Queen’s University, Department of Sociology
SOCIOLOGY 276: SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN SOCIAL DEVIANCE
Winter 2016 Course Outline
Location: Kingston Hall 101
Time: Tuesdays 2:30 pm – 3:50 pm and Fridays 4 pm – 5:20 pm
Course Instructor: Stacey Alarie
Office: D428 Mackintosh-Corry Hall
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm (and by appointment)
Email: alaries@queensu.ca / 7sa18@queensu.ca
Course Website: https://moodle.queensu.ca
Calendar Description:
This course examines a variety of substantive topics in the sociology of deviance. The choice of topics
will illustrate the range of theoretical approaches discussed in SOCY 275/3.0. The selection of topics
will vary from semester to semester but will typically include violence, corporate crime, sexual
deviance, and physical stigma.
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to build on the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of deviance and
social control acquired in SOCY 275. In this course, we will explore how certain attributes/behaviours
are defined as deviant, the imposition of norms, values and rules, and the social consequences
associated with formal and informal deviant labels. The bulk of this course will be spent considering a
different case study/substantive issue in deviance and social control each week. The purpose of this is
to initiate a critical discussion of social norms and what is considered deviant conduct, explore public
reaction, and examine the socio-historical context for deviance. Substantive issues to be explored in
this course include: appearance issues (i.e., beauty, body modification), mental illness, sexual deviance,
substance use, violent and non-violent crimes, victimization, and informal and formal social control.
Stigma, identity negotiation and theory application will be consistent themes examined throughout the
course.
Course Pre-requisites:
SOCY 275/3.0 is a prerequisite for this course. This is to ensure that you have a foundation in theories
of deviance and social control. Without this theoretical and conceptual foundation, it will be difficult to
understand and critically assess the substantive issues covered and apply theoretical perspectives to the
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deviant behaviours discussed. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet these course
requirements.
Course Exclusion:
If you have taken SOCY 274/6.0, you cannot enroll in this course.
Course Objectives:
Broadly speaking, the purpose of this course is to expand students’ theoretical understanding of
deviance to substantive topics within this field. This will be accomplished through focused case studies
and reviewing empirical research in the field of deviance. The more specific course objectives are:
Ø To critically examine the conceptualization of deviance and the various attitudes, behaviours
and conditions defined as deviant
Ø To encourage critical thought about the definition, application, and response to deviance
Ø To apply conceptual tools and sociological theories of deviance to selected topics/case studies
Ø To examine the process involved in applying a deviant label and the impact of this identity
Ø To promote the application of critical sociological thought to an understanding of deviance in
everyday life
Course Readings:
Tepperman, Lorne and Alex Tepperman. 2013. Deviance, Crime, and Control: Beyond the Straight and
Narrow. 3rd Edition. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
This book is required and is available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore. It is also on 3-hour
reserve at Stauffer Library.
At times in the semester, we rely on journal articles that are available online through the Queen’s
University Library website. From time to time, we will also use Statistics Canada reports (Juristat),
newspaper articles, and policy documents. Citations will be provided in lecture and, as appropriate,
these will be provided as handouts or links in Moodle.
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
Your final grade for this course will be based on the grades you receive on the following:
Test #1 (TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 2016) ……………………………………………….20%
Test #2 (TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2016)…………………………………………...........….20%
Paper Assignment (TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2016)………..………………………..….....35%
Test #3 (FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2016)……………………………………………………...…25%
Tests: There are 3 tests, all of which will be written in-class throughout the semester. You will have
approximately 80 minutes to complete each test. The first two tests will be comprised of all multiple
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choice questions. The final test will be a combination of multiple-choice and short or long answer.
More details will follow.
Paper Assignment: This assignment will be due at the beginning of class on Tuesday March 8th,
2016. Details regarding this assignment will be provided in lecture (including an in-class handout) and
on Moodle.
Please note: If any changes are made regarding the above outlined due dates (or anything else laid out
in this course syllabus) you will be informed via Moodle. All changes/information provided for you in
Moodle will be the most up-to-date and will, thus, take precedence over anything stated herein. In the
case of any disagreement between information of different types (provided by course instructor,
teaching assistant, Moodle, etc.), Moodle will be considered authoritative.
Grading Policy:
All components of this course will receive numerical percentage marks. The final grade you receive for
the course will be derived by converting your numerical course average to a letter grade according to
Queen’s Official Grade Conversion Scale:
Queen’s Official Grade Conversion Scale
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Numerical
Course
Average
(Range)
90-100
85-89
80-84
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
57-59
53-56
50-52
49 and below
Late Penalty:
For each day that your assignment is late, you will receive 5% off your grade for that assignment. The
paper assignment is due in-class on the designated due date and will be considered late if not
received during class time. In addition, a set amount of 10% will be deducted for a weekend. For
example, if you submit your assignment on Saturday to the Sociology Drop Box, you will receive a
10% deduction plus any other weekday deductions accumulated after the established due date. The
exception to this is in the case of a health-related absence or family emergency accompanied by official
documentation. This is described in further detail below.
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All requests for a deferral of a test or extension of the assignment will be granted only under
exceptional circumstances (health-related reasons, family emergency, etc.). These requests must be
accompanied by official written documentation presented to the course instructor. Extensions on the
assignment and deferrals of tests will not be granted unless you have demonstrated an extenuating
circumstance and provided the proper documentation. Without appropriate documentation or a valid
reason, you will receive a ZERO for any test not completed or receive late penalties of 5% for each
day and 10% for each weekend that the assignment is late. If you anticipate difficulties with the class
requirements, you must discuss these concerns with the course instructor as soon as possible. If you
require any accommodations through the Disability Services Office, please ensure you make an
appointment as early as possible in the semester (see Academic Accommodations below).
Grade Review Policy:
If you are unhappy with the grade you receive on your assignment, please adhere to the following
guidelines. First, thoroughly review all comments on your assignment. Do not contact the course
instructor or teaching assistant until at least 48 hours have passed since your assignment was handed
back. Second, along with your original marked assignment, you are to submit a letter to the course
instructor. This letter should outline the reasons for a review of your assignment. Possible reasons
could include a grade miscalculation or finding a passage in the literature that confirms an element in
your assignment. You are not to write simply that you are unhappy and deserve better. Along with your
outlined reasons for review, you should provide a suggestion for what you believe you deserve and an
explanation for this. Third, give the course instructor approximately one week to review the
assignment. The course instructor will keep your grade the same, increase the grade or lower it. Please
keep in mind that the course instructor will have reviewed assignments prior to handing them back
initially and has confidence in the grading skills of the teaching assistants.
Course Communication:
You are welcome to come speak with me during my office hours and/or by appointment about course
material. You are also encouraged to meet with your teaching assistants to discuss questions related to
subject matter or assignments. It is preferred you use e-mail to set up meetings. Please refrain from
sending e-mails with particular questions/queries about course material or assignments – questions of
this nature should only be discussed in person with the instructor or teaching assistants or during class
time for the benefit of all students.
E-mail Policy:
As noted, you may e-mail the instructor or teaching assistant to set up a meeting. You may also send an
e-mail to inform us of an emergency. All e-mail transactions should take place via your Queen’s email account for professional purposes and to ensure that your messages are not diverted into the
instructor’s or teaching assistants’ ‘junk mail’ folder. When you send an e-mail to the instructor or a
teaching assistant, please be sure to provide a proper greeting (e.g., Ms. Alarie, Good Afternoon
Stacey), use a professional tone, and sign your name and student number.
Course Policies:
You are responsible for knowing all material covered in course readings, as well as in the weekly
lectures, including all films, guest lectures, etc. Thus, it is strongly recommended that you attend all
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scheduled lectures. To get the most out of this course, you are expected to come to lectures prepared to
participate. The material that will be covered in lecture will not be an exact duplicate of the weekly
readings. Rather, lectures will build on the readings and provide you with additional information that
will complement but are not substitutes for the required readings.
You are expected to arrive to lectures on time, to remain there for the allotted lecture time, and to
provide the instructor with your undivided attention.
Please be respectful when your fellow students are speaking and listen to their questions and
comments. You are encouraged to engage in class discussions to obtain a more fulfilling experience.
The subject matter that will be covered is sensitive, contentious, and rich. Students may find some
material offensive. This is often unavoidable in a discussion that concerns the moral meaning of
behaviour and the imposition of value judgments. There is a need to be open-minded in all class
lectures and discussions with respect to the material and the viewpoints shared by others. As a class,
there will likely be much critical discussion. In relation to this point, please be respectful of your fellow
students and the subject matter when engaging in class discussions and debates. Also, the behaviours
we discuss range from minor deviance to more serious crimes. Likewise, some behaviours labelled as
‘deviant’ may not be considered as such to everyone. Should you encounter language, depictions,
attitudes or discussions to be disturbing, offensive or confusing, the course instructor and teaching
assistants are available to discuss any concerns you have with the material. Every effort will be made to
foster an accessible and safe learning environment.
Only use personal communication devices (laptops, ipads, etc.) for lecture-related activities (taking
notes, facilitating class discussions/research). Text messaging, playing computer games, watching
videos, surfing the internet, and listening to music are disruptive and disrespectful to your classmates
and your instructor. Please be courteous and turn off your electronic devices before class.
Academic Accommodations:
Queen's University is committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Part of this
commitment includes arranging academic accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure they
have an equitable opportunity to participate in all of their academic activities. If you are a student with
a disability and think you may need accommodations, you are strongly encouraged to contact the
Disability Services Office (DSO) and register as early as possible. For more information, including
important deadlines, please visit the DSO website at: http://www.queensu.ca/hcds/ds/
Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is constituted by the five core fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect
and responsibility (see www.academicintegrity.org). These values are central to the building, nurturing
and sustaining of an academic community in which all members of the community will thrive.
Adherence to the values expressed through academic integrity forms a foundation for the “freedom of
inquiry and exchange of ideas” essential to the intellectual life of the University (see the Senate Report
on Principles and Priorities
http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senateandtrustees/principlespriorities.html).
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations concerning academic
integrity and for ensuring that their assignments conform to the principles of academic integrity.
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Information on academic integrity is available in the Arts and Science Calendar (see Academic
Regulation 1 http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academic-calendars/regulations/academicregulations/regulation-1), on the Arts and Science website (see
http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/undergraduate/academic-integrity), and from the instructor of
this course.
Departures from academic integrity include plagiarism, use of unauthorized materials, facilitation,
forgery and falsification, and are antithetical to the development of an academic community at Queen's.
Given the seriousness of these matters, actions which contravene the regulation on academic integrity
carry sanctions that can range from a warning or the loss of grades on an assignment to the failure of a
course to a requirement to withdraw from the university.
Copyright of Course Materials (Moodle):
This material is copyrighted and is for the sole use of students registered in SOCY 276. This material
shall not be distributed or disseminated to anyone other than students registered in SOCY 276. Failure
to abide by these conditions is a breach of copyright, and may also constitute a breach of academic
integrity under the University Senate’s Academic Integrity Policy Statement.
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LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE*
Week 1 (January 5th and 8th): Introduction / Defining Deviance
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 1
Adler, Patricia A. and Peter Adler. 2006. “The Deviance Society.” Deviant Behavior 27(2):129-148.
Week 2 (January 12th and 15th): Appearance Issues
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 2
Week 3 (January 19th and 22nd): Mental Illness
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 3
John Howard Society of Ontario. 2015. Unlocking Change: Decriminalizing Mental Health Issues in
Ontario. Available: http://www.johnhoward.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/UnlockingChange-Final-August-2015.pdf
Week 4 (January 26th and 29th): Test #1 and Start Next Topic
TEST #1 – TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH
Week 5 (February 2nd and 5th): Sexual Deviance
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 4
Week 6 (February 9th and 12th): Substance Use
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 5
Week 7 (February 15th – 19th): Reading Week
NO CLASSES – READING WEEK
Week 8 (February 23rd and 26th): Criminal Activity
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapters 7, 8 and 9
Week 9 (March 1st and 4th): Test #2 and Start Next Topic
TEST #2 – TUESDAY, MARCH 1st
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Week 10 (March 8th and 11th): Victimization
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 10
PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE (BEGINNING OF CLASS) – TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH
Week 11 (March 15th and 18th): Informal Social Control
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 11
Week 12 (March 22nd): Formal Punishment
Tepperman and Tepperman, Chapter 12
Hirschfield, Paul J. and Alex R. Piquero. 2010. “Normalization and Legitimation: Modeling
Stigmatizing Attitudes Toward Ex-Offenders.” Criminology 48(1):27-55.
MARCH 25TH – NO CLASSES – GOOD FRIDAY
Week 13 (March 29th and April 1st): Formal Punishment Continued and Test #3
TEST #3 – FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST
*Please note that reading items may be added, removed or changed throughout the course of the
semester. As well, the course instructor reserves the right to change a weekly topic. Any changes to the
Lecture and Reading Schedule will be announced in class and over Moodle (well in advance of the
week/topic in question). Further, media resources (including print and film) will be used throughout the
course. If scheduling permits, we will also have at least one guest lecture in the semester.
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