INTRODUCTION
TO SOCIOLOGY I & II[1]
SOC100 & SOC101
Joel L. From, Ph.D Office:
Room 132
Fall/Winter 2009-2010 Office Hours: By
Appointment.
3 Credit Hours/semester Office
Phone: 756-3203
<jfrom@briercrest.ca> Home Phone:
756-2847
Web-page: www.joelfrom.com
COURSE TEXTBOOKS:
Henslin, James M. et
al. Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. 5th Canadian ed. Toronto: Pearson Education
Each student is required to purchase an Introduction
to Sociology course package (one per semester). If the first printing sells out
at the bookstore, more will be printed immediately after add-drops. (In the
meantime, the first few required readings are available at the Reserve Desk in
Archibald Library.)
Each student is required to purchase the Introduction
to Sociology in-class notes (one set per semester) which will be distributed each
day in class. They will be charged to your student account after add/drops.
Quick Reference Format Guide 2009-2010: Each student is required to have a copy of the
current Briercrest College Format Guide.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
A. Cognitive Objectives
1. To provide a foundation for understanding
contemporary social thought and trends
2. To prepare the student for further
academic work in the social sciences
3. To acquaint the student with perennial
issues in social science
B. Affective Objectives
1. To cause the student to feel the force of
well-crafted arguments, especially when their conclusions differ from his or
her own view
2. To help the student appreciate the beauty
of new and penetrating insights
3. To initiate the student into the realm of
fundamental ideas
4. To infuse this rich heritage of great
minds into the student's own thinking
C. Skill Development Objectives
1. To initiate the process of sociological
analysis and written composition
2. To assist the student in detecting and
appreciating sound sociological argument
3.
To encourage
the student to read with sociological understanding
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: (SOC100)
A. Dialogue
with the readings is extremely important! Therefore, unannounced quizzes will be periodically given on the Required
Reading for that day.
Value: 15%
B. Each
student will submit Argument Summaries
for two selected readings (These readings are indicated by underscoring
and bolding in the Required
Readings). Argument Summaries (approximately 1000 words) should clearly show
the logical structure or chain of reasoning which the author uses to support
his thesis. Please do not add your editorial or evaluative comments. Please do
not directly quote the author—use your own words. Summaries submitted after
the beginning of class on their due date will not be accepted.
Due:
Marx—Sept. 22; Fishman—Oct. 6
Value: 15% (times 2) = 30%
C. Each student will build a Portfolio of her/his essays in this course. Please submit your portfolio with each written assignment. Please paperclip your essays together—no duotangs or folders. Please also include the original, marked-up copy of your previous paper(s) in the portfolio. With the exception of your first summary, papers submitted without a portfolio will not be accepted
D. Each
student will write a Midterm Exam on
October 22, 2009 and a Final Exam
(as scheduled by the Registrar’s office). The Midterm is worth 25%, and the
Final, 30% of the final grade.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: (SOC101)
A. See
A. above.
Value: 10%
B. Each
student will choose one of the tables in the class notes for SOC101 posted on
your instructor’s website (joelfrom.com). Please note that there are 54 tables numbered
with Roman numerals (please do not choose either of the first two tables). You are
asked to research the material presented in the table and give a brief (5
minute) oral presentation on it as well as a 2-page written report which
includes the substance of your oral report. You could, for instance, update (or
correct) some of data or provide a compelling, true illustration of the
underlying social reality. In any case, you should be prepared to offer analysis
and insight into the data. The tables will be assigned on a first-come basis.
Your written reports are due at the time you present in class.
Value:
15%
C. Each
student will write a 2500+ word Thesis
Defense Paper. Your paper should deal with an important (and controversial)
sociological issue. It is very important that your paper defend a thesis, that
is, it must rationally persuade your reader to adopt a certain (contestable) viewpoint
with respect to your topic. Please do not merely chronicle what others have
said. Please append a photocopy of the first page of each reference cited.
Due
Date: TBA
Value: 25%
D. Each
student will write a Midterm Exam on
TBA and a Final Exam (as scheduled
by the Registrar’s office). The Midterm is worth 20%, and the Final, 30% of the
final grade.
COURSE UNITS, TITLES, AND REQUIRED
|
Unit |
Section Title |
Required |
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 1 |
The
Sociological Perspective |
|
|
I. |
Introduction and Overview |
Mills, "The Promise of Sociology" [CP
& AL] SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 1 |
|
II. |
Pioneers of Sociological Explanation |
|
|
A. |
Auguste Comte |
Comte, "The Positive Philosophy" [CP
& AL] |
|
B. |
Emile Durkheim |
Durkheim, "What is a Social Fact?" [ |
|
C. |
Karl Marx |
Marx, "Classes
in Capitalism and Pre-Capitalism" [CP & AL] |
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 2 |
Unit
Ideas in Sociology |
|
|
I. |
Introduction to 'Unit-Ideas' |
Nisbet, “The Unit Ideas of Sociology,” 3-9 [CP] |
|
II. |
The Two Revolutions |
Nisbet, “The Two Revolutions” [CP] |
|
III. |
Community |
Nisbet, “The Problem of Community” [CP] Fishman, “ |
|
IV. |
Authority |
De Tocqueville, “The Omnipotence of the
Majority” [CP] |
|
V. |
The Sacred |
De Coulanges, The |
|
VI. |
Alienation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 3 |
Social
Processes |
|
|
I. |
Social Research |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 2 |
|
II. |
Social Structure |
No Reading |
|
III. |
Culture |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 3 |
|
IV. |
Socialization |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 4, 66-79 |
|
V. |
Socialization & Groups |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 4, 79-93 Wuthnow, "Introduction" [ |
|
VI. |
Crime & Social Deviance |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 16 Durkheim, "The Normality of Crime" [ |
|
VII. |
Social Change |
Coleman, "The Rational Reconstruction of
Society" [CP] Bailyn, "An Interpretation," 15-41
[CP] |
SECOND SEMESTER (S0C101)
Unit |
Section Title |
Required |
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 4 |
Social
Stratification |
|
|
I. |
Introduction |
|
|
II. |
Stratification Variables |
|
|
A. |
Economic Class |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 6 |
|
B. |
Social Status |
Weber, “Class, Status, Party” [CP] |
|
C. |
Power |
Mills, "The Power Elite" [CP] |
|
D. |
Income |
|
|
III. |
Functions/Dysfunctions of Stratification |
Davis & Moore, "Some Principles of
Stratification" [CP] Tumin, "Some Principles of
Stratification" [CP] |
|
IV. |
Ascriptive Processes |
|
|
A. |
Introduction |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 8 |
|
B. |
Racial and Ethnic Stratification |
Satzewich, "Social Stratification: Class
and Racial Inequality" [CP] Lemann, "The Origins of the
Underclass" [CP] |
|
C. |
Gender Stratification |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 5 |
Social
Institutions |
|
|
I. |
The Family |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 13 Whitehead,
"Dan Quayle Was Right" [CP] |
|
II. |
Education |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 14, 308-25 Bowles & Gintis, “Education and Inequality”
[CP] |
|
III. |
Religion |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 14, 325-42 Bibby, "The Imminent Crisis" [CP] |
|
IV. |
Mass Communication |
Meyrowitz, "New Group Identities" [CP] |
|
V. |
Health Care |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 15 |
|
Unit 6 |
Social
Issues |
|
|
I. |
Urban Sociology |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 17, 390-97 |
|
II. |
Rural Sociology |
Bolaria et
al., "Rural Issues and Problems” [CP] |
|
III. |
Modernization |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 18 Drucker, "The Age of Social
Transformation" [CP] |
|
|
|
|
|
Unit 7 |
Selected Canadian Issues |
|
|
I. |
Demography |
SOCIOLOGY, Chapter 17, 383-90 |
|
II. |
|
Denis, " |
|
III. |
Aboriginal Peoples |
Frideres, "First Nations: Walking the Path
of Social Change" [CP] |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Materials
Used Directly in the Course)
Bailyn, Bernard.
“An Interpretation.” Education
in the Forming of American Society.
Bibby, Reginald W.
"The Imminent Crisis."
In Unknown Gods.
Bolaria, B.
Singh et al. "Rural Issues and
Problems." In Social Issues and
Contradictions in Canadian Society. 2d ed.
Bowles, Samuel, and Herbert Gintis, “Education and
Inequality,” in Schooling in Capitalist
Coleman, James. "The Rational Reconstruction
of Society." American Sociological
Review 58 (Feb. 1993): 1-15.
Comte, Auguste. "The Positive
Philosophy." Excerpts from The
Positive Philosophy. Translated by Harriet Martineau.
Contemporary
Sociology. Edited by Peter S. Li and B. Singh
Bolaria.
Davis, Kingsley, and Wilbert E. Moore. "Some
Principles of Stratification." American
Sociological Review 10 (April 1945): 242-49. Reprinted in Social Stratification: Class, Race, and
Gender in Sociological Perspective, 39-46.
De Coulanges, Denis. The
De Tocqueville, Alexis. “The Omnipotence of the Majority in the
Denis, Wilfred.
"
Drucker, Peter. "The Age of Social
Transformation." The Atlantic Monthly. November 1994,
53-80.
Durkheim, Emile.
"The Normality of Crime."
Excerpts from The Rules of
Sociological Method. 8th ed.
Durkheim, Emile. "What is Social Fact?"
In The Rules of Sociological Method. 8th ed.
Fishman, Robert. “
Frideres, James.
"First Nations: Walking the Path of Social Change." In Social Issues and Contradictions in Canadian
Society, 3d. ed., 195-227.
Henslin, James M. et
al. Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 4th Canadian Edition.
Henslin, James M. et
al. Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 5th Canadian Edition.
Lemann, Nicholas. "The Origins of the
Underclass." Atlantic Monthly,
June 1986. Excerpted in Individualism and Commitment in American
Life. Edited by Robert Bellah et al.
Marx, Karl. "Classes in Capitalism and
Pre-Capitalism." Excerpted from The Communist Manifesto, The Poverty of
Philosophy, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, and Capital. Vol. 3. Reprinted in Social Stratification: Class, Race, and
Gender in Sociological Perspective, 69-76.
Meyrowitz, Joshua. “New Group Identities.” In No Sense of Place.
Mills, C. Wright. "The Power Elite."
Excerpted from The Power Elite,
[1956]. Reprinted in Social
Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective,
161-70.
________. "The Promise of Sociology."
Excerpted from The Sociological
Imagination. Reprinted in Seeing
Ourselves. 4th ed. Edited by John J. Macionis and Nijole V.
Benekraitis.
Nisbet, Robert. “The Problem of Community.”
Excerpted from The Quest for Community,
[1953]. Reprinted in Communitarianism: A
New Public Ethics. Edited by Markate Daly.
________. “The Two Revolutions.” In The Sociological Tradition. Revised
Edition.
________. “The Unit Ideas of Sociology.” In The Sociological Tradition. Revised
Edition.
Novek, John and Kampen, Karen. “Sustainable or
Unsustainable Development? An Analysis of an Environmental Controversy,” Canadian Journal of Sociology 17 (1992).
Excerpted in Society in Question. Edited by Robert Brym.
Satzewich, Vic. "Social Stratification: Class
and Racial Inequality." In Social
Issues and Contradictions in Canadian Society, 3d ed., 165-94.
Social
Issues and Contradictions in Canadian Society. 3d ed. Edited by B. Singh Bolaria.
Social
Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective. Edited by David B. Grusky.
Sociological
Perspectives. Edited by Kenneth Thompson et al. Middlesex: Penguin Books,
1975.
Sociological
Theory: A Book of
Sociology. 5th ed. Edited by Robert
Hagedorn.
Tumin, Melvin. "Some Principles of
Stratification: A Critical Analysis." American
Sociological Review 18 (August
1953). Reprinted in Social
Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective, 47-54.
Weber, Max. “Class, Status, Party.” In Social Class and Stratification: Classic
Statements and Theoretical Debates. 2d ed. Edited by Rhonda F. Levine.
Whitehead, Barbara D. "Dan Quayle Was
Right." Atlantic Monthly. April
1993, 47-84.
Wuthnow, Robert. "Introduction." In Sharing The Journey: Support Groups and
COURSE PACKAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Mills, C. Wright. "The Promise of Sociology."
Excerpted from The Sociological
Imagination. Reprinted in Seeing Ourselves. 4th ed. Edited by John J. Macionis and Nijole V.
Benekraitis.
Comte, Auguste.
"The Positive Philosophy." Excerpts from The Positive Philosophy. Translated by Harriet Martineau.
Marx, Karl. "Classes in Capitalism and
Pre-Capitalism." Excerpted from The Communist Manifesto, The Poverty of
Philosophy, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, and Capital. Vol. 3. Reprinted in Social Stratification: Class, Race, and
Gender in Sociological Perspective.
Edited by David Grusky.
Nisbet, Robert. “The
Unit Ideas of Sociology.” In The Sociological
Tradition. Revised Edition.
________. “The Two
Revolutions.” In The Sociological
Tradition. Revised Edition.
________. “The Problem
of Community.” Excerpted from The Quest
for Community, [1953]. Reprinted in Communitarianism:
A New Public Ethics. Edited by Markate Daly.
Fishman, Robert. “
De Tocqueville, Alexis.
“The Omnipotence of the Majority in the
De Coulanges, Denis. The
Coleman, James.
"The Rational Reconstruction of Society." American Sociological Review 58 (Feb. 1993): 1-15.
Bailyn, Bernard. “An Interpretation.” Education in the Forming of American
Society.
[1]Course content, requirements,
and examinations are subject to change in the event of extenuating
circumstances. All matters related to the second semester (SOC101) are
unofficial; they have yet to be formally approved.
[2]The
abbreviation after a required reading indicates its location. [CP] refers to
the course package. [