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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOSC 202"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Sociology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Francesca Conti
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment on Monday and Wednesday afternoon

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:

This course introduces students to sociology as a discipline and to the systematic study of human society. The course begins with a presentation of classical sociological thinkers such as Marx, Durkheim and Weber and discusses sociology as a particular view on society connected to the development of the sociological method. It then debates a series of concepts and classical topics within sociology with examples and case studies from modern day societies. In particular, the course will focus on the analysis of culture, socialization, social interaction, class, race, gender, deviance, social change, globalization, media and migration.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Having taken this course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe, interpret and evaluate various aspects of  western societies
  2. Show awareness of the most significant social transformations and societal processes that characterise contemporary societies;
    • Reflect in a theoretically informed way on society, engaging our own taken for granted beliefs and values;
      • Analyse 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

      TEXTBOOK:
      Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
      Sociology : introductory readings Anthony Giddens and Philip W. Suttonpolity 20109780745648835     
      REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
      NONE

      RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
      NONE
      GRADING POLICY
      -ASSESSMENT METHODS:
      AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
      paper2000 words plus bibliography topics need to be approved by the professor25
      class presentation15 min plus Q& A topics to be assigned 15
      mid- term exambased on short answers20
      final exam 25
      class participation 10
      quiz 5

      -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.

      -ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
      ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY



      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 ____________
      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

      Week and main topic

      Introduction to sociology

      Topics lesson by lesson

      Readings

      Week 1

       

      Introduction: what is sociology?

       

       

      Lesson 1

      Introduction: what is Sociology? Overview of the course, introduction to main themes

       Lesson 2 cancelled.

      It will be rescheduled.

       

      The Sociological Perspective. 1. Private Troubles, Public issues



























      Week 2

      Key Figures

       

       

      Lesson 3:  The Scope of Sociology

       

       

       

      Lesson 4:  the founding fathers: Karl Marx

      The Scope of Sociology / Anthony Giddens











      What is Sociology For? / Richard Jenkins ----

       

      Theories of Society. 4. Human History as Class Conflict / Karl Marx ---



       







      Week 3

      Theory and research methods

       

      Lesson 5:  Max Weber

       

       

       

       

      Lesson 6:  Emile Durkheim and the study of suicides

       

      The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism

      . Institutions and organizations. 19. The Spirit of Capitalism / Max Weber

       

      From Mechanical to Organic Solidarity / Emile Durkheim

      The Essence of Religion / Emile Durkheim

      Week 4

       

      Methods and social interaction

       

      Lesson 7: research methods in sociology

       

       

      Lesson 8:  Quiz!

      Social interaction

      Research Methods. 9. Quantitative versus Qualitative Methods? / Alan Bryman --











      10. What is a Social Survey? / Alan Buckingham & Peter Saunders ---



           







      Researching Individual Lives /Barbara Merrill & Linden West ---

      Interaction and Communication. 34. Presenting the Self in Social Life / Erving Goffman ---



       



      Week 5

       

      Social interaction and organizations

       

       

      Lesson 9:  social inequalities

       

      Lesson 10:  gender

       

      Social Inequalities. 24. What is Social Stratification? / Wendy Bottero ---

       

      Woman -the Second Sex? / Simone De Beauvoir ---







      Throwing Like a Girl / Iris Marion Young ---

      Week 6

       

      Social class

      Lesson 11:  social stratification

       

       

       

      Lesson 12:  Social class

      Intersecting Inequalities / Patricia Hill Collins ---



















       
      The Rise, Fall and Rise of Social Class / Rosemary Crompton

      Week 7

       

      Relationships and the Life-course

       

       

      Lesson 14,  relationship and family

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      lesson 15

       

       

      Families in Global Perspective / Goran Therborn ---

      Relationships and the Life-course. 29. Life Cycle or Life Course? / Stephen Hunt ---







       The Normal Chaos of Love / Ulrich Beck & Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim



      30. Social Constructions of Sexuality / Jeffrey Weeks ---































                    







      Week 8

       

      Mass media

       9 March

      MID TERM EXAM

      Lesson 16:  media and communication

       

       

       

       

       

      Hollywood's Misrepresentation of Arabs / Jack G. Shaheen ---

      38. Building Virtual Communities / Howard Rheingold ----

      37. The Internet Galaxy / James Slevin ---















                      

      Week 9

       

      Sociology and the Body

       

      Lesson 17:  Health and the Body

       

      Lesson 18:  Crime and Deviance.

       

      The Problem with Medicine / Ivan Illich ---Sociology and the Body / Chris Shilling

       44. The Normality of Deviance / Emile Durkheim ---45. Crime as a Deviant Adaptation / Robert Merton ---

      46. The Birth of the Prison / Michel Foucault



                 





      Week 10

      Key social phenomena: Sport and migration

       

       

       

      Lesson 19: sport  and society

       

       

              

      25 March

      ESSAY DEADLINE

       

      Lesson 20: migration and society

       

       

       handouts

       

       

       

      handouts

      Week 11

      Lesson 21

      Politics and power

       

      Lesson 22

      social change and movements

      Political Sociology. 49. Defining Power / Steven Lukes

       

       The Social Movement Society? / David S. Meyer and Sidney Tarrow

      Week 12

      Spring break

      6-10 April

                 

      Week 13

      Lesson 23 and 24

      Modernity and globalization

      Individuality in the Modern City / Georg Simmel ---



                  15. Creating Humane Cities / Richard Sennett ---

      16. The Global City / Saskia Sassen ---



               



      Week 13

      Lesson 25

      postmodernity

       

      lesson 26

      global warming

      Intimations of Postmodernity / Zygmunt Bauman ---

       

      A New Ecological Paradigm for Sociology / Anthony Dunlap ---18. A Politics for Global Warming / Anthony Giddens























                    



      Week 14

      Lesson 27 and 28

      Recap

       

      Final exam  from 2-8 MAY