Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2006
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Office: BRE 327c
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phone: 408-4042
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Office Hours: 9:00 – 11:00 MWF
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Fax: 570-408-7871
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email: michael.garr@wilkes.edu
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http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/michael.garr
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What should you learn from this course?
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Course orientation
Sociology above all is an activity. There are two aspects to sociology as
an activity. First, there is
sociological reasoning.
Sociologists have a particular, maybe even peculiar, way of thinking
about the world. C. Wright Mills
calls it the Sociological Imagination. This type of reasoning is the basis for
sociological theory. Reasoned
activity without something to support it, however, is merely idle
speculation. Hence, the second
aspect is finding support for our contentions in some systematic way. This means collecting data that will
support our contentions. This is
the research side to sociological activity. It is based on the premises of science. Thus, reason and research, theory and
methods, make up the sociological enterprise. It is the intent of this course to introduce you to this
activity.
| lecture test 1 | 100 points |
| lecture test 2 | 100 points |
| lecture test 3 | 100 points |
| lecture test 4 | 100 points |
| survey paper | 100 points |
| Total Points | 500 points |
| ... | |
| 450 - 500 points = 4.0 | 425 - 449 points = 3.5 |
| 400 - 424 points = 3.0 | 375 - 399 points = 2.5 |
| 350 - 374 points = 2.0 | 325 - 349 points = 1.5 |
| 300 - 324 points = 1.0 | less than 300 points. = 0.0 |
More grading information
The tests will be mostly objective (multiple choice and true/false) with an occasional open-ended question, closed-book, and in-class. Separate instructions will be given for the questionnaire project.
Test grades will be curved, if necessary. Points will be added to each test to bring the class average to a 73 points (the midpoint for a 2.0). However, a maximum of 20 points will be added. The curve affects only individual test scores while the grading scale remains the same. All make-up tests and assignments must be turned in by the last day of classes before finals week.. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that test/assignment. No incompletes will be given without an extraordinary excuse.
Text: McIntyre, The Practical Skeptic
For the sake of other students and the instructor please be courteous. That means: (1) keep talking to your friends at a minimum, (2) turn off your cell phones, (3) do not get up in the middle of class, leave and come back. Clearly, there are times when you need your cell phone on (as in cases of possible family emergencies) or when you really got to go. If you know these in advance, you may just want to mention them to your instructor.
It is easy and expedient to engage in academic dishonesty; try to resist. Copying work from other students is just one form of academic dishonesty, but it is the main form that threatens you in this class. If caught copying work from another student, you will get a zero (no points) for that particular section in the grading scheme. In addition, no headphones of any kind, nor other types of electronic equipment, will be permitted during tests. All cell phones must be turned off.
Email/Fax Policy
I encourage students to use email as a form of communication with me and as a way of transmitting assignments. However, some abuses have occurred in the past with email by using it as an excuse to turn in assignments late. As a result I will respond to all assignments within one working day that I am in receipt of the assignment and I am able to read it. If you do not hear from me in that time period, assume I have not received it and resubmit. Almost all email systems provide you with a message that your email was not successfully sent. When you resubmit also add as an attachment your the reply that the email was unsuccessfully sent (or just add the assignment to it and hit forward and put in my email address). Failed emailing will not be used as a legitimate excuse for not having an assignment in on time unless you can corroborate that you attempted to send it.
The same is true with faxes. If you fax an assignment to me, call the secretary (408-4040) or me to make sure the fax went through. If you do not call my secretary or me, I will assume you did not fax anything to me.
All assignments emailed as an attachment should be in Excel or Word. Do not send Works files as attachments.
Group Work Policy
The questionnaire assignment requires you to work in groups. Group work is done quite frequently in the "real world." It is a way of dividing up work so that students can save time and effort. Unfortunately, some students do not pull their fair share. This is known as "the free rider" problem. If members of your group report to me that another member has done no work or very little work relative to the other members, I will believe them and you will receive a "0" for the assignment. If you feel you have been unfairly judge, the team will meet together with me to come to an amiable solution. If problems are occurring with your group that you feel are not your fault, email me or come see me about the problem when it is occurring, not long after the fact at the end of the semester. If you feel that group work is impossible for you, you may come see me and we may be able to work out an alternative strategy.
In order to discourage the free-rider problem a few practical things can be done. First, get started on the assignment in a timely fashion. As the student wears on, students are more likely to lose interest in school as well as the project. Second, if you divide the labor, still take an interest in what is going on. Be responsible for all parts of the assignment even if the responsibility is equally shared. Free-riding is most likely to occur when a person is not being monitored by others.
Final Caveat
The student is responsible for keeping a copy of all submitted work. In case the instructor misplaces or loses a student assignment, the student should be able to provide a copy of the assignment.
Syllabus
(all dates tentative)
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Aug 29
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Course Introduction |
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Aug 31 – Sep 5
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The Sociological Imagination
Reading: McIntyre, Introduction |
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Sep 7 - 14
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Durkheim, Marx and Weber: Sociology's Big Three
Reading: McIntyre, Chp. 1 - 3 |
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Sep 19 - 21
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Doing Sociology
Reading: McIntyre, Chp. 4 - 6 |
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Sep 26
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Test 1 |
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Sep 28 – Oct 3
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Social Structure and Social Organization
Reading: McIntyre, Chp 8 |
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Oct 5 – 10
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Social Stratification and Social Mobility
Reading: McIntyre, Chp. 12 – 13 |
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Oct 17
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Poverty
Reading: McIntyre, Chp 14 |
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Oct 19
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Test 2 |
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Oct 24
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Data Entry
Meet in Breiseth 108 |
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Oct 26
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Capitals: Human, Social and Cultural
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Oct 31
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Education and Achievement
Reading: Times, Chp 6 |
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Nov 2 - 7
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From Industrial Economy to Flexible Economy Movie: Roger and Me
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Nov 9
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The Global System |
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Nov 14 - 16
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Deviance and Social Control
Reading: McIntyre, Chp 11 |
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Nov 21
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Test 3 |
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Nov 28 - 30
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Culture, Symbols and the Social Construction of Reality |
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Dec 5 - 7
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Symbols and the Self
Reading: Sweet, Chp 2 |
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Finals Week
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Test 4
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