Principles  of  Sociology  SYG  2000,  Sec.  7711  Fall  2013  M/W/F  1:55pm-­‐2:45pm  TUR  2319  

“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both”

C. Wright Mills

Instructor: Morgan Sanchez E-mail: Morgan06@ufl.edu Office: TUR 3309 Office Hours: 12:50-1:50 M/W/F Telephone: 727-207-5948 (9am-5pm)

Course  Description  

This course is designed to introduce students to topics of interest in the field of Sociology. While we will examine these topics from a variety of theoretical perspectives throughout the semester, this course will primarily examine sociological topics through the constructionist and conflict approach. In this course we will strive to understand the interconnectedness of our private lives and the much larger public world. We will critically

examine a variety of issues and themes traditionally researched by sociologists in an effort to better understand how we influence our social world as well as how the social world influences us. Each week there will be two components to our class: a lecture in the traditional format, and cooperative learning groups which will allow us to explore themes within sociology as a class.

Required  Materials  

Henslin, Jim. “Essentials of Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach” Tenth Edition

All other materials will be made available to you via the E-Learning website.

Instructor  Course  Objectives  

(1) To develop knowledge and understandings of sociological themes within our society from various sociological perspectives.

(2) To foster intellectual curiosity about sociology and inequalities in the world around us.

(3) To engage in shared, cooperative learning. (4) To encourage further development of information literacy skills such as locating and

evaluating pertinent information, using scientific databases, as well as properly quoting and referencing secondary materials and sources.

Student  Learning  Outcomes  

By the end of the course students will:

(1) Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sociological terminology, concepts, theories, and methodologies with insights from various sociological perspectives.

(2) Students will show an independent interest in the social themes and inequalities in their surrounding society.

(3) Students will engage in shared, cooperative learning. (4) Students will be able to demonstrate information literacy skills, communicate

knowledge, ideas and reasoning clearly and effectively in written and oral forms appropriate to the discipline.

 

Requirements  

• Literature Review Group Project: All students will be required to complete at minimum a 1000 word (approximately 4 pages full-length, double spaced) literature review group project by the end of the semester. You will be placed into groups based on ten broad sociological topics. Each group member will be required to complete an individual section of the literature review based on eight articles of their choosing. Individual sections will be worth 15 pts. The entire group project will be worth 5pts.

• Literature Maps (Individual and Group): Students will be required to complete two literature maps during the semester. The individual map will be based on the eight articles they have chosen and will be worth 3pts. These individual maps will be combined with their group members’ maps to create a larger literature map worth 7 pts.

• Group Presentations: All groups will be required to give a 15 minute presentation describing their group map, their individual sections, and where the field is going. This group presentation will be worth a total of 5 pts.

• Attendance: Students will receive 10 pts. for attending class presentations. • Research Exercises: Students will be required to complete three research exercises – a

keyword search, ASA citations, and annotated bibliography worth 5 points each, for a total of 15 points.

• Peer Review: Students will participate in cooperative learning within our classroom. Five days out of the semester students will engage in peer review sessions with their classmates. Each peer review will be worth 2 points each, for a total of 10 points. On these days All Students will be required to bring two copies of their section to class.

• Essays: Students will complete two essays during the semester showing both their understanding of the information covered in the textbook/class, as well as their ability to synthesize and analyze information. Each essay will be worth 15 points each and combined will make up 30 percent of your course grade. For this reason, attendance and keeping up with the reading material is crucial to your grade.

• Extra Credit: Students will have the opportunity to earn 3 points extra credit this semester. In order to earn extra credit at the end of the semester, students will write a letter to a future student about our principles of sociology class. Details to be provided later in the semester.

A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 0-59

Points Breakdown Total Points Total Percentage Literature Maps 10 points 10% Literature Review 20 points 20% Group Presentations 5 points 5% Attendance 10 points 10% Research Exercises (3 @ 5 points) 15 Points 15% Peer Review (5 @ 2 points) 10 Points 10% Essays (2 @ 15 points) 30 Points

30%

Total 100 Points 100%

 

Policies  

• Attendance: Attendance is mandatory and will be taken throughout the semester. Keep in mind that the workshops are not in your textbook, and will not be posted online. Information covered in class is also fair game on your essays. For these reasons, I would suggest that you attend class or make sure to bring in documentation for days that you are absent. Failure to attend class will be reflected in your course grade.

• Disabilities: Any student with a disability is encouraged to contact me during the first week of class to discuss accommodations. Each student must provide a current Letter of Accommodations from the Disability Resource Center which is a prerequisite for receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center is located in Peabody Hall. Accommodated exams through the Disability Resource Center require a 2-week notice. All other accommodations require notifying the professor 5 business day prior to needing the accommodation.

 • Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. If such an act occurs, there are

several avenues that I may pursue ranging anywhere from having you redo the assignment, or receiving a zero on the assignment, to receiving an FF for the course.

• E-Learning: If you experience technical difficulties with E-learning during the semester, please contact the E-Learning Help Desk at (352) 392-4357. I cannot fix technical issues.

• Communication: Please feel free to e-mail me or visit office hours during the semester. I

will do my best to provide responses to e-mails within 24 hours (with the exceptions of weekends). Use of the provided phone number is limited from 9-5, Monday – Friday. Please do not wait until the assignment is due to contact me, I may not be able to respond before the assignment closes.

• Deadlines: We will have in-class assignments and online assignments in this class. Assignment deadlines are extremely important. Please complete the assignment within the timeframe that it is open. Deadlines are firm and assignments will not be re-opened.

• Make-Up Work: Students will be allowed to make-up work only with proper documentation (doctor’s note, death certificates in the case of funerals, notes from religious leaders for holidays, etc.). The amount of time you will have to make-up the work will be proportionate to the amount of time excused.

• Technology (cell phones, laptops, etc.): Acknowledging that technology has become a large part of our culture, I will not completely outlaw it in our classroom. I expect however, that if you need to send a text message you step outside of our classroom to do so. You are all adults; if you bring laptops to class and choose to go on Facebook/twitter/mmorpgs or any other type of website that does not pertain to our class material please make sure that you sit at the back of the classroom. Overall, please practice proper etiquette toward your classmates and don’t engage in any technological behavior that would disturb their learning. If you fail to follow these instructions you will be asked to leave class for the rest of the day.

• Classroom Etiquette: Because this course may deal with some controversial topics, I would ask that you all practice proper classroom etiquette. This means allowing classmates to express their opinions even if they may not agree with your values or beliefs without devaluing their experiences. First time disruptions will earn a warning, any further disruptions and you will be asked to leave class for the day. My goal is to promote a safe space, where we can all participate in the discussion respectfully.

Course Agenda Outline

Date Topic Assignments Week 1 8.21.13 Introductions and The Sociological

Perspective

Week 2 8.26.13 Culture

Week 3 9.2.13 Socialization

Week 4 9.9.13 Race and Ethnicity Keyword Search Due

Week 5 9.16.13 Social Class in the United States

Week 6 9.23.13 Gender and Age Citations Due

Week 7 9.30.13 Social Structure and Social Interaction Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 8 10.7.13 Social Groups and Formal Organizations Peer Review 1

Week 9 10.14.13 Education and Religion Literature Map (Ind.) Due Essay 1

Week 10 10.21.13 Individual Meetings with Students

Week 11 10.28.13 Marriage and Family Literature Map (Group) Due Peer Review 2

Week 12 11.4.13 Global Stratification Peer Review 3

Week 13 11.11.13 Deviance and Social Control Peer Review 4 Literature Review Due

Week 14 11.18.13 Presentations

Week 15 11.25.13 Presentations Essay 2

12.2.13 Health and Illness Journal Entry (Extra Credit)

12.9.13 Finals Week

 

     

Topics  and  Reading  Assignments  

PLEASE NOTE: TOPICS, READINGS, AND SCHEDULE ARE TENTATIVE AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVISION THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER AS THE COURSE DEVELOPS. CHANGES WILL BE DELIVERED VIA E-LEARNING.

Aug. 21 Week 1: Introductions and the Sociological Perspective

Syllabus Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Aug. 21: Introductions to each other and the class, review of the syllabus, introduction to E-Learning

• Aug. 23: Lecture on the Sociological Perspective

Aug. 26 Week 2: Culture

Chapter 2: Culture (Henslin)

Class Activities: • Aug. 26: Begin lecture on Culture • Aug. 28: Continue lecture on Culture • Aug. 30: Discussion of database usage

Sept. 2 Week 3: Socialization

Chapter 3: Socialization (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Sept. 2: LABOR DAY – NO CLASS • Sept. 4: Begin lecture on Socialization • Sept. 6:Continue lecture on Socialization

Sept. 9 Week 4: Race and Ethnicity

Chapter 9: Race and Ethnicity (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Sept. 9: Begin lecture on Race and Ethnicity • Sept 11: Continue lecture on Race and Ethnicity

• Sept. 13: Keyword Search Due; Discussion of ASA Format and in paper citations, library day

Sept. 16 Week 5: Social Class

Chapter 8: Social Class in the United States (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Sept. 16: Begin lecture on Social Class • Sept. 18: Continue lecture on Social Class • Sept. 20: Discuss how to write annotated bibliographies

Sept. 23 Week 6: Gender and Age

Chapter 10: Gender and Age (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Sept. 23: Begin lecture on Gender and Age • Sept. 25: Continue lecture on Gender • Sept. 27: Citations due, library day

Sept. 30 Week 7: Structures and Interactions

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Sept. 30: Begin lecture on Interactions • Oct. 2: Continue lecture on Interactions • Oct. 4: Annotated Bibliographies Due, library day.

Oct. 7 Week 8: Social Groups and Organizations

Chapter 5: Social Groups and Formal Organizations (Henslin)

Class Activities:

Oct. 7: Begin lecture on Social Groups Oct. 9: Continue lecture on Social Groups Oct. 11: Peer Review 1

Oct.14 Week 9: Education and Religion

Chapter 13: Education and Religion (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Oct. 14: How to Construct Literature Maps • Oct. 16: Education Lecture • Oct. 18: Individual Literature Map Due; Essay 1

Oct. 21 Week 10: Individual Meetings with Students

Activities: Office hours will be extended during this week. Questions about grades or the course will be answered at this time.

Oct.28 Week 11: Marriage and Family

Chapter 12: Marriage and Family

Class Activities:

• Oct. 28: Begin lecture on marriage and family • Oct. 30: Continue lecture on marriage and family • Nov. 1: Group Literature Map Due; Peer Review 2

Nov. 4 Week 12: Stratification

Chapter 7: Global Stratification (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Nov. 4: Begin lecture on stratification • Nov. 6: Peer Review 3 • Nov. 8: NO CLASS

Nov. 11 Week 13: Deviance

Chapter 6: Deviance and Social Control (Henslin)

Class Activities:

• Nov. 11: Begin lecture on deviance • Nov. 13: Continue lecture on Deviance • Nov. 15: Peer Review 4

Nov. 18 Week 14: Group Presentations

Nov. 17: Turn in entire Literature Review via E-mail

Activities: Students will sign up for group presentations

Nov. 25 Week 15: Group Presentations

Class Activities:

Nov. 25: Any spillover from group presentations Nov. 27: NO CLASS Nov. 29: NO CLASS

Dec. 2 Week 16: Health and Disability

Class Activities:

Dec. 2: Lecture on Health and Disability Dec. 4: Last day of class activities

Dec. 9 Finals Week

Dec. 9: Essay 2 due

Student Acknowledgment of Requirements and Policies

I have read through the course requirements and corresponding due dates. I acknowledge that I will be responsible for completing all requirements on time and will visit office hours or make an

appointment if I have any further questions.

X____________________________________________________________________________

Date__________________________________