Sociology 101

Christine Winter, Professor of Sociology [e-mail]
Office Hours: I will be available to meet with students before class, after class or by appointment. Please try to let me know in advance if you would like to meet with me so that I can schedule accordingly

In this course, we will look at human behavior through the lens of sociology. Humans are social animals and are profoundly influenced by the social groups to which they belong. These groups include the family one is born into, one’s gender, race and ethnicity, and the neighborhood, city, region, and country in which one lives. They also include religious and political affiliations and one’s economic and social position within the larger strata of the society in which one lives. As humans participate in each of the groups to which they belong, their behavior, beliefs, and even those things they come to define as “normal” or “real” are shaped by their interactions with other group members.

Sociology studies the way society is organized. It also studies how human beings interact in the context of their social situations. The course introduces this intellectual discipline as a way of analyzing the complex, multi-cultural world in which we live. Over the course of the semester we will: * Identify key terms and apply the major theoretical perspectives to information and experiences. * Compare and contrast elements of social inequalities regarding race, ethnicity, gender and age. * Understand the significance of the scientific viewpoint, exploration and critique of research methods in sociology designed to foster the ability to think abstractly and perform critical analysis. Conduct research relating to key concepts in sociology and compose a paper using APA format. * Explain and analyze the development of culture through the process of socialization in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and nationality. * Demonstrate how any viable society will increasingly be influenced by global events occurring beyond the conventionally defined national borders. * Demonstrate how an increasing human population, within a global, finite resource based environment generates problems and solutions to the human condition.
Southwestern College Policies * Academic Accommodations: Southwestern College recommends that students with disabilities discuss academic accommodations with their professor during the first two weeks of class. This syllabus and course handouts are available in alternate media upon request. DSS Office: Room 107 [phone] * Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism can result in any one of a variety of sanctions. Academic dishonesty of any type by a student provides grounds for disciplinary action by the instructor or college. Excessive absences, disruptive behavior, or deliberate falsification of information are bases for dismissal from class and/or from the college for the duration of the semester. * Responsibility to add, drop and withdraw from the class: It is the student’s responsibility to add, drop or withdraw from classes before the deadlines stated in the class schedule. If the student fails to withdraw by that date and stops coming to the class, a grade that has been earned must be assigned to him/her. * Academic Success Center: To further your success, reinforce concepts, and achieve the stated learning objectives for this course, I refer you to the Academic Success Center learning services. * Attendance and Tardiness Policy: Students are expected to attend every class meeting, to arrive on time and stay throughout the class period. Students December be dropped from class for excessive tardiness, for failure to attend class the first day or during the entire first week of class, or if the total number of absences exceeds twice the number of hours the class meets per week. * Behavior/Discipline: Using electronic equipment during class is not permitted. If you wish to tape the lectures, please ask instructor for permission. If you need to leave class early for any reason, inform the instructor before the class session begins. Please be respectful toward other students in the class even though their opinions December differ from yours. * Homework: All writing assignments must be typed (no handwritten assignments will be accepted), double-spaced with 1” Margins, 12 pt font, Times New Roman.

Required Texts: * Conley, Dalton. You May Ask Yourself 2nd Edition 2011 W. W. Norton, NY * Albom, Mitch. (1997) Tuesdays With Morrie.

Grading and Evaluation: * Research Paper 100 * Presentation 100 * 4 Exams 400 (100 each) * Homework Assignments 100 * Pop Quizzes 100 (20 each) 500

An important component of this course is class discussion – your active participation will be expected.

Have fun!