Course Number: SOCI 1301 580

Course Title: Introduction to Sociology

Course Description: Introduction to the scientific study of social factors that influence human behavior. Includes analysis of culture and socialization processes, social interaction, deviance, social stratification inequality, race relations, global interdependence, and gender.

Course Credit Hours: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

1. Apply the three main sociological perspectives to the analysis of social life

2. Demonstrate the use of the sociological imagination to understand social life

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of social stratification (gender, race, class) on

individual life chances

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the reality of cultural diversity and the various effects it has

for individuals, groups, and society-at-large

5. Demonstrate communication skills and critical thinking by assessing the impact that social

structure has on social behavior

6. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of socialization throughout the life cycle

7. Judge what are considered to be reasonable criteria for the acceptability of social scientific

research

Withdrawal Policy: Prior to withdrawing, students should talk with their professor(s) and/or their advisors.

NOTE: Failure to drop or withdraw on or before the Last Day to

Withdraw will result in a performance grade.

Scholastic Dishonesty

NCTC may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work of material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty shall involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:

Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; copying computer or Internet files; using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own; or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy answers. In cases where an incident report has been filed for an alleged violation of scholastic dishonesty, faculty are requested to delay posting a grade, for the academic work in question, until the Dean of Students Office renders an administrative decision in the case. Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive an authorized disciplinary penalty from the Dean of Students Office. The student may also receive an academic penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. The professor will determine the appropriate academic penalty.

Instructor’s Name: Brad Davis

Office Hours: “By appointment only”. I am available before and after class.

Email: bdavis@nctc.edu

Class Information: SOCI 1301

Section Number: 580

Meeting Times: T/ Th 9:30a-12:20p (Begins October 18th)

Meeting Location: FLM 210

Course Resources: Society: The Basics, 11^th (0205003788), 12^th (0205898912), or 13^th (0205982514) Edition, John J. Macionis, Pearson Prentice Hall

Here are the covers of the approved books:

13^th -12^th - 11^th -

Note: Textbook available on reserve in the library – first come, first serve

*** If you cannot afford a book or do not choose to buy one, you may access the OpenStax version of Sociology, 2^nd Edition for free at this source: https://openstax.org/details?introduction-sociology-2e***

Supplies: None.

Attendance Policy: (1) Attendance is not obligatory, however, I will give weekly quizzes that will require you to have both read the book and listened to the lectures.  Most of my lectures and our discussions will go beyond the required readings and include materials not found in the text.  In some cases I will disagree with the author and be critical of the text.  As a result, a good set of class notes will be extremely helpful to you.

(2)   Students, with good reasons, will be allowed to arrive late or depart early. Attending for only one-half of a class on a given day is better than not attending at all. If you need to either arrive late or depart early, please do so unobtrusively with a minimum of disruption. 
***Excessive unexcused absences (10 hours or more) will likely cost you a letter grade***

(3)   Students who stop attending class but who do not officially withdraw will be assigned a grade of "F."

Additional Student Learning Outcomes: Become a more analytical thinker. Learn how to engage in civil discourse (especially in dealing with controversial topics). Learn how to differentiate the credibility of various sources.

Method of Evaluation:

This class will be student-centered. As such, you will be encouraged to be an active learner. However, not everyone is comfortable speaking their mind in public and active learning can still be accomplished through other means (i.e., emailing me or handing me written questions or comments after or before class, making eye contact with me, giving a courtesy nod every now and then, etc.). As a result, speaking up in class is NOT mandatory – no specified percentage of your grade depends on it. However, as will be indicated in the section on grading, bonus points may be awarded for active participation beyond the general requirement.

(1) Active class participation, as mentioned above, will count for 5% of your final grade.

(2) There will be a quiz almost every week we meet together. Quizzes will be 10 questions encompassing the material from the book as well as the lecture. The quizzes will be unannounced; however, you can be sure that we will always quiz the next class period after a study guide has been covered. These will count for 40% of your final grade.

(3) In a team of 3-5 of your peers you will present ONE study guide to the class. You will begin the class discussion by detailing, on the board, how the three theoretical approaches, functional, conflict and interactionist address the broader topic you have chosen. You will then proceed to answer any questions the rest of the class has on the study guide. You must turn in a complete study guide with your presentation. This will count for 20% of your grade.

(4) You will participate in a debate on a team of 2-4 classmates on a topic assigned by me. You will be required to debate another team of classmates by preparing material in advance on your particular topic. Your debates will adhere to a rigid structure that will be presentational in style rather than confrontational. Your classmates will determine the winner. This will count for 20% of your grade.

Debate Outline

Intro (2 min) - Pro
Intro (2 min) - Con
Major Arguments (4 min) - Pro
Rebuttals (3 min) - Con
Major Arguments (4 min) - Con
Rebuttals (3 min) - Pro
Break & Prep Time (5 min)
Crossfire (5-7min)
Conclusion (1 min) - Pro
Conclusion (1 min) - Con

You will want to write some stuff down so you can maximize your time. Reading of off a sheet is fine for the introduction. Take notes during the rebuttals so you argue what they actually said as opposed to what you expected them to say.

(5) You will complete a research analysis between 2-4 pgs. double-spaced in which you will analytically explain and explore concepts you have learned in class by analyzing an article of your choosing. The paper is due by the last day of class, Thursday, December 6^th. You are required to submit a 1-page proposal on November 22nd. This will count for 20% of your grade.

Final Analysis Requirements:

1. One credible source. No .com or .org or .net unless it is a major syndicate like Dallas News.com, CNN.com or NPR.org. .edu and .gov usually work, and of course you can use a peer reviewed journal.

2. It needs to be between 2-4 pages.

3. You must turn in a ½ page proposal telling me what your article is about and where I can find it and how the three theoretical approaches will address: (1) the broader topic such as race/ethnicity, poverty, gender, etc. and (2) how the three approaches will address the actual article itself (1-2 sentence(s) per approach is sufficient. The purpose of this assignment is for me to make sure you are on the right track.

Here is an outline for what your final analysis should look like:

(½ pg ) A very brief summary of the article.

(½ – 1pg) How would the Structural Functional approach address the content in this article? What is the manifest and latent function of this topic? How would you critique this specific perspective?

(½ – 1pg) How would the Social Conflict approach address the content in this article? Who is the dominant group and who is the subordinate group and what is their relationship to each other? How would you critique this specific perspective?

(½ – 1pg) How would the Symbolic Interaction approach address the content in this article? Compare and contrast two constructed realities? What major symbols in these environments communicate the constructed reality? How do these symbols seem to change based on their constructed reality? In other words, how might the behavior or outcomes be the same in both environments, yet the way it is presented differs from one reality to the next? How would you critique this specific perspective?

REMEMBER to include YOUR SOURCE in the paper at the end or in the text.

***Bonus points (no more than one-half letter grade) may also be awarded to students with excellent attendance and above-average class participation***

*** Excessive unexcused absences (10 hours or more) will likely cost you a letter grade***

***The last day to withdraw and receive the grade of "W" is ***