reserve, an a la carte hole-punched version is available
with website access code in the LAMC bookstore ONLY.)
2. “Articles” that I will upload for you on our class website. (I’ll explain more in class.)
Recommended Reading:
www.nytimes.com www.democracynow.org www.thenation.com www.slate.com
Student Learning Outcomes (By the end of this course you should be able to…):
Student will be able to apply the three major sociological theoretical approaches to social issues.
Student will be able to identify the impact of gender, race and social class in the process of socialization.
Student will be able to differentiate and apply different research designs to perform social research.
1. Read a variety of materials (e.g. newspapers, academic journals) critically to:
a. identify the thesis (the main idea and key points of what you are reading.)
b. summarize the important points.
c. evaluate the main ideas using one or more sociological paradigms.
d. recommend solutions, if any, from a sociological perspective.
I will assess your ability to do this by reviewing and grading your (short and responsive) writing assignments
given to you throughout the course. Some of these assignments will be based on videos seen in class.
2. Write two short papers (2-4 pages each) in which you:
a. formulate a thesis, (e.g. “Glamorous images of ultrathin people in the fashion industry, the
movie industry, and other media are a contributing cause of eating disorders on college
campuses because they influence young people to believe they are fat when in fact their weight
is normal.” (Faigley 49)
b. make coherent and a logical claims.
c. compare and contrast how the main sociological paradigms explain and critique your chosen
topic (e.g. use the main paradigms to critique/explain the existence of eating disorders for
college students.)
d. recommend social solutions to this social problem, if any.
e. critique the paradigms (e.g. which one has the most explanatory value?)
f. use standard English. The Learning Resource Center is a great resource!
I will assess your ability to do this by reviewing and grading your papers. There are many paper options to
choose from. A detailed description will be given in-class.
3. Display a way of thinking that demonstrates:
a. your ability to critically think about (question) what we read, watch, listen to, etc.
b. some sociological insight as it relates to your life
c. your claims based on “fact” or theory not merely opinion and certainly not stereotypes!
d. respect for diversity of thought
I will assess your ability to do this through your in-class discussions and writing assignments.
Your grade will be determined as follows:
1. Exams – there will be four multiple-choice, non-cumulative exams worth approximately 50-75 points each.
You need to bring Scantron #882-E + and #2 pencil to class on exam days. I will provide a comprehensive
study guide one week before each exam. They work, so use them!
2. Writings – Part of your grade will be based on a few writing assignments worth 20 points each. The nature
of each will be discussed in-class. Your postings will be due ONLINE.
3. Pop quizzes – It is very possible that they will occur. Each will be worth 10-20 points, depending on how
extensive the quiz is. You will need to keep a set of scantrons (the same ones described above) with you
in case one is needed the day of a pop quiz.
4. Group Work – There may be a couple of occasions where you work on very small assignments together.
They will be discussed in-class.
5. Extra-credit – A breaching experiment (5 points)
Grade Record:
I recommend you keep track of your grade throughout the course so that you always know where you stand.
Simply record the amount of points (not your percentage) you earned on an assignment and divide by the total
points possible, which will then give you a percentage.
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Test 4
Group Work 1
Writing Assignment 1
Writing Assignment 2
Earned Points / Total Points Possible
____________/__________________
____________/__________________
____________/__________________
____________/__________________
____________/______20__________
____________/______20__________
____________/______20__________
Total points:
____________/__________________ = ________%
The grade scale is 100-90% = A, 89-80% = B, 79-70% = C, 69-60% = D, and less than 59%= F.
It is easy to track your grade as we go along so do it in order to avoid “grade shock”!
Other IMPORTANT class stuff to know:
1. Student Portal: update email address, view your schedule and grades from past semesters
www.lamission.edu “students” then “student Portal” enter “88-------“ then PIN (MMDD) birthday
option 1- update email address.
2. Attendance: It is required. If you miss more than 3 classes in total, you may be excluded; however, it is
always the student’s responsibility to drop a course. Call me, talk to me, email me, whatever, to
discuss absences. Please be disciplined about your education and attend consistently.
Obtain at least one student’s information in case you’re ever absent:
3. Tardiness: Please avoid disrupting the classroom by arriving late or leaving early. If a situation arises
where you are frequently and consistently late or leave early, you may be dropped. If you come to
class late and see that we have begun, you must wait by the door. Do not enter and disrupte the class.
4. Make-up exams: I will offer make-up exams at my discretion. My decision will depend on your class
performance to date, when and how you notified me of your absence.
5. Phones and pagers: Turn them off. If your cell phone goes off in class, or I see you consistently using
it, then you may receive a disciplinary sanction for violating the LAMC Student Conduct Code.
6. Recording devices in the classroom: Section 78907 of the California Education Code prohibits the use
of any electronic audio or video recording devices, without prior consent of the instructor, including cell
phones, laptops, MP3 players, and more.
7. Medical Conditions: If you have any conditions that I need to know about, please notify me immediately
by email and provide me with an emergency phone number.
8. Reasonable Accommodation: If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, please
send me a private email. The sooner I am aware of your eligibly for accommodations, the quicker I will
be able to assist the DSP&S Office in providing them. For students requiring accommodations, the
DSP&S Office at Mission College provides special assistance in areas like: registering for courses,
specialized tutoring, note-taking, mobility assistance, special instruction, testing assistance, special
equipment, special materials, instructor liaisons, community referrals and job placement. If you have
not done so already, you may also wish to contact the DSP&S Office in Instructional Building 1018
(phone 818/364-7732 TTD 818/364-7861) and bring a letter stating the accommodations that are
needed.
9. Academic Honesty: All students are required to do their own work. Cheating and plagiarism are
absolutely forbidden and will result in a failing grade for that particular assignment. The student will
also be referred to the Vice President’s office for formal discipline.
Cheating refers to any unauthorized material used during an examination, including but not
limited to, using electronic devices, changing answers after work has been graded, taking an exam for
another student, forging or altering attendance sheets or other documents in the course, looking at
another student’s paper/scantron/essay/computer or exam. Any student caught cheating will receive a
zero for the assignment/exam and referred to the Department chair and/or Student Services for further
disciplinary action.
Plagiarism is defined as the act of using ideas, words, or work of another person or persons
as if they were one’s own, without giving proper credit to the original sources. This includes
definitions found online on Wikipedia, materials from blogs, twitter, or other similar electronic
resources. The following examples are intended to be representative, but not all- inclusive:
(1)
failing to give credit via proper citations for others’ ideas and concepts, data and information,
statements and phrases, and/or interpretations and conclusions;
(2) failing to use quotation marks
when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or a part thereof;
(3)
paraphrasing the expressions or thoughts of others without appropriate quotation marks or
attribution;
(4) Representing another’s artistic/scholarly works such as essays, computer
programs, photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures or similar works as one’s own.
For a
student’s first offense, he or she will receive a zero for the assignment in question. Any further
offense(s) may result in expulsion from the class, pursuant to recommendation from the Office of
Student Services.
10. Classroom decorum: This is a college course, and I expect us all to be respectful and courteous.
If you are in doubt as to what this means, please consult the Student Code of Conduct.
11. PLEASE PROGRAM CAMPUS SHERIFF NUMBER IN YOUR CELL PHONE (818) 364-7843.
12. Drops and withdrawals are your responsibility. See the schedule of classes to confirm the dates. The
Admissions Office number is (818) 988-2222.
ADD Date:
DROP Dates:
The deadline to add full-term classes is February 17th.
…without incurring fees or with a refund is February 22nd.
…without receiving a “W” is March 4th.
…with a “W” is May 6th.
Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance!
.
Your success is my goal!
Weekly Reading Schedule for Fall 2010:
Unless otherwise instructed, you must read assignments prior to coming to class so that you can
participate and ask relevant questions. Bring all readings to class due that day for discussion.
Chapter = a chapter from the textbook
Article = a reading posted online---more instructions to follow.
NOTE: THE SCHEDULE AND READINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Week 1
2/8
Introductions, discuss sociology as a discipline.
2/10 Chapter 1
Think: What is the sociological perspective? What do sociologists study? What is your reaction to the
opening chapter story? What are the main differences between the social science disciplines? What are the
key assumptions of each perspective?
Week 2
2/15 Chapter 1 and article The Sociological Imagination
2/17 Chapter 2
Week 3
2/22 Chapter 2, cont’d.
2/24 Chapter 3 and articles:
Retreat of the Tiger Mother http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/fashion/16Cultural.html
Amy Chua Is a Wimp http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/opinion/18brooks.html?scp=10&sq=tiger%20mom&st=cse
Does Your Language Shape How You Think?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html
Writing Homework Assignment #1 due online:
Week 4
3/1
Chapter 3 and articles, cont’d.
3/3
Test #1 on chapters 1-3 and articles.
Week 5 3/8 and 3/10
Chapter 4 and articles Extreme Isolation and Socialization and the Power of Advertising
In-class video: Still Killing Us Softly, v.3
Writing Homework Assignment #2:
At home, watch video Tough Guise http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9632437500432634
Writing instructions given in-class.
Week 6 3/15 and 3/17
3/15 Chapter 4
3/17 Chapter 5 and two articles Impression Management
Week 7 3/22 and 3/24
In-class video: The Human Behavior Experiments
Chapter 6 and two articles, If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? and The Pathology of
Imprisonment.
Week 8
3/29 Test #2 materials following Test #1.
3/31 School closed in observance of Cesar Chavez
Week 9
4/5
Chapter 7 (part of it only, pages TBA) and article Stigma: Women and STDs. Additional articles TBA.
4/7
In-class video: Oprah’s show on social class
Chapter 8
Week 10
4/12 Chapter 8, cont’d. and three articles Middle Class Voting; Tax Cut Chart; The New Inequality
4/14 Chapter 9 (part of it only, pages TBA)
Writing Assignment #2 will be drawn from these links (and explained in class):
http://ww.nytimes.com/classmatters
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/opinion/28dowd.html?em
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/business/29bonus.html?em
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/business/economy/25view.html?em
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/opinion/29collins.html?hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/magazine/25desire-t.html
Week 11
4/19 Spring Break
4/21 Spring Break
Week 12
4/26 Chapter 20
4/28 Test #3 on chapters 7 (parial), 8, 9 (partial), 20 and articles
Week 13
5/3
In-class video: Nightline’s A Question of Identity
Chapter 10
5/5
Chapter 10, cont’d. and three articles Race Remixed; Redefining Black America; White Privilege
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2008/11/28
http://racerelations.about.com/od/ahistoricalviewofrace/a/dnaandrace.htm
Week 14
5/10 In-class video: “Is it a boy, or is it a girl?”
and articles: Typical and Atypical Prenatal Sex Differentiation; The Five Sexes, Revisted
5/12 Chapter 11 and articles:
Straight Privilege, Male Privilege; Atrocity Knows No Gender; Livin’ On the Edge; and The Feminine
Critique
Week 15
5/17 Wrap-up section on sex/gender and race/ethnicity
5/19 Chapter 13
Week 16
5/24 Chapter 13, cont’d.
5/26 Class wrap-up
Week 17
Test #4 on chapters 10,11, 13, articles, and videos.