Course Syllabus

 

Introduction to Sociology – Socio 1

Pasadena City College

Fall 2010

 

 

Jose R. Lopez

 

Class meeting times:               Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Section: 2965                          Room: C335

Email: jrlopez@pasadena.edu

Phone: 619-227-3943

 

 

Course Description

 

The major goal of the course is to introduce students to the discipline of Sociology. Students will be introduced to sociological jargon, research models, and issues of sociological significance.

 

Each student should be able to explain some of the major problems in sociology and be able to state and validate reasonably well some major hypothesis or solutions that apply to these problems.

 

Each student should demonstrate evidence of his/her concern for sociological problems by constantly examining and challenging his/her own thinking and that of others. Evidence for achievement of this goal will be presented in class discussions. This class will therefore test the student’s ability to critically analyze issues and to develop his/her sociological imagination.

 

Course Attendance and Participation

 

Attendance is strongly recommended. Besides the readings, information from lectures and the videos may help you for your midterms and your Final exam. I also encourage you to ask questions and comment on the readings. Your participation in class strengthens the dynamics of the course. Each student is expected to participate in the class discussions on a regular basis. This can best be done by completing the reading assignments before lectures. By doing so, you are taking a pro-active part in your education. It also allows you to facilitate the comprehension of the material. You, as a student, are better equipped to ask relevant questions and engage successfully with your classmates and myself. I will also take attendance on a regular basis. Attendance is also a component of your final grade.

 

Written Assignment

Instructions will be given during Week 1. You will use Turnitin.com to turn in your assignment. Class i.d. is 3353497. Enrollment password is sociology. Due November 19 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Group Project

You will be required to participate in a group project. You will present your findings to the class during the last two weeks of the semester. Everyone in the group must be included in your presentation. (Further instructions will be given in Week 1)

 

Grading

Course attendance: 10%

Group Project: 15%

Written Assignment: 15%

3 Exams: 20% each (60% total)

 

Required Textbooks

 

  1. Giddens, A; Dunier, M. & Appelbaum, R. 2005. Essentials of Sociology. London & New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

(This bundle includes Readings for Sociology by Garth Massey 5th ed. and Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City by Elijah Anderson.)

 

Examinations and Important Dates

 

There will be three exams in the class. Students must take the exams on the scheduled date.

September 30  Exam 1

November 2    Exam 2

December 16   Exam 3

 

September 11: Last day to drop the class without receiving a “W”.

November 12: Last day drop and receive and “W”.

 

Tentative schedule (subject to change):

 

 

Week 1: August 31 & September 2

 

 

 

 

Introduction to the course

 

Video: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts Act One

 

Week 2: September 7 & 9

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1: Sociology: Theory and Method

 

Week 3: September 14 & 16

 

Chapter 2: Culture & Society

 

Video: Merchants of Cool

 

 

Week 4: September 21 & 23

 

Chapter 3: Socialization and the Life Cycle

 

 

Video: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts Act Two

 

Week 5: September 28 & 30

 

 

Video: Obedience

 

September 30: Exam I (Ch 1-3)

 

Week 6: October 5 & 7

 

Chapter 7: Stratification, Class and Inequality

 

 

 

 

Week 7: October 12 & 14

 

 

Chapter 8: Global inequality

 

Video: Mardi Gras: Made in China

 

 

 

Week 8: October 19 & 21

 

 

Chapter 9: Gender inequality

 

Video: Zoned for Slavery

 

 

Week 9: October 26 & 28

 

 

 

Chapter 10 Ethnicity & Race

 

 

 

Week 10: November 2 & 4

 

 

 

Video: Hate Rock

 

November 2: Exam II (Ch 7-10)

 

 

Week 11: November 9 & 11

 

November 11- No Class “Veterans Day”

 

Chapter 6: Conformity, Deviance, and Crime

 

 

 

 

Week 12: November 16 & 18

 

 

 

 

Chapter 11: Families and Intimate Relationships

 

 

November 19: Written Assignment Due on Turnitin.com

 

Week 13: November 23 & 25

 

November 25- No class “Thanksgiving”

 

 

Chapter 12: Education and Religion

 

 

Week 14: November 30 & December 2

 

 

Group Projects: Groups 1-3

 

Group Projects: Groups 4-6

 

Week 15: December 7 & 9

 

 

Group Projects: Groups 7-9

 

Group Projects: Groups 10-12

 

Week 16: December 16

 

Exam III

 

 

Thursday December 16: Exam III

(Ch 6, 11, & 12)

1:00-3:00

 

 

                Communication

               Students will demonstrate through original written and/or oral analysis their ability to identify sociological

                perspectives (conflict, structural functionalist, interactionist) and apply the sociological perspectives to social events

                and occurrences.

Inadequate              Student cannot successfully identify theoretical perspectives, and analyze cause and effects of events in the social world.

 

Developing              Student shows limited understanding of theoretical perspectives and demonstrates marginal capacity to link them to the social world

 

Adequate                 Student can identify some of the theoretical perspectives and can connect them in an adequate manner to the social world.

 

Accomplished         Student has a good understanding of theoretical perspectives. A competent student can explain thoroughly the relationship

                 between theoretical perspectives and the social world.

 

Mastery                   Student clearly and elegantly demonstrates great understanding of different theoretical perspectives, and draws critical

                connection between these perspectives and the social world.

 

                                Cognition

                                Students will identify, understand and analyze social institutions, issues and social problems utilizing the three major

                                sociological perspectives

Inadequate              Student cannot identify social institutions, issues and social problems through theory.

 

Developing              Student demonstrates some awareness of social institutions, issues and social problems through a theoretical lens.

 

Adequate                 Student can critique/argue theoretically the value of some social institutions, issues and social problems.

 

Accomplished         Student demonstrates finely tuned awareness of social institutions, issues and social problems using different theoretical

                                 perspectives.

 

Mastery                   Student demonstrates a superior awareness and critique of social institutions, issues and social problems using advanced

                                theoretical arguments.

 

                                Information competency

                               Students will demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve and evaluate sociological articles, journals, books and other

                                sociologically related materials.

Inadequate              Student cannot identify and evaluate sociological articles and other sociologically related materials.

 

Developing              Student is able to locate some sociological materials without demonstrating providing extensive evaluation of the material.

 

Adequate                 Student demonstrates an understanding of where to find some of the sociological relevant information and can present some

                                 general understanding of different points of view.

 

Accomplished         Student has been able to locate most of the relevant information and is able to demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of

                sociological opinions.

 

Mastery                   Student can identify most of the important sociological information and demonstrates a superior understanding of different

                                points of view.

 

               Social responsibility

              Students will compare and contrast the experiences and issues impacting minority groups with that of mainstream

               groups in power, including issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, deviance, culture, poverty, and global

               inequality, and social stratification.

Inadequate              Student lacks understanding of marginalized groups in relation to the dominant power structure. Student cannot explain the

                relevant issues of race, class and gender and their importance in sociological analysis. Student shows lacks of interest and

                motivation for the course material.

 

Developing              Student exhibits minimal understanding of marginalized groups in relation to the dominant power structure. Student

                 understands the relevance of race, class and gender in sociological analysis. Student shows some effort but is not always

                 prepared for class.

 

Adequate                 Student exhibits some understanding of the experiences of marginalized groups and can compare them through a race, class

                and gender sociological approach.

 

Accomplished         Student can compare and contrast most important issues relating to marginalized groups and can explain how the power

                 structure contributes to these particular experiences.

 

Mastery                   Student demonstrates superior sociological understanding of minority perspectives. Student can compare and contrast the

                experiences of marginalized groups using a comprehensive sociological approach to race, class, and gender.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Personal development

                Students will learn how to think critically (which questions to ask and which questions to omit) and how to view

                 society through different lenses.

Inadequate              Student does not demonstrate any critical understanding of the importance of sociology to his/her own life. Student does

                make any efforts to ask questions about the class material and does not show personal responsibility in attending class and

                turning assignments in.

 

Developing              Student demonstrates basic understanding of the importance of sociology to his/her own life. Student demonstrates some

                personal responsibility for his/her academic learning.

 

Adequate                 Student demonstrates some understanding of how sociology applies to his/her own life, and demonstrates personal

                 responsibility for his/her own academic learning.

 

Accomplished         Student shows growth and demonstrates extra effort in his/her critical assessment of sociology and how it might apply to his/

                her own life.

 

Mastery                   Student demonstrates increased social understanding. Student can critically apply the lessons of sociology to his/her own life.