Course Syllabus: SOCI 2201
FALL 2009 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
DR LINDA TREIBER
1
SYLLABUS-FALL 2009
SOCIOLOGY 2201-06
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 0930-1045
PLACE TBA
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an overview of sociology which emphasizes the social natures of human behavior, including an introduction to culture,
social structure, socialization, deviance, stratification, family, gender, religion, demography, and complex organizations.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
INSTRUCTOR: DR. LINDA A. TREIBER
OFFICE: ROOM 4070 SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASSROOM BUILDING
OFFICE PHONE: 678-797-2279
E-MAIL: ltreiber@kennesaw.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM TUESDAY/THURSDAY
AND BY APPOINTMENT
REQUIRED TEXTS:
 Schaefer, Richard T. 2008. Sociology: A Brief Introduction, 8th edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
 Ritzer, George. 2007. The McDonaldization of Society 5. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
 Other readings will be distributed in class or will be available on WebCT.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS:
This course is designed to introduce the student to the discipline of sociology. Upon completion of the course, students should gain an
introductory level understanding of various sociological perspectives, including core sociological concepts, theories, and research
methodologies. The information gained in this course will help the student critically evaluate the social world. The teaching methods
used in this course include written texts, lectures, discussion, individual assignments, in-class group exercises, and films.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:
Every student is expected to participate in class. This means contributing to class discussions as well as active participation in class
exercises, short writing assignments, small group discussions, and in-class projects. You cannot get credit for in-class participation
exercises unless you are in class. Students are responsible for all course material. Approximately half of the examination questions
will be based on lectures and classroom discussion. Attendance will be taken in every class. Absences from class will only be excused
for students who have documentation that serious illness, injury, incapacity, or official university business prevented them from being
present in class.
EVALUATION AND GRADING:
There will be 3 exams. Each exam will cover approximately one-third of the course assigned readings, lectures, discussions, and
films. Although the first two exams are not comprehensive, I assume that knowledge obtained in readings, lectures, etc. is cumulative.
The final will be cumulative. Each exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and short essay questions.
Make-up exams will only be given to students who have documentation that serious illness, injury, incapacity, or official university
business prevented them from being present in class the day of the exam. MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL ONLY BE ADMINISTERED
DURING THE FINAL EXAM WEEK. The FINAL EXAM is Tuesday Dec 8, 930-1130 am. Be on time!
The final exam date is non-negotiable. Please make the necessary arrangements to be there.
Grades will be based upon your percentage of the total number of points on exams, written work, and attendance. A= 90-100%; B=
89.99-80%; C= 79.99-70%; D= 69.99-60%; F= Below 60%.
Evaluation Method
Exam 1
Exam 2
FINAL EXAM
McDonaldization Paper
Weight
25%
25%
25%
20%
Class Participation
5%
Course Syllabus: SOCI 2201
FALL 2009 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
TOTAL
DR LINDA TREIBER
2
100%
Each exam is worth 25% of your grade; attendance and participation is worth 5%; the McDonaldization paper (guidelines on WebCT)
is worth 20%. Please do not send your paper via email. As stated in the guidelines, late points will be deducted for work that is not
received on time.
COURSE OUTLINE:
I plan to follow the course outline listed below as closely as possible. If changes are necessary during the semester, I will announce
them in advance. Please read the specified material in the text prior to the dates on which they will be discussed. I expect that you
will come to class prepared to discuss assigned course material. You will be responsible for all assigned readings, whether they are
explicitly covered in class or not. Please ask questions about any information presented in texts or lectures.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and
Graduate Catalogs, Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the university’s policy on academic honesty, including
provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of
University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of
computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be
handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a
faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s
minimum one semester suspension requirement.
DISABILITIES:
If you have academic or testing needs, please make an appointment with me so that we may work together to serve those needs.
CONDUCT:
Several rules of classroom conduct should be followed. Please do not use cell phones during class. Arrive on time and do not leave
early. If an instructor (including me) or any of your peers says or does anything that you consider racial or sexual harassment, notify
the instructor immediately. If this happens in class, you may write me an anonymous note or contact me in person. Belligerent,
abusive, profane, threatening and or inappropriate behavior is a violation of the KSU student council regulations. I value and respect
your contributions. Please do the same for others in the class.
CLASS and ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Note: there may be last minute revisions
Day
Class date
Topic
Reading Assignment
T
August 18
TH
August 20
Course introduction
The Sociological Perspective
Understanding Sociology
No assignment-get books and review
syllabus
Schaefer, Chapter 1 “Understanding
Sociology”
T
August 25
The Sociological Imagination
Ritzer, Chapter 1, “An Introduction to
McDonaldization”
TH
August 27
Research Methods in Sociology
Schaefer, Chapter 2
“Sociological Research”
T
September 1
Research Methods in Sociology
“Night as Frontier” available on WebCT
TH
September 3
Culture
Schaefer, Chapter 3, “Culture”
Kleinman (2000) “Why Sexist Language
Matters” (Handout)
T
September 8
Culture
Ritzer, Chapter 2, “McDonald’s and its
Precursors: From the Iron Cage to the Fast
Food Industry”
Course Syllabus: SOCI 2201
FALL 2009 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
DR LINDA TREIBER
FILM: TBA
Schaefer, Chapter 4, “Socialization”
Film: Killing us Softly, Part III
TH
September 10
Socialization and the Life Course: Life
Lines
T
September 15
Socialization, continued
TH
September 17
Social Interaction and Social Structure
T
September 22
McDonaldization
TH
September 24
EXAM 1
T
September 29
TH
October 1
Social Groups and Formal
Organizations
“Red Tape” and other problems
Schaefer, Chapter 6, “Groups and
Organizations”
Ritzer, Chapter 7, “The Irrationality of
Rationality: Traffic Jams on those Happy
Trails”
Chapter 10, “Starbuckization of Society
T
October 6
Mass Media
Schaefer, Chapter 7, “The Mass Media”
TH
October 8
Deviant Behavior
Schaefer, Chapter 8, “Deviance and Social
Control”
T
October 13
Social Stratification
TH
October 15
Race
T
October 20
Race and Ethnicity, continued
Schaefer, Chapter 9, “Stratification in the
United States and World Wide”
Schaefer, Chapter 10, “Racial and Ethnic
Inequality”
FILM: Race the Power of an Illusion, Part I
TH
October 22
Gender
T
October 27
Age
TH
October 29
EXAM 2
T
November 3
Family
TH
November 5
Religion
T
November 10
Globalization
TH
November 12
TERM PAPER DUE IN CLASS
FILM: “No Logo”
T
November 17
Government and Economy
TH
November 19
Health Care
T
November 24
Social Movements
Schaefer, Chapter 14, “Government, The
Economy, and the Environment”
Schaefer, Chapter 15, “Population,
Communities, and Health”
Schaefer, Chapter 16, “Social Movements,
Social Change, and Technology”
TH
November 26
NO CLASS THANKSGIVING
Ritzer, Chapter 3, “Efficiency: Drivethroughs and Finger Foods”
Ritzer, Chapter 4, “Calculability” Big Macs
and Little Chips”
Schaefer, Chapter 5
“Social Interaction and Social Structure”
Ritzer, Chapter 5, “Predictability: It Never
Rains on those Little Houses on the
Hillside”
Ritzer, Chapter 6, “Control: Human and
Non-Human Robots”
Schaefer, Chapter 11, “Stratification by
Gender and Age”
Schaefer, Chapter 12, “The Family and
Intimate Relationships”
Schaefer, Chapter 13, “Religion and
Education”
Ritzer, Chapter 8, “Globalization and
McDonaldization”
Ritzer ,Chapter 9, “Dealing with
McDonaldization: A Practical Guide”
3
Course Syllabus: SOCI 2201
FALL 2009 KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
DR LINDA TREIBER
HOLIDAY
T
TH
December 1
December 3
LAST DAY OF
CLASS
Finish all readings
Course Evaluations
FINAL EXAMINATION: TUESDAY December 8
0930-1130 AM
4