Soc 100
Dr. Raymond D'Angelo
Introduction to Sociology
St. Joseph's College
Syllabus Spring 1997
This course is designed to give the student a broad, general understanding of society; its
structure, situations and dynamics through a sociological perspective. The objectives of the
course are (1) to communicate to the student the nature of sociology and the sociological
approach; its scientific status, methods, relationship to other academic areas including history,
psychology, philosophy and the humanities; (2) to explain the sociological perspective focusing
upon American society while using cross-cultural comparisons; (3) to account for the major
social trends in American society within a conceptual framework; (4) to introduce the student to
some of the major influential thinkers in social science, both classical and contemporary; and (5)
to introduce the student to the use of computers for quantitative analysis in sociology.
Classes will be taught on a lecture-discussion basis. Students are encouraged to participate in
discussions and to prepare for classes by keeping up with the readings and completing computer
assignments. The course requirements are ( 1 ) three exams including the final, (2) two short
papers based upon the assigned readings, (3) computer project, and (4) regular attendance. The
final grade is determined by a straight average of the exams, papers and computer project.
Plagiarism is grounds for dismissal from St. Joseph's College. It is a form of cheating. It
involves submitting work that you claim to be yours which in truth was done by someone else. If
you are quoting or paraphrasing someone else's words and ideas you must give cr_dit to the
appropriate source. Whenever you have a question about such matters you should give a citation.
Be sure to give a citation for everything that is not your original idea of wording. Err on the side
of over-referencing! Another kind of plagiarism may be fostered in a course such as this in which
everyone is working on the same set of exercises outside of class. In this course I urge you to be
supportive of each other (especially at the computer). St. Joseph's College wants to encourage
such values. However, whatever help you give should not constitute doing a substantial part of
the exercise or any of its components. There is no unequivocal way of defining where the line is
between "helping out" and plagiarism. So be friendly and helpful but use good judgement and do
not go too far.
Required Reading: 1. Society, The Basics, 3rd edition, John J. Macionis (Prentice-Hall)
2. IBM Student Version of "CHIP" Data Set
3. Invitation To Sociology, Peter Berger (Anchor Doubleday)
4. Habits of the Heart, Robert Bellah et al (Harper & Row)
5. Students are encouraged to consult the following for articles of
sociological interest and reliable data:
The New York Times' American Journal of Sociology? American
Sociological Review, Contemporary Society? Congressional
Quarterly, Sociological Analysis, Society Magazine, and
Statistical Abstract of the United States
6. Consult the following for writing assistance:
A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. The Writing Group
(St. Martin's Press)
The Chicago Manual of Style, Kate Terabian (University of
Chicago Press)
Course Outline
I. The Nature of Sociology
This is an introduction and overview of the field of sociology. The various methods used in
sociology are explained along with sociology's contribution to knowledge. A brief history of
sociology is presented in terms of social order and social change. Early in the course students
will be introduced to data analysis. The computer-based instruction will be completed both
during and outside of class. Generally, we will use the Computer Lab on the Third Floor,
McEntegart Hall. For the most part, instruction will be on a one-to-one basis.
Reading: Macionis, Ch. 1
Berger, Chs. 1 & 2.
Recommended: What is Sociology?, Alex Inkeles; "Bearing of Empirical Research on
Sociological Theory," Ch. 3, in Social Theory, Social Structure, Robert Merton; The
Sociological Tradition? Robert Nisbet; 1 Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills, Sociological
Insight? Randall Collins; The Scope of Sociology, Milton Gordon.
II. Culture and Socialization
This section introduces the student to the concepts of culture, values, norms and roles. American
culture is presented in contrast to other cultures of the world. Next, the major theories of
socialization are presented along with empincal studies of socialization. In this part of the course
we will examine the notion, "the individual in society and society in the individual."
Reading: Macionis, Chs. 2 & 3
CHIP data set
Berger, Ch. 3
Bellah, Chs 1, 2, 6, & 8
Recommended: "Values in American Society," in American Society. Robin Williams; The
Social Construction of Realitv, Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman; Middletown, Robert and
Helen Lynd; Two Worlds of Childhood: US and USSR, Urie Bronfenbrenner; The Psychology
of Sex Differences. Eleanor Maccoby; Childhood and Society, Erik Erikson; The Ego and the Id,
Sigmund Freud; Mind, Self and Society, George Herbert Mead, Escape From Freedom, Erich
Fromm; Symbolic Interactionism, Jerome Manis and Bernard Meltzer; The Lonely Crowd,
David Reisman; The Child and Society: The Process of Socialization, Frederick Elkin & G.
Handel; The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Erving Goffman; Street Corner Society?
William F. Whyte
III. Social Problems and Deviance
This section concentrates on the study of certain social issues in American society. These include
deviance, suicide, mental illness, alienation and the crises in American values. The sociological
approach will be presented along with other points of view. Contemporary data will be used.
Reading, Macionis, Ch. 6
CHIP data set
Bellah
Recommended: Outsiders. Howard Becker; Delinquency and Opportunity Lloyd Ohlin and
Richard Cloward; Social Theory and Social Structure, Robert Merton; Delinquency and Drift,
David Matza; Delinquent Boys, Albert Cohen; Suicide, Emile Durkheim; Contemporary Social
Problems, Robert Merton and Robert Nisbet.
IV. Social Inequality
Beginning with different forms of stratification, social inequality is studied. Theories of social
class and the effects of social class are looked at critically. Empirical tests of the sign)ficance of
class along with other social variables are done on the computer. At this point of the semester we
learn to read tables and examine social relationships. The primary concerns are with class, race,
gender, and age. Additionally, race and ethnicity are discussed.
i
Reading Macionis, Chs. 7, 8, 9, & 10
CHIP data set
Recommended: White Collar, C. Wright Mills; The Power Elite, Mills; Community Power
Structure, Floyd Hunter; "Class, Status and Party," Max Weber in Class, Status and Power,
Bendix and Lipset (21-27); The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx; Das Kapital, Marx; Elites
and Society, T. B. Bottomore; Who Rules America, William Domhoff; "Some Principles of
Stratification," Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, Amencan Sociological Review, 18 (August,
1953); Social Differences in Contemporary America. James Davis; Tally's Comer! Eliot Liebow;
The Nature of Prejudice, Gordon Allport; Beyond the Melting Pot? Nathan Glazer and Daniel P.
Moynihan; An American Dilemma, Gunnar Myrdal; Black Bourgoisie, E. Franklin Frazier; Sex
and Gender in Society: Perspectives on Stratification, Joyce McCarl Nielsen; Labeling Women
Deviant. Edwin Schur.
V. Social Institutions
This section examines the major social institutions in American society. We look at the structure
and function of the institutions using case studies and contemporary data. Areas to be covered
include the family, education, religion, government and the economy.
Reading: Macionis, Chs. 11, 12, & 13
CHIP data set PAPER DUE
Berger
Recommended: The Family in Transition. Jerome and Arlene Skolnick; The Family: A
Sociological Interpretation! Bert Adams; All Our Kin, Carol Stack; World Revolution and
Family Patterns7 William J. Goode; The Secular City? Harvey Cox; The Sociology of Religion,
Thomas O'Dea; The Religious Factor, Gerhard Lensky; Crises in American Institutions, Jerome
Skolnick and Elliot Currier The Making of Economic Society. Robert Heilbroner; The School in
Contemporary Society. David Goslin; Mass Communication. Charles Wright.
VI. Social Change
The last section of the course is a study of social change in terms of population and urbanization,
social movements and modernity. Different theories will be studied bringing together
sociological ideas and observations. Included will be discussions of modern urbanization and
population movements.
Reading: Macionis, Chs. 14 & 16
Recommended: Social Change. Etzioni and Etzioni; The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism, Max Weber; Main Currents of Sociological Thought, Raymond Aron; Social
Change? Wilbert Moore; The Division of Labor in Society' Emile Durkheim; Community and
Society, Ferdinand Toennies; The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom: 1750-1925, Herbert
Gutman; The Moral Basis of A Backward Society, Edward Banfield; The Achieving Society,
David McClelland; Modernization: Protest and Change, S. N. Eisenstadt; The Modern World
System? Immanuel Wallerstein.