Sociology 101: Understanding Society (H005)

Wednesday 6:30-9:15, LAB Room 204

 

Contact Info: Heather Sanchez                                                                                heatherksanchez@gmail.com

Office Hours:  Monday 2-4:45 and by appointment

Office is located on the fourth floor of the LAB in the Anthropology/Sociology Department

 

Required Text:

The required text for this course is a three-hole punch book customized for USM students:  

Sociology 101: Understanding Society by Anderson,Taylor, and Chasteen. The text comes with an online Cengage component. You are not required to utilize these resources for class, but exploring them on your own time could help you with the course material.

 

Course Description, Objective, Academic Dishonesty, and Support for Students with Disabilities:

These topics are covered at length in the introduction to your textbook (USM-1, 2). Please take the time to look over them.  Additionally let me emphasize that academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this class. Acts of academic dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, etc. will result in a zero for the assignment and potentially the course. No exceptions.

 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T:

You will be required to engage in discussions on a broad range of topics throughout the duration of the course.  I want this to be an experience we can all learn from. Active, academic debate is welcome but even more so, an atmosphere of mutual respect for the opinions of others must be maintained at all times. Students not adhering to this policy will be asked to leave the classroom.

 

Course Requirements:

-3 multiple choice exams

-4 essays (2.5-3 pages long)

-10 quizzes based on readings, 1 administered at the beginning of each non-exam class meeting

-1 comprehensive final

-participation in class discussion both in class and on supplemental Facebook group

  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134034159318

 

Point Distribution:

Exams (120 pts each)       360

Essays (55 pts each)         220

Quizzes (10 pts each)       100

Final Exam                         250

Participation/Hw                70

                                       1000

 

How to calculate your grade: Completing 100-90% of the course requirements gets you an A, 89-80% B, 79-70% C, 69-60% D, 59-0% F.  To find out your letter grade take the total amount of points you have earned in the class at the end of the semester and divide by 10.

 

 

 

 

Lecture Schedule:

I reserve the right to alter the content of this schedule and/or the syllabus over the course of the semester (including changes to assignment due dates and exam dates). Night class will be structured around a variety of activities including, lecture, instructor facilitated discussions, viewing/listening to media clips, etc..

 

Date

Agenda

Reading

 Due In Class

Aug 19

Syllabus, Pre-test, Intro

Research Methods

“The Promise of Sociology”-USM-5-9

“My Sociology”-USM 9-10

Text pp. 1-39

Homework for Aug. 26: sign up for Facebook group

Aug 26

Research Methods

Culture

Read text pp. 1-39 if you haven’t already

“Sweating at Starbucks”- USM 21-22

Text pp.32-61

 

Sept 2

Socialization

“Kill, Kill, Kill” – USM 24-25

Text pp. 62-91            

 

Sept 9

 Social Structure

“The Waiter Strikes Back”-USM 27-28

“Sociologist/Outsider”- USm 33-34

Text pp. 92-119  

Essay 1 Due: Essay Assignment 2A or 2B. USM-23

Sept 16

Exam 1

Groups and Organizations

Text 120-144

 

Sept 23

Deviance and Crime

“Gender and Sex Offenders”-USM 45-47

Text pp 144-176

 

Sept 30

Deviance and Crime

Complete reading from Sept 23

 

Oct 7

Exam 2,

Stratification

“Alienation”- USM 48-55

“Affluence in the Aftermath of Katrina”-USM 58-62

Text pp 176-208

 

Oct 14

Stratification

Text pp 208-231

Essay 2 Due: Essay Assignment 7A. USM-62

Oct 21

Race and Ethnicity

“Fences and Neighbors”- USM 64-70

Text pp 232-260

 

Oct 28

Gender

“The Sanctity of  Sunday Football”- USM-77-82

“Emulating Barbie”-USM- 94-96

Text pp 260-288

Essay 3 Due: Essay Assignment 9A. USM-76

Nov 4

Exam 3,

Sexuality

 

Text 288-310

 

Nov 11

Families and Religion

Text 310-342

 

Nov 18

Education and Health Care,

Final Exam Review

“Savage Inequalities”-USM 105-112

Text 342-368

 

Essay 4 Due: Essay Assignment 11A. USM-103

Nov 25

no class Thanksgiving Holiday

 

 

Dec 2

Final Exam 6:30-9:15

 

 

 

Essay Assignments:

All Sociology 101 students are required to write approximately 2500 words outside of class. Your essay assignments were designed to meet these requirements. All essays should be 2.5-3 pages, and typed in 12 pt. font, Times New Roman (double spaced with 1 inch margins). The specific criteria for each paper can be found in your textbook (see chart above). All papers will be collected within the first 5 minutes of class. Papers turned in after the first five minutes of class will be considered late and 10 pts will be deducted from the assignment’s final grade. Papers must be received in person. Do not email assignments to me. Late papers will not be accepted so please plan ahead. A grading rubric for essays will be posted on the Facebook group.

 

Attendance:

Because you are enrolled in a night class, missing just one meeting is the equivalent of missing an entire week’s work of lectures. As such, a strict attendance policy will be enforced. I will take attendance at every meeting. Three points will be taken off your overall class average for every unexcused absence.

 

Extra Credit:

No extra credit will be given.

 

Exams:

All exams will be multiple-choice. You will need to bring a pencil and scantron on exam days. Make up exams will not be given. If, for extenuating reasons, you must miss an exam, you must notify me prior to the exam being administered. If you can provide the proper documentation (doctor’s excuse, etc.) then you can make up the points on your final exam. For example your final exam will be worth 370 points rather than 250. May I remind you again that your final will be comprehensive. I encourage you not to miss any exams.

 

Cell Phone Policy:

Please power off cell phones before entering class. Texting, twittering, etc. during class is a distraction to the instructor as well as those around you. Students caught using cell phones during class will have points taken off their final grade.

 

 

*I want this course to be an enjoyable experience for all of us. If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to see me after class, during office hours, or email me. If you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing assignments or coming to class Do Not wait until the last minute to approach me. I’m here to help, but I cannot do that if you wait until the week before finals to ask.