SOC 220-01: Social Inequality in the United States Fall 2010 M/R 1:40-2:55 ♦ WSB 005 Professor Karl Bryant Office Phone: 845-257-3035 Office Hours: M 4:30-6:00pm; R 11am-1:30pm Email: bryantk@newpaltz.edu Office: JFT 504 Brief Course Description This course offers a broad overview of a large area in sociology known as social stratification. The course is both descriptive and theoretical. That is, we will examine levels of social inequality along a number of parameters (and in the process learn about how people study social inequality). In addition, we will study theories of the causes of inequality and what people (including ourselves) are, or could, do to reduce those inequalities. Learning Objectives At the completion of this course, students should be able to: Demonstrate familiarity with the dimensions of inequality in the United States Identify the varieties of human stratification systems historically and globally Understand, explain and evaluate theories of social stratification Understand the interrelationship of race, class and gender in the United States Distinguish various levels of the class structure in the United States Detect processes of stratification, including social mobility, social reproduction, and legitimation Understand dimensions and processes of inequalities globally Have an appreciation for the ways social structure and culture impact individuals Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 1 Course Texts There are three required books for this course: Schwalbe, Michael. Rigging the Game: How Inequality Is Reproduced in Everyday Life. Oxford University Press. Ehrenreich, Barbara. 2008. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America. Holt. Eggers, Dave. 2010. Zeitoun. Vintage. All other readings for this course will be posted on Blackboard, and can be found from our main course page by clicking on “Course Readings.” NOTE: One of the books we’ll be reading, Zeitoun, is the 2010 “One Book One New Paltz” selection. For those of you unfamiliar with the “One Book One New Paltz” program, it is designed to be a community reading experience that includes programming and events related to the selected book (to learn more, google “One Book One New Paltz”). This means that there will be opportunities to attend various events/programming outside of class (more info to follow). Course Assignments & Methods of Evaluation Class preparation and participation. You are expected to attend every class, to come to class having thoroughly read assigned readings, and to be a fully participating member of the classroom. This means that you are present, prepared, alert and contribute thoughtfully and respectfully to class discussion. Students who are not fully prepared to participate in class will lose points from this portion of their grade. Much of the in-class experience in this course will be based on discussion and active learning; all students are expected to participate. Please remember as well that participation includes active listening; please do not monopolize conversations. Class preparation and participation may also include reading quizzes and short in-class or homework assignments. There will be no make-ups for these quizzes or assignments. Participation Rubric: Excellent participation (9-10 pts): Regularly contributes to classroom discussion, with contributions showing evidence of being prepared (for instance, having done the reading, having thought about the concepts, etc); regularly and sincerely participates in all classroom small group or other organized activities; listens and responds to classmates; does not dominate discussions. Satisfactory participation (7-9 pts): Sometimes contributes to classroom discussion and/or activities, with contributions showing evidence of being prepared (for instance, having done the reading, having thought about the concepts, etc); listens to classmates; does not dominate discussions. Sub-standard participation (5-7 pts): Rarely contributes to classroom discussion; contributions do not always show evidence of being prepared. Unsatisfactory participation (0-5 pts): Almost never contributes to classroom discussion/activities and/or dominates classroom discussion in a disruptive fashion. Contributions rarely show evidence of being prepared. Engages in forms of active nonBryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 2 participation (for instance, sleeping, not paying attention, texting, engaging in unrelated side conversations, etc). Attendance. Note that there are no points allotted in the course “point breakdown” for attendance (see below). This is because regular attendance is expected. Although points are not allotted for attendance, course points will be deducted as follows if you do not attend regularly. Attendance Rubric: 0-2 absences: No penalty 3-4 absences: Course grade lowered by ½ grade (5 pts) 5-6 absences: Course grade lowered by 1 grade (10 pts) 7-8 absences: Course grade lowered by 2 grades (20 pts) 9 or more absences: Course grade lowered by 3-5 grades (30-50 pts) 2 lates = 1 absence Family History Assignment. Guidelines will be distributed via Bb and discussed in class. Budget Assignment. Guidelines will be distributed via Bb and discussed in class. Exams. There will be two exams. More information will be discussed in class. Completion of Coursework. Students must complete all assigned work to receive a passing final course grade. Point Breakdown Class prep and participation Family History Assignment Budget Assignment Exam 1 Exam 2 10 15 15 30 30 100 Some Important University and Course Policies Blackboard I will be using Blackboard to communicate with the class as a whole outside of our regular course meetings. I will be using it to post any important announcements concerning upcoming classes, as well as to post other information (e.g., short readings such as newspaper articles, assignments, etc) for which you will be responsible. For this reason, it is imperative that you check Blackboard regularly (e.g., daily). Blackboard readings are available by clicking on the “Course Readings” tab from the SOC 220 Blackboard homepage. Note: not checking Blackboard regularly may adversely affect your class participation grade. Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 3 In-Class Use of Laptops, Cell Phones, I-Pods, etc. You may not use laptops for note-taking in this class. You must turn cell phones off before class, and have them put away (not on your desk). Absolutely no answering calls or texting during class. Office Hours My office hours are posted at the top of the syllabus. Please do not hesitate to come see me – for more in depth discussion of course materials; to discuss materials you find especially challenging; to ask questions about upcoming assignments; to continue conversations that were started in the classroom; etc. If you would like to meet with me and my scheduled office hours do not work for you, please contact me to schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient for both of us. If you are having some difficulty in the class, it is almost always better to let me know earlier rather than later. Often when students come to their instructor with a lingering problem late in the semester, it is too late for the instructor to address it effectively, and as a result there are a limited number of (often very unsatisfying) ways to resolve things. Bottom line: If you have a problem, and even if you don’t, please come see me. Late Work/“Make-ups” I do not give make-up exams or accept late work except under dire circumstances (e.g., death in the family, serious illness), verified by documentation. If you miss an exam, you lose the points. If you must miss class, turn in any assignments before class meets. Academic Integrity I expect all students to maintain the highest standards of honesty in their academic work. Cheating, forgery, and plagiarism are serious offenses, and students found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported and recorded with the Department and College. Academic dishonesty will result in serious penalty (such as receiving a failing grade in the course) to be determined by the professor. In addition, the Dean (or Dean’s designee) may review all pertinent documents and determine whether further disciplinary action is warranted. For more information, go to <http://www.newpaltz.edu/ugc/policies_integrity.html> Americans with Disabilities Act Students with documented disabilities are entitled to receive reasonable accommodations. If you need classroom or testing accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center (Student Union Building 205, 257-3020). The Disability Resource Center will provide forms verifying the need for accommodation. As soon as I receive the form, you will be provided with the appropriate accommodations. Students are encouraged to request accommodations as close to the beginning of the semester as possible. Incomplete Policy Per University policy, a grade of Incomplete (I) will be considered only in the case where a student has completed at least 75 percent of the work for the course and a personal emergency prevents him or her from completing the work of the semester. The student will be required to explain the circumstances necessitating an incomplete, and may be asked to provide supporting documentation. If an incomplete is granted, terms will be set at that time outlining remaining coursework and a timeline for its completion. Failure to fully meet these terms will automatically Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 4 result in a failing grade. In all cases, Incompletes are granted solely at the professor’s discretion. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) Grading Option Please note that I do not know which grading option (Letter Grade or S/U) students have chosen. I am required to submit letter grades for all students. For students who have opted for S/U grading, the Records and Registration Office will convert letter grades as follows: A through C- = S D+ through F = U Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 5 COURSE SCHEDULE Reading Key: [Schwalbe] = Michael Schwalbe Rigging the Game [Ehrenreich] = Barbara Ehrenreich Nickel and Dimed [Eggers] = Dave Eggers Zeitoun [Bb] = Reading posted on Blackboard W Date Topics & Readings (due on date listed) 1 Course Introduction M 8/23 Exams and Assignments • No readings 2 R 8/26 • No readings M 8/30 Studying Inequality Sociologically • “Thinking Sociologically About Inequality” [Schwalbe] R 9/2 3 4 • Kerbo. “Dimensions of Inequality in the United States” [Bb] No Class University Holiday M 9/13 • “The Roots of Inequality” [Schwalbe] R 9/16 Global Inequality • Sernau. “The Global Divide.” [Bb] 5 M 9/20 • No readings (get a head start on Ehrenreich!) R 9/23 Race, Class and Gender Inequality in the US Family History Assignment DUE • “Introduction: Getting Ready” [Ehrenreich] • “One: Serving in Florida” [Ehrenreich] 6 7 8 M 9/27 • “Two: Scrubbing in Maine” [Ehrenreich] R 9/30 • “Three: Selling in Minnesota” • “Evaluation” [Ehrenreich] M 10/4 • “Rigging the Game” [Schwalbe] • McIntosh. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” [Bb] R 10/7 • Kirschenman & Neckerman. “’We’d Love to Hire Them, But…’: The Meaning of Race for Employers.” [Bb] • Reskin and Padavic. “Women, Men, and Work in the 21st Century” [Bb] M 10/11 University Holiday No Class Exam 1 R 10/14 Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Page 6 9 M 10/18 Class Cultures Film: “People Like Us” (parts 1 and 2) R 10/21 Education, Mobility, & Inequality • Readings TBA Guest Speaker: Professor Sunita Bose (SUNY New Paltz, Dept of Sociology) 10 M 10/25 R 10/28 • Readings TBA Guest Speaker: Professor Daniel Lipson (SUNY New Paltz, Dept of Political Science) Status, Power, Politics & Legitimating Inequality • “Arresting the Imagination” [Schwalbe] 11 M 11/1 R 11/4 • “Regulating the Action” [Schwalbe] Poverty • Sernau. “Abandoned Spaces, Forgetten Places: Poverty and Place.” [Bb] 12 M 11/8 R 11/11 13 M 11/15 • Hays. “Off the Rolls: The Ground-level Results of Welfare Reform.” • Roschelle. “Welfare Indignities.” Regional Spotlight: Poverty in the Mid-Hudson Valley • Readings TBA Budget Assignment DUE Case Study: Zeitoun • Zietoun, pp 3-81 [Eggers] R 11/18 14 M 11/22 R 11/25 15 M 11/29 R 12/2 • Zietoun, pp 85-170 [Eggers] • Zietoun, pp 173-290 [Eggers] No Class University Holiday • Zietoun, pp 293-325 [Eggers] Guest Speaker: Professor Mark Schuller (CUNY York College, Dept of Anthropology & African American Studies) Challenging Inequality • “Interview with Rania O” [Schwalbe] 16 M 12/6 R 12/9 17 R 12/16 Regional Spotlight: New Paltz & Same Sex Marriage • Readings TBA • “Escaping the Inequality Trap” [Schwalbe] Scheduled Final: 12:30-2:30pm Bryant – SOC 220-01 – F10 Syllabus Subject to Change Exam 2 Page 7