Office: Kinard 339

Office Phone: EXT 4602

Office Hours: M 1-3, and by appointment

E-mail: trippb@winthrop.edu

Web site: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/trippb/

Principles of Sociology

SOCL 201, Section 002

CRN: 11027

3 Credit Hours

Fall 2012

MW 11:00-12:15

Kinard 018

COURSE GOALS

Why are you reading this? Why are you sitting here in a classroom? These are just the first of many simple questions which will lead us to a greater understanding of everyday life. Most of our life is spent on “cruise control” as we go through life doing what we believe is normal. The goal of this class is to strip down our “taken for granted” realities in order to examine the various social forces that influence what we do and how we understand everyday life. This course fulfills our departmental mission statement and participates in the Global Learning Initiative by its very nature as students will develop the analytical tools to understand and ever-expanding body of knowledge about the dynamics of social relationships, the nature of power and influence in complex societies, and the roles of age, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other social phenomena that affect viewpoints and life chances.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES IN SOCL 201

Successful students in SOCL 201 will:

Develop an understanding of the three main branches of social theory: Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interaction,
Be able to compare and contrast these theoretical orientations,
Be able to apply all three theories to a diverse range of social issues, and
Understand sociology as a scientific field, and will therefore learn the diverse research methods employed by sociologists.

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

This course supports our departmental mission statement as students will develop the analytical tools to understand and ever-expanding body of knowledge about the dynamics of social relationships, the nature of power and influence in complex societies, and the roles of age, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other social phenomena that affect viewpoints and life chances.

http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/sociologyanthropology/default.aspx?id=10128

SOCL 201 AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL COMPETENCIES ADDRESSED IN THE TOUCHSTONE PROGRAM

SOCL 201 helps students make progress towards the following University Level Competencies:

Competency 1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems.

Winthrop University graduates reason logically, evaluate and use evidence, and solve problems. They seek out and assess relevant information from multiple viewpoints to form well-reasoned conclusions. Winthrop graduates consider the full context and consequences of their decisions and continually reexamine their own critical thinking process, including the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments.

Competency 2: Winthrop graduates are personally and socially responsible.

Winthrop University graduates value integrity, perceive moral dimensions, and achieve excellence. They take seriously the perspectives of others, practice ethical reasoning, and reflect on experiences. Winthrop graduates have a sense of responsibility to the broader community and contribute to the greater good.

Competency 3: Winthrop graduates understand the interconnected nature of the world and the time in which they live.

Winthrop University graduates comprehend the historical, social, and global contexts of their disciplines and their lives. They also recognize how their chosen area of study is inextricably linked to other fields. Winthrop graduates collaborate with members of diverse academic, professional, and cultural communities as informed and engaged citizens.

Competency 4: Winthrop graduates communicate effectively.

Winthrop University graduates communicate in a manner appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience. They create texts – including but not limited to written, oral, and visual presentations – that convey content effectively. Mindful of their voice and the impact of their communication, Winthrop graduates successfully express and exchange ideas.

http://www.winthrop.edu/academic-affairs/secondary.aspx?id=15731

REQUIRED TEXTS

MAIN TEXT: Essentials of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach (8^th Edition).

Author: James M. Henslin

READER: Exploring Social Life, Readings to Accompany Essentials of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach (4^th Edition).

Author: James M. Henslin

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

EXAMS: There will be three (3) exams based on class lecture, guest speakers, in-class videos, and assigned readings. The first two exams in this course will be multiple choice, 50 question tests based on the readings and lecture material. Approximately 50% of the test questions will come from the lecture material, so students will need to keep up with the readings and attend class in order to do well on the exams. The final exam will consist of 100 questions, and will be cumulative. All exams are property of this course. Students are not permitted to remove exams from the classroom. Taking an exam out of the class, along with cheating or copying during a test will result in an “F.”

READING RESPONSES: This will be a critical thinking exercise. Students will also be responsible for turning in 4 papers connecting recent news with the subjects of the articles from the reader. Each paper will be two pages, double-spaced and typed. Further rubric will be provided. In compliance with this course’s status as a Touchstone Program course, students will be responsible for a minimum of 8 written pages in total. Students will be split into 4 groups. Students in the following groups will be responsible for turning in responses to the papers as are numbered in the syllabus:

GROUP A: 1, 2, 5, 9

GROUP B: 2, 3, 6, 10

GROUP C: 3, 4, 7, 11

GROUP D: 1, 4, 5, 8

GRADING POLICIES

I expect students to take the exams on the dates scheduled and during the allotted time period. Make-up exams are available under dire circumstances (EX: student is hospitalized.) If you will not be at the exam during its scheduled time you must notify me in advance, we will then determine an appropriate course of action. I reserve the right to give a make-up exam that is different from the original exam. ALL MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN ON STUDY DAY (DECEMBER 4^TH ).

GRADES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN TESTS AND PAPERS ARE RETURNED TO STUDENTS. IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS ON THESE DAYS, THEN YOU MUST COME TO OFFICE HOURS TO GET YOUR GRADES. DUE TO FEDERAL STUDENT PRIVACY LAWS, NO GRADES WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS VIA PHONE OR EMAIL.

All dates given, and material covered can be changed at the instructor’s discretion, therefore it is your job to keep informed via attendance, and getting make up material from friends in class.

Take pride in your own work and personal preparation for exams. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Any student caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing their paper will receive a final course grade of “F.”

GRADING

Test 1 = 100 pts

Test 2 = 100 pts

Test 3 = 100 pts

Article Reviews = 100

Total Points = 400

Grade Points

A 400 - 360

B+ 359 - 350

B 349 - 320

C+ 319 - 310

C 309 - 280

D+ 279 - 270

D 269 – 240

F 239 or lower

COURSE SCHEDULE

8/22: INTRODUCTION

8/27-8/29:

· CH 1: The Sociological Perspective

· READING: Invitation to Sociology (1) DUE 8/29

9/3-9/5:

· CH 2: Culture

9/10:

· CH 3: Socialization

· READING: Anybody’s Son Will Do (2) DUE 9/10

9/12-9/18:

· CH 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

· READING: Hooking Up on the Internet (3) DUE 9/18

9/20-9/25:

· CH 5: Social Groups and Formal Organizations

· REVIEW FOR TEST 1 MADE AVAILABLE (9/20)

9/27: TEST 1

10/2-10/4:

· CH 7: Global Stratification

· READING: Job on the Line (4) DUE 10/4

10/9-10/11:

· CH 8: Social Class in the United States

· READING: The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All (5) DUE 10/11

10/15: NO CLASSES – FALL BREAK

10/17-10/22:

· CH 9: Race and Ethnicity

· READING: Invisible Man (6) DUE 10/22

10/24-10/29:

· CH 10: Gender and Age

· REVIEW FOR TEST 2 MADE AVAILABLE (10/24)

10/31: TEST 2

11/5-11/7:

· CH 11: Politics and the Economy

· READING: The Power Elite (7) DUE 11/7

11/12-11/14:

· CH 12: Marriage and Family

· READING: Social Class and Childrearing (8) DUE 11/14

11/19-11/26:

· CH 13: Education and Religion

· READING: Still Separate, Still Unequal (9) DUE 11/26

11/21: THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASSES

11/28:

· CH 14: Population and Urbanization

· READING: Border Blues: The Dilemma of Illegal Immigration (10) DUE 11/28

12/3:

· CH 15: Social Change and the Environment

· READING: The McDonaldization of Society (11) DUE 12/3

· REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM MADE AVAILABLE (12/3)

FINAL EXAM: MONDAY, DECEMBER 10^TH, 3 PM

Students with Disabilities

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 323-3290. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

Phone and Texting Policy

There will be absolutely no usage of phones or mp3 players in this class. If your phone rings, do not answer it. Everyone forgets every now and then so, first time offenders will not be penalized. Multiple time offenders will be asked to leave the class. Students who answer phone calls will be asked to leave class for the day. Likewise, students caught texting during class will also be asked to leave. If a person is caught texting a second time they will have 10 points taken off of their FINAL GRADE. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in failure in the class. Should you have a personal/family emergency and need your phone to remain active, talk with me before class and we will come to an arrangement.

Student code of conduct

As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” Additionally my attendance policy is the same as is listed in the student handbook. Both the attendance policy and the policy on student academic misconduct are outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook:

http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf

Attendance Policy

The attendance policy is for this class is the same as the University policy: If a student’s absences in a course total 25 percent or more of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N if the student withdraws from the course before the withdrawal deadline; after that date, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances as described in the previous section, a grade of F or U shall be assigned.

http://www.winthrop.edu/majors/default.aspx?id=9242&ekmensel=db97ad6c_546_548_9242_1

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center is a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically. The ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students become effective and efficient learners. The services available to students are as follows: peer tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching. The ASC is located in University College on the first floor of Dinkins Hall, Suite 106. Please contact the ASC at 803-323-3929 or success@winthrop.edu. For more information on ASC services, please visit www.winthrop.edu/success

The Office of Victims Assistance Syllabus Statement

The Office of Victims Assistance (OVA) provides services to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking as well as educational programming to prevent these crimes from occurring. The staff assists all survivors, regardless of when they were victimized in obtaining counseling, medical care, housing options, legal prosecution, and more. In addition, the OVA helps students access support services for academic problems resulting from victimization. The OVA is located in 204 Crawford and can be reached at (803) 323-2206. In the case of an after-hours emergency, please call Campus Police at (803)323-3333, or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at their 24-hour hot-line, (803)329-2800.

For more information please visit: http://www.winthrop.edu/victimsassistance/