Soc 1010-003 - Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2008
Instructor:
S. Cihan Bozkus
Class Meetings: Tuesday and Thursday; 10:45 – 12:05 FAMB 102
Office Hours: On Tuesday 12.10 – 13.00 and by appointment
Office:
BEH S 332 (Behavioral and Social Sciences Building)
E-Mail:
cihan.bozkus@soc.utah.edu
Text: Anderson and Taylor, Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Wadsworth,
2004, 4th Ed.
Course Objectives & Contents:
Main aim of this course is to introduce you to major topics and concepts of
sociology. At the end of this semester, you will be familiar with not only many
theoretical perspectives and main questions of sociology but also practical research
methods used by scientists of the area to answer such questions.
In this course we will discuss both classical and modern theories. Main concepts
of social research methods will also be included. Main issues and concerns of scientists in
present time will be mentioned. As a broad discipline itself, sociology has many subfields
which can share perspectives or concepts of other social sciences like economics,
political science or psychology. Such interdisciplinary perspectives will also be discussed
in the class.
In addition, from this semester on, this course, like all Intro classes, is 4-credit
course. The 4th credit will involve out-of-class exercises. There will be three main
observational exercises, and each of them will require an observation of a social daily life
activity for 3 times. Here, students will have to make certain observations from daily life
issues, which will certainly be related to the topics of economic conditions of people,
their race, gender, age and education. There will be a due date till when students are
supposed to write a three-page paper to show the results of their observations. One month
before the due date, students will be provided with necessary instructions and questions.
1st Observational Exercise Paper: Visit 3 different market places or shopping malls of
same company. Like Smith’s Marketplace at 6th East 4th South and Smith’s at 6th Avenue
F Street. As you can imagine, the former one is close to downtown whereas the other one
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is at avenues. It can be also other companies like Albertsons, 7 Eleven, Wal-Mart, etc.
The point is, one mall must be in a relatively more well-to-do neighbourhood, whereas
the other one must be in a relatively low income neighbourhood. A third one should be in
a shopping mall, like Gateway or Sugar House. Make 1 hour of observation in each of
them and take notes or photos if necessary. Your paper should answer certain question
about customer types (according to their income level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of
these malls. Further and more specific questions will be discussed in the class.
2nd Observational Exercise Paper: Go to McDonalds or Burger King or any other fast
food agency near downtown. Have a meal there or just stay there but make sure that you
spend around 1 hour there. Another day, visit Aristo – a restaurant on 13th East 250 South
(roughly). Have a meal there, but it may be a bit expensive, so just tell them you are part
of a study and make sure that you stay there for 1 hour and make your observations about
customer types (according to their income level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of these
restaurants (Aristo is just an example, you can make same observations in any other
expensive and luxurious restaurant but you have to inform me first!). Also, visit an
“ethnic restaurant” like Chinese or Mexican restaurant. Take your notes if necessary.
Further and more specific questions will be discussed in the class.
3rd Observational Exercise Paper: Ride 3 buses of 3 different routes for 1 hour. One must
be very early in a week day. It is ok if it is between 7-8 AM (Though not necessary,
riding a bus around 6 AM would be quite interesting and illuminating!!!) It should be
going to or coming from downtown. Make your observations. Take notes if necessary.
Another one should be going to Sugar House or any other shopping mall, a weekend
afternoon. The third one is up to you, but around 1 pm in a week day would tell you
something about unemployment. Make sure that you spend 1 hour in each bus. Your
paper should answer certain question about customer types (according to their income
level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of these buses. Further and more specific questions
will be discussed in the class.
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Requirements & Grading
In this course, you are going to have two ways to test your knowledge: First one is
midterms. We will have 3 midterm exams throughout the semester. We will not have
cumulative final exam. The midterms will cover almost one-third of the chapters in your
textbook, which will have been discussed in the class by that time. In all exams, you will
have short-answer questions. Exams will also include bonus question(s).
Second part of your grade will come from out-of-class exercises. For each of three
observational exercises, students will write a 3-page paper. Papers will be double-spaced,
3-paged, and be written by Times New Roman characters.
We will also have pop-quizzes through out the semester. Main aim of these
quizzes is measure your knowledge about the previous lectures of such quizzes and to see
your attendance rate. Total share of quizzes in your final grade will be 10%.
Midterms, observational papers and pop-quizzes will have such shares of your
final grades:
3 Exams (Midterms)
(20 % each):
60%
3 Observational Exercise Papers (10 % each):
30%
Pop – quizzes
10 %
:
No make-ups will be given for midterms unless there is an extraordinary condition.
For Observational Exercise Papers, you are supposed to bring them to class on each due
date and late papers will not be graded.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement:
Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations to meet the expectations of
this course are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the instructors as soon as possible.
Written documentation of the disability should be submitted during the first week of the
semester along with the request for special accommodations. Contact the Center for
Disability Services to facilitate requests.
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Class Schedule
1 Week: January 8 – 10:
st
T: Introduction to course
H: Chapter 1
2nd Week: January 15 - 17:
T: Chapter 2
H: Chapter 3
3rd Week: January 22 - 24:
T: Chapter 4
H: (cont’d)
4th Week: January 29 – 31:
T: Chapter 5
H: Chapter 5 (cont’d) & Chapter 6
5th Week: February 5 - 7:
T: Chapter 6 (cont’d) & Chapter 7
H: Chapter 7 (cont’d)
6th Week: February 12 – 14:
T: MIDTERM EXAM 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H: Chapter 9 – Due Date for 1st Observational Exercise Paper
7th Week: February 19 - 21:
T: Chapter 10
H: Chapter 11
8th Week: February 26 -28:
T: Chapter 11 (cont’d)
H: Chapter 12
9th Week: March 4 – 6:
T: Chapter 15
H: Chapter 15 (cont’d) & Chapter 16
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10th Week: March 11 – 13:
T: Chapter 16 (cont’d)
H: MIDTERM EXAM 2 !!!!!!!!!
11th Week: March 18 – 20:
T: Spring Break – No Class!!!!
H: Spring Break – No Class!!!!
12th Week: March 25 – 27:
T: Chapter 17 - Due Date for 2nd Observational Exercise Paper
H: Chapter 17 (cont.) & Chapter 18
13th Week: April 1 – 3:
T: Chapter 18 (cont’d)
H: Chapter 19
14th Week: April 8 – 10:
T: Chapter 20
H: Chapter 20 (cont’d) & Chapter 21
15th Week: April 15– 17:
T: Chapter 21 (cont’d)
H: Chapter 23
16th Week: April 22 –24:
T: Review for Final Exam - Due Date for 3rd Observational Exercise Paper
H: MIDTERM EXAM 3!!!!!!
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Course
Grade
Percentages
Course
Grade
Percentages
A
93-100%
C
66-74%
A-
90-92%
C-
60-65%
B+
87-89%
D+
57-59%
B
83-86%
D
53-56%
B-
80-82%
D-
50-52%
C+
75-79%
E
0-49%
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