Introduction to Sociology (SOC 100)
Dr. Jon P. Bloch (pronounced "Block")
E-mail: Blochj1@southernct.edu
TBA

COURSE SYLLABUS

Welcome to Intro Sociology. In this course, you will be asked to develop skills in critical thinking—the ability to look at something from more than one perspective. To accomplish this, you will be asked to consider key social issues from different sociological perspectives.

We will pursue this material in a manner consistent with the goals of the National Council for Accreditation of Teach Education (NCATE), as elaborated through the principals of SAILS (Scholarship, Attitudes and Dispositions, Integrity, Leadership, and Service). In so doing, we will be preparing you for your capstone experience as a sociology major, in which you will pursue either an internship, senior seminar or sociology honors. To this end, the objectives and outcomes of this course will be:

In becoming more skillful at critical thinking, it is hoped that you will be able to look at the social world—and yourself—in more complex and constructive ways.

Required Text: Schaefer, Richard T. 2001. Sociology, 7th Edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

1. How to contact me: USE E-MAIL!!!! I am more happy than set up an appointment to answer your questions, but I like to avoid “phone tag.” However, if you e-mail me, I will answer your question in a timely manner. If you have not yet set up an e-mail account, you can can do so online by going to "MY SCSU" on the SCSU Home Page: http://home.southernct.edu. Normally, your log-on will be your last name, first initial, and numeral 1, with NO SPACES (e.g., Blochj1). Your password is your six-digit date of birth. If this does not work, there are further instructions on the Web Site, or you can consult the help desk at 392-5123. (Note: If you want to meet with me during my regular office hours, you do not need to set up an appointment.)

NOTE: My e-mail address is available for matters pertaining only to academia, and is not to be used for any other purpose.

2. Grading: Your grade will be determined as follows:

During the semester, you will receive a raw scores, not letter grades. Thus, an “89” is recorded as an “89,” instead of as a “B+.” The three raw scores then are added together for a final grade. This should maximize the likelihood of your doing well in the course.

Final grading will use the following scale:

F = 239 or less

3. Attendance: There are no penalties for missing class. However, students with perfect attendance will get 20 bonus points added to their final average. Students who miss one class will receive 12 bonus points. For example, if your final total is 345 (B), and you have had perfect attendance, your final grade will be 365 (A-). “Perfect attendance” means that you are always present in class and always sign the attendance sheet. Failure to sign the attendance sheet by the end of a given class session disqualifies you from the bonus; if you come to me later and say, “I was here but forgot to sign the sheet,” it will be too late. Two or more absences for whatever reason means you will not receive a bonus. Even if you say, “I have documentation, and it was for a good reason,” I will not excuse the absence. Also, I am unable to look up whether you signed the attendance sheet on some previous day.

4. Cut-off points are strictly enforced. For example, if your final average is 359.89, your final grade is B+. The only exceptions will be if your final grade is within 10 percentage points of the next grade (e.g., 359.90), and your degree of class participation has been exceptional. “Exceptional” means that if hypothetically we took a vote on who participated the most in class, it would be reasonable to assume you would win.

5. Exams: Exams will be objective (Multiple choice, T/F, matching), and essay, are due as listed below.

6. Late Exam Policy: For each business day your Assignment is late, you will lose five points. No exceptions will be made.

7. Group Presentations: During the Final Exam period, there will be a series of group presentations. Groups will be assigned during the second week of class. Some class time will be set aside during the semester for groups to meet. Each group will have 15 minutes (unless informed otherwise) to make its presentation, plus two minutes for questions.

Each group will pick a topic of social interest for theoretical analysis. Each group should have a different topic; the sooner a group decides on a topic, the sooner it can “reserve” it. You will then use at least four key terms or studies from the course to analyze this topic. It must be apparent that your are basing your analysis on course materials.

Presentations must utilize PowerPoint. This will help ensure a professional presentation, as well as help groups to concisely organize their main points. No homemade posters, etc. will be permitted. A working knowledge of programs such as PowerPoint will prove extremely useful upon graduation.

Excepting the case of a truly radical exception, all members of a group will receive the same grade. Your evaluation grades will be e-mailed out to you in a timely manner.

8: Missed Presentation: All students are expected to stay for the entire final exam time slot. Students who arrive late or leave early will get 20 points deducted from their grade (the other members of their group will not be effected.) Students who do not show up for the presentations have a choice of either receiving a score of "zero" for their presentation grade, or writing a 20-page, double-spaced paper on the topic of their presentation with one-inch margins and in 10-12 point type. The paper will be due by 5:00 PM on Friday of finals week.

9. General Responsibilities: If you miss class, you will need to get lecture notes from another student. Films will not be shown on an individual basis. If you lose your syllabus, you must acquire another copy from another student or from my web page. The only opportunities for extra credit, if any, will be ones assigned to the entire class. There will be no special extra credit assignments for individual students. Thus, it is important that you do your best to excel at the grading criteria for the course.

10. Students with Disabilities: As a student with a disability, before you may receive accommodations in this class, you will need to make an appointment with the Disability Resource Center located in EN B 222 to arrange for approved accommodations. However, if you would like to speak with me about other information, such as emergency medical information, or arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment as soon as possible.

11. Tips for Success: You will find it helpful to remember the following general points throughout this course:

°Sociology exists to explain the everyday world. Therefore, you’ll know you understand an idea when you can give an example of it from the world you live in.

° As sociologists, we strive to leave our personal opinions elsewhere. Sometimes we aspects of human society that we personally do not agree with or approve of, but which nonetheless exist. Sometimes, too, our conclusions are not in keeping with our personal beliefs.

° Sociologists believe that “reality” is a product of our behavior and beliefs. Therefore, sociologists view this “reality” with a critical eye. For if we can think and behave differently, the “reality” before us will also change.

PART I: General Concepts and Processes

Week 1: Understanding Sociology
Reading: Chapter 1

Week 2: Socialization
Reading: Chapter 4

Week 3: Social Interaction and Social Structure
Reading: Chapter 5

Week 4: Culture
Reading: Chapter 3

Week 5: Social Groups in a Socially Diverse Society
Reading: Chapter 6

Exam #1 distributed

PART II: Stratification and Inequality

Week 6: Deviance and Social Control
Reading: Chapter 7

Exam #1 due

Week 7: Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States
Reading: Chapter 8

Week 8: Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Reading: Chapter 10

Week 9: Stratification by Gender
Reading: Chapter 11

Week 10: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Reading: Chapter 21

Exam #2 distributed

PART III: Social Institutions and Conclusion

Week 11: The Family and Intimate Relationships
Reading: Chapter 13

Exam #2 due

Week 12: Religion
Reading: Chapter 14

Week 13: Education
Reading: Chapter 15

Week 14: Government
Reading: Chapter 16

Week 15: Sociological Research
Reading: Chapter 2

Exam #3 distributed

TBA: Group Presentations (Exam #3 due)

Back to Course Syllabi Front Page

Back to Jon P. Bloch Home Page