Sociology 101-001: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Chemistry 180 Fall Semester, 2014 Tom Moore Tues. & Thurs. 9:30-10:45 Office: Bolton 750 Office Hours: Tues. & Wed. 2:00-3:00 Phone: 229-4190 -- or by appointment e-mail: [email protected] Teaching Assistants Office Kidiocus Carroll Bolton 741 Helge Marahens Bolton 729

Email [email protected] [email protected]

(students with last names A-L) (students with last names M-Z)

Background Sociology seeks to explain how our behavior and beliefs are shaped by the social settings in which we live. The primary purpose of this course is to introduce the basic concepts and theories of sociology and to show how these ideas help us think about the social arrangements that affect our lives. The course is organized into three sections, and your mastery of the material in each section will be assessed through an exam and a writing assignment. The first section introduces the theories and methods that guide sociological research. It discusses some of the basic concepts of the social sciences – culture, socialization, social structure, and deviance – and uses these concepts to examine the relationship between individuals and society. The second section focuses upon the social inequalities of class, race and ethnicity, and gender. It discusses the unequal distributions of income and wealth, the extent and persistence of poverty, the nature of prejudice and history of race relations in the U.S., and the changing roles of women and men. The final section covers the major institutions of society, including family, education, religion, and politics. It also discusses sources of social change such as urbanization, population growth, and globalization. Sociology 101 meets UWM General Education Requirements (GER) in the social sciences and counts toward the fulfillment of that requirement because it involves the: • study of intrapersonal, interpersonal and/or social-cultural factors that affect individual behavior, collective action, or societal development. • study of human groups, organizations, institutions, and cultures, including their structure and interrelationships. • study of capacities for and/or techniques of behavior adoption and change. • study of the methods used to conduct research on human behavior, collective action, societies or cultures. • study of alternative theoretical explanations for social phenomena. One key UWM GER learning goal for the course: To understand how the concepts and theories of sociology help to explain the social forces that shape human behavior and belief. Student work that will address this learning goal: We will use different methods to assess this learning goal, including multiple choice exams and essay questions. An exam question that addresses this learning goal will describe a social situation and ask which theory best accounts for

that situation. An essay question that pursues the same learning goal will ask you to describe a social outcome and explain why it occurred. Assessment criteria: The exam and essay questions will assess your recall of the facts that describe a situation, and your ability to choose the concepts or theories that best explain why it occurs. For example, both types of question might ask about the behavior we observe in children who experience extreme isolation and about how we explain that behavior. Required Materials and Readings •

Turning Technology keypad (clicker) or Turning Technology Response Ware (see handouts on D2L) th • Essentials of Sociology, 4 edition, by Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, and Carr (Text) • Additional required readings marked with an asterisk (*) and posted on D2L under “Content” We will be using the “clicker” technology in class to enhance learning. This wireless “student response system” (SRS) gives everyone the opportunity to participate, and I will use the technology to generate sociological data that can be presented back to the class, and to model and practice exam questions. To use this technology (and earn 10% of your final grade) you will need to choose one of the following: 1) You may purchase a “clicker” at the UWM bookstore, register it at myclicker.uwm.edu, and bring it to every class meeting. If you already own a TurningPoint clicker, you can use it for this course once you register it at myclicker.uwm.edu. If you choose this option, follow the instructions on the “SRS Option #1 Clicker Student Handout” posted on the course D2L site. 2) If you do not own a clicker and you DO own a smartphone, tablet, or laptop/notebook computer that you plan to bring to every class meeting, you may want to purchase a ResponseWare license for use on that device (instead of purchasing a clicker). Your internet-ready device will then work as a clicker for class exercises using the free WiFi connections offered by UWM and preventing you from incurring connectivity charges from your cell phone plan. The price of a 4-year ResponseWare license is comparable to that of a clicker, but you can purchase these licenses for shorter periods for less cost. If you choose this option, follow the instructions on the “SRS Option #2 ResponseWare Student Handout” posted on the course D2L site. Whichever option you choose, test your SRS device during the first two weeks of class by using it and checking your scores on the course D2L site. If you do not receive a score, report your difficulty to the clicker (SRS) help desk in 225 Bolton for assistance. Report any unresolved problems to your instructor. On September 16th I will start counting clicker participation points toward your final grade, and students with a 75% or better response rate for the clicker exercises will earn 50 points (10%) toward their final grade. If you respond less than 75% of the time, you will receive points as follows: 65-74% will earn 40 points; 50-65% will earn 25 points; and less than 50% will earn 0 points. You are responsible for seeing that your SRS device is working throughout the semester. That means you should check your clicker scores posted on D2L at least once a week. Do not expect leniency if you fail to check to see that your SRS device is working.

Grading Examinations. The exams count for 60% of your final grade. The first three exams (Oct. 2nd, Nov. 6th, and Dec. 9th) cover the material in their respective sections of the course. The final exam (Thursday, December 18th, 10:00-12:00) is cumulative and will cover the entire semester. Each exam consists of 49 multiple choice questions and counts 100 points (20%) toward your final grade (you get 2 points for your name on each exam). Only your three highest exam scores will count. So if you take the first three exams and are satisfied with your grade, you are not required to take the final exam. If you miss any of the first three exams (or are not satisfied with your grade), then you must take the final. To help you prepare for the exams, your TA will email you a study guide two weeks before each of the first three exams. In addition, you will have the opportunity to test your mastery of the course material, and possibly earn extra credit, by completing quizzes on the textbook chapters prior to each exam. (See “Tips for Success” below). Because only three exams count toward your final grade, make-up exams are given only 1) in the case of a student with two or more documented emergencies or 2) if a student in the U.S. military or UWM athletics can document a scheduling conflict. So mark the dates of the exams on your calendar. If you miss one of the early exams, that could cause a problem if you get sick or have an emergency at one of the later exam dates. Be aware that incompletes are given only in extreme and well-documented emergencies. Writing Assignments. The three writing assignments each count for 50 points (10%) of your final grade and cover separate sections of the course. Each writing assignment will be posted on D2L and will include several essay questions on the readings. You will be asked to choose any two of these questions and write short essay answers that total 2-to-4 typed, double-space pages in length. These writing assignments help prepare you for the exams and must be submitted before the due dates (September 25th, October 30th, and December 2nd). You can submit your essays either through the course dropbox or by handing them in to your TA. Any assignments handed in late will be penalized, and any assignments handed in after the exam date for that section of the course will receive no more than half credit. Class Participation. As discussed above, the final 50 points toward your final grade will be based upon how much you participate in class by using your clickers. Students who have a 75% or better response rate (hereafter, the “75% rule”) for the clicker questions will earn all 50 points. The 75% rule gives you leeway to diagnose and fix a faulty clicker, to miss a class or two, or to forget your clicker once or twice. After each class I will post the number of clicker questions you answered in the grades section of the D2L website, so check the grade book regularly and report any problems to the help desk in Bolton 225. If you forget to bring your clicker to class after September 16th, you will not receive credit for the exercises you miss. Managing your time. It is expected that students will spend an average of 9 hours a week on this course. As a general guide, you should expect to spend 2.5 hours in class and 3 hours reading and taking notes on the assigned material. You should also expect to spend about 3.5 hours reviewing material from class meetings, writing essays, and preparing for exams. Some weeks will require more or less of your time depending on whether an exam or essay assignment is due.

In summary, the breakdown of the course requirements is: Exams (3 at 100 points each)… 300 points Writing Assignments (3 at 50 points each) 150 points Daily (clicker) questions… 50 points Total possible points 500 points The grading scale is: A 460 or more points A- 450-459 B+ 440-449 B 410-439

BC+ C C-

400-409 390-399 360-389 350-359

D+ D DF

340-349 310-339 300-309 Less than 300

Course Outline Date

Topic

Sept. 2

Introduction: The Sociological Imagination

Sept. 4

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

Reading

Text, Ch.1, pp. 2-23

Sept. 9 Research Methods

Text, Ch. 1, pp. 23-39

Sept. 11 The Culture Concept: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Text, Chapter 2 (entire) *Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

Sept. 16 Socialization: The "Self" and Symbolic Interaction

Text, Ch. (entire) *Final Note on … Extreme Isolation

Sept. 18 Socialization: Stages of Growth

*Stages in Socialization

Sept. 23 Social Structure: Groups & Organizations

Text, Ch. 5 (entire)

Sept. 25 Theories of Deviance

Text, Ch. 6, pp. 162-176 *The Saints and the Roughnecks

(First Writing Assignment due Thursday, September 25th) Sept. 30 Crime in America

Text, Ch. 6, pp. 176-197

Oct. 2

FIRST EXAM

Oct. 7

Stratification: Theories

Text, Ch. 7, pp. 198-206

Oct. 9

Stratification: Class in the U.S.

Text, Ch. 7, pp. 206-221

Date

Topic

Reading

Oct. 14 Stratification: Surviving the Good Times

*The Politics of Inherited Advantage

Oct. 16 Stratification: Poverty

Text, Ch. 7, pp. 222-233

Oct. 21 Race and Ethnicity: Explaining Prejudice

Text, Ch. 10, pp. 296-306

Oct. 23 Race and Ethnicity: Immigration

Text, Ch. 10, pp. 306-329

Oct. 28 Racial Inequality: Yesterday and Today

*Love and Race Caught in the Public Eye

Oct. 30 Gender Inequality: Evidence and Theory

Text, Chapter 9 (entire)

(Second Writing Assignment due Thursday, October 30th) Nov. 4

Changing Gender Roles

Nov. 6

SECOND EXAM

*Toward Gender Equality

Nov. 11 Family: Past and Present

Text, Ch. 11 (entire) *Unmarried with Children

Nov. 13 Education

Text, Ch. 12, pp. 363-377

Nov. 18 Religion

Text, Ch. 12, pp. 377-393

Nov. 20 Politics

Text, Ch. 13, pp. 394-415 *Elections and Voting

Nov. 25 Urbanism and Urbanization

Text, Ch. 15, pp. 470-491

Dec. 2

Text, Ch. 15, pp. 491-507 *A World of Wounds

Population Growth

(Third Writing Assignment due Tuesday, December 2nd) Dec. 4

Social Change and Globalization

Dec. 9

THIRD EXAM

Dec. 11

Review for Final Exam

Text, Ch. 16 (entire)

(Final Exam: Thursday, December 18th, 10:00-12:00 in CH180)

Tips for Success Keep up with the readings, doing them before the class for which they are due. • For the chapters in the test, read the brief summary on the first page and then the “conclusion” and “study outline” at the end of the chapter BEFORE you read the chapter as a whole. Note taking. • I recommend that you print out (in handout form, 3 slides per page) the PowerPoint lecture outlines before class. Read them over and bring them to class. • During class, add notes to these outlines. Remember, writing is thinking and aids memory. After you leave class, your memory of what you learned begins to fade. To keep your memory fresh, take 15-20 minutes to review your notes several times a week. It will make a big difference in what you remember. Organize your notes by date in a notebook or folder. How to take the quizzes and use the study guide. • There will be three quizzes available before each exam, and each quiz will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions on the material covered in one or more of the textbook chapters. You may take the quizzes as many times as you wish (you will not get the same questions), but you will have only six (6) minutes to complete each quiz. Please submit your quizzes at the end of 6 minutes whether or not you have answered all of the questions, and you will receive an immediate score. If you do not submit the quiz, it may become hung up and prevent you from retaking it. • To receive extra exam credit, you need to get at least 9 out of 10 questions correct on a quiz, and you must wait at least one-hour before attempting the same quiz again. This one-hour rule is intended to give you time to review the chapter material before retaking the quiz, and prevents students from repeatedly submitting quizzes in hopes of eventually getting a passing score. If you follow the one-hour rule, we will add one-point to your exam grade for each quiz on which you get a score of 9 or 10 before the exam, so you can earn up to three extracredit points on each exam (up to a maximum exam score of 100). If you decide to take the practice quizzes without following the one-hour rule, you will not receive extra credit, but it will help you prepare for the exams. • In addition to the quizzes, you will receive a study guide before each exam. Print it off and try to answer the questions without your notes. This will tell you what you know and what you do not know. On the second run through the questions, use your notes or readings to fill in what you do not know. Then practice answering the questions until you can answer them without referring to your notes. Suggested strategies during the exam. • Read the question carefully before looking at the answers. Try to form an answer BEFORE you look at the options. Then choose the best answer. • When you are not sure about an answer, eliminate as many possibilities as possible. Do not choose “all of the above” or “none of the above,” just because you are unsure. • Do not leave any questions unanswered. Guesses have a 25% chance of being right. But if you are guessing, always guess the same letter. If you change an answer, do so for a specific reason. That is, change your answer only if you remember some relevant information.