JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOSC 202"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Sociology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Isabella Clough Marinaro
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 3:05-4:25 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to the basic concepts and practices of the study of society. Students will learn central ideas such as socialization, culture, stratification, institutions, work organization, gender, ethnicity, race and globalization. They will also learn about how sociologists practice their craft reading about studies of current social issues - inequality, changes in family life, social movements and others - and by carrying out small scale out-of-class research assignments.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course covers the major scientific approaches to understanding society, culture and institutions, and the basic methods and perspectives of sociology. We examine the history, development and core concepts of sociology and we then take up important issues in the structure and dynamics of social life: education, culture, religion, class, race and gender, deviance, the family, globalization, migration, religion, media and social change. By the end of the course students will have some initial experience in putting these methods into practice as well. They will be in a position to express their ideas about society – based upon study rather than merely opinion – in writing and orally. They will also be familiar with some electronic databases available to researchers on social issues. Classes will provide a mixture of lectures and group discussion based on contemporary topics and materials. Students are expected to do the required readings in the textbook and additional handouts in preparation for discussion in the following class, and to participate actively in those discussions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Having taken this course, students will be able to:

Describe, interpret and evaluate various aspects of western societies
Show awareness of the most significant social transformations and societal processes that characterize contemporary societies;
Reflect in a theoretically informed way on society, engaging our own taken for granted beliefs and values;
Analyze and identify significant social issues using a broad sociological perspective
Conceptualize society via its main institutions
Explain and exemplify main sociological concepts such as social class, socialization, social and cultural stratification, deviance, social interaction, gender, race and power.
Discuss sociology’s contribution to the study of modern society and global transformations

READINGS: There is no set textbook for this course. Readings for each class will be posted on Moodle

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Final Exam:	A combination of short and long answer questions to demonstrate students’ ability to identify, understand and critically discuss the concepts learned in the course and apply them to analyze specific cases of social problems.	20%
Attendance and Participation	Class participation grading is based upon attendance (physically or synchronously on-line), regular participation in class discussion, generating good questions or interesting insights to fuel class conversation.	15%
3 Quizzes	Short-answer questions to test your understanding of and ability to apply the sociological concepts discussed in the previous weeks of class	15% each (TOTAL: 45%)
2 Observation and analysis reports	You will receive guidelines for observing aspects of social life as they occur naturally in the streets of Rome. Write a short report describing the observations and analyzing them with the appropriate sociological theories/perspectives discussed in class.	10% each (TOTAL: 20%)

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. Letter grades and corresponding percentages for this class 94 – 100 points = A 90 – 93.99 pts = A- 87 – 89.99 = B+ 83 – 86.99 = B 80 – 82.99 = B- 77 – 79.99 = C+ 70 – 76.99 = C 60 – 69.99 = D 59.99 – 0 = F

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Attendance is mandatory and, alongside active participation in class, makes up 15% of the final grade. If you are taking the course remotely or are unable to attend a classroom session due to documented health reasons (including quarantine), you are expected to join the class synchronously and to participate in class discussion via the video link. If you are too unwell to do so, please let the professor know ahead of time. I will accept a maximum of one absence not related to health issues, after which I will deduct 2% from your final grade for each class missed.
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until December 14.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

Session

Session Focus

Assignment

WK 1A

21 SEPT

Intro: What is sociology?

Read “Private Troubles, Public Issues” / C Wright-Mills

Watch video “What is Sociology?”

WK 1B

23 SEPT

The Sociological Imagination

Read “Human History as Class Conflict” / Karl Marx

Watch video “Emile Durkheim on Suicide”

WK 2A

28 SEPT

Classical Perspectives on Sociology

Read “From Mechanical to Organic Solidarity” / Emile Durkheim

Watch video “Major Sociological Paradigms”

WK 2B

30 SEPT

Contemporary Perspectives Part 1

Watch video: “Max Weber & Modernity”

WK 2C

FRIDAY

2 OCT

Contemporary Perspectives Part 2

Do graded observation and reflection activity for Monday

WK 3A

5 OCT

Sociological research methods

Submit graded observation and reflection activity

Read “Quantitative versus Qualitative Methods?” / Alan Bryman

Watch video: “Symbols, Values and Norms”

WK 3B

7 OCT

Culture and subcultures

Read “The Hidden Curriculum – A Teacher’s View” / John Taylor Gatto

Watch video: “Cultures, subcultures and countercultures”

WK 4A

12 OCT

Socialization Part 1

Read “Presenting the self in everyday life” / Ervin Goffman

Watch video: “Social Development”

WK 4B

14 OCT

Socialization Part 2

Do graded quiz 1 for Monday

Watch video: “Socialization”

WK 5A

19 OCT

Social Structure and Social Interaction

Submit graded quiz 1

Watch video: “Social Groups”

Watch video: “Formal Organizations”

WK 5B

21 OCT

Groups and Organizations

Read “How Coronavirus is changing crime and deviance”

WK 6A

26 OCT

Deviance, Crime and Social Control Part 1

Read “The Normality of Deviance” / Emile Durkheim

Watch this video: “Deviance”

WK 6B

28 OCT

Deviance, Crime and Social Control Part 2

Do deviance observation and analysis. Graded assignment for Monday

Watch this video: “Theory and Deviance”

WK7A

2 NOV

Social stratification: Class and inequality Part 1

Submit graded deviance observation and analysis

Read “What is Social Stratification?” / Wendy Bottero

Do online activity on poverty

WK 7B

4 NOV

Class and Inequality Part

Do research activity on social stratification in your country. Post findings to Moodle Forum

WK 7C

FRIDAY

6 NOV

Poverty

Do research on Black Lives Matter and post your findings to Moodle Forum

WK 8A

9 NOV

Race and Ethnicity: Part 1

Do online “sorting” activity

Watch video: “Race and Ethnicity”

WK 8B

11 NOV

Race and Ethnicity: Part 2

Do graded quiz for Monday

Read “Global Police Brutality Takes the Spotlight”

WK 9A

16 NOV

White priviledge

Submit graded quiz 2

Read “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”

Read “Intersecting inequalities” / Patricia Hill Collins

WK 9B

18 NOV

Intersectionality

Read “If Men Could Menstruate” / Gloria Steinem

Watch video: “Gendered Marketing”

WK 10A

23 NOV

Gender and Inequality Part

Read “Woman - The Second Sex?” / Simone De Beauvoir

Read “Throwing Like Girl” / Iris Marion Young

WK 10B

25 NOV

Gender and Inequality Part 2

Do graded quiz 3 for Monday

WK 11A

30 NOV

The Family

Submit graded quiz 3

Read “Social Constructions of Sexuality” / Jeffrey Weeks

Watch video “Sex and sexuality”

WK 11B

2 DEC

Sociology of sex

WK 12A

7 DEC

Religion

Read “The Essence of Religion” / Emile Durkheim

Watch video: “Religion”

WK 12B

9 DEC

Conclusions and preparation for final exam

FINAL

EXAM