Home, True & False Items, Giddens (G) Preface & Chapter 1,  Avoiding Plagiarism , Chapter 2 ,

Chapter 3 , Project Declaration Guidelines , Chapter 4 ,  Practice Test , Tovey & Share & Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 Mustafa , Chapter 8,  Chapter 9 ,  Chapter 10 & Tovey & Share , Chapter 11 , Chapter 12 , Chapter 13 , Chapter 15 & Tovey & Share (Family), Humanistic Goals,

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS Department of Sociology

SOCIOLOGY 1510.006: Individuals in Society

Spring, 2006 (T&R – 11:00 to 12:20 pm – Physics Bldg., Room 112)

Instructor:                                                                                                            Associate Instructor:

Rudy Ray Seward, Ph.D.                                                                                     C. Wright Mills, TBA

Office: Chilton Hall 390B                                                                                     Office: 

Email: seward@unt.edu                                                                                      Email:  

Phone: (940) 565-2295                                                                                         Phone:  

Fax: (940) 369-7035                                                                                               Fax

Office hours: 12:30 to 2P on-T; 2 to 4P on W, & 1:30 to 2P on R                 Office hours:  

(and by appointment)                                                                                          (and by appointment)

Description:  Sociology is the study of human behavior, groups and societies. People’s identities, values, beliefs and behavior shape and are shaped through interaction within social situations. We will look at the way that socialization into our culture and interaction with others constructs our social self; the way social control operates; the way our lives are influenced by social institutions such as work, family, government, religion and education; the way class, gender, and ethnicity distinctions generate inequality in society; and the way human behavior influences social groups and the structure of society. We will examine aspects of our experience that are often regarded as ‘natural’ or ‘given’ and the complex relationships between the individual and society.

Objectives:

1. To appreciate the importance of society or nurture elements in human behavior:
   1. This includes the combined influences of forces working in any social situations that shape people’s behavior and development.  We are not born with a social identity.
   2. These forces come from throughout the social structure. Not just the family, peers, and school but distant institutional structures (e.g. decisions made in board rooms, laws passed in Congress) have an impact on us as well.
2. To understand the complexity and the interconnectedness of society’s social structure from basic dyads to large institutional structures:
   1. Individuals belong to groups that range in size, formality, intimacy, and concreteness from the small and intimate dyad to a grouping of millions of people who belong to the same social class but never have any contact with most other members.
   2. Individuals bind the social structure together by simultaneously holding at least one social position in each major institution via their membership in a variety of groups.
   3. Become aware of the distinction between the ideal and the real in human relationships and society.
3. To avoid over-generalizing from our own personal experience:
   1. With so many groups at different levels, from small intimate ones to population categories, it is impossible to explain any behavior with only a few factors.
   2. A healthy skepticism should be developed regarding oversimplified conceptions of human affairs.
4. To understand the reciprocity between individuals and society:
   1. Society depends upon its members for existence even though we often blame society, the government, etc. for events that happen to us and to others.  Wider events (e.g. war) are considered out of our control.
   2. Individuals play active roles by shaping as well as being shaped by social contexts.
5. To discover the relevance and application of the sociological perspective to one’s own life:
   1. Learning about the social forces that impact our lives and the human authorship of these forces should be liberating. We should become better “practicing sociologists.”
   2. A crucial sense of the options that are essential to human freedom should be achieved.
6. To understand the research process that provides our knowledge about the social world:
   1. Learn the major steps of the research process from defining the problem to drawing conclusions.
   2. Appreciate the methodological limitations to the findings from research, such as, Hawthorne Effect, sample bias, etc.

Seating Arrangements: If there are more than 40 students in the class, each student may be assigned a seat with a corresponding number.  You must record your name and seat number on all assignments, tests, etc., for proper credit.  You will be counted present only if you are in your assigned seats.

Required Book:

                Textbook: Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Applebaum (2003). Introduction to Sociology. Fourth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton. (672 pages, 0-393-97770-6)

                Additional assigned readings will be distributed in class.

Textbook website: http://www.wwnorton.com/giddens4

Webpage with access to class website:  http://courses.unt.edu/rseward/  (under construction)

Grading:  Your grade is based upon the total number of points you earn in the course. Points are based on three tests and a project. The only opportunity for extra credit will be through class attendance and participation.

                         Percentage Scale:                                        Point Levels for Each Grade

                                100-90%                                                 400-360  A

                                  89-80%                                                 359-320  B

                                  79-70%                                                 319-280  C

                                  69-60%                                                 279-240  D

                                  59-00%                                                 239-000  F

Exams:  Two tests and a final exam, covering selected textbook chapters and class materials, composed of both objective-type and open-ended questions are given during the semester.  The allocation of questions by source is approximately 50% from material covered both in the textbook and in class, 25% from material only covered in the text, and 25% from material covered in class.  Each exam is worth 100 points.   There will be no make-up exams for missed exams except under dire and documented circumstances (and at the instructors’ discretion). Make-up exams will consist exclusively of open-ended questions (short-answer, definitions, and essays).

Attendance and Participation: A good class requires participation by all (raising questions, commentary, criticizing, etc.). You are expected to attend every class.  If you must miss please inform the instructor as soon as possible as a courtesy to your colleagues. Attendance will be taken each class period.  A good attendance record, no unexcused absences, being to class on time, as well as participating outside and during class can help a student’s grade (worth up to 10 extra points).  If you accumulate more than three unexcused absences, you will not receive any extra points, and if you are recorded as being absent more than five times, you will either be dropped from the course with a grade of WF or your final grade will be lowered one level. Students should be prepared before each class to discuss readings from the textbook and material covered in the previous session. You are responsible for handouts, notes, announcements, etc. for any classes missed.   The instructors’ notes will not be made available to those who missed class.

Cheating:  Cheating in any form (including copying other students’ answers, using unauthorized materials during exams, and submitting someone else’s work as your own) can result in an “F” in the course and referral to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

Appropriate Adjustments and Auxiliary Aid are available for persons with disabilities.  As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act an attempt will be made to meet all certified requirements.  See instructor or call (817) 565-2456 (TDD access 1-800-735-2989)

Record Keeping:  You are responsible for retaining all exams and other graded materials returned to you.  If a discrepancy arises with regard to your points and grade, you will have the original documents so that proper corrections can be made.

Exam Dates: February 21, March 30, & May 9 (Final)

Proposed Class Schedule

(subject to change)

Jan 17^th               First Day of Class

                             Introduction and Overview of Class Syllabus

Jan  19^th               Preface & Chap. 1:  What is Sociology?

                             Sociology as an Individual Pastime

Jan  24^th & 26^th   Sociology as a Form of Consciousness

                             Chap. 2:  Asking and Answering Sociological Questions

                             Chap. 3:  Culture and Society

Jn 31^st & Feb 2^nd Chap. 4:  Socialization and the Life Cycle

                              Society in Man  (Thomas, Cooley, & Mead)

Feb 7^th  & 9^th        Class Project Option Choice Due on 7^th 

                              Alternation and Biography

                              Tovey & Share: pp. 188-202, Chap. 8 – Gender in Ireland

Feb 14^th & 16^th     Chap. 5:  Social Interaction and Everyday Life

                              Chap. 6: Groups, Networks, and Organization

Feb 21^st                 First Exam

Feb 23^rd               Chap. 7:  Conformity, Deviance, and Crime

                              Society as Drama

F 28^th & Mar 2^nd Chap. 8:  Stratification, Class, and Inequality

                             Man in Society (social address)

Mar 7^th & 9^th       Chap. 9:  Global Inequality

                             Chap. 10 Gender Inequality

                              Tovey & Share: pp. 207-218 – Gender, Work, & Public Sphere

Mar 14^th & 16^th   Spring Break

Mar 21^st & 23^rd    Chap. 11:  Ethnicity and Race

                             Chap. 12:  Aging

Mar 28^th              Chap. 13: Government, Political Power, and Social Movements

Mar 30^th              Second exam

Apr 4^th & 6^th        Chap. 14: Work and Economic Life

                              Tovey & Share: pp. 41-72, Chap. 3 – Dynamics of Irish Development

Apr 11^th & 13^th     Chap. 15: Families and Intimate Relationships

                               Tovey & Share: pp. 202-206, Chap. 8 - Family

Apr 18^th & 19^th     Chap. 19: Urbanization, Population, and the Environment

                               Tovey & Share: pp. 98-121, Chap. 5 – Population and Migration

Apr 25^th & 27^th     Chap. 20: Globalization in a Changing World

                               Sociological Machiavellianism and Ethics

May 2^nd                  Projects due on the May 2^nd

                                                Sociology as a Humanistic & Humoristic Discipline

May 4^th                  Optional review

May 5^th to 7^th         Sociological Association of Ireland Conference

                                Sligo Institute of Technology

May 9^th from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM  Final Exam (including comprehensive essay questions)

Class Project (100 points)

Choose One by February 7^th

1.  Analytical Book Review: Read, review, and critique one of the following six books:

·         Growing Up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps (1994) by Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur

·         Measuring Up: The Performance Ethic in American Culture (1997) by James M. Mannon

·         The Hair of the Dog: Irish Drinking and American Stereotype (1976; Revised Ed. 2001) by Richard Stivers

·         Family and Community in Ireland (1940; 2^nd Ed 1968; or 3^rd Ed. 2001) by Conrad M. Arensberg and Solon T. Kimball.

·         Invitation to Sociology:  A Humanistic Perspective (1963) by Peter L. Berger, Garden City, New York: Anchor.

·         Social Thing: An Instroduction to the Sociological Life (2005, 3^rd Ed) by Charles Lemert

Evaluation of your review and critique will be based upon your utilization of sociological concepts. As this is not a “standard” type of library research paper involving bibliography and footnotes, you need only cite sources of unique concepts used and quotes using the APA, MLA, or ASR style.

The two goals of the review are to report basic information about the book and evaluate the book’s view on its main topic.  This is not just a book report but be sure to indicate the range and nature of the book’s contents.  The review should include the book’s purpose, and the book’s main conclusions.  Evaluate both the book’s purpose and the extent to which the purpose is achieved.  The evaluation must include a comparison of the book’s purpose and conclusions.

The review must have a title page and start with complete bibliographic information on your book, be well written and typed, use the APA, MLA, or ASR reference style, be double-spaced and paginated, and be between 6 and 12 pages in length. Early drafts are accepted for review. 

2. Comparative Essay:  You must write an essay which compares and contrasts a social institution, a group, or a behavior between the United States and another country of your choice.  Your comparison must use appropriate sociological concepts and theories.  It should not just be descriptive but should explain similarities and differences using these concepts and theories. The major topics presented in the textbooks and in class are possible essay subjects.

The essay must be well written and typed, use the APA, MLA, or ASR reference style, be double-spaced and paginated, and be between 6 and 12 pages in length.  Your essay must have a title page and an abstract with the essay’s objectives, methods or data sources, findings or results, and conclusions (between 100 and 500 words).  You must use at least 5 academic (e.g. articles from peer reviewed journal not magazines) and relevant research references (e.g., U.S. Census Bureau). These should be listed at the end of your paper. Early drafts are accepted for review. 

YOU MUST DECLARE THE PROJECT YOU INTEND TO DO

NO LATER THAN February 7th. The project is worth 100 points.

ALL PROJECTS ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE May 2^nd

NO PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEYOND THIS DATE.