Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

Course Description Processes involved in defining behavior patterns as deviant; factors that influence conformity and change; examination of behavior patterns such as sexuality, alcoholism, drug use, and selected mental and physical disabilities; public reaction to such behaviour.

Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading section of the University Calendar.

Course Objectives1. Increase your knowledge of particular

forms of deviant behaviors2. Explore the characteristics, causes, and

consequences of a deviant label3. Become familiar with the range of concepts

sociologists use to explain crime and deviance

4. Develop a skeptical attitude towards legal and other social practices

Course Schedule Section A2Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 - 3:20 PM in Tory Lecture 12

Course ResourcesThe textbook for this course is Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control in Canada, 4e by Tami M. Bereska. You are required to have the most recent edition of the text.

In addition to the textbook, I suggest you come to each class with a packet of index cards. I will make all other course materials available on eClass, e.g., lecture slides, other articles, video clips, etc.

Instructor InfoJonathan SimmonsIf you need to contact me, I much prefer e-mail: jssimmon@ualberta.ca. Please put your course number, e.g., SOC 224, in the Subject/Title of your email.

Office Hours: Tuesday, 11:30 AM—1:30 PM or by appointment.

SOC 224

Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

Short Quizzes (15%)There will be three unannounced quizzes in the course on eClass. You will have a 48-hour window to complete each quiz. Due throughout the term.

Exams (25%, 25%, 35%)Bring a pencil and your ONEcard to each exam. The exams will consist of multiple-choice questions on any readings or lecture materials including videos. Due to the large class size, we will be using scantrons for our exams. You will complete the first two exams in class on October 4 and November 3.

The exams should not be a somber affair full of stress and anxiety. They’re just exams. They will not come alive like The Monster Book of Monsters in Harry Potter and chew off your socks. I will provide and discuss sample exam questions in-class. Neither absence from class nor travel plans will be accepted as legitimate reasons for failure to attend an

Short Quizzes 15% Throughout

Exam 1 25% October 4

Exam 2 25% November 3

Final Exam 35% December 12 (tentative)

Attend lectures and pay

attention while you’re in class.

Take notes with a pen (not

your laptop) and review your

notes afterwards while

running through the online

slides.

“Remember to always be

yourself. Unless you suck.”

— Joss Whedon

Check eClass regularly and e-mail me if you have any concerns.

Don’t be shy: Exchange contact information with a classmate for notes-sharing in case one of you have to miss a lecture.

Check your syllabus and eClass before asking me any questions about quizzes, exams, grading, etc.

Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

exam. An unexcused absence will result in a grade of zero for that exam. Should a student miss an exam, he or she must contact the Instructor via email within two working days of the originally scheduled exam or term work (or as soon as the student is able to in regards to the circumstance) to apply for an excused absence. Students with an excused absence from a term exam must write the exam rather than shift the weight of that exam to other course requirements.

Absence from a Final ExamStudents must apply to their home Faculty for a deferred final exam, regardless of the reason. Instructors cannot grant deferred final exams. Deferred exams are not granted automatically and will be considered only for acceptable reasons such as incapacitating mental and/or physical illness, severe domestic affliction, or for circumstances described in the University’s Discrimination, Harassment and Duty to Accommodate Policy (including religious belief). Unacceptable reasons include, but are not limited to personal events such as vacations, weddings or travel arrangements. Students will need to present appropriate supporting documents – they should contact their home Faculty to find out what documents they need.

Students approved by their Faculty for a deferred final exam will write on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at 9:00 am in ESB 2 36.

The final exam is cumulative, with about 60% covering material that was not included on previous exams and about 40% emphasizing major concepts from earlier parts of the course. Although your final will be more challenging than the previous exams, it is not the exam of the century.

Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

GradingFinal grades are not curved or scaled. I will take your grades, add them together, and calculate them as a percentage. I will then convert your percentage grade to a four-point scale shown below.

Lecture Schedule & Assigned ReadingsLectures may change in response to the needs and pace of the course. Changes will be announced in class and on eClass throughout the term. It is the student’s responsibility to make themselves aware of these changes.

Description Percentage Grade Grand Point Value

Excellent 95-10090-94.985-89.9

A+AA-

4.04.03.7

Good 80-84.976-79.972-75.9

B+BB-

3.33.02.7

Satisfactory 68-71.964-67.960-63.9

C+CC-

2.32.01.7

Poor 54-59.950-53.9

D+D

1.31.0

Fail 0-49 F 0.0

Sept 1 Introduction to the Course No Readings

Sept 6/8 Determining Deviance Chapter 1

Sept 13/15 The Media-Deviance Nexus Chapter 4 (p. 108-119)

Article: The Media’s Hit Job on #Gamergate (eClass)

Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

Stept 20/22 The Troubling of and Troubled World of Youth

Chapter 6

Sept 27/29 Mental Disorders Chapter 8

Oct 4 Exam 1 (Chapters 1,4,6, 8, and Articles)

No Readings

Oct 6 “Deviant” and “Normal” Sexuality

Chapter 5 (p. 120-132)

Oct 11/13 Sexuality and Stigma Chapter 5 (p. 141-153)

Article: Speaking of Stigma and the Silence of Shame (eClass)

Oct 18/20 Looking Deviant: Physical Appearance

Chapter 7

Oct 25/27 What Do You believe? Religion and Atheism

Chapter 9 (p. 249-268)

Article: Atheism, Secularity, and Well‐Being (eClass)

Nov 1 What do you believe?Science and Pseudoscience

Chapter 9 (p. 268-282)

Nov 3 Exam 2 (Chapters 5,7,9, and Articles)

No Readings

Nov 8/10 No Class (Fall Term Reading Week)

No Readings

Nov 15/17 Explaining Deviance: The Act Chapter 2

Sociology of Deviance & Conformity Fall 2016

Academic integrityThe University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

For further information about Academic Integrity and to access the Academic Integrity Handbook for students, visit the Student Conduct and Accountability website at http://www.osja.ualberta.ca/en/Students.aspx

Recording of lecturesAudio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).

Nov 22/24 Explaining Deviance: The Perception, Reaction, and Power

Chapter 3

Nov 29/Dec 1 The “Deviance Dance” Continues

Chapter 10

Dec 6 Review No Readings