SOCI 103: Introduction to Sociology: Community Service
KOÇ UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
FALL 2007
Class Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 14:00-15:15 pm (ENG B21)
Office Hours: M 14:00-15:30, T and Th 15:15-16:00 pm, and by appointment
Instructor: Murat Ergin
Peer facilitators: Ali Can Yurtsever
Office: Social Sciences 252
(ayurtsever@ku.edu.tr) and Defne
Phone: (212) 338-1411
Karakaya (dkarakaya@ku.edu.tr)
Email: muergin@ku.edu.tr
Graduate assistant: Pınar Dinç
(pdinc@ku.edu.tr)
READ THE ENTIRE SYLLABUS CAREFULLY!
COURSE CONTENT AND PURPOSE
This course is designed to familiarize you with the basic concepts, theories, and
applications of sociology. Sociology studies human society and social interaction
scientifically. All of you have extensive experience with living in society and engaging in
social interaction; however, sociology tries to discover the unfamiliar in the familiar and gives
you a different perspective to make sense of the social world.
The main objectives of this course are: a) to introduce you to basic tools and
techniques of sociology, b) to give you elementary skills to understand the social world in
which you live and to evaluate the sociological merits of scholarly and popular reports on
society, c) to prepare you for upper level courses in sociology and other disciplines in the
social sciences, d) to provide you with different views into the operation of societies and help
you apply these ideas to your lives, e) to raise your awareness of social problems.
One of the major goals of the course is to help students grasp the complex
relationships between individual and society through community involvement. For this
purpose, students will be required to participate in service-learning activities in various
community organizations.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Textbook: Macionis, John J. and Ken Plummer. 2005. Sociology: A Global
Introduction, third edition, Prentice Hall. The textbook is available at the bookstore.
COURSE ORGANIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS
Lectures: Lectures will not only focus and clarify material in the readings but also
provide additional information. Students are expected to do the readings before each class.
Exams: There will be a total of two exams in this course: one midterm and the final.
Exams will be in multiple-choice format. Each exam will be worth 25% of your total score.
Quizzes and participation: Students learn and retain course material better when tested
frequently. In addition to regular midterm exams and the final, I will administer several
unannounced quizzes. They may take place any time during a class period, and therefore may
pertain to the reading material assigned for that particular day as well as the lecture
discussion. No make-ups will be given for the quizzes. Quizzes will be one of the factors in
calculating your participation points.
University regulations require students in core courses to attend classes regularly. You
will automatically receive an F if you miss more than a third of the lectures (even if you have
documented medical excuses for your absences). If you leave early, you will be considered
absent. It is your responsibility to check your attendance score regularly.
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Community Service: A major (and fun) component of this course is the opportunity to
participate in volunteer activities. We have already established connections with various
community organizations and projects throughout Istanbul. All you have to do is to offer your
time, skills, and services in one of these projects to help others. These projects will address
the needs of a number of underprivileged groups, such as the elderly, children, women, people
with disabilities, prison inmates, and migrants. Students are required to complete at least 20
hours of community service for this course, including training (if necessary). However,
students taking this course will not be at a disadvantage compared to other introductory
sociology courses, because with fewer exams and class hours, the time you spent for
community service will be compensated.
Community service will have a simple writing component: keeping a journal. You are
required to turn in four brief journal entries throughout the semester. The details about the
journal are attached to this syllabus.
GRADING
Final grades for this course will be based on the following distribution.
Midterm
Final
Journal
Participation
and quizzes
Total
#
% each
% total
1
1
4
25
25
9
25
25
36
14
100
POLICIES:
Professionalism: As a professional, you can expect me to do my best effort to cover
course material in a thought-provoking manner, abide by the rules and regulations in the
syllabus, be available to students when necessary, and grade exams on time. In return, you are
required to act like professional students. This means, you need to come to classes on time,
remain in your seats throughout the class period, and avoid talking with other students.
Anytime you violate any of the rules in the syllabus, your participation score will go down.
Details are below.
The syllabus: This document is a contract between you and me. You are responsible
for all the policies, requirements, and information in this syllabus. By taking this course, you
agree to comply with all course requirements. By giving this syllabus to you, I agree to follow
everything in it. (However, the instructor can make changes to the assigned readings, exam
dates, etc. under extenuating circumstances. All changes will be announced in class).
Announcements in class: Announcements in lectures are official. Students are
responsible for all announcements made in classes even if they are absent that day. “I was
sick, I have a doctor’s report”, or “I have a right to miss a third of the classes” are immature
excuses that should be avoided. If you happen to miss a lecture, ask other students or your
instructor for announcements you may have missed.
Being on time: Students who show up late for classes or leave early create
considerable disruption and affect everyone’s learning. For this reason, late students (those
who arrive after the classroom doors are closed) will lose 2% out of their participation grade,
if they decide to enter. Each student can use this right to come in late (at the expense of their
participation grade) a maximum of five times during the semester. Habitually late students
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will not be allowed to attend the lectures after their fifth violation. These rules also apply to
students who leave early without a valid reason. No exceptions!
Classroom conduct: Disruptive behavior has a negative influence on everyone’s
learning. As everyone taking this class has a right to learn in peace and quite, disruptive
behavior in any form will not be tolerated and will be penalized. Disciplinary action may be
taken against disruptive students in accordance with university regulations. Disruptive
behavior includes, but is not limited to:
Using cell phones: Cell phone policy prohibits making and receiving calls, sending
messages, and using the phone in any way. Do not leave your phone on your desk during the
class.
Leaving classes early: Do not leave in the middle of the lectures unless you absolutely
must.
Engaging in personal conversations: This type of behavior is extremely
unprofessional. Talking about class related issues does not make the offense any less serious.
Talking in any form will not be tolerated.
Make-up exams: You can take make-up exams only if you have documented medical
emergencies. There will be one make-up for each exam and all make-ups will be in essay
format.
Extra credit: No other extra credit opportunities will be granted to any student for any
reason.
Academic dishonesty: Official university regulations describe academic dishonesty and
sanctions against it as follows: “Academic dishonesty in the form of cheating, plagiarism, or
collusion are serious offenses and are not tolerated at Koç University. University Academic
Regulations and the Regulations for Student Disciplinary Matters clearly define the policy
and the disciplinary action to be taken in case of academic dishonesty. Failure in academic
integrity may lead to suspension and expulsion from the University. Cheating includes, but is
not limited to, copying from a classmate or providing answers or information, either written
or oral, to others. Plagiarism is borrowing or using someone else’s writing or ideas without
giving written acknowledgment to the author. This includes copying from a fellow student’s
paper or from a text (whether printed or electronic) without properly citing the source.
Collusion is getting unauthorized help from another person or having someone else write a
paper or assignment”.
Email Etiquette: Please feel free to email me (or stop by in my office) when you need
help with course requirements. However, follow a few basic rules in order to ensure better
communication. First of all, make sure you identify yourself in your email (including your
name at the end and a descriptive subject line), and explain the problem clearly. Do not
assume I will automatically remember a previous discussion between you and me. Use
standard Turkish or English, since members of the older generation have difficulty following
msn language. Give me at least one business day to respond to your email. Finally, before
sending your email, read it once more and ask yourself if your question has been answered
anywhere else (especially in the syllabus).
Disability statement: If you have a disability that you think might interfere with your
performance in this course, please talk to your instructor as soon as possible for proper
accommodation.
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CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNED READINGS
Week 1
Sep. 18 Introduction
Sep. 20 The Sociological Imagination: Chapter 1
Week 2
Sep. 25 Community Service: An Introduction
Sep. 27 Sociological Theory: Chapter 2
Week 3
Oct. 2 Sociological Methods: Chapter 3
Oct. 4 Societies: Chapter 4
(First journal due in class)
Week 4
Oct. 9 Societies: Chapter 4
Oct. 11 No class
Week 5
Oct. 16 Culture: Chapter 5
Oct. 18 Groups and Organizations: Chapter 6
Week 6
Oct. 23 Groups and Organizations: Chapter 6
Oct. 25 Groups and Organizations: Chapter 6
Week of the Midterm
Week 7
Oct. 30 Micro-sociology: Chapter 7
Nov. 1 Micro-sociology: Chapter 7
Week 8
Nov. 6 Stratification: Chapter 8
Nov. 8 Stratification: Chapter 8
Week 9
Nov. 13 Stratification: Chapter 8
Nov. 15 Race and Ethnicity: Chapter 11
Week 10
Nov. 20 Migration: Chapter 11
Nov. 22 Gender: Chapter 12
Week 11
Nov. 27 Gender: Chapter 12
Nov. 29 Gender: Chapter 12
Week 12
Dec. 4 The Family (no assigned readings)
Dec. 6 Crime and Deviance: Chapter 16
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Week 13
Dec. 11 Crime and Deviance: Chapter 16
Dec. 13 Crime and Deviance: Chapter 16
Week 14
Dec. 18 Age Stratification: Chapter 13
Dec. 20 No class
Week 15
Dec. 25 Age Stratification: Chapter 13
Dec. 27 Sociology in the Twenty-First Century: Chapter 25
(Final journal entry due in class)
Finals Week: Jan 3-15 2008
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SOCI 103: Introduction to Sociology-Community Service
Fall 2007
Koç University, Department of Sociology
JOURNAL GUIDELINES
You will write four journal entries for this course. Each of your journal entries should have a
combination of three components: descriptive, reflective, and analytical.
1) Descriptive: What happened? (Describe your activities in the organization in detail).
2) Reflective: How did you feel? (Think about your position and activities; explain
your state of mind, good or bad experiences, problems or prospects).
3) Analytical: Use your sociological imagination. What did you learn during your
volunteer activities, sociologically speaking? (How do you relate the theories and concepts we
learned in the course to your experiences at the organization?)
Each time you get involved in your community project, you will fill out a log which
lists the activities for that particular day and indicates the amount of time spent. The most
current log (including all past activities) must be attached to your journal entry (except for the
first journal).
First Journal Entry (Due on October 4 in class)
Before beginning your service learning activities, you will write your first journal entry
discussing your expectations. Some issues to address are: What do you expect to do in the
specific organization you chose/will choose? Why you chose/will choose this particular
volunteering organization or project? What do you expect to get out of the experience
(mention issues beyond “helping others”, such as skills and benefits you are hoping to get out
of the experience)? In what ways do you think the people with whom you will interact will be
similar to or different from you? How will you know you have accomplished your goals at the
end of the semester? What are your concerns and worries about participating in service
learning activities?
Second and Third Entries
These entries do not have specific due dates for all students. You may turn in these two
entries whenever you wish throughout the semester as long as you follow the following rules:
a) all three journal entries are to be turned in after the first and before the last journal entry, b)
you complete at least 7 hours of volunteer work between entries, c) At least one week elapses
between each entry.
In your second entry, you may spend more time describing the organization and your
role in the organization as a volunteer: What are the key roles in the organization? How are
staff and volunteers recruited? How is it funded? What the problems and opportunities they
face? What is the impact of the organization/project on the community? On the clients? On
the volunteers?
For the third entry, reflective and analytical components should cover most of the
entry, but your activities will still provide a background for your reflection and analysis. In
reflective parts, discuss how you responded to various situations, issues, and problems. This
may include your emotional responses, thoughts on larger issues (morality, equality, etc.).
Other questions to address may be: What impact is your volunteer work having on you? What
are you learning about yourself and your position in society? In the analytical part, try to
explain the motives and perceptions of other people. How do they see the world? What are the
social forces influencing their lives? What sociological themes and concepts would apply to
their lives? What are the concepts or theories that appear inapplicable?
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Description, reflection, and analysis do not need to be kept in separate sections. You
can write one coherent entry that addresses all the issues.
Final Journal Entry (Due on December 27 in class)
At the end of the semester, you will look back upon your service learning experience and
think about the impact it had on you. If you openly discuss your concerns, feelings, and
reflections in other entries throughout the semester, this journal will be easier and more
productive. You need to address the following issues: How did you contribute to the volunteer
activities at the site? To what extent were you able to accomplish the goals you set in the
beginning? What did you learn about the people you served? Did you develop a model for
yourself in terms of how you can participate in public life and community affairs in the
future? What were the effects of volunteer work in terms of your ability to empathize with the
lives and needs of the less privileged? Do you have a better understanding of your position in
society? Do you believe you are better equipped to understand and communicate with people
coming from different backgrounds because of your volunteer work? Will you continue doing
volunteer work in the future? Why or why not? What sociological concepts or theories apply
to your volunteering experience? How would you rate your overall experience? How could it
have been improved?
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SOCI103: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY-COMMUNITY SERVICE
ACTIVITY LOG
Organization and/or project name:
Name and phone number of contact person at the organization:
Date and duration
Description of activities
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Problems, concerns?
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