Introduction to Sociology 1310.255 (9:30), 1310.257
(12:30)
Spring 2010
Instructor: Ms. Gayle Gordon Bouzard
Office: 105 Derrick Hall
Office phone #: 245-4468
Office hours: M,T,W 2:00-3:00, and by appointment
E-mail: gb12@txstate.edu
Sociology Office: Derrick Hall 105
Sociology Office phone #: 245-2113
Graduate Assistant: Kevin Kromenacker
Graduate Assistant Office: Derrick 212
Graduate Assistant email: kk1353
Graduate Assistant phone # 245-4678
Sociology BSAS Intern: Lauren Stolte
Course Description
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 1310 Is a survey of the basic concepts in sociology
including social organization, culture, socialization, groups, and human population
leading to the development of a sociological perspective of human behavior.
The format of the course will be lecture, discussion, and class participation through in
class exercises. It is very important that you be present, prepared and actively applying
a sociological perspective.
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Course Goals
To assist the student in acquiring a “sociological imagination” for understanding
and analyzing human behavior.
To present an overview of basic sociological concepts and theories.
To challenge the students’ common sense ideas about human behavior through
examining and evaluating social research.
To introduce the student to the practical application of sociology in the work world
such as what one can do with a degree in sociology.
To facilitate open, non-judgmental discussion about current events while applying
a “sociological imagination”.
To facilitate an understanding of other cultures so that the student may become
more tolerant of them.
To assist the student in developing an enthusiasm for sociology as a way of
understanding the world.
By the end of this course you should also be able to engage in critical thinking. Critical
thinkers are able to see many sides to an issue, even if they disagree with the
arguments presented by different approaches. Critical thinkers examine and analyze
course material actively. Finally, engaging in critical thinking means that you are able to
set aside your personal beliefs and values and understand issues from a scientific
perspective.
Required Texts and Materials:
Andersen, Margaret L. and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: The Essentials, sixth edition.
2009. Wadsworth. Ebook.
Instructions for purchasing and accessing this ebook will be given in class and posted
on TRACS.
Access to TRACS – you need to have an active Texas State email username and
password. If you have not activated this, you may do so through the Texas State
website at www.txstate.edu
Students with Special Needs If you are a student with a disability who will require an
accommodation(s) to participate in this course, please contact me as soon as possible.
You will be asked to provide documentation from the Office of Disability Services.
Failure to contact me in a timely manner may delay your accommodations.
Course Expectations
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: In order for you to have a fruitful learning
experience in this course and have an interesting time doing so, it is necessary for you
to come to class prepared to participate in class discussion/activities and be able to
apply a sociological perspective. You will not be able to do well in this course unless
you come to class. Being prepared means that you will have utilized the online textbook
and will have read and thought about any assigned readings. The topics covered in this
course elicit strong opinion and debate. Your point of view is important, but expect it to
be challenged by the sociological perspective/facts/information. Please be respectful of
me and your classmates as we explore sociology together.
I, too, will come prepared for class, will be respectful of your input into class discussion,
and will base your grade on your work and how well you grasp and apply a sociological
perspective. Your grade will not be based on whether or not we agree/disagree on a
particular issue.
Attendance You may earn extra credit by attending class. Attendance will be taken
each class session by the GA. By January 28th you will be asked to choose a seat to
sit in the entire semester so that attendance may be taken accurately and efficiently. If
you arrive late it is your responsibility to check in with the GA at the end of class.
Please make every effort to arrive on time to class and stay the entire class session. If
you need to leave early, please inform me of this before class. If you arrive more than
10 minutes late, do not come into the classroom as it is disruptive to the other students
and to me. Excused absences will be granted for illness and family emergencies only.
Documentation is required to have such absences excused and it is the students’
responsibility to provide such documentation to the GA in a timely manner by taking it to
his office or by taking it to the sociology department office to be placed in Mr.
Kromenacker’s box. Please do not read newspapers, magazines, any other
material, work on other class assignments, listen to MP3 players, play games on
or use your laptop for anything other than taking notes, or use your cell phone for
any reason. I reserve the right to take your cell phone for the class period if it
rings, if you are using it to play games, text message, etc. I also reserve the right
to ask you to turn off your laptop if you are using it for anything other than taking
notes. If you are going to use a laptop for note taking, you are to sit in seats in
the front half of the room. I must give permission before any audio or video
recording is made of the class lecture (see attached Electronic Devices in
Classroom Policy – Department of Sociology).
Contacting The Instructor: The best way to contact me is by email. When you do so,
please include your name, which section you are in (255 for the 9:30 section and 257
for the 12:30 section), and your message. I check email regularly and I will respond
promptly.
COURSE GRADE DETERMINATION:
A – 720-800 points
B – 640-719 points
C – 560-639 points
D – 480-559 points
F – 558 and below
Point Breakdown:
Exams 3@ 200 points each for 600 points
In and out of class assignments @ 40 points each = 160 possible
Who Am I? assignment – 40 points
Total possible points 800
Points are accumulated in this course instead of averaged. You will have a grade
report on TRACS for keeping track of your points as the semester progresses.
The total number of points is what you want to pay attention to and not the
percentage that is given. Your grade is not negotiable. I will take into
consideration improvement, class participation, and effort in the case of
borderline points.
EXAMS: There will be three (3) exams given over the course of the semester. The final
will NOT be comprehensive. All exams they will be multiple choice and true/false. Each
exam will cover material from class lectures/discussions, ebook text and readings. A
scantron will be provided for you, but you will need to bring a # 2 pencil to each exam.
If you are more than 15 minutes late for an exam you will not be allowed to take
the exam regardless of reason. Make-up exams will be given only in extreme
emergency cases on the day of the final, after the final exam. You must notify me
before the exam if you are not able to take it at the designated time. There will be
no make-up for the final and there will be no changing of the scheduled final
unless you have a documented conflict with another final being given at the same
time – no exceptions! The final in this course is scheduled for Tues., May 11 @
8:00-10:30 for the 9:30 section and Thurs., May 11 @ 11- 1:30 for the 3:30 section.
ASSIGNMENTS: There will be 4 in/out of class assignments given over the course of
the semester. These will be short written assignments asking you to illustrate or
respond to lecture material, readings, and sociological concepts. These assignments
will be unannounced. If you are absent on the day an assignment is given you will
not be able to make it up even if that absence is excused.
Who Am I? Assignment: Instructions for this assignment will be forthcoming.
Assignment grading: The assignments will be graded according to how well you
demonstrate an understanding of the sociological concepts/theories being evaluated by
the assignment as well as grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and use
of formal college writing. Do not use text messaging language when writing these
assignments. If the assignment is to be done outside of class, what you turn in must be
typed in order to receive credit for the assignment.
EXTRA CREDIT: There may be events, lectures, programs during the course of the
semester for which you may receive extra credit by attending. For all extra credit you
turn in a typed paragraph about how whatever you attended relates to sociology. The
extra credit will be graded the same as in/out of class assignments. You may receive
extra credit for only one of such events during the semester.
INCOMPLETES: A grade of incomplete may be granted if you have made substantial
progress and have extenuating circumstances arise (illness, family crisis, etc). An
incomplete will not be granted if you have not made substantial progress and/or simply
fail to come to class. It is up to you to withdraw if you cannot keep up with the course.
Don’t wait until the end of the semester to talk with me about situations that arise that
are keeping you from participating in the class. Talk to me; I promise not to bite!
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Cheating/plagiarism, have you heard of these? Probably
so, but many students don’t know exactly what constitutes either of these. The
Department of Sociology takes scholastic dishonesty very seriously and so has
provided a policy on it’s website to help you understand exactly what is expected
of you. That policy may be found at the Sociology website www.socitxstate.edu .
Please read. Ignorance of what constitutes scholastic dishonesty does not
excuse it! Any form of scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result
in a grade of “F”. Please note the university websites listed on the policy have
changed. They are now
http://www.mrp.txstate.edu:16080/studenthandbook/rules.html#academic (Texas State
Handbook) and http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-10-01.html (Academic
Honesty UPPS No. 07.10.-01).
COURSE CALENDAR
All readings other than the ebook are found on TRACS under resources.
January
19 Welcome! Syllabus, Introduction, class activity
21 What is Sociology
Readings: ebook Chapter 1, pp. 4-13,”The Promise” - C. Wright Mills (on TRACS)
26 Developing A Sociological Perspective
Readings: “Invitation To Sociology” - Peter L. Berger (on TRACS)
28, February 2, 9 Development of Sociology; What is theory?;
Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology; What Can I Do With A Degree in
Sociology?
Readings: ebook Chapter 1, pp. 13-22
February
11 Doing Sociological Research
Readings: ebook Chapter 3
16, 18 Culture and Media
Readings: ebook Chapter 2, “Why Sexist Language Matters” Klinemann
23 Exam 1
ebook Chapters 1,2,3 and the readings from TRACS associated with those
chapters, lecture notes
25, March 2 Socialization and the Life Course
Readings: ebook Chapter 4
“Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation” - Kingsley Davis (on TRACS)
March
4 Macro/Micro Sociology – Social Structure and Social Interaction
Readings: ebook Chapter 5, pp. 101-112, ebook Chapter 6, pp. 127-134
6-14 Spring Break
16 Every Day Social Interaction and Theories
Readings: ebook Chapter 5, pp. 112-124
18 Formal Organizations/Bureaucracy
Readings: ebook Chapter 6, pp. 134-147
23, 25 Deviance and Crime
Readings: ebook Chapter 7
30 Exam 2
ebook Chapters 4,5,6,7 and readings from TRACS associated with those
chapters, lecture notes
April
1, 6,8 Social Class and Social Stratification
Readings: ebook Chapter 8
13,15 Race and Ethnicity
Readings: ebook Chapter 10
20,22 Gender
Readings: ebook Chapter 11
27 Sexuality
Readings: ebook Chapter 12
29 Wrap-up
May
11 Final exam, section 255 (9:30), 8:00-10:30
11 Final Exam, section 257 (12:30), 11:00-1:30
YOU MUST BE AT THE EXAM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EXAM TIME.
Calendar is subject to change with advance notice.