Sociology 1101 Class Objectives & Learning Outcomes
- To meet the first outcome, students will learn three social theories, which we will apply during the semester. These theories will guide our search for understanding of social processes. In addition, we will apply these theories to examine the major social institutions in society including the family, education, politics, economy, and religion. You will gain an appreciation of how your position(s) in these various social institutions influence your life. Being a “son” or “daughter” is much different than being a “father” or “mother.” The class will emphasize how these social influences impact your life.
- The second learning outcome will be for students to complete an overview of several substantive areas in sociology such as crime, family, religion, race relations, education, social change and stratification. Sociologists usually specialize in specific areas and this class will introduce you to the major areas of sociological study.
- The third learning outcome will be for students to further develop their critical thinking and writing skills. You are required to engage in critical thinking and writing in order to complete the newspaper analysis, the research paper, and the essay questions on the examinations. I read all of your written work and try to edit most of it so that you receive feedback on analysis and writing.
Critical Analysis and Writing: The following assignments will help you develop these skills:
1. Newspaper Analysis: You are required to write a one-page paper. Select an article in a newspaper or news magazine that interests you and then discuss the article in terms of the material we have been covering in class. The purpose of these papers is to give you experience in applying sociological theory and insights to explain every day events. An example will be passed out in class to help guide you. The date for submitting this newspaper analysis is included in the Class Schedule.
2. Research Paper: A five page research paper discussing a sociological topic is required. The purpose of this paper is to expose you to the social science literature and the research process. The intent is not for you to write superficially about a broad topic, but for you to explore in detail a more narrow focus. I expect your paper to contain information that is not known by your parents or friends. I want you to discover (through library research) relevant information about a significant sociological topic of interest to you. An explanation of the paper and a sample outline will be provided to you. The dates for submitting a topic and outline, a rough draft, and the final draft are noted in the Class Schedule.
Learning Activities-Reading: You have the obligation to read the chapter(s) before the assigned date and be prepared to discuss the material in class. We will follow the class schedule, which is attached. We’ll be a little flexible with the schedule to allow for greater discussion on topics of interest to the class. The material in the text is vital to our discussion of social processes, so please read it. The multiple choice questions included in the exams will primarily be taken from the text. Reading the text will help you do much better on this section of the exams.
Late Assignments/Make-Ups: I will deduct points for papers turned in late. I don’t have much time to review past due assignments, so please get them in on time! If you miss a scheduled exam without making prior arrangements with me (and you have a very, very, very good reason for it-and I get to decide if it’s a good reason) you may take a make-up exam. However, I will automatically deduct 20 points from all of your exams. So yes, there is redemption, but it will come at a cost. So, don’t miss the exams.
Exams: 300 points (100 points each)
Newspaper report: 50 points
Sociological research paper: 150 points (25, 25, 100)
Total: 500 points
Class Schedule/Assignments
Week 1 Introduction/Ch. 1: The Sociological Perspective/Drop/Add Ends Friday
Week 2 Ch. 1 Continued/Ch. 2: Culture
Week 3 Ch. 3 Socialization
Week 4 Labor Day-No Class Monday/Ch. 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction
Newspaper Analysis Due
Week
5 Ch. 4 Continued/Ch. 5: Social
Groups and Formal Organizations
Week
6 Ch. 5 Continued/Exam on Chapters 1-5
Week
7 Ch. 6: Deviance and Social
Control/Paper Topic and Outline Due
Week
8 Ch. 7: Global Stratification/Ch.
8: Social Class in the US
Week
9 Ch.
8 Continued/Ch. 9: Race and
Ethnicity
Week
10 Ch. 10: Gender and Age/Exam on Chapters 6-10
Week 11 Ch. 11 Politics and the Economy/Rough Draft Due
Week
12 Ch. 12: Marriage and Family
Week
13 Ch. 13: Education and Religion
Week
14 Ch. 14: Population and
Urbanization/ Final Copy of Paper Due
Week
15 Ch.
15: Social Change and the Environment/Thanksgiving-No
Class Wed.
Week
16 Ch.
15 Continued
Week
17 Wrap
Up
December 13: 8:00am-
Final Exam on Chapters 11-15
Additional Information: Rules of Class Conduct
And now for some other issues: You are
all adults. McDonald’s may use “free” toys in their Happy Meals to dupe kids
into convincing their parents to buy McFood. I however, will assume that you
have enough intelligence to know that the most important thing you will learn
in your education is that if you actually approach it as that –your
education-you won’t need a “free” toy to induce you to learn and study hard. I
will give you no free toys like credit for attendance, which frankly strikes me
as about the most stupid, counter-productive pseudo-educational approach I can
think of. I will frequently make
important announcements about tests, etc. in class that I will not necessarily
email you about. I will not carry on personal one-on-one email and other
consultations with students who were not in class to get the information. Two
other things: 1. I am anal-retentive when it comes to being here on time. I will be here on time and I expect you to be
as well. 2. Don’t cheat! Cheating will be dealt with mercilessly. All suspected
cases of cheating and plagiarism will be immediately reported and the student
will receive a zero for the assignment.
Lastly, I expect everyone in my class to show respect to others when discussing potentially controversial topics. Rude, threatening, and/or antagonistic behavior toward anyone else in class will not be tolerated. If you have a question or would like to comment, raise your hand. Talking to others in class is not allowed. All electronic devices (phones, laptops, earphones, etc.) should be turned off upon entering the classroom. I expect you to pay attention to what is going on in class at all times. Yes that means no texting! If you disturb the class, you will have points deducted from your grade. No exceptions!
Instructor Contact:
Instructor: Mr. Josh Stovall
Office: Cartersville
124-10 Marietta D-169
Phone: Marietta: #678-915-5020
E-Mail: jstovall@highlands.edu
Office Hours: Cartersville- MW 10:45AM-1:45P; Tues 1:00PM-3:00PM
Marietta- Tues 9:30A-11:30AM
Class Evaluations
I encourage you to complete the class evaluation for SOC 1101. These evaluations are very helpful to me and to the College. We use your feedback to improve classes in the future, so please help by completing them for this class!
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