SOCIAL ISSUES: PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY (SOCI 2105-05)
Spring 2010
Kennesaw State University
Monday & Wednesday
8:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Social Science Classroom Building 2023
Instructor:
:
Email
:
Lisa M. Lepard
llepard@kennesaw.edu
lisamlepard@gmail.com
Georgia View Vista
Office:
:
Social Sciences Bldg. 4005
Call the Sociology Department
770.423.6739
Office Hours: By appointment; I will be in office before & after class if needed
REQUIRED TEXT:
 Neubeck, Kenneth J. and Davita Silfen Glasberg. 2005. Sociology: Diversity, Conflict, and Change. Boston, MA:
McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07-250476-5.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course, students will be introduced to the discipline of sociology. The purpose of this course is to increase
students’ awareness of their social world with an emphasis on the social nature of human behavior, culture, social
structure, and socialization. We will explore such topics as deviance, stratification, family, gender, and race/ethnicity.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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Differentiate between individualistic (non-sociological) & sociological (external) explanations for social facts
Explain & critically analyze social facts based on the development of one’s “sociological imagination”
Apply various sociological concepts & theoretical perspectives to the understanding of society
To understand the reciprocal relationship between individual & society
To understand the diversity of American society
To demonstrate an ability to think critically
REQUIREMENTS:

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Do not talk during lecture, while other students are asking questions, or during movie/video presentations.
Turn off cell phones, iPods, or other electronics during class.
Late arrivals & early departures disrupt not only me, but also other students; therefore, if you know that you need to
leave early—please talk to me before class (or email me).
Sociology is one of the few academic disciplines that many students enter into with strong and established beliefs
concerning the subject matter. This is especially true when controversial topics such as the ones that we will be
discussing are challenged and critiqued. With this said, there are a few classroom rules that will be established:
 Acknowledging that racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and other forms of institutionalized forms of
oppression exist, we agree not to blame others or ourselves for the misinformation we have learned but
accept responsibility not to repeat misinformation and to use our sociological knowledge to change
perceptions.i*
 We agree not to “blame the victim(s)” for the conditions of her/his life because this type of explanation
ignores the institutionalized social structures that block progress and perpetuates social inequality*
 Never demean, devalue, or ridicule someone for ideas expressed, personal experiences shared, or
dissenting opinions. *
 Create a safe atmosphere for open discussion. If personal experiences are shared with the class, it should
be agreed upon that these comments are not repeated outside of the classroom and the rules of
confidentiality apply. *1
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Ideas based in part on: Cannon, Lynn Weber. 1990. “Fostering Positive Race, Class, and Gender Dynamics in the Classroom.”
Women’s Studies Quarterly 18 (2): 126-134.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Please be advised of the Student Code of Conduct as published in the KSU Undergraduate Catalog. Section III
addresses issues on academic honesty, including cheating and plagiarism, among other violations. If you are unsure of
how plagiarism is defined or if you are not clear on what “academic honesty” means, go to the catalog and familiarize
yourself. Ignorance of the policy is not an acceptable excuse! Students suspected of academic dishonesty will be
investigated and if confirmed, will receive a zero on the assignment and potentially fail the course.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS:
If you are a student with a documented disability, come & talk to me as soon as possible (either after class or during
my office hours) to discuss accommodations.
QUIZZES/WRITINGS:
 Throughout the semester, there will be in-class quizzes or writing assignments. Sometimes these will be based on
group activities, reaction writings to movies or videos, but other times it will be based on the assigned readings.
These in-class writings/quizzes CANNOT be made-up; therefore, attendance is highly recommended because this
counts as 25% of the final course grade.
ASSIGNMENTS:
 There will be one 3 - 4 page paper due at the end of the semester.
 Paper is due March 24. You must come to class and turn your paper in. I will not accept papers via email or Vista.
You are allowed to turn your paper in early if you would like. However, I WILL NOT accept late papers—so please
do not ask.
 The directions are summarized following the course outline.
EXAMINATIONS:
 There will be 2 exams during the semester.
o Exams will consist of multiple choice and essay.
 MAKE-UP EXAMS ARE ONLY GIVEN WHEN PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE INSTRUCTOR.
FURTHERMORE, STUDENTS MUST HAVE A DOCUMENTED REASON FOR MISSING THE EXAM. MAKE-UP EXAMS
WILL BE IN ESSAY FORMAT.
 DURING EXAMS: turn off phones and all other electronic gadgets. Go to the restroom before the test begins
because if you leave the room—you must turn in your exam and I will consider it completed.
BE ON TIME FOR EXAMS! Students who are late for class on exam day may not be allowed to take the
exam if they arrive after the first student has already turned in her/his exam. This policy is to put in place to ensure
academic honesty.
Grading:
Exam 1 =
Exam 2 =
Paper =
Quizzes/Writings =
20%
25%
30%
25%
Keep Track of Your Own Grade!!
Exam 1: (your grade x .20) = a
Exam 2: (your grade x .25) = b
Paper: (your grade x .30) = c
Quiz/Writings: (avg. all grades x .25) = d
Your Final Course Grade= a + b + c + d (out of 100)
Final Grade:
A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
D = 60 – 69
F = 59 & below
I reserve the right to change the syllabus; however, students will be notified in advance either in class or on Web-CT
Date:
Topic:
Required Reading:
M 1.11
Introduction to course
W 1.13
The Sociological Perspective
Ch. 1
2
M 1.18
NO CLASS: MLK, Jr. Holiday
W 1.20
Macro Social Structure
Micro & Mid-Level Structures
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
M 1.25
Culture
Ch. 5
W 1.27
Socialization
Ch. 6
M 2.1

W 2.3
EXAM 1
M 2.8
W 2.10
Systems of Inequality AND
Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender

M 2.15

W 2.17

M 2.22
Education
W 2.24

M 3.1
Families
W 3.3

F 3.5
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH GRADE “W”
Ch. 7
Ch 8
Ch. 13
Ch. 15
M 3.8
W 3.10
SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS
M 3.15
Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
W 3.17

M 3.22
EXAM 2
W 3.24
PAPERS DUE IN CLASS
Ch. 9
DIRECTIONS FOR PAPER:
Because this is a 10-week course, I am limited in the amount of time that I have in the classroom to
show various media representations of sociologically relevant material. As a result, I have compiled a list of
some of the documentaries and clips that I typically show in class so that you may develop and strengthen
your sociological imagination. One of my primary goals as an instructor is for students to be able to “do”
sociology in their everyday lives—and nothing is more relevant to our everyday lives than mass media.
For your paper, you are required to write a 3 to 4 page (double spaced; 12 point font; normal
margins; citation/bibliography if necessary, etc.) sociological analysis—not personal opinion—about one
of the following documentaries. In the paper, only ONE paragraph should be devoted to summarizing the
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documentary—do not spend the entire paper telling me what it’s about. Instead, summarize the
documentary succinctly in one paragraph; and then, discuss sociological aspects in the film (use your
textbook as a reference point). Find a theoretical perspective that can help you explain some of the points
discussed in the documentary.
Please Note: The links that are on www.youtube.com are typically in installments. If you choose to watch
something from this site, please watch ALL of the listed clips. If there are 6 clips, watch 1 of 6, 2 of 6, 3 of 6,
etc. until you have viewed the entire documentary.
Topic:
Culture
Culture
Name:
The Merchants of Cool
Affluenza
Discrimination
& Prejudice
Gender
(Masculinity)
Gender
(Femininity)
A Class Divided
Deviance
The Released
Macro Social
Perspective;
Globalization
Healthcare
“The World is Flat” by
Thomas L. Friedman (2005)
Sick Around America
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickarounda
merica/view/
Race
Social Class
Crime; Gender
Affirmative Action
Homes for the Homeless
Justice Delayed
Crime; Gender;
Class
Social Class
Race
Fighting Child Prostitution
(about Atlanta)
Taxing the Poor
What Would You Do?
Racism in America
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/434/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/index.html
http://video.pbs.org/video/1146783007/subject/957383727
/topic/957390620
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/422/index.html
Tough Guise by Jackson
Katz
Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex,
and Power in Music Video
Link/Website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLb6kmhKboI&feature=
PlayList&p=E43511864B496A7C&index=0&playnext=1
(multiple clips associated with this documentary)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/et
c/view.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3exzMPT4nGI
(multiple clips associated with this documentary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6LHg_OFFRY&feature
=PlayList&p=A399EA02C4F7C366&index=0&playnext=1
(multiple clips associated with this documentary)
http://video.pbs.org/video/1114528522/program/97935804
0/topic/979380015
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/266/
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/415/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNuWZdHzaA&feature=PlayList&p=A9A0505376CBCE35&in
dex=1 (multiple clips associated with this documentary)
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