Course: HONORS Introduction to SociologY

Course Description: This course introduces students to the skill of thinking sociologically and the skill of testing sociological ideas through empirical research. To fulfill this goal, we will read and examine four books that provide rich analyses of sociological phenomena. Various subfields within sociology are discussed in these books, such as, Race, Class, and Gender; Power Structures; Political Economy; Deviance; Social Movements; Environmental Sociology; and Research Methods. Most importantly, this course should open students’ imagination as we encounter societal experiences different from our own.

Required Course Texts:

Bettie, Julie. 2003. Women Without Class: Girls, Race, and Identity. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Domhoff, G. William. 2005. Who Rules America? Power and Politics. Boston: McGraw-Hill Co.

Duneier, Mitchell. 1999. Sidewalk. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Guha, Ramachandra. 2000. Environmentalism: A Global History. New York: Longman.

Course Assignments:  **Please Note: I do not accept assignments via email.

Reading Worksheets (40% total): To assist students in reading each study effectively, reading worksheets will be assigned. Students should keep all completed worksheets together in a notebook for easy reference. Deadlines for each worksheet will be written on each worksheet assignment. No late worksheets will be accepted.

Two Take-Home Essay Assignments (40% total): Each assignment will have a 10-page requirement (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and 1-inch margins) and will include several short-essay questions that test students’ understanding of readings and class discussions. Specific instructions will be provided a week before each assignment’s deadline. No late essay assignments will be accepted.

Pop Quizzes (20% total): Pop quizzes will be randomly administered during the term. Each quiz, as well as its general content, will be announced one class day before it will be distributed.

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR THIS COURSE

This is a course in an institution of higher education, thus it is assumed that students will handle attendance maturely and responsibly. Class attendance is NOT recorded. If I notice patterns of absenteeism among particular individuals, I will likely confer privately with her/him. As a general rule, continual absence from class sessions will inhibit a student’s ability to master course material and to complete this course successfully.  Keep in mind class sessions are opportunities for students to engage in course topics. Please discuss schedule conflicts in advance with me.

WISH TO ATTEND A CLASS SESSION LATE, OR TO LEAVE EARLY?

To ensure a positive learning environment for all students taking this course, the door will be closed 10 minutes after the class session begins. If you are more than 10 minutes late and the door to the room is closed, you have officially missed class for the day. If you anticipate being late for class (conflicting doctor’s appointment, childcare arrangements, work arrangements, and so on), let me know as soon as you are aware that you might be late one day. Also, if you need to leave early from class on a particular day, please let me know BEFORE class session begins. Otherwise, students are expected to attend the full class session - no early exits. Those who need to use the restroom are excused (I can tell since you will not put all of your books away and take off with your book bag to do this). Please acknowledge that these measures are taken to reduce interruptions in the class and to maintain respect in our classroom. Thanks, in advance, for cooperating.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND RESPECT

Sociology explores topics that are often controversial to new students in the discipline. In light of the potential for conflict in the classroom, I ask that we follow a code of conduct. The code of conduct includes the simple idea that “you do unto others what you would like done unto yourself”. How this translates into our own conduct in class comprises the following: listen attentively to individuals who present ideas in class; do not hold conversations with peers in the background of class presentations/discussions; and put away all materials that are not related to the course during class sessions (newspapers, magazines, cell phones - turn the ringer off, portable video games, CD players, and so on). In addition, when you pose your own position before the class, please recognize that others’ ideas may vastly differ from your own. Be sure you don’t make fun of, or degrade, others who hold different perspectives. Failing to abide by any of the terms in this code of conduct may result in expulsion from class sessions. Thanks, in advance, for your cooperation!!

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Plagiarism is not accepted in any student’s work in this course. I will discuss more specifically in class what is considered plagiarism. Briefly, I consider plagiarism to be the duplication of someone’s ideas (a famous writer/researcher’s ideas and even a fellow student’s ideas) without proper reference of WHO established these ideas, as well as WHEN and WHERE these ideas were made. A bibliography alone is not sufficient for avoiding plagiarism. Please discuss with me individually if you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism. The safest rule to follow is to acknowledge the source of an idea whenever you are in doubt. I will fail an assignment if I identify any plagiarized ideas in it. If a student plagiarizes a second time in the same course, that student will fail the entire course. It is important to note, I can only determine if plagiarism has taken place and not whether a student intended to plagiarize. Therefore, it is critical for students to learn how to avoid plagiarizing. Please refer to the following site regarding academic integrity at University Idaho: http://www.students.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=45708
 
COURSE OUTLINE
(Please note that this is a tentative outline of assignments and is subject to change several times over the duration of the term. Changes will be announced in class.)

WEEK 1: THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

  • Tuesday, October – Friday, September 9: Basic tools in developing a sociological imagination.
    • Reading Assignment: C.Wright Mills handout

WEEK 2 (Monday, September 12 – Friday, September 16): BASIC TOOLS IN SOCIOLOGY
Reading: Begin Ramachandra Guha’s book
Lecture topics: The history of sociology and its controversies, Micro/Macro Analyses, and Social Institutions

WEEKS 3-5 (Monday, September 19 – Friday, October 7): EXAMINE BOOK ONE
BOOK ONE: Guha, Ramachandra. 2000. Environmentalism: A Global History

  • Week 3 (Mon., Sept. 19 – Fri., Sept. 23): Central Purpose, Central Concepts, Research Method, and Historical Development of Conceptualizing “the Environment”
    • Reading Assignment: Guha, Part I “Environmentalism’s First Wave”
  • Week 4 (Mon., Sept. 26 – Fri., Sept. 30): Theoretical comparisons
    • Monday, Sept. 19: Worksheet 1, Part I Due
    • Reading Assignment: Guha, Part II “Environmentalism’s Second Wave”
  • Week 5 (Mon., Oct. 3 – Fri., Oct. 7): Earth and the American Dream; History of Imperialism
    • Monday, October 3: Worksheet 1, Part II Due
    • Film: Earth and the American Dream
    • Reading Assignment:  TBA

WEEKS 6-8 (Monday, October 10  – Friday, October 21) : EXAMINE BOOK TWO
BOOK TWO: Bettie, Julie. 2003. Women Without Class: Girls, Race, and Identity

  • Week 6 (Mon., Oct. 10 – Fri., Oct. 14):
    • Mon., Oct. 10: Columbus Day, No Class
    • Wed., Oct. 12: Defining the concepts Race, Class, and Gender
    • Reading Assignment: Bettie, Ch. 1 & 3
  • Week 7 (Mon., Oct. 17 – Fri., Oct. 21):  Tracking in Education and Institutionalized Classism, Racism, and Sexism; The “meat” of the book: What does Bettie observe?
    • Mon., Oct. 17: Worksheet 2, Part I Due
    • Fri., Oct. 21: Instructions for First Essay Assignment distributed
    • Reading Assignment: Bettie, Chs. 4 &  5
  • Week 8 (Mon., Oct. 24 – Fri., Oct. 28): Conclusions: Has Bettie successfully argued her case? Why “Women Without Class”?
    • Reading Assignment: Bettie, Chs. 6-7
    • Fri., Oct. 28: Worksheet 2, Part II Due

WEEKS 9-11 (Monday, October 31 – Friday, November 18): EXAMINE BOOK THREE
BOOK THREE: Duneier, Mitchell. 1999. Sidewalk                 

  • Week 9 (Mon., Oct. 31 – Fri., Nov. 4): Making informal work visible, Main questions and research design in Duneier’s book
    • Mon., Oct. 31: FIRST TAKE-HOME ESSAY ASSIGNMENT DUE
    • Film: If Women Counted
    • Reading Assignment: Duneier, Part I “The Informal Life of the Sidewalk”
  • Week 10 (Mon., Nov. 7 – Fri., Nov. 11): The “meat” of the book: What does Duneier observe?
    • Wed., Nov. 9: Worksheet 3, Part I Due
    • Fri., Nov. 11: VETERAN’S DAY – NO CLASS
    • Reading Assignment: Duneier, Part II “New Uses of Sidewalks” & read one chapter from Part III (“The Limits of Informal Social Control)
  • Week 11 (Mon., Nov. 14 – Fri., Nov. 18): Conclusions: Has Duneier successfully argued his case?
    • Wed., Nov. 18: Worksheet 3, Part II Due
    • Reading Assignment: Duneier, Parts 4 & 5, and Appendix

WEEK 11 (Monday, Nov. 21 – Friday, Nov. 25): THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASSES

WEEKS 12-14 (Monday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Dec. 2): EXAMINE BOOK FOUR
BOOK FOUR: Domhoff, G. William. 2002. Who Rules America? Power and Politics

  • Week 12 (Mon., Nov. 28 – Fri., Dec. 2): Central Purpose, Central Concepts, Research Methods, and the big players in U.S. society.
    • Friday, Dec. 2: SECOND TAKE-HOME ESSAY DISTRIBUTED
    • Reading Assignment: Domhoff, “Introduction: Why Bother to Read This Book?” and Chs. 1 & 2
  • Week 13 (Mon., Dec. 5 – Fri., Dec. 9): Consequences and Conclusions: Has Domhoff successfully argued his case?
    • Reading Assignment: Domhoff, read one chapter among Chs. 3-6; read all of Chs. 7 & 8 and Appendices A & B
  • Week 14 (Mon., Dec. 12 – Fri., Dec. 16): Conclusions