Social Stratification SOCI 4352-03; Fall 2015 s & s 10:50am 12:05pm @ Sabal Hall 1.106 Billy James Ulibarrí Office: MAIN 1.1426 OH: Mon. & Thurs., 12:15pm 1:30pm and by apt. Email: billy.ulibarri@utrgv.edu Phone: Twitter: StGasparABQ Course Description: This junior/senior-level course examines major sociological perspectives on social stratification and social inequality. Specifically, we will learn how sociologists study and understand the processes by which people are categorically ranked in society, discuss issues concerning the distribution of wealth and income, explore the role of political power in maintaining systems of inequality, and theorize about the causes and consequences of social inequality for specific groups of individuals. In addition to studying social, political, and economic structures, special interest will be taken in discussing how inequality is perpetuated in our everyday interactions and language. We will review major sociological theoretical perspectives and review contemporary research on social stratification both in the United States and around the globe. PREREQ: SOCI 1313 Course Learning Objectives. By the end of this course, you should be able to effectively and critically: 1. Apply sociological theories, principles, and research methodologies to presentday practical questions of social stratification; 2. Compare past and present trends of social stratification and inequality in the United States with those found in other contemporary societies; 3. Assess the role of power, politics, culture, social networks, and socialization in maintaining a stratified society; 4. Evaluate the impact of interpersonal, institutional, and cultural classicism (systems of privilege and disadvantage) on social policy and group relations in the international, national, and local contexts; 5. Reflect upon and explore your own and your family s socio-economic status, attitudes toward money, and occupation trajectories. Required Textbooks and other Materials: Manza, J. and Sauder, M. (2009). Inequality and Society: Social Science Perspectives on Social Stratification. W.W. Norton. New York. [Denoted in course schedule as I&S ] Sherman, R. (2007). Class Acts: Service and Inequality in Luxury Hotels. University SYL 4352-03 F15 Ulibarri.docx 1
of California Press, Berkley. [Denoted in course schedule as CA ] Other articles, films, or web resources may be assigned over the semester. In these instances, I will make them freely available on Blackboard. Classroom and Participation Expectations 1) All cell phones need to be silenced before class begins. All noise-violators (myself included) must bring snacks for the entire class (35-55 students) at the next meeting. I prefer homemade chocolate chip cookies. I also ask that you refrain from engaging in non-class-related activities on your laptops, phones, and tablets during class time. Please wait until after class to text. 2) Attend every class; attendance is mandatory. I will not take attendance every day, but randomly throughout the semester. If you miss a class meeting, ask a fellow student for a copy of their class notes. I do not lend out my notes. If you come late or miss a class, it is your responsibility to make sure to ask other students or myself after class if I made any announcements or distributed handouts. I strongly encourage students to get phone numbers or email addresses of a classmate or two so that you can get copies of their notes if needed. 3) It is incredibly tacky to be repeatedly tardy for class. Indeed, stuff happens to all of us, which entitles us to one tardy. Beyond that, you are compromising the integrity of the learning environment for your fellow classmates. The same is true for those who pack up their bags and belongings before class is dismissed. 4) I expect students to come to class prepared to discuss and ask/ answer questions about the material assigned for that day. This is an upper-level course and students are expected to engage in readings and class discussions in a critical and respectful manner. Personal attacks, bullying, and disregard for a supportive learning environment will not be tolerated. Course Requirements 1) Journal Entries. Journal entries are short (1-2 page), informal writing assignments designed to encourage personal engagement with course material. While they are not opinion pieces, they allow you to be reflective on course material as it applies to you, your life, and your interpretations. These are not graded for content or accuracy, per se, but are evaluated on the basis of your critical interrogation of the material. There will be a total of 10 entries, which will be submitted on Blackboard. 2) Exams. There will be three exams, which vary in format and may include essay, multiple-choice, true-false, and/or short-answer questions. Exams will cover material presented in class and readings. Depending on our time, we may conduct review sessions in class, but these sessions are not SYL 4352-03 F15 Ulibarri.docx 2
guaranteed. Exam grades are not curved. Specific instructions on how to take the exams will be given at a date closer to the exam. 3) Analysis Paper. You will submit a 6-8 page written assignment, in which you conduct a critical analysis of social stratification in relation to a topic of your choosing. Detailed instructions will be available a few weeks after the course begins. 4) Final Exam. The final exam is scheduled for, December 14, 2015 from 10:15am to 12:00pm in our regular classroom. Information regarding the exam s content and format will come at a later date. Grading and Evaluation Guidelines 1) Your numerical grade is calculated by aggregating the following elements:! Journals; 10 @ 10 pts 100 pts! Exams; 3 @ 50 pts 150 pts! Analysis Paper 100 pts! Final Exam 75 pts! Participation 20 pts 2) Your final letter grade is based on the following criteria: Grade % of 445 pts Grade % of 445 pts A+ 100-97.0 C 76.9-73.0 A 96.9-93.0 C- 72.9-70.0 A- 92.9-90.0 D+ 69.9-67.0 B+ 89.9-87.0 D 66.9-63.0 B 86.9-83.0 D- 62.9-60.0 B- 82.9-80.0 F Below 60 C+ 79.9-77.0 3) There will be at least one opportunity for extra credit during the semester. These are bonus points and cannot be made up. I do not give extra credit on an as needed basis. 4) You can always check your grades on Blackboard and I encourage you to do so on a regular basis. It is a good idea to monitor your grade as the class progresses in order to catch any errors on my part and prevent last week-ofsemester-anxiety-attacks on your part. To protect your student information, I do not email grades, nor do I discuss grades over email. Please see me during office hours if you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade. SYL 4352-03 F15 Ulibarri.docx 3
UT Rio Grande Valley Policy Statements 1) Students with Disabilities. If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. a. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at accessibility@utrgv.edu. 2) Mandatory Course Evaluation Period. Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further instructions. Online evaluations will be available Nov. 18 Dec. 9, 2015. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. 3) Scholastic Integrity. As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students. 4) Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence. In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. SYL 4352-03 F15 Ulibarri.docx 4
Day Date 31*Aug 2*Sep Reading+Assignment RECOMMENDED+Reading Writing+ Assignment No%Assignment;%Class%Intro Complete% anonymous% I&S:%Smith,%"The%Division%of%Labor"%[p43] Article%PDF%is%on% Blackboard 7*Sep LABOR+DAY;+NO+CLASS 9*Sep I&S:%Marx,%"Wage%Labor%and%Capital"%[p55];%% I&S:%Marx%&%Engels,%"Manifesto%of%the% Communist%Party"%[p67] 14*Sep 16*Sep +NO+CLASS;%CA:%Introduction%[p1*23];% I&S:%Weber,%"Class,%Status,%and%Party"%[p81] %I&S:%Veblen,%"The%Theory%of%the%Leisure% Class" Journal%1%Due 21*Sep 23*Sep I&S:%%Du%Bois,%"Of%Our%Spiritual%Strivings";%De% Beauvoir,%"The%Second%Sex" CA:%Chapter%1,%"Better%Than%Your%Mother" I&S;%Marshall,%"Citizenship%and%Social% Class";%Mills,%"The%Sociology%of% Journal%2%Due% 28*Sep 30*Sep I&S:%Gottschalk%&%Danzinger,%"Inequality%of% I&S:%Piketty%&%Saez,%"The%Evolution%of%Top% Wage%Rates,%Earnins,%and%Family%Income%in%the% Incomes"% U.S." CA:%Chapter%2,%Managing%Autonomy I&S:%Blau%&%Kahn,%"The%Gender%Pay%Gap" Journal%3%Due;% Analysis+Paper+ Distributed 5*Oct I&S:%Federman%et%al,%"What%Does%It%Mean%to%Be% I&S:%Breen%&%Rottman,%"Social%Mobility" Poor%in%America?" 7*Oct EXAM+1 12*Oct 14*Oct CA:%Chapter%4:%Recasting%Hierarchy;% I&S:%Blumer,%"Race%Prejudice" Journal%4%Due;% OPTIONAL:+Paper+ Prospectus/+ Abstract+Due I&S:%Kanter,%"Minorities%and%Majorities";%Pager% et%al,%"race%at%work" 19*Oct I&S:%Wilson,%"Jobless%Poverty";%Gilens,% "American%News%Media" Journal%5%Due 21*Oct NO+CLASS+H+RELAX NO+CLASS 26*Oct 28*Oct I&S:%Jacobs,%"Detours%on%the%Road";% Hochschild,%"The%Second%Shift"% I&S:%Portes%et%al,%"Segmented%Assimilation" I&S:%Rhode,%"Sex%and%Violence"% I&S:%Waldinger%and%Feliciano,%"%Will%the% New%Second%Generation%Experience% Journal%6%Due 2*Nov 4*Nov I&S:%Lareau,%"Invisible%Inequality" CA:%Conclusion,%"Class,%Culture%and%the%Service% Theater" I&S:%Collins,%"Race,%Class%and%Gender%as% Categories%of%Analysis" Journal%7%Due SOCI%4352*03 F%2015 Ulibarri%1
9*Nov EXAM+2 11*Nov I&S:%Esping*Anderson%"The%Three%Political% Economies";'%Fischer%et%al,%"How%Unequal,% America's%Invisible%Policy%Choices" I&S:%Domhoff,%"Power" OPTIONAL:+Rough+ Draft+of+Analysis+ Paper+Due 16*Nov I&S:%Manza,%"The%Right%to%Vote" 18*Nov I&S:%Freeman,"Where%Have%All%the%Unions% Gone?";%%Quadango,%"Explaining%American% Exceptionalism" Journal%8%Due 23*Nov I&S:%Pollin,%"The%Landscape%of%Global% Austerity" 25*Nov EXAM+3 I&S:%Firebaugh,%"Massive%Global%Income% Inequality" 30*Nov 2*Dec I&S:%Jacobs%&%Skopcol,%"American%Democracy% in%an%era%of%rising%inequality"% I&S:%Frank,%"How%the%mIddle%class%is%injured%by% gains%at%the%top? Journal%9%Due 7*Dec ANALYSIS+PAPER+DUE 9*Dec I&S:%Jenks,%"Does%Inequality%Matter?" ANALYSIS+PAPER+ DUE Journal%10%Due 14*Dec FINAL+EXAM+10:15am+H+12:00pm SOCI%4352*03 F%2015 Ulibarri%2