PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY University of Florida Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law

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1 Last Updated April 29, PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY University of Florida Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law SYG 2000, Section 06CE Turlington Hall, Room TBA Fall 2017 Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays Period 6: 12:50PM-1:40PM) Instructor: Jessica Casimir jcasimir1@ufl.edu (PLEASE MESSAGE ME THROUGH CANVAS) Office Location: TBA Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:00PM to 5:00PM or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW This course is designed to provide you with the fundamentals of sociological understanding, including the basics of theory, research methods, and common sociological subjects of analysis. The goal of this course is to encourage students to develop and use their sociological imaginations to better understand the social world. The sociological imagination is a tool that lets us explore how social structures and institutions shape our everyday lives and the lives of others. The course begins with an overview of the discipline of sociology as well as sociological methods and sociological theory. It then challenges students to use the tools learned to engage with many sociological concepts like race, class, and gender. COURSE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS 1. Introduce students to some of the basic concepts, theories, and methods that sociologists use: Reading assignments and lectures will provide you with opportunities to see how social scientist use varied methods to collect information about specific social issues. You will learn to use that information to analyze social patterns and the possible consequences of those patterns. 2. Provide students with a brief overview of sociology as a discipline within the social sciences that exposes students to strategies to identify, study, and address social issues and research questions: In-class group exercises and individual assignments will provide you with opportunities to apply critical thinking skills to sociological issues and questions. 3. Help students to develop the ability to understand how various social processes and structures affect one another: You will learn how various

2 Last Updated April 29, social changes related to work, culture, family, education, and other matters involve shifts in public perceptions and social initiatives. 4. Encourage students to develop a better understanding of how their own lives and significant relationships are shaped by larger social forces. 5. Explore with students how social interactions between individuals can affect the larger society. GENERAL EDUCATION SUBJECT AREA OBJECTIVES Social and behavioral science courses, like SYG 2000, provide instruction in the history, key themes, principles, terminology, and underlying theory or methodologies used in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will learn to identify, describe and explain social institutions, structures or processes. These courses emphasize the effective application of accepted problem-solving techniques. Students will apply formal and informal qualitative or quantitative analysis to examine the processes and means by which individuals make personal and group decisions, as well as the evaluation of opinions, outcomes or human behavior. Students are expected to assess and analyze ethical perspectives in individual and societal decisions. STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES The general education student learning outcomes (SLOs) describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes that students are expected to acquire while completing a general education course at the University of Florida. The SLOs fall into three categories: content, communication, and critical thinking: Content is knowledge of the concepts, principles, terminology and methodologies used within the discipline. Students demonstrate competence in the terminology, concepts, methodologies and theories used within the discipline. Communication is the development and expression of ideas in written and oral forms. Students communicate knowledge, ideas, and reasoning clearly and effectively in written or oral forms appropriate to the discipline. Critical thinking is characterized by the comprehensive analysis of issues, ideas, and evidence before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. Students analyze information carefully and logically from multiple perspectives, using discipline specific methods, and develop reasoned solutions to problems

3 Last Updated April 29, REQUIRED TEXTS You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist. Dalton Coney. W.W. Norton & Company th Edition. Additional Required Readings will be posted on Canvas COURSE REQUIREMENTS Points Percent Grade GPA A A B B B C C C D D D E 0.0 Attendance and Participation 120 points Attendance will be taken at random throughout the semester. Once three unexcused absences have been reached for the semester, a grade of a zero will be automatically given even if you participate. For participation, I will look for your ability to apply sociological concepts to our readings and discussions. I also expect that you will be polite and attentive to your classmates and remain on topic. If you fail to ever productively contribute to class discussion, a grade of zero will be automatically given even if you are always in attendance. Weekly Quizzes 120 points There will be a total of 12 quizzes for the class. I will administer weekly quizzes for each textbook chapter. These quizzes are designed to assess your grasp on the readings and will be administered via Canvas. The quiz will be available six days before the due date until Sunday night morning at 11:59PM unless otherwise noted. Correct answers for the quizzes will be released immediately after the due date has passed. Discussion Posts 160 points There will be a total of 8 discussion posts for the class. For each module, there will be a supplemental reading (news articles or short scholarly articles) and a video that correspond with the weekly chapter topic. To receive full credit, you

4 Last Updated April 29, must post two questions: one that is directly related to supplemental reading and one from the video. In addition, you must provide commentary to two questions of your choice that your classmates have provided. It does not necessarily need to provide an answer to their question but can facilitate further discussion on the concerns they raised. All questions and responses must be posted on Canvas no later than Thursday at 11:59PM. Detailed instructions will be provided in the Files folder. Analytical Papers 300 points You will be asked to provide three analytic papers (ranging from 750 to 1000 words) throughout the course of the semester. Analytic papers require you to venture out into the real world to make observations about certain events, gatherings, etc. You will apply your sociological imagination to what you observe and ground your analysis in our text and course handouts. The refers to the structure of the paper. You must include 3 main points about the readings (both from the textbooks and supplemental articles), 2 interesting quotes (can be from outside sources), and 1 future question (must be framed in an analytical, critical thinking lens). For more detailed instructions on these assignments, please refer to the Files section of the Canvas page for this course. Exams 300 points This exam will cover all material for each part of the textbook. There will be three Extra Credit 5 points each (no more than 25 points total) There will be random opportunities through the semester to earn extra credit with each assignment worth 5 points. These opportunities cannot be utilized as a substitution and/or replacement for assignments (e.g. all course requirements must be completed/fulfilled for you to be eligible for extra credit or in layman s terms, you must not have missed/skipped ANY assignments). PART I: USING YOUR SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION DATE TOPIC READING NOTES Week 1: The Sociological Imagination and Methods 21-Aug Class Introduction 23-Aug Lecture on Ch Aug Lecture on Ch. 2 Week 2: Culture and Media 28-Aug Lecture on Ch Aug Documentary on Culture 1-Sep In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due

5 Last Updated April 29, Week 3: Socialization and the Construction of Reality 4-Sep NO CLASS (Labor Day) 6-Sep Lecture on Ch. 4 8-Sep In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due Week 4: Social Control and Deviance 11-Sep Lecture on Ch Sep Documentary on Deviance 15-Sep In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due Week 5: Groups and Networks 18-Sep Lecture on Ch Sep In-Class Activity 22-Sep Exam #1 PART II: FAUILT LINES SOCIAL DIVISION AND INEQUALITY Week 6: Stratification and Poverty 25-Sep Lecture on Ch Sep Lecture on Ch Sep In-Class Activity Paper #1 Due Week 7: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality 2-Oct Lecture on Ch. 8 4-Oct In-Class Activity 6-Oct NO CLASS (Homecoming) Discussion Post Due Week 8: Race and Ethnicity 9-Oct Lecture on Ch Oct Documentary on Race 13-Oct In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due Week 11: Health and Society 16-Oct Lecture on Ch Oct In-Class Activity 20-Oct Exam #2 PART III: BUILDING BLOCKS: INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIETY Week 11: Family 23-Oct Lecture on Ch Oct Documentary on Family 27-Oct In-Class Activity Paper #2 Due

6 Last Updated April 29, Week 12: Education 30-Oct Lecture on Ch Nov Documentary on Education 3-Nov In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due Week 13: Authority and the State 6-Nov Lecture on Ch Nov In-Class Activity 10-Nov NO CLASS (Veterans Day) Discussion Post Due Week 14: Religion 13-Nov Lecture on Ch Nov Documentary on Religion 17-Nov In-Class Activity Discussion Post Due Week 15: Thanksgiving Break 20-Nov Hurricane Make-Up Class 22-Nov NO CLASS (Thanksgiving) 24-Nov NO CLASS (Thanksgiving) Week 15: Science, the Environment, and Society 27-Nov Lecture on Ch. 17 Paper #3 Due 29-Nov In-Class Activity 1-Dec COURSE POLICIES Attendance Because much of the learning for this class comes from in-class activities and discussion, attendance is required. If you miss class, you will not be able to make up in-class activities, discussion, or evaluations. You are responsible for all material presented in class, whether you are in class or not. I understand it s not possible to make it to each class, and accommodations will be made for excused absences. If you find yourself in a situation that requires you to miss class, it is your responsibility to let me know beforehand. You may be asked to provide written confirmation of your situation (e.g. a doctor s note, coach s note, etc.). This confirmation must be sent directly to me from the authority asking for the exception. If you cannot provide this confirmation, your absence will be counted as unexcused. - Excused Absences include (but are not limited to): illness, serious family emergencies, university-sanctioned events (e.g. professional conferences, athletic competitions, etc.), military obligations, religious

7 Last Updated April 29, holidays, and legal obligations (e.g. jury duty). - Unexcused Absences include (but are not limited to): sleeping in, missing the bus, vacations, non-university sanctioned trips, events for your fraternity/sorority, meetings with advisors/bosses, club events, and car troubles. Classroom Behavior If you are disruptive in class, you will be asked to leave the classroom. If you have to be asked to leave the classroom more than once, you will not be allowed back into the classroom and you will automatically fail the course. The following behaviors are considered disruptive and grounds for immediate expulsion from the classroom: - Loud conversations held during class - Using your cell phone in class (even if it s to take notes) - Talking back to the instructor - Rudeness, either to the instructor or to another student - Other extreme behaviors, as deemed by the instructor Technology Policy Please be respectful with technology in the classroom. Keep your phone off and in your bag or pocket. Likewise, keep your headphones off during class time. Students are not allowed to take photographs, video recordings, or audio recordings of lectures or class proceedings without express permission from the instructor. Policy If you have questions about the course, you can get in touch with me via Canvas (please do not send me s through unless Canvas is down). Before messaging me, please check the syllabus to make sure that your question is not answered there. Respect Some of the topics we ll be discussing this semester are controversial. Discussion is encouraged, and engaging with people who have different views than your own is one of the best ways to learn. It s NOT okay, however, to be disrespectful to other students or to your instructor. No personal attacks in any form or racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, ableist, etc. remarks will be allowed in this classroom, period. I reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom if you are being disrespectful to other students or your behavior is inappropriate. This is done to ensure that the classroom environment remains friendly, open, and comfortable for everyone.

8 Last Updated April 29, UNIVERSITY POLICIES Incomplete Grade Policy for CLAS Information regarding incomplete grades can be found on the University s website: From the website: "I" grades should be assigned only after the instructor and the student have explicitly arranged, before the final exam for the course, to have the student complete exams or other required course work after the semester is over. The "I" arrangement should be used only when the student is doing passing work ("C" or better) in the course at the time of the arrangement. Accommodation Policies for Students with Disabilities Information regarding UF s policy on students with disabilities can be found here: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Academic Honesty All students are expected to abide by the academic honesty standards set out by the University: Failure to comply with these standards will result in disciplinary action. Students caught cheating on any assignment for this class will be given a failing grade for the assignment, or, at my discretion, a failing grade for the course. Incidents of possible cheating will be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have questions about how to cite a work, how to complete an assignment, or whether something constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask me. Course Evaluations Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course. These evaluations are conducted online at Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at Gordon Rule This course is not designed to fulfill a university writing requirement (Gordon Rule).