INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY - Spring 2013

Class Sessions: T/TH 2-3:15    C-210

Required Reading
The Engaged Sociologist - Connecting the Classroom to the Community / Korgen & White (2011) - 3rd Edition

In this class students will examine the social forces and process that shape our lives. The sociological approach is the study of human behavior from a variety of perspectives. We will explore important concepts in sociology, including culture, social structures, socialization, social institutions, inequality, collective behavior, and social change in human societies. You will be provided with an overview of human group life through principles, concepts, and theories. This introduction to sociology course will provide you with a critical examination of society and it’s elements. Through an applied lens students will be engaged in activities, lecturers, and presentations that help draw the connections between research, theory and our lived experiences.

Understanding the Instructors Pedagogical Approach

Learning Goals

1. understand the "place" of sociology in the social sciences and the role it has in a gaining a fuller understanding of human behavior.
2. describe and compare the major theoretical perspectives in contemporary sociology.
3. discuss the process of socialization with a more immediate window on American Society.
4. understand the relevance of language and its relationship to the social construction of reality.
5. articulate the differences and connections between the major concepts of structure and culture.
6. discuss theories and factors that affect social inequality and how these factors pervade the major institutions of society, e.g., family, education, the economy, government.
7. discuss the difference between ideology and empirically based theories via understanding research methods.
8. discuss the social nature of deviance.
9. Learn various methods of campus and community based research and use it as an integral part of your learning process in the course.

Additional Required Reading

Marx on Capitalism
Weber on Capitalism
Multiculturalism
Lady Gaga Feminism
Ain't I a woman - Sojourner Truth (1851)
Women's Convention - Ohio
C. Wright Mills/ Sociological Imagination
Family

Oppression & Democracy
White Privilege
Defining an Engaged Campus
Glossary of Terms
History and Introduction
Social Theories
Deviance & Crime
Urbanization
NOTE: I may include others throughout the semester.

Assignments: Tools for Learning

Reflective Journals: Each student will be required to submit reflective journals at different periods throughout the semester. See syllabus for due dates.
(1 page single spaced)

Engagement Assignments: This may include in class reflections, creative/artistic projects, participation in class activities, discussion and debates. Remember that attending the class regularly is important in order to pass the class with a successful grade. The engagement assignments will not scheduled regularly because they will be focused on local current events and campus activities. Stay tuned!

Final Research Essay: Your final research essay will be about a social issue that interests the student. Students will need to find the relevance of their topic to the textbook for the course, lectures, and/or personal experiences.

In essay format you will answer the following questions:

• What is the social issue that interests you? and why? Provide quantitative or qualitative data from sociological research.
• How is this issue relevant to the course materials, lectures or textbook?
• What groups of people are impact by this issue? Describe how these groups are impacted by using examples from history (2 examples) or current events (2 examples) - choose one historical or current.
• What types of social movements or interest groups are working to change this issue on a local, regional or national level?
• What is your opinion on the issue? What needs to be changed and how should this change come to be? You must use at least 3 references (books, newspaper articles, research articles of documentary films)
• How are your personally, socially or politically impacted by the issue you chose to research?

Other details: 3-5 pages long, 11-12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced, APA Format

Campus/Community Based Research Activities
- see assignment sheet (provided week 8)

Grading Scale:
Final Essay 100 (1) 
Engagement Assignment 200 (4 @ 50 points)
Campus/Community Based Research Activities & Portfolio 100 (1)
Reflective Journals  150 (5 @ 30 points)
Participation  50

TOTAL: 600 POINTS

Unit 1: Understanding the Importance of Sociology
Week 1: Welcome to the class, Introduction to the course, Review of Syllabus and Class Schedule, Sociological Analysis of the Bay Area – Understanding the Sociological Lens (bring in two newspaper articles for class participation credit – These articles must be about a social issue in the East Bay)

Week 2: Defining an Engaged Campus & Glossary of Terms (for your notes)

Week 3: Chapter 1: The Engaged Sociologist: The Sociological Perspective and the Connections Among Sociology, Democracy, and Civic Engagement Reflective Journal Due 1 of 5 (Thursday) Methods Social Influences Powerpoint

Week 4: Chapter 2: Founders and Foundations of Sociology: Theory & Chapter 3: How Do We Know What We Think We Know? Sociological
Sociological Theory Powerpoint

Unit 2: The Impact of Social Sciences
Week 5: Chapter 4: Creating Civic Engagement Versus Creating Apathy: Culture

Week 6: Chapter 5: Learning How to Act in Society: Socialization Reflective Journal Due 2 of 5 (Thursday)

Week 7: Lady Gaga Feminism & Ain't I a woman - Sojourner Truth (1851)
Women's Convention - Ohio Lecture Powerpoint - Cracking the Codes Film (Thursday)

Week 8: Oppression & Democracy & White Privilege Chapter 6: Deviant Behavior and Social Movements

Unit 3: Complexities in Society
Week 9: Chapter 7: Big Money Doesn’t Always Win: Stratification and Social Class Marx on Capitalism & Weber on Capitalism Reflective Journal Due 3 of 5 (Thursday), Prep for Community Based Research Project

Week 10: Spring Break March 25 – 31st

Week 11: Engagement Assignment Discussion & Community Based Research Project prep  (Thursday)

Week 12: (film - Tuesday - Hidden Colors) Chapter 8: What Does a “Typical American” Look Like Today?: Race and Ethnicity (Engagement Assignment in Class) Reflective Journal Due 4 of 5 

Videos: Sex, Power & Gender Lecture

Unit 4: Sociology as a tool for Social Change

Week 13: Chapter 9: Sex, Gender, and Power, Community Based Research Project Due

Week 14: Chapter 10: Social Institutions: Family and Economy & Chapter 11: Social Institutions, Continued: Education, Government, and Religion Engagement Assignment Due [Make up assignment for those who missed class/ see page 142 in book, Exercise 9.2]

New Reading added: Family Values, Race, Feminism and Public Policy – TWILA L. PERRY (Santa Clara University)

Week 15: Chapter 12: The Engaged Sociologist in Action Reflective Journal Due 5 of 5 (Thursday)

Week 16: Guest Speakers (grades to date given)

Week 17: FINAL RESEARCH ESSAY DUE May 20th! in Prof Crain's mailbox

Optional Readings

Good Jobs, Safe Streets: How Economic Recovery Can Lead to Community Safety in Oakland. EBASE, 2009
Beinin, J. (2011) Egypt's Workers Rise Up. The Nation.
Kennedy, R. (2010) The Enduring Relevance of Affirmative Action. The American Prospect.
Peterson, L. (2010) The Forgotten Promise of Obama's Race Speech. The American Prospect.
Pollin, R. & Thompson, J. (2011) The Betrayal of Public Workers. The Nation.