“INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY”
SOCIOLOGY 1 (3 units)
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Fall 2009 ( |
Section
Number: 0649 |
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Professor:
Mitra Hoshiar |
Phone: |
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Email:
1st Choice: mhoshiar@yahoo.com 2nd Choice: hoshiam@piercecollege.edu Even though I check both accounts regularly, I prefer to
communicate via my yahoo account |
TTh 8:00 a.m. to
9:25 a.m. (This class meets at BEH 1311) |
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Office Hours: M-W 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 2701 and anytime by appointment |
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YOU NEED TO READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE DECIDING TO TAKE THE
COURSE
ONCE YOU
EMAIL
·
In the subject line of
e-mail, please write your “Full Name” and “Course Section Number”
I
will not respond to emails without your
“Full Name” and
“Course Section Number”
—
Be
sure to take the time to look through the syllabus before contacting me as
your question is probably answered there.
·
Please allow me at least one
working day (working days are Monday, 8:00 a.m. thru Friday 5:00 p.m.) to
respond to emails.
·
Please use a reliable
email account; otherwise, I won’t be able
to communicate with you.
·
PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ME ANY
ASSIGNMENT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES unless there
is a prior
arrangement before assignment’s due date.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This
course provides students with an overview of the field of sociology. The major
methods, theories and findings of the field are examined as they relate to
culture, socialization, social interaction, social groups, deviance, social
control, social institutions, social movements, and current issues. It will
help students to better analyze society and everyday events through the
sociological perspectives, to increase their social knowledge, and to develop
critical thinking skills.
COURSE GOALS
The general goal of this course is
to introduce students to the discipline of sociology.
• This course will help students
develop a sociological awareness by examining how human behavior influences,
and is influenced by, groups, institutions, and social structures. To achieve
this goal, students will observe and evaluate the behavior and interactions,
including the ways in which groups socialize their members, of individuals in a
variety of groups at their research site and in their community.
• This course will present an
understanding of deviance in society. Students will observe deviance in their
field research site and their community and critically evaluate the deviant act
in terms of concepts discussed in class and the text. In addition, students
will analyze the use of power and authority at their site and in their
community. Students will be exposed to inequalities in society based on social
class, race/ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and others. Students will
observe inequality at their research site and analyze how concepts of
inequality relate to their observations. This class will also expose students
to a variety of social institutions. Students will investigate one of four
institutions and then teach the class what they have learned about that
institution. Our aging society and collective behavior and social movements
will be explored and students will identify different types of group movements and
examine their success.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Students will be
able to explain and analyze the main theoretical and research perspectives in
sociology and
apply
them to an array of social issues.
2. Students will
develop an appreciation for what C. Wright Mills called the Sociological
Imagination; that is the
ability to situate his or her life in a social
context and to understand the impact of social forces on the
individual.
3. Students will
embody the qualities of an open-minded but critical thinker in the examination
of sociological
topics and problems, systems, and thinkers.
REQUIRED TEXT
Introduction to
Sociology, Henry L.Tischler.
Wadsworth Publishing Company. Copyright 2007 (9th edition). ISBN-10: 0495093343 ISBN-13: 9780495093343
For
chapter resources (Crossword Puzzle, Essay Questions, Flashcards, Key Terms, Learning
Objectives, Lecture Presentation, New Edition Tutorial Quizzes, Self Assessments, Tutorial Quiz,
InfoTrac College Edition/Research, Web
Links, and Glossary), you can go to the publishing company website at http://academic.cengage.com/
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Text book, handouts, and lecture notes are what you need to know
for your exams
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For ebook and echapters,
please refer to www.ichapters.com
ATTENDANCE/ PARTICIPATION
All students should be familiar with the Attendance
Regulations printed in both the College Catalog and the Schedule of Classes. To ensure attendance, I will take attendance randomly
during the class. AFTER RECORDING ATTENDANCE,
I WILL NOT CHANGE IT. Students who
miss an assignment due to an absence will not be allowed to take a make up.
Twenty five percent of your final grade will be based on attendance,
preparation, and participation. Simply showing up to class will not suffice.
Students must be prepared to discuss the material and participate in class
discussions in a thoughtful manner.
Ø
Students
are expected to attend
classes, be on time, be prepared and not disrupt class by leaving in
the middle of presentations.
Ø
Class
exercises, presentations, and discussions will be of primary importance for the
course.
Ø
Each
class member is responsible for obtaining missed materials, notes, handouts
etc., from others in the class.
Ø
Absences, tardiness, or left early for each class period will result
in one point deduction of your final
course grade (no exceptions).
Ø If you have more then four Absences
or tardiness you have missed a significant amount of material and experiences
and should likely drop this class.
Ø Medical appointments, work, job
interviews, childcare responsibilities, etc. should be arranged so as not to
occur during class time. Please do not make requests for exceptions.
Ø Any student who has unexcused
absences equaling one week’s worth of class time prior to census date may be
excluded.
Ø Students may drop the class in the
Admissions and Records Office, on-line, or by phone
Ø Students should never rely on the
instructor to exclude them. Do not call the college offices to report absences;
you may call my office extension.
Ø If you are willing to share your
thoughts with class, you need to raise
your hand before talking.
Ø Please understand that people have
different perceptions about different issues and you are expected during the
class discussions, as a college student, to respect different opinions.
Please remember that 25%
of your grade has been assigned ONLY
to Attendance/Participation
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENTS
To receive credit for this course, you are required to
complete: Three Written Assignments (1 page each), Two Tests (multiple
choices), one Written/Oral Research Paper (5-8 pages per student/10-15 minutes
per presentation) as well as your Attendance/Participation.
Final grades will be assigned accordingly:
A=90-100 points
B=80-89 points C=70-79
points D=60-69 points F=59-0 points
STUDENS
Midterm and Final (40%) Tests are not accumulative
One
Oral/Written Research Paper (20%)
Attendance/Participation
(25%)
3
Assignments (15%)
v No Extra Credit Is
Available In This Course
v Neither Email Nor Drop
Assignments/Research Paper At My Mail Box. You Will Not Get Any Credit.
v No Make-Ups Are Given
for any of Assignments, Exams, and/or Research Paper
v No Study Guide For
Exams
v Attendance/Participation
Means Attending The Class As Well As Participating In Class Discussions In A
Professional Manner
RESEARCH PAPER
Your research paper should include sociological theories,
terms, and concepts learned during the term. You have
one semester to work on research
paper, so please manage to meet the deadline.
Ø Your paper must be submitted at Moodle.
Ø It should be 5 written pages (cover
page and reference page are not included), documented, double spaced,
organized, font 12, including page numbers, 1 inch margin all way around, Times
New Roman
Ø Must include footnotes or endnotes
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
Sample
Ø For each student, there is a 10-15
minutes presentation at the end of the semester. Missing presentation will
result 5 points deduction from your
total project’s grade.
ASSIGNMENTS
You have one
week to work on each assignment, so please manage to meet the deadline. All papers must be submitted at Moodle.
o Videos: Your job is to review the sociological content of
documentary films. Your primary focus will be to approach the video with a
sociological mind and to analyze it with a critical eye. Whether you liked or
disliked the film, focus not on your feelings but rather on the social aspects
of it. You need to submit one page essay (double spaced, organized, font 12, 1 inch margin all way
around, Times New Roman).
o Here are some questions
to think about while preparing to write your essay. In what ways did the film
challenge you? Were there specific themes or ideas the film was trying to
present? What social messages did he or she use to convey these ideas? In what
ways this movie has changed your perceptions on society? The answers to these
questions don’t necessarily have to appear explicitly in your essay. You don’t
need to be an “art critic” to complete this assignment successfully. Write up
your observations in your own words, in such a way that even a person who has
not seen the same film can visualize or imagine what you noticed.
GETTING STARTED WITH MOODLE (where you submit Assignments
and Research Paper)
Activate
your Account and Login:
1) Go to
http://moodle.piercecollege.edu
2) Click on
Soc.1-Online
Introduction to Sociology–Hoshiar M-Fall 09-Section# 0649
(Chose the link with the appropriate semester, year, and
section number)
3) Follow
the instructions under “Is this your first time here?”
4)
Enrollment Key: 0649
Here is an
additional web page that may help you: http://online.piercecollege.edu
Please note that
completing the tutorial does not mean you have logged in to our virtual
classroom. The tutorial will explain “how” to login to our class website.
TECHNOLOGY
I
am not responsible for your computer and/or internet malfunctions. I strongly suggest
you complete your work early in case of technical malfunctions.
Technology requirements for the
course are basic. You must have an email address, regular access to the
Internet, a web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator), and a
word-processing program such as Microsoft Word. As a minimum, 56Kbps modem is
recommended.
You should possess basic computer literacy and comfort in using the Internet.
Additionally, you should be able to compose documents using a word processing
program, copy and paste text, use a web browser, use email, and send and open
documents as attachments.
GENERAL
GRADING GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
An A paper demonstrates critical thinking and application of critical thinking to
the subject. Concepts/terms are defined properly. All illustrative examples are
appropriate. The paper is well conceived and executed, demonstrating proper use
of written English.
A B paper presents content clearly and displays a firm grasp of the material. It
demonstrates some critical thinking. All of the concepts/terms are defined. It
may contain some minor grammatical errors. The paper is well organized. Most of
the examples are appropriate.
A C paper displays a reasonable understanding of the material. Treatment of the
topic is general and lacks detail. Concepts are defined and not linked to
examples. It may contain a few major and or minor grammatical errors.
A D paper demonstrates lack of clear understanding of the topic and a weak grasp
of the material. Concepts are not defined, or defined incorrectly, or not
linked to illustrative examples, or no concepts are given and the paper is
merely a description. Reads poorly and contains major and minor grammatical
errors.
INCOMPLETES
Do NOT ask me to give you an
incomplete when you don’t fit the criteria. You must fit all three of the following:
1. A major unforeseen circumstance
that can be legally documented
2. Passing work up until the time of
the circumstance
3. Only missing a minority of the
course work.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
If you are a student with special needs, please let me know
during the first week of the course. Your request will be met with cooperation
and confidentiality. The office of Disabled Students Programs is located in the
Administration Building, Room 1024 (818-719-6430).
TEACHING
PHILOSOPHY
"Teachers open the door, but
you must enter by yourself."
---Chinese proverb
Each student who earns an A will
receive one; Extra effort is necessary to maintain an A. All students will be
treated equally, fairly, and given the same opportunities. All grades will be calculated in the same
way, regardless of extenuating circumstances or any reason not related to your
actual performance in the course. However much I may sympathize with your
personal circumstances, I never consider them to be a basis for grade
assignments.
STUDENT MISCONDUCT
Student misconduct (e.g. class disruptions for excessive
talking, cheating, plagiarism, use of profanity, verbal and non-verbal
disruptions, private conversations or displays of affection, uncooperativeness,
physical threats/violence) is neither tolerated nor accepted by this instructor
or campus.
Ø In this class, we’ll treat each
other with respect at all times, and such respect includes honesty, integrity,
prompt arrival, class participation, full preparation, and cooperation with
each other.
Ø As a result of excessive talking,
not only you will be excluded from class also your attendance/participation
grade will become affected; NO EXCEPTIONS
Ø When in class, you must turn off
cell phones, ipods, and any electronic devices before
class begins.
Ø No laptops are allowed during
class period.
Ø Absolutely NO food or drinks
allowed in the classroom.
Ø The instructor retains all rights
to student seating arrangements.
Ø The student is responsible for
obtaining any class handouts that were missed as a result of a student’s
absence.
Ø
My
policy on cheating and plagiarism is to assign a zero to the work in question.
Please refer to your Pierce College
Student Conduct Code for more information. For more specifics on plagiarism
I expect everyone to read this sourcethe first week
of class: http://www.csubak.edu/ssric/Modules/Other/plagiarism.htm
Plagiarism, copying or imitating the
language, ideas and/or thoughts of another author and passing them off as one's
original work. Fraud, deceit, trickery, sharp practice or breach of confidence
by which it is sought to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage. (American
College Dictionary, Random House, 1964)
EXAMS
Exam policies are as follows:
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The two exams will be multiple choice
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If you miss an exam, you will receive a score of zero
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Exams are not accumulative
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No questions will be answered during exam
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You will not be admitted to the room after the first person
finishes the exam.
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You will not be permitted to leave the room during an exam until
you are done.
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Bring a scantron 882es and sharp #2
pencils with good erasers.
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No food, water, candy, etc.
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You will be required to place all books, backpacks, purses, etc.
under your chair or at the front of the room if they don’t fit under the
chair. Make sure you zip or fasten all
purses, backpacks, etc.
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Cell phones must be turned off–powered off–and placed in your
purse or backpack under your desk. If
your cell phone rings or vibrates, you automatically fail the exam.
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All exams are closed book, closed notes.
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You will be required to remove all hats with bills and sunglasses.
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You may write on my exams but you must mark all answers on your scantron
REMINDER
At this point, it is probably worthwhile to give you some
warnings about this course. The first warning is that you might find some of
the descriptions you will read to be offensive, if not downright shocking or
disgusting. To study a society scientifically, one must temporarily put aside
one’s personal values. One must try to see the world from a different point of
view as well as our own. This does not mean I expect you to discard your
personal values. To describe and study something does not mean that one
endorses it.
MODIFICATION OF
THE SYLLABUS
I
reserve the right to modify the syllabus and schedule at any time. Changes will be discussed in class;
therefore it is your responsibility to be aware of the changes. To avoid confusion, please do not print the syllabus and only refer
to the “online” syllabus.
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Sep. 1-3 |
Introduction/ Course Syllabus Working on Research Topics Moodle and Library
Tour |
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Sep.
8-10 |
Ch.1: The
Sociological Perspective |
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3 |
Sep. 15-17 |
Ch.2: Doing Sociology:
Research Methods |
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4 |
Sep. 22-24 |
Watching Video 1 and Class Discussions about
Assignment 1 Ch.3: Culture |
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Sep. 29-Oct. 1 Assignment 1 Due (Sep. 29) |
Ch.4: Socialization and
Development |
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Oct. 6-8 |
Ch.5: Society and social
Interaction |
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7 |
Oct. 13-15 |
Ch.6: Social Groups and Organizations |
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8 |
Oct. 20-22 MIDTERM
(Oct. 22) |
Ch.7: Deviant Behavior and Social Control Exam
will cover lectures, class discussions, and handouts |
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9 |
Oct. 27-29 |
Watching Video 2 and Class Discussions about
Assignment 2 |
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10 |
Nov. 3-5 Assignment 2 Due (Nov. 3) |
Ch.8: Social Class in |
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11 |
Nov.10-12 |
Ch.9:
Global Stratification |
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12 |
Nov. 17-19 |
Ch.10:
Racial and Ethnic Minorities |
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13 |
Nov. 24-26 (College Closed) |
Watching Video 3 and Class Discussions about
Assignment 3
Ch.11: Gender Stratification |
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14 |
Dec. 1-3 Assignment 3 Due (Dec. 1) |
Ch.12:
Marriage and Alternative Family Arrangements |
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15 |
Dec. 8-10 Research Papers DUE (Dec. 8) |
Oral Presentations |
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Dec. 15 FINAL |
Oral Exam
will cover lectures, class discussions, and handouts |