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General Sociology - SOCS-1010-371

* (Exploring Society)

Orientation, Seminars and Final Exam to be Held in Room TBA 6:00 PM at the Liston Campus, Providence, on Sept 15, Nov 3, and Dec 15, 2009.

Textbook

“SOCIOLOGY IN A CHANGING WORLD”
by William Kornblum, Published by Thomson Wadsworth 2007 8th Ed

Course Description

An introductory course presenting a description and analysis of the structure and dynamics of human society. It focuses on the origins of the study of human society, and the methods employed in such analyses. Major themes include the study of culture, groups, socialization, stratification, and social institutions.  By employing sociological theory and methods,  social phenomena are explained and investigated.

Course Requirements

Viewing the TV videos weekly - see viewing schedule

If students miss the telecast, the videos are available at the Learning Resource Center (Library and Audio Visual Department).

Reading the related chapters in the textbook

EXAMINATIONS

a.  2 Take Home exams to be submitted on October 6th and November 3rd - 30%

Turn Exams in to my box at the Liston (Providence) Campus in the Faculty area or mail to Wayne Solomon, CCRI, 1 Hilton St Providence, RI 02903-no late submissions

b.  Final Exam December 15th (in class) - 30%

Semester Paper

An academic research paper titled: Race and Politics in America- 40%

Write exactly 4 pages of text, typed double- spaced. Characters are to be no larger than 12 cpi on Microsoft Word. This paper must follow a standard college paper writing format. Citations are required. 

Avoid plagiarism. A bibliography is necessary. Spelling and grammar rules must be followed. Sources must include at least one academic journal, two books written by sociology scholars, two Newspaper articles and two magazines 2 valid internet sources for example university web pages, the American Sociological Association website or any other approved by the instructor.

There are guides to writing sociology papers available at the LRC. I will be available to offer guidance upon request. I always check my e-mail, so try e-mail.

The paper is due Tuesday November 24th 2009 by 12:00 noon, in my box at the Providence Campus in the Faculty area or mail to Wayne Solomon, CCRI, 1 Hilton St Providence, RI 02903

Orientation and Seminar attendance

5% per attendance (bonus) - 10%

Course Outline

September 3, 10

What is Sociology?
Kornblum 1& 2

September 15

ORIENTATION PROVIDENCE ROOM 2248 6:00-7:00 PM

September 17

Culture
Kornblum 3

September 24

Socialization
Kornblum 5

October 01

Groups
Kornblum 6
Social Movements
Kornblum 8

October 6

TAKE HOME TEST #1 DUE

October 08, 15

Stratification and Social Class
Kornblum 11 & 12

October 15

Gender Stratification
Kornblum 14

October 22

Racial and Ethnic Stratification
Kornblum 13

October 29

The Family
Kornblum 16

November 3

Religion
Kornblum 17

November 10

Education
Kornblum 18

November 3

TAKE HOME TEST #2 DUE

November 24

SEMESTER PAPER DUE AT 12:00 NOON

December 15

FINAL EXAM AT 7:00 PM Providence Room TBA

POLICIES

All Meetings, Seminars and Exams are held in Room 2248 at the Providence Campus 1 Hilton Street Providence RI 02903.

Orientation Meeting

7pm Tuesday September 15th 2009. At this meeting the course will be introduced and explained.

Seminar dates

October 6th and November 3rd 2009 at 6:00pm.

Research Paper and exams policy

The Research paper must be turned in to my box in the faculty area at the Providence Campus, on Monday November 24th  by 12:00 noon. Write 4 pages of text 12 font typed double spaced. No late submissions will be allowed for the paper.  (see writing tips below)

Take home exams must be turned in on the dates specified  (Oct 6th and Nov 3rd ). The final exam is an in class exam, to be held on December 15th in Providence Room TBA at 6:00pm-7:30pm. No make up exam or work is allowed.

Click here to see your program viewing schedule.

Writing your Sociology Essay

This is a research paper. So you will need to read several documents.

The four basic parts of the essay:

1. Introduction—an opening statement and definition of terms in the title of the
   Essay
2. 2. Body
   1. Explain the thesis (what you are about to prove)
   2. Sociological Theory or Theories on this subject
   3. General Overview of what the literature says
   4. Supporting arguments (for)
   5. Critique (against)
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography

Some additional tips

• Cite all your sources and do a proper Bibliography using a system like MLA or APA. Just be consistent.
• Write FOUR pages of text (excluding the bibliography). No title page needed. You may print on both sides of the pages.
• You need at least three sources: your textbook, the Reader and one Internet website.
• Use your textbook to get an understanding of theories and concepts associated with the topic.
• Use the Encyclopedia of Sociology to learn about the subject.
• Use the Dictionary of Sociology to define terms.

Course Objectives

In this introduction to the discipline of sociology students will be guided:

1. To gain an understanding of the history and reasons behind the development of Sociology as an academic discipline.
2. To study the meaning and purpose of Sociology.
3. To determine how the structure of society impacts individuals.
4. To identify how sociology is used in our daily lives.
5. To introduce Sociological Theories and explain how these tools are employed in the understanding, explaining and predicting of matters related to the social world.
6. To learn the basic methods of Sociological Research.
7. To be able to identify the types of Groups in a society.
8. To understand the divisions in society and how these divisions impact and affect groups and individuals.
9. To acquire the knowledge of how institutions are structured and how to analyze them using sociological tools.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this introductory course students will improve their

1. Critical Thinking Skills
2. Writing and Oral Communication Skills
3. Reading Comprehension Skills
4. Academic Research ability
5. Understanding of the Social World
6. Knowledge of the diversity of American Society
7. Interest in Social Justice
   

Exit Exam:

1. What is Sociology?
2. What is Society?
3. What is Culture?
4. Who coined the term sociology?
5. What is science?
6. What is reductionism?
7. Who are Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber?
8. What is the main lesson of Sociology?
9. What is the Sociological Imagination?
10. Who studied suicide?
11. What is anomie?
12. Who is C. Wright Mills?
13. Who wrote about the Looking Glass self?
14. What is self –fulfilling prophecy?
15. What is a theory?
16. Who is George Herbert Mead?
17. Symbolic Interaction is an American Sociological Theory. True or False?
18. What is the American Sociologist Talcott Parsons known for?
19. How do sociologists overcome the problem of inaccurate explanations of social phenomena?
20. What is the Scientific Method?
21. What is a paradigm?
22. What is a theoretical proposition?
23. What is a hypothesis?
24. What is participant observation?
25. What is the most commonly used data collection method; questionnaires, interviews or experiments?
26. Is a social group the same as a social aggregate?
27. Which type of group is common amongst teenagers?
28. The terms in-group and out-group were devised by Georg Simmel or William Sumner?
29. A reference group gives you a reference. True or False
30. Which sociologist did extensive work on Ideal Types and Bureaucracy?
31. Who wrote about the Iron Cage of Rationality?
32. Social Stratification creates social classes and statuses. True or False?
33. Functionalists Davis and Moore developed a theory called Functional Meritocracy?
34. Does a meritocracy guarantee equality of outcome or equality of opportunity?
35. Who invented Social Conflict Theory?
36. Who co-authored the Communist Manifesto with Karl Marx?
37. What French name is used for the ruling class by Conflict Theorists?
38. Who are the Proletariat?
39. What does utopia mean?
40. Socialism was practiced in some countries but was Communism ever practiced?
41. Which sociologist in critique of Conflict Theory was said to have had an argument with the ghost of Marx?
42. Who said that in determining social class you should factor in the impact of power and prestige as well as wealth?
43. Race is of social significance more than of biological importance?
44. Race has to do with physical features but ethnicity is mainly about culture and nationality. True or False?
45. What is racism?
46. Was the Civil Rights Movement in America was an attempt to end segregation in United States?
47. What is Racial segregation?
48. What is sexism?
49. Is feminism rooted in Conflict Theory or Symbolic Interaction Theory?
50. What did Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Staton do for women in America?
51. Why is it difficult to define the Family in America?
52. Is Polyandry the same as Polygny?
53. Serial Monogamy is common amongst American celebrities. True or False?
54. Conflict Theory sees the family as an ideological conditioning device. True or False?
55. What is Social Reproduction?
56. Is education a process or an Institution?
57. Does education facilitate social integration according to Structural Functionalism?
58. Is Education used to reproduce the ruling class according to Conflict Theory?
59. Religion is the belief in the supernatural? True or False?
60. Is subjective experience an element of religion?
61. What are the major types of Religion?
62. What are the three major monotheistic world religions?
63. Marxists disagree with the statement that “religion is an instrument of oppression.”
64. Who called religion the opium of the people?
65. Which two social institutions are shown to be connected in Max Weber’s book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism?
    

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This page last modified on: September 09, 2009