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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "SOSC 202-3"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Sociology"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2023
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Benjamin Lee Scribner
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
One hour before class or by appointment
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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.
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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, religion, class, race and gender, the family, health care 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.
They will be expected to participate regularly in everyday class discussion and in an out-of-class assignment, observation or participant-observation, to be described more fully in a later handout, and which will be written up in a succinct form and described to the class.
There will be two tests, a mid-term and a final, both a combination of short and long answer questions. Students will also write a research paper on a topic which interests them and is relevant to the course, based on AT LEAST 3 published sociological studies. Students will be graded on their ability to develop a realistic research question, synthesize and critically analyze the materials used and to present their own original conclusions in a logical, well-argued and unbiased manner. Students should discuss their chosen topic with the professor as early as possible in the semester and must hand in an outline (providing the research question, hypothesis, main points around which the paper is to be structured and a bibliography).
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Key Skills Taught: Students will be able to both develop and understand concepts and theoretical approaches to the study of society and to use these in the analysis of concrete and specific social issues, conditions, events and problems. Students will learn to treat critically the claims of those who make arguments regarding society and social issues, and of those who use statistics to make claims about social and political realities. In general, students will be exposed to the scientific approaches to rigorously understanding social phenomena, and to be critical of claims based only on opinion, prejudice or self-interest, without having carried out reasonably objective research investigation into the issue treated.
Students will, through having led discussion on the readings, develop their skills at critically analyzing texts and explaining their own views of these to others; they will, through papers develop writing skills; through out of class research assignments, learn to use electronic databases for research and to carry out simple field research and observation of social activity and interactions.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
Sociology Matters, Seventh Edition | Richard Schaefer | McGraw Hill | 978-0-07-782327-6 | | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
Mid-term Exam | Short-answer questions based on lecture, class discussions and readings. The exam tests students’ ability to identify, understand and critically discuss the concepts learned in the course and to apply them to analyzing specific cases of social problems. | 20% |
Final Exam | A combination of short-answer and essay questions based on readings, lectures and class discussions. The exam tests students’ ability to identify, understand and critically discuss the concepts learned in the course and to apply them to analyzing specific cases of social problems. | 25% |
Field-work Assignments | On-site observations and activities based on guidelines provided in class. Graded based upon having carried out the research observations assigned in an efficient manner to be able to answer the questions involved, and on students’ ability to explain what they did, what they found and what conclusions they come to in a logical and coherent fashion. | 15% |
Term Paper | 1,000 word research paper on a topic of interest to the studnet, based on outline agreed with the professor. It will be graded based upon students’ ability to understand what they have read, to discuss it critically, and to develop their own ideas and argue them through in a coherent and logical manner. | 25% |
Attendance and Participation | Class participation grading is based upon attendance, regular participation in class discussion, leading class discussion once in a manner that generates good questions or interesting ideas to fuel class conversation on the topics, and insight into the issues presented in class. | 15% |
-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 cours 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 performance 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:
Students are required to attend class. Absences must be explained to the professor and students who miss a class session are expected to do so only for medical, family emergency, or similar important reasons. More than two absences will lead to a lowering of your grade. Students who miss class are responsible for the material missed on that day. Students should recall that Class attendance and Participation, which are not separated, count as part of the grade of the grade.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Session
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Session Focus
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Reading Assignment
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Other Assignment
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WK1A
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Intro: What is sociology?
The Sociological Imagination
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WK 1B
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Origins and early development of Sociology
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Schaefer Chapter 1
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WK2A
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What is culture and how do we get it?
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Schaefer Chapter 2A
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WK 2B
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What is culture and how do we get it?
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Shaefer Chapter 2B
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WK3A
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Social Interaction, Groups and Social Structure
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Schaefer Chapter 3A
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WK 3B
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Social Interaction, Groups and Social Structure
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Schaefer Chapter 3B
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WK4A
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Deviance and Social Control
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Schaefer Chapter 4A
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WK4B
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Deviance and Social Control
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Schaefer Chapter 4B
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WK 5A
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Stratification in the US and Global Inequality
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Schaefer Chapter 5A
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WK5B
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Stratification in the US and Global Inequality
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Schaefer Chapter 5B
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WK6A
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Inequality by Race and Ethnicity
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Schaefer Chapter 6A
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WK 6B
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Inequality by Race and Ethnicity
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Schaefer Chapter 6B
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WK 7A
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Inequality by Gender
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Schaefer Chapter 7A
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WK7B
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Inequality by Gender
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Schaefer Chapter 7B
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WK 8A
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MID-TERM EXAM
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WK 8B
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Social Institutions: Family and Religion
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Schaefer Ch 8A
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WK9A
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Social Institutions: Family and Religion
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Schaefer Ch 8B
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WK9B
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Social Institutions: Education, Government and Economy
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Schaefer Ch 9A
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WK10A
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Social Institutions: Education, Government and Economy
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Schaefer Ch 9B
Deadline for research paper outlines
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WK10B
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Population, Community, Health, and the Environment
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Schaefer Ch 10A
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WK 11A
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Schaefer Ch 10B
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WK11B
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Social Movements, Social Change, and Technology
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Schaefer Ch 11A
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WK 12A
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Social Movements, Social Change, and Technology
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Schaefer Ch 11B
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WK 12B
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Catch up, additional topics
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T.B.A.
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WK 13A
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Catch up, additional topics
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WK 13B
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Student presentations of research
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WK14A
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Student presentations of research
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WK 14B
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Conclusions and Review
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Exam Week
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