Introduction to Sociology
SO 1100
Tuesday and Thursday
Summer ‘11
1pm-4pm
INSTRUCTOR:
G.L. MAZARD WALLACE, PHD
OFFICE: Thompson 108D
PHONE: X 3038
Email:
gmazardw@fitchburgstate.edu
Sociologists study society and social interaction. Their work assumes that
social forces external to individuals shape behavior.
Sociological inquiry aims to identify, understand, and explain what these
specific forces are and how they shape behavior within social groups. Using
information generated from this endeavor, sociologists hope to influence
human behavior through the generation of applicable theory via activism,
popular opinion and/or sound public policy.
This course will introduce you to this discipline by examining its history,
the work of its early and contemporary contributors, essential concepts,
research methods, theory and applications.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. To understand essential terminology, theory and methods central to this
discipline.
2. To understand how culture, socialization and social structure impact
human behavior.
3. To understand how to apply the sociological perspective to a study of
social class, deviance, race, and gender.
4. To understand how sociologists examine some primary institutions of any
society (ie: religion, economy, political structures, family and the
workforce).
Course Requirements
I. Attendance/Participation- Students are expected to attend all class
sessions. Missing 3 or more class sessions will result in the loss of a letter
grade (subsequent absences will require an additional loss of grade). If you
maintain perfect attendance over the course of the semester, you will be given
the option of adding an additional 20pts to your lowest quiz score. Everyone
is expected to have read the course readings before coming to class. Do not
come to class without being prepared, as it will reflect negatively on your
final grade. You will never be required to know everything. You are
however, expected to be willing to engage everything; this means that
speaking in class is a part of your grade. During the course of the semester, you
will be asked to produce very short commentaries that are designed to assist you
in understanding course material. These short papers will contribute to your
attendance/participation grade. 200 points
II. Quizzes: Students will be given 5 Quizzes (2 take-home quizzes) over
the course of the semester that will cover material from readings and lecture.
Quizzes will consist of multiple choice/true-false or essay questions (at least 1
take home quiz will serve as a research paper examining an idea, concept or
case study from the class-this will constitute the “final” for the course). The
lowest multiple-choice quiz score (provided all
5 quizzes are taken) will be dropped (80% of final grade). 800 points
III. Papers: All submitted papers must be typed (1.5-2.0 spacing) and
contain a bibliography of works cited.
Course Texts:
1. The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology (Second Edition) by Kerry Ferris
and Jill Stein
2. Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World
by Greg Critser
3. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
ADDITIONAL NOTES
1. EMAILING: EVERY EMAIL IS VIEWED AS AN AGREEMENT
TO MEET WITH ME DURING OFFICE HOURS. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, COMMENTARY OR SUGGESTIONS THAT
WARRANT AN EMAIL, YOU MUST COME AND SPEAK TO ME IN
PERSON. WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE? SOME STUDENTS USE
EMAIL TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS. I
WANT TO SEE YOU AND TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS YOUR
QUESTIONS IN-PERSON AND IN-DEPTH. I FEEL SO STRONGLY
ABOUT THIS THAT I COUNT OFFICE VISITS AS EXTRA CREDITSUPPLEMENTING YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.
2. MAKE-UP QUIZZES: THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP
QUIZZES.
3. COMPUTER USAGE/TEXTING: IF YOU ARE USING YOUR
COMPUTER OR PHONE FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS NOT
DIRECTLY RELATED TO COURSE WORK (IF YOU ARE SURFING
THE NET OR SENDING TEXT MESSAGES), YOU WILL FORFEIT
YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.
4. CHANGES TO SYLLABUS: YOUR SYLLABUS IS A GUIDE AND IS
NOT “ETCHED IN STONE”. THERE MAY BE TIMES IN WHICH IT
MAY BE NECESSARY TO ADJUST OUR SCHEDULE BASED ON A
VARIETY OF FACTORS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ALTERATION
WILL BE NOTED VERBALLY IN CLASS AND INCLUDED IN THE
ONLINE VERSION OF OUR SYLLABUS.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE STUDENT WITH A DOCUMENTED
DISABILITY, SPEAK TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR REGARDING ANY
ACCOMODATIONS THAT CAN BE MADE.
The grade distribution for individual assignments is as follows:
A [ 95-100 ]
B- [80 – 82 ]
A- [ 92-94 ]
B-/C+ [77 – 79 ]
A-/ B+ [ 89-91 ]
C+ [ 74-76 ]
B+ [ 86-88 ]
C [ 71-73 ]
B [ 83-85 ]
C- [69 – 70 ]
C-/D+ [67 – 68]
D [60 – 63 ]
D+ [ 64-66 ]
F [ 0-59 ]
TOTAL POINTS FOR THE COURSE: 1000
Rough equivalent between total points and letter grades is as
follows:
A=1000-900 POINTS
B =899-800 POINTS
C=799-700
D=699-600
F=599-0
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
The headings that begin in Week 2 correspond to the chapters in the
course text. You are expected to have done the readings for each week
prior to the beginning of the first class of the week (ex. “Part I:
Thinking Sociologically and Doing Sociolgy” in your text can be
found on pages 7-84). You will have completed the reading for the
course by the time you come to class on Tuesday. You should have
notes and questions relating to the readings.
Week 1
June 30
Introductions, Review of Syllabus
Thursday: Introductions & Review of Syllabus;
Research Exercise
Week 2
July 5, 7
Pt I: Thinking Sociologically and Doing
Sociology
Tuesday:
Lecture-History of Sociology; Research Methods in
Sociology; Discussion of readings
LIBRARY VISIT (2:30-3:30)
__________
Thursday:
Quiz 1
Lecture-Culture, Socialization, Interaction, Groups and
Organizations; Video-Trekkies
GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PAPER QUIZ
Week 3
July 12, 14
Pt II: Framing Social Life
Tuesday:
Lecture- Culture, Socialization, Interaction, Groups and
Organizations
__________
Thursday:
Quiz 2
Lecture- Deviance, Race, Class and Gender;
Video: Murderball
Week 4
July 19, 21
Part III Understanding Deviance and Inequality
Tuesday :
Lecture- Deviance, Race, Class and Gender
_______
Thursday:
Quiz 3
Lecture- Economics, Politics, Education, Religion;
Video-The Credit Card Game
Week 5
July 26, 28
Part IV: Examining Social Institutions as Sites
of Everyday Life
Tuesday:
Lecture- Economics, Politics, Education, Religion;
Thursday:
(Review Drafts of Research Paper –Quiz 4)
Lecture- Economics, Politics, Education, Religion;
Week 6
Aug. 2, 4
Part V Creating Social Change and
Envisioning the Future
Tuesday:
Lecture-How the World Works; Video-No Logo
______
Thursday:
QUIZ 5
Turn in Research Paper –Quiz 4
Academic Integrity Policy
Excerpted from the FSC Online Catalog (http://www.fsc.edu/catalog/Policies/)
“Every member of the College community is expected to maintain the highest
standards of academic integrity. A student shall not submit work that is
falsified or is not the result of the student's own effort. A student who is in
doubt regarding standards of academic integrity in a course or assignment
should consult the faculty member responsible for that course or assignment
before submitting the work. A student's lack of understanding of the academic
integrity policy is not a valid defense to a charge of academic dishonesty.
A student's name on any written or creative exercise (e.g., examination, report,
thesis, theme, laboratory report, computer program, artistic production, etc.), or
in association with an oral presentation, declares that the work is the result of
that student's own thought and study. Any work that the student declares as
his or her own shall be stated in the student's own words and produced
without the assistance of others. Students must make clear through accurate
citations when they make use of other sources. Talking during an examination,
or possession or use of unauthorized materials or equipment during an
examination constitutes an infringement of the academic integrity policy.
Aiding and abetting academic dishonesty also constitutes a violation of the
academic integrity policy.
Unless permission is received in advance from the faculty member in charge of
the course involved, a student may not submit, in identical or similar form,
work for one course that has been used to fulfill any academic requirement in
another course at Fitchburg State College or any other institution. A student
who perceives the possibility of overlapping assignments in courses should
consult with the appropriate faculty members before presuming that a single
effort will fulfill requirements of both courses. Students should consult course
syllabi for additional guidance on matters of academic integrity.”