“What is Sociology?”
“Latin, ‘socius’meaning companion. And the Greek ‘logos’ meaning study of …”
“So, you’re saying that I will be studying my ‘companion?’”
“Yes, basically … but let me add that this is a form of consciousness, sociological consciousness.”
“Consciousness?”
“Yes, consciousness! Let’s see … consciousness … ahh … yes, here it is ... 1. the state or condition
of being conscious. 2. the essence or totality of attitudes, opinions, and sensitivities held or
thought to be held by an individual or group. 3.a. a critical awareness of one’s identity and
situation. 3.b. an awareness of the ways in which a particular class of people is discriminated
against.”
“Tell me if I’m in the ballpark here … you’re saying that I will be studying the “sociological
consciousness” of an individual or group … my ‘companions’ here on earth.”
“Right, you’re gettin’it … but let’s not forget about your own identity and situation!”
“Ahh … in order to understand others I need to understand myself … how I’ve been conditioned to
accept the norms of the culture that I live in …”
“That is Sociology!”
SOC 1003 / 03-SOC-1003-1245
Introduction to Sociology
AC 200 / 3 Credits
Independence Community College
Fall 2012
Starts 8/20/12 and Ends 12/7/12 (MWF) / 9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Instructor: Mark D. Harris, Professor
Welcome to Introduction to Sociology. In this course the student will be introduced to the exciting
world of sociology. This is a three-credit course and it has been designed to meet the high standards of
all the social science courses taught at Independence Community College. The textbook required for
this course is as follows: Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 10th edition (2013) /
Henslin (supplemental reader Exploring Social Life, 4th edition, 2009.
I have taught sociology courses over the past twenty-one years at the following institutions; Southern
Illinois University, St. Louis University, Southwestern Illinois College, Western Wyoming Community
College, Johnson County Community College, and Independence Community College. In each course
that I have taught, be it Introduction to Sociology, Social Problems, Marriage and The Family, Race and
Ethnicity, Criminology, Anthropology, I work with students to identify issues of race, class, and gender.
I have enlightened students with multi-cultural perspectives as my years of travel have taken me to
Europe, North Africa, India, Nepal, and the Virgin Islands. At times, during my travels, I have been
challenged as to my folkways and mores. It is in these given situations that I have developed, and
continue to develop, my sociological consciousness.
Course Description
The basic principles, theoretical approaches, processes and institutions in the social world are
investigated and related to the evolution of post-industrialized cultures. The course stresses the
development of family, religion, education, government and the economic systems as social institutions.
Course Viewed in Total Curriculum
This course fulfills requirements for an undergraduate sociology class. This course meets the
requirements as a general education core course for an Associate Degree at ICC, and transfers to fouryear institutions.
Course Outcomes and Competencies
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
ICC OUTCOME
COURSE
COMPETENCIES
STUDENT ACTIVITY
ASSESSMENT
Apply the sociological
Foundations of
Research of current theories Via Exam submission.
imagination to their
Sociology
and concepts within the field
observation and analysis
of sociology.
of the social world.
 expected learning outcomes of this course are in alignment with the learning objectives
established by the Statewide Core Competencies project
Core Abilities as identified in the Catalog
• effective Communication using multiple methods communicate effectively in listening, speaking, reading, and
writing
• critical Thinking skills to include quantitative reasoning, scientific inquiry, information processing through
reflective, systematic, rational, and skeptical using cognitive representations, processes, and strategies to make
decisions about beliefs, ethics, problems, and/or courses of action
• diversity to include social and global awareness and historical perspective
• creativity to include creative decision making and artistic awareness
Instructional Materials
The textbook utilized in this course is Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 10th edition
(2013) / Henslin. In addition, the student will be reading articles from Exploring Social Life: Readings
to Accompany Essentials of Sociology, 4th edition (2009) / Henslin.
Instructor Expectations
Students are expected to read the assigned chapter(s) and article(s), and take quizzes / exams. Students
are expected to show respect to everyone in the class, and the instructor reserves the right to withdraw
anyone who violates this policy.
Office Hours / Availability
M (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.) / (12:00 - 2:00 p.m.) / (2:00 – 3:00 p.m. / online-interactive)
WF (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.)
e-mail: mharris@indycc.edu (I will make every attempt to respond to e-mail within 24 hours)
Office Telephone: (620) 331-4100 ext. 5431 / Office Location: FA 104
Administrative Requirements
Regular attendance by the student is expected as I will assign an attendance grade. No late assignments
will be accepted.
Attendance and Withdraw Policy of ICC
Any instructor may withdraw a student for lack of attendance, but only after the appropriate date
of certification for the course (9/17/12) and on or before the last date to withdraw for the
semester (11/2/12). If an instructor does exercise this option, a grade of WN will be recorded,
and all of the course charges/fees will be applied to the student’s account. Additional information
regarding an individual instructor’s attendance policy may be outlined further within the course
syllabus.
Scholarship
It is assumed that on written assignments, quotations or citations indicate another person as the source.
The lack of quotations / citations indicates your own original material.
Changes to the Syllabus
The schedule and procedures in this syllabus / outline are subject to change in the event of extenuating
circumstances.
Students with Special Needs
Students who qualify for specific accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
should notify the instructor the first week of class. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the
instructor of his/her needs and to provide the necessary documentation to the director of the Student
Development Center before classroom accommodations can be made.
Special Situations:
All students seeking assistance with academic programs because of documented
disabilities should contact the appropriate contact person listed below:
Instructional Needs
Title IX Coordinator: Dr. Sara Harris, Vice President for Academic Affairs
AC 117, Academic Building
620-331-4100 Ext. 5418
Sharris@indycc.edu
Facility/Technical Needs
ADA Coordinator: Greg Eytcheson, Chief Info. & Facility Officer
Cessna Building
620-331-4100 Ext. 5444
Grege@indycc.edu
ICC provides disability services on an individualized basis. Students with a documented disability may
request accommodations for in-class activities and test-taking, and may have been identified through a
testing agency. Instructors include a statement concerning accessibility to services on their syllabus with
reference to the Instructional Office.
Instructional Procedures
The assigned Chapter(s), Article(s), Quizzes, and Exams are designed to provide a broadened
understanding of the social factors that influence contemporary life. Because the topics we shall cover
in this course are so closely related to the situations we face in life, outside-of-class preparation is
essential if we are to have stimulating and focused in-class discussions. No late assignments will be
accepted. I will not accept work that contains inappropriate language. Remember that this is a college
course and that you should conduct yourself in a manner fitting to an institution of higher learning.
Grading
Your grade will be based upon the total points accumulated from attendance, quizzes, and exams.

An Attendance grade will be determined via taking of roll at the beginning of every class period.
If you are not present by the time I collect the roll you will be counted as absent. (100 points
total)

Each week the student will be asked to take a true/false and multiple choice quiz based on the
article readings (available beginning Monday, August 27, 2012). The weekly Quiz will be
available on Monday and must be taken by Friday of that particular week. The Quiz will
close out (and not be available) one-half hour before class starts (or 8:30 a.m.) on Friday.
The student will not be given another opportunity to take the Quiz once it closes. As a
class, we will review (go over on Friday) the correct answers for the Quiz. When we do not
have class on Friday, the Quiz will still close on that Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. We will
then review the Quiz on the following Monday. The course Quizzes will be available on the
Angel course site and will be posted under “Lessons.” There will be five (5) true/false
questions and five (5) multiple choice questions to answer. There is a (10) minute time limit on
taking the Quizzes. I will drop your lowest quiz score. This requirement will be worth 16
(articles) x 10 (minus lowest score) or 150 points.

In addition to the article reading, we will be covering one chapter per week. The exams will
consist of true / false, multiple choice, and extended response (based on article readings). The
exams will be taken in-class. No exam will be administered past the assigned date. If you
are not in attendance on the exam date the score for that particular exam will be 0/100. I
will drop your lowest exam score. This requirement will be worth 5 (exams) x 100 (less lowest
score) or 400 points.
Assessing Individual Success in Achieving Course Objective(s):
The extent to which you have met the objectives listed above will be indicated by your grades on
attendance, quizzes, and exams.
Attendance ……………………………………………………………. 100 points
Quizzes ……………………………………………………………….. 150 points
Exams …………………………………………………………………. 400 points
Total Possible Points: 650 points
An “A” grade (90% and above): 585 points
A “B” grade (80% and above): 520 points
A “C” grade (70% and above): 455 points
A “D” grade (60% and above): 390 points
An “F” grade is 389 points and below
Week of
August 20th
Orientation to Course
Part I: The Sociological Perspective
August 27th
CH (1): The Sociological Perspective
“Invitation to Sociology” – Peter L. Berger
September 3rd
CH (2): Culture
“The Fierce People” – Napoleon Chagnon
September 10th
CH (3): Socialization
“Anybody’s Son Will Do” – Gwynne Dyer
September 17th
CH (4): Social Structure and Social Interaction
“Hooking Up on the Internet” – Helene M. Lawson and Kira Leck
September 21st
Exam I
Part II: Social Groups and Social Control
September 24th
CH (5): Social Groups and Formal Organizations
“Just Another Routine Emergency” – Daniel F. Chambliss
October 1st
CH (6): Deviance and Social Control
“Becoming a Hit Man” – Ken Levi
October 5th
Exam II
Part III: Social Inequality
October 8th
CH (7): Global Stratification
“Job on the Line” – William M. Adler
October 15th
CH (8): Social Class in the United States
“The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All” – Herbert J. Gans
October 22nd
CH (9): Race and Ethnicity
“Invisible Man” – Lawrence Otis Graham
October 29th
CH (10): Gender and Age
“Sick Societies” – Robert B. Edgerton
November 2nd
Part IV: Social Institutions
November 5th
Exam III
CH (11): Politics and the Economy
“The Power Elite” – C. Wright Mills
November 12th
CH (12): Marriage and Family
“Social Class and Child Rearing” – Annette Lareau
November 19th
CH (13): Education and Religion
“Still Separate, Still Unequal” – Jonathan Kozol
November 26th
November 30th
continue CH (13) due to Thanksgiving Break
“Border Blues: The Dilemma of Illegal Immigration” – Farai Chideya
Exam IV
Part V: Social Change
December 3rd
Finals Week / December 10th – 13th
CH (14): Population and Urbanization
CH (15): Social Change and the Environment
“The McDonaldization of Society” – George Ritzer
“How Many Sexual Partners Do Americans Have?”
- Robert T. Michael, John H. Gagnon,
- Edward O. Laumann, and Gina Kolata
Exam V
Note: I reserve the right to change/modify the course syllabus as needed