SOC 102.02 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (LAW)
Spring 2013 / Istanbul Kemerburgaz University
Asst.Prof.Dr. Banu Kavaklı Birdal
banu.kavakli@kemerburgaz.edu.tr
Lecture: Thu 08:40-10:30, Fri 12:40-13:30 (M. Altınbaş)
Office hours: Tue 13:30-15:00 (A506)
Course Description:
This course aims to provide a broad overview of sociology and how it applies to everyday
life. It is intended to help you understand how social definitions are developed and applied, as
well as learn what these mean for our everyday lives. Major theoretical perspectives and
concepts are presented, such as sociological imagination, culture, deviance, inequality, social
change, and social structure. We will also explore the influence of social class and social
institutions such as economy, law, government, education, healthcare and environment.
Course Objectives:
 To develop “sociological imagination”. You will figure out what it means to do
sociology.
 To develop an understanding of human behavior from a sociological perspective.
 To develop critical thinking; forming arguments based on empirical evidence rather
than relying on commonsense notions.
Grading and Evaluation:
Exams will draw on readings, videos, lectures and class discussions. You are expected to
attend the lectures and participate in class discussions. Readings are introductory material that
we will expand on during lectures. Therefore, come to class having read the assigned material.
Assignments: You will turn in 2 commentaries. One of these will be about an essay which
connects what you have learned in class with the world outside the classroom. The other one
will be a commentary about one of the videos we will see and discuss in the classroom.
Assignments must be typed (1-2 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman) and turned
in to me in the classroom.
Participation
Midterm Exam
Assignments
Final Exam
10%
40%
10%
40%
Total
100%
Course Materials*:
Required textbook: Giddens, Anthony. 2009. Sociology. 6th edition. Polity Press.
* Additional course materials may be provided throughout the semester.
Weekly Course Plan
Week 1


Session 1 (21 February): Syllabus and course discussion.
Session 2 (22 February): The Sociological Imagination (Chapter 1)
Week 2


Session 1 (28 February): Globalization and the Changing World (Chapter 4)
Session 2 (1 March): Globalization
Week 3


Session 1 (7 March): Social Change
Session 2 (8 March): Migration (Chapter 15)
Week 4
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Session 1 (14 March): Poverty, Social Exclusion and Welfare (Chapter 12)
Session 2 (15 March): Poverty
Week 5

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Session 1 (21 March): Social Exclusion
Session 2 (22 March): The Welfare State
Week 6
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Session 1 (28 March): Global Inequality (Chapter 13)
Session 2 (29 March): Global Economic Inequality
Week 7

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Session 1 (4 April): Theories of Development
Session 1 (5 April): Population and Inequality
FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE!
Week 8


Session 1 (11 April): MIDTERM EXAM
Session 2 (12 April): Work and Economic Life (Chapter 20)
Week 9


Session 1 (18 April): Work and Economic Life
Session 2 (19 April): Gender, Race and Work
Week 10


Session 1 (25 April): Crime and Deviance (Chapter 21)
Session 2 (26 April): Theories of Crime and Deviance
Week 11

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Session 1 (2 May): Abnormality
Session 2 (3 May): Social Order
Week 12
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Session 1 (7 May): Sexuality and Gender (Chapter 14)
Session 2 (10 May): Gender and Sex
SECOND ASSIGNMENT DUE!
Week 13


Session 1 (16 May): Theories of Gender Inequality
Session 2 (17 May): Race and Ethnicity (Chapter 15)
Week 14


Session 1 (23 May): Racism
Session 2 (24 May): Final Review