SOCIOLOGY 345 Social Movements

Transcription

1 SOCIOLOGY 345 Social Movements Call #: Location: MSS 345 Time: T 1:00pm-3:45pm Semester: Fall 2014 Final Paper: due to me via on or before Mon Dec 15 th, 12pm PST Professor: Dr. Clayton Peoples Office: MSS peoplesc@unr.edu Office Phone: Mailbox: MSS 300 Office Hours: Tue 12:30-2:30pm Course Description: This course is designed to provide an analysis of social movements and (and related themes). Topics include, but are not limited to, theories of movement formation, diversity and equity in movements, and examples of movements (e.g. women s rights, civil rights, etc) both here and in global context. See course outline for more detail. Core Objectives: This course satisfies Core Objectives 10 and 11. How the class meets CO10 and CO11: In order to study social movements and their relationship to diversity, equity and justice (CO10) and their global context (CO11), the class will use the following organization: After defining social movements and covering theories of movement formation (5 weeks, or 1/3 of semester), we will explore how social movements typically involve issues of diversity, equity, and justice (5 weeks, or 1/3 of semester). Then we will conclude by discussing how movements operate across the globe and how the context of different societies and cultures can help shape movement formation and dynamics (5 weeks, or 1/3 of semester). Core Objective 10: Diversity and Equity: Students will demonstrate an understanding of diversity through courses that focus on topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, physical ability, language, and/or social class with an emphasis on the analysis of equity. Students will apply and evaluate approaches or modes of inquiry used to analyze diversity and equity and the social barriers to these goals. Student Learning Outcomes for SOC 345 Related to Core Objective 10: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: SLO 1: Demonstrate an understanding via exams and writings of how issues of equity and justice motivate many social movements. SLO 2: Explain how identities relating to class, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. shape social movements.

2 SLO 3: Apply various theoretical perspectives to questions surrounding the formation and perpetuation of social movements, with attention to how diversity and equity play a role. Core Objective 11: Global Contexts: Students will apply and evaluate modes of academic inquiry, creative expression, or results of research to problems in historical and contemporary global contexts. Students will articulate connections among local, national, and international contexts and evaluate the ways that historical and contemporary global influences affect their current situations. Student Learning Outcomes for SOC 345 Related to Core Objective 11: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: SLO 1: Identify major social movements in countries other than the United States, and analyze their unique motives, strategies, and structural constraints. SLO 2: Describe and analyze how social movements have altered the political landscape throughout the world and shaped global social relations. SLO 3: Explain how social movements today extend beyond national boundaries and become, in effect, global social movements. Assessment of SLOs: Assessment of SLOs will include the social movement paper, exams, and weekly papers. Required Readings: All readings for the course will be available at one of the following two places (for those properly enrolled): Online Library Resources (e.g. JSTOR) or WebCampus. Course Requirements: Class Participation (20%) Reaction papers on the readings, each worth 2 pts., 10 in all: Exams (75%) An Exam on the Definition of a Movement and Movement Theories: An Exam on Diversity, Equity, and Justice in Movements: An Exam on the Global Context of Social Movements: Paper (5%) Paper on a social movement of your choice: Total: 20 pts. 5 pts. 100 pts. The grading scale in this course follows the university-wide standard scale and includes plus (+) and minus (-) grades (see below): A = A- = B+ = B = B- = C+ = C = C- = D+ = D = D- = F = 0-60

3 More about the Course Requirements: Class Participation Class participation is a very important component of any classroom environment. This is especially true in a graduate course. In this class, you will participate via writing reaction papers and talking about what you ve written during class discussions. These aren t too labor-intensive: just type a very short (even 1 pg, single space, in normal font, should suffice) reaction to each reading and turn it in at the beginning of class, in class. Within your reaction papers, you ought to show that: (1) that you have read the material this can be illustrated through a brief description of what you read; and (2) that you have thought about the material this is where the reaction comes in, which is where you should express opinion, tie the readings to a current event (or a life experience), etc. Since they are part of class participation, reaction papers will NOT be accepted if you have missed class UNLESS you inform me ahead of time or have a legitimate reason for missing (i.e. medical emergency, funeral). Tests There will be five tests during the semester (see above and course outline for test topics and tentative test dates). They will be part multiple choice, part essay. Make-up tests will NOT be given unless you inform me ahead of time or have written documentation showing a legitimate reason for missing (i.e. medical emergency, funeral, etc.). Make-up tests will be subject to a 20% deduction (1 pt deduction out of 5; 5 pts out of 25). Paper You will write a paper about a social movement of your choice. This paper should provide a thorough historical background on the movement as well as a description of its reason for emergence, goals, strategies, and successes/failures in bringing about desired changes. The paper should be at least five pages in length and include at least five references (the more, the better). Tentative Course Outline (May be Subject to Change) DATE TOPICS READINGS Tue Aug 26 Intro to Class None Tue Sep 2 Define Movement None Tue Sep 9 Tue Sep 16 Tue Sep 23 Strain, Deprivation* Political Opportunity and Resources* New Movements, Collective Identity* Gurney, Joan Neff, and Kathleen J. Tierney Relative Deprivation and Social Movements: A Critical Look at Twenty Years of Theory and Research. The Sociological Quarterly 23: Meyer, David S Protest and Political Opportunity. Annual Review of Sociology 30: Polletta, Francesca and James M. Jasper Collective Identity and Social Movements. Annual Review of Sociology 27:

4 Tue Sep 30 Test 1: Definition and Theories of Movements Tue Oct 7 U.S. Labor* Jenkins, J. Craig and Charles Perrow Insurgency of the Powerless: Farm Workers' Movements ( ). American Sociological Review 42: Tue Oct 14 Civil Rights* Morris, Aldon A Retrospective on the Civil Rights Movement: Political and Intellectual Landmarks. Annual Review of Sociology 25: Tue Oct 21 Women s Rights* Taylor, Verta Social Movement Continuity: The Women s Movement in Abeyance. American Sociological Review 54: Tue Oct 28 Veterans/Antiwar* Coy, Patrick G., Lynn M. Woehrle, and Gregory Maney Discursive Legacies: The U.S. Peace Movement and Support the Troops. Social Problems 55: Tue Nov 4 Test 2: Diversity, Equity, and Justice in Movements Tue Nov 11 VETERAN S DAY (No Class) Tue Nov 18 Global Labor* Reading TBA from Berberoglu Edited Volume Tue Nov 25 Global Labor* Reading TBA from Berberoglu Edited Volume Tue Dec 2 Arab Spring* Reading TBA from Berberoglu Edited Volume Tue Dec 9 Hong Kong Protest Online Newspaper Reports Thu Nov 11 Test 3: Social Movements in Global Context * Reaction Paper Day Please turn in Reaction Paper on Readings for that Day Course Rules: Department of Sociology Policy on Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty (e.g., cheating on exams, plagiarism) is a serious offense. All work that you submit in this class must be your own original work, and must have been generated by you specifically for the assignments. Academic dishonesty can take on many forms including, but not limited to, the use of prohibited materials during examinations, having one s own assignments completed by a third party, submit the identical paper in two different courses, and plagiarism each of which is a serious offense. Each student is responsible for being familiar with UNR's policies on academic dishonesty, available at It is the policy of the Department of Sociology that any student who engages in any act of academic dishonesty will receive automatically a course grade of F. Further, in accordance with UNR s Undergraduate Academic Dishonesty Procedures, a record will created with the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. Repeated offenses may lead to expulsion from the university. What is plagiarism? Whereas most acts of academic dishonesty are obvious, students are sometimes unclear what plagiarism entails. Plagiarism means that you

5 incorporate another author s work into your own, but create the impression that you yourself are the original author. For instance, it is plagiarism when you cut and paste another author s text into your own paper, but do not clearly mark it as a quote and do not credit the original source. Another example of plagiarism is when you use another author s text, but change the syntax and vocabulary only slightly. Yet another instance of plagiarism involves using another person s ideas and presenting them as your own. The web offers a number of great resources on the subject of plagiarism that help you decide when you need to credit another author and when something can be assumed to be common knowledge (in which case you do not need to credit a source). See, e.g., How to avoid plagiarism? When writing a paper, focus on what and how you want to say something, not on the language another author used. The easiest way is to follow a closed source policy: That is, when you have read a paper, book or website that is relevant to a paper that you are writing, close it and put it aside before you write your own text. Once you are done, go over your paper again and make sure that have not inadvertently copied another person s language. Likewise, make sure that you do not pretend that another person s insights are your own. Keep in mind that plagiarism is more easily detected than you might think. Many instructors and graders have access to the same resources as you (e.g., the internet) and routinely check-up on whether any text you have submitted appears elsewhere. If you are in doubt whether something constitutes plagiarism or not, ask your instructor, TA, or the UNR writing center, Statement on Audio and Video Recording: Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may be given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded. Academic Success Services: Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center ( or Tutoring Center ( or and University Writing Center ( or These centers support your classroom learning; it is your responsibility to take advantage of their services. Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability for which you will need to request accommodations, please contact me or the Disability Resource Center (Phone: ; Location: Thompson Building, Suite 101) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.