SY101G: Introduction to Sociology (Winter 2016)
Instructor: Dr. Dana Sawchuk, Wilfrid Laurier University
Lectures: Mondays & Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. -12:50 p.m. (BA102)
Office: 5-130 (5th Floor DAWB)
Office hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 4:00-5:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
Phone: (519) 884-0710 ext. 2306
E-mail: dsawchuk@wlu.ca
Teaching Assistants: Ms. Renae Mohammed E-mail: moha6400@mylaurier.ca
Mr. Cory Runstedler
E-mail: runs9270@mylaurier.ca
Office hours: Tuesdays 2:00-3:00 p.m. in 5-127 (5th Floor DAWB)
Course Description
This course will introduce you to the "study of society" and to what C. Wright Mills called the
"sociological imagination": a way of viewing the events, relationships, institutions, and structures
that shape our individual lives and collective experiences. We will discuss major theoretical
approaches to the study of society, and we will survey several key areas of sociological inquiry.
Among other things, we will see how sociologists approach topics such as culture, social
inequality, gender, crime, and families. Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to
exercise your own sociological imagination as you observe your life and the social world around
you.
Course lectures and assigned readings will provide a basic survey of and commentary on the
material; you will be encouraged to develop deeper perspectives on related topics through brief
in-class writing assignments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain the concept of the sociological imagination and recognize how it operates in the study
of different subfields in sociology
- Explain the characteristics of the four main theoretical perspectives in sociology
- Identify how culture, socialization, social situations, and social structure affect personal
behaviour, ideas, choices, and social opportunities
- Demonstrate an awareness of social justice issues and the processes by which social inequality
is generated, sustained, and potentially overcome
- Listen to an extended lecture, take organized notes, and integrate your ideas in a clear manner
- Read, comprehend, and answer basic questions on an academic journal article related to course
material
- Employ certain study and test-taking skills appropriate to university-level courses
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Course Textbook (Available new & used at the Laurier Bookstore)
Brym, R., and J. Lie. 2015. SOC+. Second Edition. Toronto: Nelson Education.
Internet
Students will be required to consult the MyLearningSpace site for this course
(https://mylearningspace.wlu.ca) for copies of course handouts, announcements, grades, etc.
More information on MyLearningSpace will be provided during the first week of class.
Students may also wish to consult the companion web site for the textbook at
www.nelsonbrain.com. Note that the materials on the companion web site are provided free of
charge with the purchase of your textbook (you will need to register the Access Code that comes
on the card behind the front cover of the book) and are not considered to be required course
material.
Course Requirements
1) In-Class Writing Exercises (details below)
Various dates throughout term
5x2% = 10%
2) Journal Article Assignment
Due February 24, 2016
10%
3) Mid-Term Test 1
Multiple choice; covers all course material up to and including Feb. 1, 2016
Written during class on February 3, 2016
25%
4) Mid-Term Test 2
Multiple choice; covers all course material from Feb. 8 to Mar. 2, 2016
Written during class on March 7, 2016
25%
5) Final Exam
Multiple choice; material covered to be discussed in class
Date: TBA (during University final exam period: April 7-23, 2016)
30%
*Bonus Marks: Your TAs will be holding study skills sessions in the first half of the term.
There are two different sessions (Session A on “Time Management” and Session B on
“Readings, Lectures, and Note Taking”) and attendance is optional but highly encouraged. For
each different session you attend, you will receive a bonus mark of 1% (for a potential total of
2% added to your final grade); you will also gain valuable skills that may help you increase your
grades in this and your other classes at Laurier. Each of the two sessions will be held at different
times during the week to accommodate a variety of schedules. Dates, times and additional details
will be discussed in class and posted on MyLearningSpace.
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In-Class Writing Exercises
- At the end of random classes, you will be given a question/writing exercise
- Use a pen and paper for these exercises (instructor will not provide these materials)
- Write one-half to a full-page (double-spaced) answer for each question
- Place your name and student number at the top of the page
- Hand in your answers at the end of the class
- Each assignment will be graded out of 2 marks
- Adequate answer = 1.5 or 2/2; Inadequate answer = 1/2; No answer = 0/2
- You will be given 6-7 chances to write these exercises and your top 5 will be counted for your
final grade.
- There are no make-up options for missed assignments: exercises cannot be handed in for classes
that you did not attend (the whole class) or for which you did not stay until the end of class.
Missed Mid-Term
A make-up exam for a missed mid-term will be held at the instructor’s discretion. In order to be
eligible to write the make-up exam, you must present appropriate documentation explaining your
absence and you must be available to write the make-up before the test results for the midterm are
released and discussed in class. If you cannot write a make-up test within this time frame, the
value of that test will be added to the final exam. Please note that you do not have the option of
skipping the mid-term without a valid reason. If you miss the mid-term and do not provide the
appropriate documentation, you will receive a score of zero for that exam.
Late Policy and Penalties
The Journal Article Assignment is due in class on February 24, 2016 (a copy must also be
uploaded to the MyLS dropbox by the same time). A penalty of 3% per day (including weekends)
will apply for late assignments. The assignment will not be accepted at all after March 9, 2016 (2
weeks after the due date).
Late assignments will be exempt from this penalty only if I am convinced that the lateness is due
to unusual circumstances beyond the student's control. A student requesting an exemption should
be prepared to provide official documentation, such as a doctor's note, in support of his or her
request. Please note that I will not entertain requests for extensions based on the fact that you
have work or tests in other classes at the same time.
Expectations: Attendance, Preparation, Mobile Devices, and Classroom Decorum
Regular attendance at all lectures is expected. Also, since lectures and readings will supplement
each other, it is imperative that you complete the assigned readings on schedule (i.e., before
class). If you do not keep up with the course material, you may find it difficult to follow class
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lectures or participate in class activities and your marks may suffer accordingly. You are also
expected to behave responsibly and respectfully during class lectures. This includes turning off
all cell phones during class (please see me if you have family or other responsibilities for which
you need to keep your phone on) and restricting your use of laptop computers to note taking only.
Non course-related use of mobile devices (Facebook, texting, internet surfing, game-playing etc.)
is prohibited and if you are caught using your device for such purposes you may be asked to put
your device away for the remainder of the class or course. Finally, you should know that talking
or even whispering during lectures can be very distracting to the instructor and to other students.
Please be aware that you may be asked to leave the lecture hall if you persist in talking or
otherwise disrupting the lecture after you have been warned.
E-mail Policy
Please use your mylaurier.ca account to send e-mail to my wlu.ca address (not MyLS). Messages
sent from non-WLU accounts may not be answered (they are sometimes blocked as spam). I will
make every effort to respond to e-mail in a timely manner: within 24 hours on weekdays.
SY101G: LECTURE SCHEDULE, READINGS, AND IMPORTANT DATES
Week One
January 4 & 6: Introduction to the Course; What is Sociology?
Brym and Lie: Chapter 1
Week Two
January 11 & 13: Major Theoretical Perspectives
Brym and Lie: Chapter 1 (review) and Chapter 4
Week Three
January 18 & 20: Culture
Brym and Lie: Chapter 2
Week Four
January 25: Multiple Choice Study Skills Session (please bring your textbook to class)
No assigned reading for today
January 27: Socialization
Brym and Lie: Chapter 3
Week Five
February 1: Socialization (cont.)
February 3: Term Test 1 (to be written during class time)
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Week Six
February 8 & 10: Social Stratification
Brym and Lie: Chapter 6
*****Reading Week: No Classes February 15-19*****
Week Seven
February 22 & 24: Sexuality and Gender
Brym and Lie: Chapter 8
February 24: Journal Article Assignment Due
Week Eight
February 29 & March 2: Families
Brym and Lie: Chapter 9
***March 4: Last day to drop a 12-week course without academic penalty****
Week Nine
March 7: Term Test 2 (to be written during class time)
March 9: Deviance and Crime
Brym and Lie: Chapter 5
Week Ten
March 14: Deviance and Crime (cont.)
March 16: Class Cancelled (due to Open House; see MyLS for on-line materials)
Week Eleven
March 21: Race and Ethnicity
Brym and Lie: Chapter 7
March 23: Technology, the Environment, and Social Movements
Brym and Lie: Chapter 13
Week Twelve
March 28: Technology, the Environment, and Social Movements (cont.)
March 30: Course Conclusion and Comments on Exam
Final Exam: Date TBA (during the University final examination period: April 7-23, 2016)
“We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and
Haudenosaunee peoples”
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016 Additional Information
Student Awareness of the Accessible Learning Centre: Students with disabilities or special
needs are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Centre for information regarding its
services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information
regarding all services available on campus. Guidelines regarding the consideration of such
students can be obtained by contacting the Accessible Learning Centre, ext. 3086,
http://waterloo.mylaurier.ca/accessible/info/home.htm
Academic and Research Misconduct: Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by
students working on a team project, which may result in a false evaluation of the students(s), or
which represents a deliberate attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage. Academic
misconduct includes: please refer to web site:
http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=2505&p=11452
Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be required
to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism.
Examination Deferrals: The academic date section of the 2015/2016 calendar:
https://legacy.wlu.ca/calendars/section.php?cal=1&s=702&sp=2508&ss=2960&y=65#Deferred_
Examination_Policy (Deferred Examination Policy section) clearly states the examination policy
and date period for each semester. Students must note that they are required to reserve this
time in their personal calendars for the examinations. The examination period for this school
year is: FALL TERM: December 12-23; Winter Term: April 7 - 23. Students who are considering
registering to write MCAT, LSAT or GMAT or a similar examination, should select a time for
those examinations that occurs outside the University examination period.
For additional information regarding special circumstances for examination deferment, consult
the Examination Policy web site and check the Deferred Examination Policy section:
https://legacy.wlu.ca/calendars/section.php?cal=1&s=702&sp=2508&ss=2960&y=65#Deferred_
Examination_Policy (Special Examinations section) of the 2015/2016 University on-line calendar.
The up to date, official Academic Calendar is posted on Wilfrid Laurier University’s web site at
http://legacy.wlu.ca Go to Academic Info/Academic Calendars/Undergraduate Academic
Calendar/2015/2016
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