SOAN 1000 Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2012; SHH307
MWF 9:00 am
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Core 6
Professor: Ming Tsui
Office: S-H 342
Phone: 974-1388 (office)
Office Hours: MW 10-12 or by appointment
SYLLABUS
C OURSE O BJECTIVES :
Adopting a cross-cultural and comparative approach, this course will provide a comprehensive overview of sociological principles. Using the sociological imagination, we will explore the relationship between individuals and their social environment, as well as the origin, structure and function of various social institutions. We will begin by examining the dominant paradigms of sociological thoughts and methods by which the social world is studied. With this foundation we will move towards a sociological understanding of the major substantive areas in the field: culture and society, social institutions, stratification and inequality, globalization and social change. Specific issues include self and society, marriage and the family, education, religion, popular culture and mass media, class, gender, and race/ethnicity. The purpose of this course is to develop a capacity for critical thinking about the socially constructed reality which we are inclined to view as "given," and apply the sociological imagination to our own observation and analysis of the world.
L
IBERAL
A
RTS
A
BILITIES
:
This course is part of the interdisciplinary core curriculum at Millsaps. The objectives of this class include the development of the following core abilities.
1. Reasoning -the ability to analyze and synthesize arguments, question assumptions, evaluate evidence, argue positions, draw conclusions, and raise new questions. Varieties of reasoning include quantitative, scientific, ethical, and aesthetic:
Quantitative - the ability to use mathematical reasoning as a tool of analysis and as a means of conveying information
Scientific - the ability to understand and to use the scientific methods
Ethical - the ability to analyze the principles and assumptions of moral claims and to make informed and reasoned moral arguments
Aesthetic - the ability to analyze visual, performing, or literary art
2.
Communication - the ability to express ideas, arguments, and information coherently and persuasively both orally and in writing.
3. Historical Consciousness - the ability to understand the achievements, problems, and perspectives of the past and to recognize their influence upon the course of events.
4. Social & Cultural Awareness - the ability to engage perspectives other than one’s own.
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C OURSE R EQUIREMENTS :
Methods:
We will use a combination of lectures and inter-teaching to conduct this course. Everyone is expected to participate actively in inter-teaching and class discussion. To successfully accomplish these goals, regular class attendance is essential.
****No make-ups for in-class quizzes except for extreme circumstances such as hospitalization and instructor = s approval is required.
**** Late papers will not be accepted.
**** More than three un-excused absences will result in grade reduction.
**** Tardiness is disruptive and will therefore count against your class participation grade.
**** Cell phones and computers must be turned off during class.
W
RITING
Writing is a significant component of this course. There are three short papers (3-6 pages) with topics described below. As a core 6 course, short papers can be submitted and included in your
Writing Portfolio.
A. Short papers paper # 1...Sociological imagination... ( due Feb. 15 )
The readings at the very beginning of the semester introduce the concept of
A sociological imagination.
@ This paper asks you to interpret this concept and apply it to our current world. In addition you are asked to use sociological theories introduced in these chapters to make a sociological analysis of an issue. paper #2...Equality and Stratification... ( due April 4 )
Instruction will be given on the day the paper is assigned. paper #3...Social Institution and the Self...( due April 27)
A sociological study of either the family, education, or religion, with focusing on either their roles in the social reproduction of class, poverty, and/or on their functions for the larger society.
B. Quizzes
We will have quizzes on the readings regularly. The questions in the quiz will come from the inter-teaching guide. (See separation instruction for inter-teaching.) Quizzes will be graded
G according to the following: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 59 or below=F.
RADES
Short Papers 30%
Quizzes
Class/Group participation
60%
10%
R
EQUIRED
T
EXTS
:
1. Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard Applebaum, & Deborah Carr. (2011). Essentials of
Sociology (3rd edition), New York: WW Norton & Company.
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2. Susan J. Ferguson. (2010). Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology (6 th ed.),
McGraw Hill.
3 .   A collection of additional readings. (To be distributed in class).
CLASS SCHEDULE
Jan. 18 First meeting of class: Introduction and overview
What is Sociology: History and Theory
Jan. 20 READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 1; Mapping the Social Landscape, Reading
No. 1.
A The Promise @ by Mills, “The summoned self seduction” by Brooks, and
“Innovation is doing little for incomes (handouts)
Jan. 23 READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 1, continued; Mapping the Social
Landscape, Reading No.41, pp. 473-478 A Manifesto of the Communist Party @ by
Marx; Brooks A The power of marriage @ and A Albanian custom fades: women as family man @ (handouts).
Jan. 25
Feb. 1
READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 1, cont.
Jan. 27 READ: Mapping the Social Landscape, No. 2 A Teenage wasteland @ by Gaines and
No. 3 A Intersection of biography and history @ by Romero.
Doing Social Research
Jan. 30 READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 1, cont.; Mapping the Social Landscape,
Reading No. 4. A Finding out how the social world works @ by Schwalbe
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 1, cont.; Mapping the Social Landscape, Reading No. 5 A Interpersonal dynamics in simulated prison @ by Haney, Banks, and Zimbardo.
Culture and Society
Feb. 3-6 READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 2; A The code of the street @ by Anderson and “The way we live now” by Brooks (handouts)
Feb. 8 READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 2 cont.; A The price of honor @ by Beyer and
“A tale of two expats” ( Economist) (handouts)
Socialization and Life Cycle
Feb. 10
***1 st
READ: Essentials of Sociology: Chapter 3
short paper assigned, due Feb. 15
Feb. 13 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 3 cont. and Mapping the Social
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Landscape, Reading No. 13 A Making it by faking it @ by Granfield,
Feb. 15-17 READ: Mapping the Social Landscape, Reading No. 11 A Night of his day: the
***1 st socialization of gender @ by Lorber
short paper due, Feb. 15
Social Interaction and Everyday Life
Feb. 20 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 4 and A You just don = t understand @ by
Tannen (handout)
Feb. 22
Feb. 24
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 4 cont.
Groups, Networks, and Organizations
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 5 and Mapping the Social Landscape,
Reading No. 15 “Peer Power” by Alder & Adler
Feb. 27
Feb. 29
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 5 cont.
Conformity, Deviance, and Crime
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 6; Mapping the Social Landscape, Reading
No. 19 A On being sane in insane places @ by Rosenhan and A In search of respect @ by
Bourgois (handout).
Mar. 2 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 6 cont.; Mapping the Social
Landscape, Reading No. 20 A Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia @ by McLorg and Taub.
Stratification, Class, and Inequality
Mar. 5 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 7; "Week in sweatshop and.
A Money changes everything...
@ (handouts)
@
Mar. 7-9 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 7 cont.; Mapping the Social Landscape,
Reading No. 26 A Nickel-and-dimed: On (not) getting by in America @ by
Ehrenreich.
**Mar. 10-18 Spring Break
Mar. 19-21 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 7 cont.; Mapping the Social
Landscape, Reading No. 24 A Who Rules America?
@ by Domhoff and No. 23.
A Some principles of stratification @ by Davis and Moore.
Global Inequality
Mar. 23 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 8 and “Two cheers for sweatshops” by
Kristof and Wudunn (handout).
Gender and Inequality
Mar. 26-28 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 9; A Brief lives @ (handout).
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Movie: Small Happiness
Mar. 30
***2 nd
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 9 cont.
short paper assigned, due April 4
Race and Ethnicity
April 2-4 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 10
* **2 nd short paper due, April 4
April 9 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 10 cont.
Marriage and the Family
April 11-13 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 11
Movie: The Vanishing Father
***Student evaluation
April 16 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 11 cont. and Mapping the Social
Landscape, Reading No.55 “Invisible inequality” by Lareau.
Education and Religion
April 18 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 12 and A Preparing for power @ by Cookson and Persell (handout).
April 20
***3 rd
READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 12 cont.
short paper assigned, due April 27
Work and Economic Life
April 23-25 READ: Essentials of Sociology, Chapter 13 and A When work disappear @ by Wilson
April 27 Last day of class, ***3 rd short paper due, April 27
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Council, which is responsible for enforcement.
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As a Millsaps College student, I hereby affirm that I understand the Honor
Code and am aware of its implications and of my responsibility to the Code. In the interests of expanding the atmosphere of respect and trust in the College, I promise to uphold the Honor Code and I will not tolerate dishonest behavior in myself or in others.
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It is the responsibility of students and faculty to report offenses to the Honor Code Council in the form of a written report. This account must be signed, the accusation explained in as much detail as possible, and submitted to the Dean of the College.
The Honor Council, 2010-2011
Students
Oliver Galicki - Chair
Faculty
Dr. Susan Taylor, Faculty Secretary
Suzanne Glemot - Vice Chair
Claire Hines - Sergeant at Arms
Dr. Lynn Raley
Dr. Brent Hendrixson
Sameer Goel - Senior Member
Patrick Albert - Junior Member
Michael Bell - Sophomore Member
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