Dr. Andreas Schneider

 Introduction to Sociology Spring 2012

 

  • SOC 1301-007 CRN 31335 Tu & Th 12:30-13:50 Holden Hall 75

Contact Information

My Office hours

 

Teaching Assistant: Jennifer Paige Mason  Holden Hall 151-F paige.mason@ttu.edu

Office hours: Mon 14:00-15:00, Wed  13:00-14:00, Thur 11:00-12:00, Fri 12:30-13:30

 

Social Sciences Librarian: Brian Quinn, Texas Tech University Libraries, 806-742-2238 ext. 294, brian.quinn@ttu.edu

Academic Calendar

Statements Required by TTU to be at the beginning of the Syllabus

SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology

 Objective of the Core Curriculum: Human group behavior, influence on the individual, and relationships of individuals to each other as members of groups. Course Purpose Statement: This course satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of Texas Tech University’s Core Curriculum. SOC 1301 fulfills multicultural requirement. Fulfills Core Social and Behavioral Sciences – Individual or Group Behavior requirement.

Course Objectives: Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to demonstrate the ability to assess critically claims about social issues, human behavior, and diversity in human experiences. The objective of this course is to increase the student’s knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing
the issues facing humanity.

Competency Statement for the Social and Behavioral Sciences:  Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to demonstrate the ability to assess critically claims about social issues, human behavior, and diversity in human experiences.

This course satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of Texas Tech University’s Core Curriculum. As such, the relevant learning outcomes appearing in the Undergraduate Catalog will be assessed accordingly:

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course students should be able to

  • Know and understand major theoretical approaches in sociology.
  • Distinguish and critically evaluate these approaches.
    •
  • Understand the different conclusions we draw when applying different theoretical approaches to identical problems.
  • Describe and differentiate different methodologies in the study of sociology.
  • Apply theoretical approaches and the suitability of sociological methodology to critically investigate the
    • exercise of power in social institutions,
    • social rules that govern human behavior,
    • and the impact of racial, gender, and class-based identities on social action and interaction.
  • There is a strong focus on the cultural diversity of identities and groups, caused by differences in
    • ethnicity, gender, and class,
    • political, economic, religious, educational, and health care systems,
    • languages and human geography.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

  • Multiple choice exams are used to test the knowledge of theories, methods and problems in sociology. Some of these questions will be geared to assess the ability of the student to compare methodological and theoretical approaches and their application to problems in sociology. Students’ responses to exam questions test their knowledge of
    • how theories help to understand issues concerning leaders in institutions like the government, school, church, or the workplace
    • social rules for interaction and the evaluation of identities and behavior of others
    • the impact of racial, gender, and class-based identities on social action and interaction
    • the impact of organized religion, politics, education, health care, and the economy on life-chances of diverse social groups and individuals
    • social systems, languages and norms among diverse groups and individuals
  • While pop exams investigate the current state of preparation, they are mainly used to assess the student's class participation/attendance.  
  • Grades are based on the student's performance on  pop exams and four scheduled exams. Assigned readings have a specific due date. I consider it as a requirement that the literature listed in this syllabus is read before it is covered in class.

This course also satisfies the Multicultural Requirement component of Texas Tech University’s Core Curriculum. As such, the relevant learning outcomes appearing in the Undergraduate Catalog will be assessed accordingly:

Learning Outcomes and Assessments
  • Students should be able to demonstrate awareness and knowledge of U.S. cultural differences within one or more distinctive sub-cultures of the United States. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Ethnicity, gender, and class.

  • Assessed by: Students’ responses to exam questions testing their knowledge of the impact of racial, gender, and class-based identities on social action and interaction.

  • Political, economic, religious, educational, and health care systems.

  • Assessed by: Students’ responses to exam questions testing their knowledge of the impact of organized religion, politics, education, health care, and the economy on life-chances of diverse social groups and individuals.

  • Languages and human geography.

  • Assessed by: Students’ responses to exam questions testing their knowledge of social and family systems in shaping the impact of language and norms among diverse groups and individuals.

Disabilities Accommodation: Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor’s office hours. Please note instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office in 335 West Hall or 806-742-2405.

Course Description:

My Introduction to Sociology will be guided by Giddens' (2012) 8th edition of Introduction to Sociology ISBN-13: 978-039391213-5 and some assigned essays in the reader to the textbook Readings For Sociology 8th edition (2012) edited by Garth Massey ISBN-13: 978-0-393-91270-0. Analogous to the textbook, the course will be structured in five sections: The first question will concern methods and perspectives of how to study sociology. Then we will illuminate culture, as it is co created by individuals and society. Third, we will study the concepts of power and inequality. This knowledge will enable us to take an intensive look on social institutions. Finally, we will observe historical social change and discuss potential global changes in the near future.

There are two personal interests that will give this course an unique perspective. My research interest and my experiences in multiple cultures makes me emphasize a cross-cultural perspective, that is also reflected in our textbook. Second, I will integrate modern media like the Internet. Not only will I point out important sources on the Internet, students will have access to an electronic syllabus on the World Wide Web (WWW) at: http://courses.ttu.edu/aschneid. Although overheads and other sources used in class will be posted on our WWW page, class attendance will be mandatory, just as in traditional courses.

A general reminder: We will be approaching controversial issues of society in a critical scientific fashion. Students who are not prepared to be exposed to objective or alternative perspectives of social reality and the use of uncensored information should reconsider their enrollment in the course.

One section of this syllabus contains the administrative "laws" of the course. The other section with the course outline is, to a certain degree, variable. Participation is an important aspect of our class. I welcome feedback from students and will incorporate it into the class session. Further, I will integrate current events and problems as they become relevant to our class. For these reasons we will proceed at our own pace as much as possible. To structure this interactive approach I will be continuously updating our electronic syllabus and will provide you with a brief preview of our next session in each time we meet in class.

 

Syllabus

Flexible Part of this Syllabus: Content

This syllabus provides you with the sequential order of our course. Except for he assignments, there are no fixed dates assigned to the session. 

This gives me the opportunity to incorporate your contributions into the course. The electronic syllabus will give you the structure for this dynamic course construction. In the electronic syllabus I left the links to class materials and other information open. This is for your convenience. These posted notes should be considered a draft. Notes for each session will be updated and authoritative before each session. This tool of the information age makes some old teaching techniques obsolete. With this syllabus, for example, you have the most comprehensive study guide.

 

I. Methods and Perspectives of how to Study Sociology

Introduction

Assignments:

  • Ask yourself : "What do I expect from an introductory course in sociology"
  • Main assignment: Read this syllabus thoroughly!
  • Read the academic calendar
  • Read the contents section of your textbook.

 

Basic Theories and Theorists in Sociology

Two Approaches to Introduce Sociology

1.People Approach

  • Great Questions of Great Dead Sociologists
    • Marx, Weber, and Durkheim
  • Modern Sociological Thinking
    • Symbolic Interactionism
    • Functionalism
  • Later Thinkers
    • Foucault

2. Perspective Approach

  • Power and Conflict: Marx, Weber, Habermas, Foucault, Domhoff
  • Functionalism: Comte, Durkheim, Parsons, Merton, and Gans
  • Symbolic Interactionism: Mead, Heise
  • Rational Choice
  • Feminism
  • Postmodernism

Assignments:

  • Book: Chapter 1, What is Sociology
  • Reader: #1 Peter Berger: "Sociology as an Individual Pasttime"
  • Reader: #2 C. Right Mills "From The Sociological Imagination."
  • Reader: Concerning Conflict Theory: #23 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels " The Manifesto of the Communist Party."
  • Reader: Concerning Functionalism: #31 (#25 in fifth edition)  Herbert Gans "The Uses of the Underclass."

 

Sociological Methods

Steps in the Research Process

Relation between Theory, Hypothesis and the Empirical World

Important Properties of a Theory

Causation

Assignments:

  • Book: Chapter 2
  • Reader: #6 Joel Best: "Telling the Truth about Damned Lies and Statistics."
  • To understand the arguments concerning obedience in the Milgram experiments, reader: #5 The My Lai Massacre: A Military Crime of Obedience"

 

Internet session

 

II. Individuals, Society and Culture

Culture and Society

I.  Society, Social Culture and Social Structure

Ethnocentrism versus Cultural Relativism

II.  Different Societies

From hunters and gatherers to a post industrial population

Three waves of civilization

III.     Imperialism and Colonialism

Theories revisited and applied:

  • Conflict Perspective
  • Functionalism

Assignments:

 

Socialization and the Life Cycle  (Culture and the Social Person)

Values, Norms, Laws, and Social Roles

Genie, the girl without socialization

Agents of Socialization

Assignments:

 

Microsociology

Microsociology -- Macrosociology

Symbolic Interactionist (SI) Perspective revisited

Nonverbal communication

  • Sociology of Emotions
  • Paul Ekman
  • Cultural universals

The Study of Day-to-Day Social Life

Goffman

  • Dramaturgical model
  • Impression management
  • Frontstage, Backstage

Assignments:

Deviance

Definitions

Key Concepts

Deviance from four sociological perspectives

Functionalism

  • Durkheim's idea that deviance is functional
  • Merton's concept of anomie

Conflict Theory

  • Differential association (Southerland)
  • Subcultures
  • Social class

Symbolic Interactionism

  • Labeling theory

Crime Statistics

Assignments:

 

Gender and Sexuality  

Definitions of Sex and Gender

Five Natural Categories of Sexes

Gender: Nature Versus Nurture Debate

Sexual behavior and sexual identities

Two Empirical Studies of Sexual Behavior in Conflict

Assignments:

Power and Inequality

Social Stratification

Theoretical Perspectives

Nature of Stratification

Conflict Perspective

WIKIPEDIA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States

 

Assignments:

 

Ethnicity and Race

Definitions

Revisit:

Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination

Stereotypes

Assignments:

 

Social Institutions

Modern Organizations

How do we exercise power, leadership, or rulership

What is an ideal type

The five most essential characteristics of a bureaucratic institution

Values in the organization

Foucault: Control of Time and Space (surveillance)

Assignments:

 

Work and Economic Life

Three Perspectives

Conflict Theory

  • Marx: Division of labor and alienation

Division of labor

  • Taylor's Scientific Management
  • Fordism

A different perspective on the feminist perspectives

  • A dynamic perspective looking at the ratio of females in different professions 1970-1990.

High-trust versus low-trust systems

  • Establish the connection to the concept of surveillance

Globalization

  • Concentration of capital
  • Compare the increase of revenues of the largest companies to the downward mobility of individuals
  • Global production

Modern trends

  • Job rotation
  • Group production
  • Just in time production
  • Flexible Production
  • Downsizing
  • Mass customizing
  • Decentralization

Assignments:

  • Book: Chapter 14

 

Religion

I like to point out that the sociological study of religion is primarily interested in the impact of religious beliefs on society and the individual. Sociology is by no means interested in the correctness of religious models.  Believing does not follow scientific logic.  However, according to Max Weber, believing does not exclude believers from engaging in scientific inquiry – at least as long they are able to engage in value free science. Sociology is (one form of) social science, not a belief system.  Science is different from the doctrine of Christian fundamentalism that "emphasizes a return to literal interpretations of the scriptural texts (Capps, 1990 in Giddens 1996, 289)." 

Definitions

Classifications

Theories of religion

Weber: The Protestant ethic and the rise of capitalism.

Fundamentalism versus Secularism

Assignments:

  • Book: Chapter 17
  • Reader: #39 (#35 in 5th edition) Max Weber "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism."

 

Family

Key concepts

Nuclear family, extended family

Monogamy, polygamy

The North American family historically and today

Assignments:

  • Book: Chapter 15

 

Here follows the inflexible part of this syllabus: Regulations

Required Readings

 

Requirements

5 pop exams 5% each, no time scheduled

First Exam 25 %  Feb. 16th

Second Exam 25%   March 22nd

Third Exam 25 %  May 1st

----------------------

100% = 100 points

 

Library session April 19th in the Library Room 309 located on the third floor of the library.

May 8th makeup for excused exams during our regular class time

 

Grading Keys

Grading key to convert number grades in letter grades: 0-59 F, 60-62 D-, 63-66 D, 67-68 D+, 69-72 C-, 73-76 C, 77-78 C+, 79-82 B-, 83-86 B, 87-88 B+, 89-92 A-, 93-96 A, 97-100 A+

 

Exams

All exams will be multiple choice. Not only do you need to have a basic understanding of the material, you also should be able to take what you have learned and apply it.  The second and third exam are cumulative only in the sense that they will include questions about theorists and basic theories covered in the first exam.  The fourth exam will be comprehensive. Please make sure to bring the orange "bubble sheets" to the exam.

How to prepare for the exams:

1. Read the assigned material before class
2. Attend class and raise questions
3. Reread your notes and the notes I posted on the WWW after class.
4. If something is still unclear: (a) selectively reread the assigned material
(b) present your question  when I ask about your questions at the beginning of each class section.
5. If this fails to make you understand the material, please (a)  meet our assistant in his/her office hours or 
(b) meet with me in my office hours.

How to Study: some advice from David Pisoni, Chancellor's Professor of psychology at Indiana University http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/15371.html

 

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. It will be controlled with pop exams.

 

Missed Assignment Regulations

Students who have no authoritative excuse for their absence at an exam or pop exam will receive "0" points. Students have to file the excuse with the instructor by email 12 hours after the excused time period. Students with an excused absence can take a makeup exam or makeup pop exam. Authoritative excuses I accepted in the past were: physician's statements, copies of invitations for job interviews or funerals. Concerning an absence due to officially approved trips – in accordance with the Texas Tech University Catalog, the person responsible for a student to miss a class (e.g. coach) should notify the instructors of the departure and return schedule in advance of the trip. The student may not be penalized and is responsible for the material missed. The Texas Tech University Catalog also states that a student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day will be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. Prior notification to the instructor is required.

Pop exams make ups will be provided in the following office hour of our TA.  Make ups for regular exams will be given at the last day of classes during the regular class session in our regular classroom. Students who fail to take this makeup exam will receive 0 points.

 

Withdrawal

A clarifying reminder of our Dean: "Please make sure that the student knows that it is her/his responsibility to withdraw from the class in person in the Office of the Registrar. Often, students, as well as some instructors, are under the impression that the instructor of the course can withdraw the student from the class by assigning a grade of “W” on the final grade report. A “W” cannot be assigned to a student unless the student has officially withdrawn from the class by the withdrawal deadline". Operation Policy: "The grade of W is given for a course officially dropped during the first six weeks of a term. A student should continue to attend a class until authorized by the academic dean to drop a course. The grade of WF is given when the student drops a course after the first 30 days of a term (12 days in summer) if the student is not passing the course at the time of the drop. A grade of WF will be given when the student is required by the dean to drop a course for failure to attend the class or for other reasons." P.77 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2002 - 2003. My standpoint: Grades are earned. I cannot and will not give grades according to perceived needs of my students, but according achievements and university guidelines.  According to these guidelines, poor performance by no means warrants the assignment of a "W." If you succeed with registration to drop the course for medical excuses, this is of course fine with me. VERY IMPORTANT: I cannot assign you a “W” without registration giving me the option.

Class Management

Academic Integrity: Keep in mind that I have to enforce the strict rules of academic behavior. Any student found cheating on the exam or plagiarizing a paper will receive an "F" for the exam or paper and may receive an "F" for the entire course. “It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension. a.  Dishonesty of any kind on examinations and quizzes or on written assignments, illegal possession of examinations, the use of unauthorized notes during an examination or quiz, obtaining information during an examination from the examination paper or otherwise from another student, assisting others to cheat, alteration of grade records, illegal entry or unauthorized presence in an office are instances of cheating. b.  Complete honesty is required of students in the presentation of any and all phases of course work as their own. This applies to quizzes of whatever length as well as to examinations, daily reports, and term papers. c.  Plagiarism is offering the work of another as one's own without proper acknowledgement; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical expressions of material taken from books, encyclopedias, magazines, internet sources, and other reference works, or from the themes, reports, or other writings of a fellow student, is guilty of plagiarism.(TTU OP 34.12)”

Civility in the Classroom: I ask you to shut off your cellular phones.

Disclaimer: The documents linked to other sources on the WWW, others than http://courses.ttu.edu/aschneid/ and its subdirectories, do not necessarily express the views of Texas Tech University or Dr. Andreas Schneider. @Copyright 2012 Andreas Schneider