Syllabus –Introduction to Sociology, Section 5740 – Spring 2010
Instructor: Toi Carter
Time and Location: 9:30-10:45sm Tuesdays and Thursdays
Email: toijeancarter@gmail.com
Office Hours: Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm (will be extended during different points in semester)
Course Website: sociology101.wordpress.com
Introduction:
In this class we are going to be engaging in sociological analysis to help us understand the social
world around us. Specifically, the Course Objectives, as defined by the Social Sciences
Department at Dillard are:
1. assist students in developing the sociological imagination in order to analyze the world in
which they live
2. introduce students to the major sociological perspectives that are used by sociologists to
explain human social behavior
3. introduce students to some of the major social issues that, in some instances, bind, and in other
instances, separate people into social groups
4. give students a better understanding of their social world, how they fit into this world and
provide them with social perspectives for negotiating the demands of their social relationships
5. prepare students for the more advanced courses in sociology by introducing them to the major
theories and concepts of sociology
In plain language this means we are going to:
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learn about social structure (#5)
locate our personal experiences and histories within a larger social structure (#4)
use our experiences (as women or men, as straight, bi,or gay, as white, black, yellow, or
brown) to guide our understanding of social structure (#1, #3, #4)
think outside the box (#1)
talk about concepts and ideas that will forever change the way you see the world around
you (#1 through #5)
work with classmates (not on the list, but very important!)
To help us analyze, we will do a lot of Talking, Writing, and Reading:
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Reading: If you don’t read, you won’t know what we are talking about each day in class.
If you don’t know what we are talking about, it will be hard for you to participate. If you
don’t participate, you will get bored. So, read! Also, if you do not keep up with the
readings, it will affect your grade. Here is info on the required reading:
o Text Book: Sociology In Our Times by Diana Kendall. Copies are available in
the campus bookstore. You can also buy an e-copy at the following link:
o Readings: The readings are available on the course website:
sociology101.wordpress.com. You can click on “Syllabus” and each reading is
listed (as it is listed in the schedule below), and you are able to click on the
reading and it will open in a as a pdf. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to
download the readings (it is free). All school computers have Adobe Reader.
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Writing: We write a lot in this class. We are going to figure out ways to help you get all
of those ideas out of your head and onto paper. We will review different tools to help
you learn how to do this. Important: All written assignments (journals, midterms, and
finals) are turned in using SafeAssign on Blackboard.
o Journals: 6 of these will be due throughout the semester. They are graded as
pass/fail (0=did not turn in; 50=turned in, but failed; 100=turned in and passed).
o Midterm and Final Take Home Tests: These are group work and will be graded
on a scale of 0-100. Important: For the midterm, you and your group are
required to consult with the writing center on campus for feedback. For the final,
you are required to consult with both the writing center and myself (by scheduled
appointment). Consultations with the Writing Center must occur 2 weeks before
the due date to receive credit. Rough drafts for both the midterm and final are
required and must be emailed to me no later than 1 week prior to due date.
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Talking: An integral part of this course is going to be group and class discussions. This
allows you to hear a diversity of opinions and a classmate might be able to help you
understand a concept that was not clicking otherwise. Everyone is expected to
participate; everyone is expected to demonstrate respect for his or her classmates.
Grades:
2 Take Home Essay Questions Test– 40% (20% Each)
6 Journals – 20%*
Pop Reading Quizzes– 20%**
Participation grade – 10%
- Attendance of all mandatory sessions with writing center and myself
- Group work evauation
- Timely submission of rough drafts
- Participation in Library Research Orientation
Attendance***– 10%
*Your lowest journal grade can be replaced with extra credit.
**Your lowest quiz score can be replaced with extra credit.
**Every student is allowed 3 absences without his/her grade being affected. For every 2 times you are late,
you will be counted absent. If you have perfect attendance (attend every day of class, and are never late),
you will receive 2 extra points on your final score for the class. This is the attendance policy for the course.
All attendance protocols set by the University will be strictly adhered to. These can be found in the
university handbook.
Policy on Late/Missed Assignments:
Late assignments are not accepted, unless a student makes arrangements prior to the due date. If
you miss class on the day an assignment is due, and you have not made arrangements with
myself, you will receive a “0” for that assignment. Pop quizzes cannot be made up. This is true
for excused or unexcused absences.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Dillard University assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons in the admission
to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities of the university. The university
is committed to the policy of compliance with federal laws and regulations concerning non-
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discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, marital status,
sexual preference, or veteran’s status.
Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Policy
The following disaster plan statement must be bolded and included at the bottom of the first page:
“In the event of disaster, the Dillard University Preparedness Plan will take priority over the
timeline in this syllabus. The summary of key points for the plan is available on the University
website and by printed literature.”
Students with Special Needs:
Dillard University is committed to equal opportunity for students with disabilities in accordance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have a disability and believe you would
benefit from reasonable accommodations, you may wish to identify yourself to me. You can
arrange services through The Office of Academic Affairs during their office hours; they will
respond to any requests for reasonable and appropriate accommodations made in a timely and
effective manner.
Some Class Rules:
1. Respect your fellow classmates; Respect me; Respect the people who are volunteering
their time to work with us; Respect yourself, your ideas, and your experiences.
2. When in the classroom, Focus discussion on what we are learning about. Turn off cell
phones/pagers. Take them off of your desk. Do not make me ask you to do this during
class.
3. Be Honest when completing assignments. Do not cheat; do not plagiarize. If you are
that desperate, you are not giving yourself enough time to complete assignments, you are
not communicating with your classmates, and you are not communicating with me.
4. Communicate with me if you are having issues with work, family, etc that make it
difficult for you to complete assignments. Email me, come to office hours, talk after or
before class.
Extra Credit:
Various extra credit events will be offered throughout the semester. I base the extra credit
awarded on the amount of hours spent at each event. 2 hours = Replace lowest quiz score with
100. 6 hours = Replace lowest journal grade with 100. Maximum amount of extra credit for the
semester is 8 hours. Events are posted on our class website and/or announced in class.
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Weekly Schedule / Readings:
All readings/multimedia assignments are required. If they are listed under Week 2, that means
you need to have read them by Tuesday of Week 2. The readings that are denoted with “ ”, are
the extra readings that you can get on our class website, by clicking on “Syllabus” and then
clicking on the reading. They are not available in our textbook.
This schedule may change during the semester. In the event it does, I will post all changes to our
course website and announce the changes in class.
Intro to the field
Week 1 (1/14 & 1/16): Introducing ourselves and the class material
 Text: Chapter 1 (pages 4-7)
 Reading: “La Guera” by Cherrie Moraga
Week 2 (1/21 & 1/23): Theory and Methods
 Text: Chapter 1 (8-28) and Chapter 2
 Reading: “Communication as a Group” by Jack C. Straton
 Due: Journal #1
 In Class Group Work: Midterm Groups
Micro and Meso Perspectives on Culture, Socialization, and Identity
Week 3 (1/27 & 1/30): Culture
 Text: Chapter 3
 Reading: “How Sexual Harassment Slaughtered then Saved Me”
 Reading: “The Last Stop on the White Flight Express”
Week 4 (2/4 & 2/6): Socialization
 Text: Chapter 4 & Chapter 11 (pages 328-334)
 Reading: “Because You’re a Girl”
 Reading: “Straight Guys Can Dance Too”
 Due: Journal #2
Week 5 (2/11 & 2/13): The Self and Social Groups
 Text: Chapter 5 (pages 118-128 & 139-145) & Chapter 6 (pages 152-164)
 Reading: “Identities and Social Locations”
 Reading: “My Secret Life as a Black Man”
 2/14: Last day to receive writing center feedback
 Due (2/14 by midnight): Midterm Rough Draft
Week 6 (2/18 & 2/20): Catch up and Work Week
 Text: TBA
 Reading: TBA
 Due: Journal #3
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In Class Group Work
Meso Level of Social Arrangement - Social Groups and Organizations
Week 7 (2/25 & 2/27): Social Structure
 Text: Chapter 5 (129-139) and Chapter 6
 Due 2/25: Midterm – online before class starts
 Due: Midterm Photo Essay – beginning of class
Mardi Gras and Spring Break! Have a safe and happy week off!
Macro Level of Social Arrangement - Social Stratification and Inequality
Week 8 (3/11 & 3/13): Thinking Globally
 Text: Chapter 9
 Reading: “Living in a Global Economy”
 Multimedia assignment: TBA
 Due: Journal #4
Week 9 (3/18 & 3/20): Social Stratification & Class Inequality in the US
 Text: Chapter 8
 Reading: TBA
 Due: Final Project Topics and Groups
 In Class Group Work: Research Orientation
Week 10 (3/25 & 3/27): Class Inequality (continued) & Race & Ethnicity
 Text: Chapter 10
 Reading: TBA
 Due: Journal #5
Week 11 (4/1 & 4/3): Race and Ethnicity (continued)
 Reading: TBA
 Multimedia Assignment: TBA
Week 12 (4/8 & 4/10): Gender and Sexuality
 Text: Chapter 11
 Reading: TBA
 Multimedia Assignment: TBA
 Due: Journal #6
Social Institutions and Social Control
Week 13 (4/15 & 4/17): Family
 Text: Chapter 15
 Reading: ““Love Clinic” by Soyon Im excerpt from Colonize This!
 4/17 No Class Easter Recess
 Due (4/16): Final Rough Draft
Week 14 (4/22 & 4/24): Deviance
 Text: Chapter 7
 Reading: “Behind These Walls” from Women’s Lives: Multicultural
Perspectives
 In Class Group Work: Final Group Work
Week 15 (4/29 & 4/31): Education and Religion
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Text: Chapters 16 & 17
Due (5/1 by midnight): Final Paper
Week 16 (5/6 & 5/8): Final Exam Week
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