York University
Department of Sociology
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
AP/SOCI 1010 6.0E: Introduction to Sociology
Summer 2015
Course Description
Course Instructor/Contact:
Heather L. Garrett
Office:
Office Phone:
N141 Ross
(416) 736-5014
Expanded Course Description:
This introduction course focuses on sociological perspectives and research on the relationships
between people in Canadian society. Throughout the course students will learn about different
analytic and methodological issues and the skills needed to critically analyze and produce
research within the discipline of sociology. Students will develop an understanding of the
relations between individuals in society by critically evaluating how different relationships are a)
constrained by key variables and b) socially constructed and structured by individuals through
social institutions, social policies and popular culture. These relationships will also be examined
to explore how they have changed over time in terms of their relationship to various aspects of
social, economic and cultural change. This critical approach draws attention to how social
inequalities interact with notions of power.
Course Organization:
Each class will be three hours long. The first hour and a half or so will generally be a lecture.
There will be one short break. The remaining time will generally be a mix of in-class
discussions, presentations, activities, films, face-to-face interaction in discussion groups and
research presentation workshops. Specific activities will vary. Students are expected to
participate by entering into discussions about course materials. Students are strongly urged to
share their thoughts and opinions in this class. The course is challenging and requires a high level
of student commitment and participation. Attendance matters to the conduct of the course. If you
will not be able to attend lectures, participate and keep up with readings and course work on a
weekly basis, you are probably better off not taking this course.
Learning Objectives:
 Increased knowledge of relationships between individuals in society
 The development of analytic skills and a sociological imagination to better understand the
social relationships between individuals and society
 Improved theoretical understanding and critical perspective for the analysis of the role of
power and ideology in social relationships
 Research skills, particularly with respect to finding and interpreting empirical studies and
other course-relevant information
 Improved communication and writing skills
Learning Activities: The following overlapping activities are designed to facilitate learning:
 Attending lectures
 Participating in face-to-face in-class discussions and activities
 Doing assigned readings
 Completing 2 assignments
 Writing 2 in-class tests
 Contributing to a group presentation research assignment
Summary of the Final Grade: Final grades will be based on the following components:
Course Component
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
In-class test 1
Team Presentation
In-class test 2
Attendance/Participation in class
Total
Weight
15%
10%
25%
20%
20%
10%
100%
Required Course Text / Readings:
 Text1: Murray, Jane Lothian, Rick Linden, and Diana Kendall. 2014. Sociology in Our
Times. 6th Canadian ed. Toronto: Nelson Education Limited.
 Text2: American Sociological Association. 2014. American Sociological Association
Style Guide. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.
 Current News Media: Newspaper and Magazine Articles
 Academic Journals: Empirical Research Articles
 Online Materials: Links to online materials and eResources provided in Moodle
(available to registered students in Moodle).
 Reserve Materials: Selections from 2 texts
