FACULTY OF ARTS & SCIENCE INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY SOCI 1000 Y FALL 2017 MONDAYS, 6:00 pm 8:50 pm ROOM: S4033 INSTRUCTOR: Deloris Williams willd000@uleth.ca OFFICE HOURS: Mondays 4:00 pm 6:00 pm. If possible, please E-mail ahead for an appointment to ensure I will be in the office (S6040) as this space is shared with other instructors. COURSE MATERIALS: Required Textbook: New Society, 8th Canadian Edition, 2017, Robert J. Brym, Toronto: Nelson Education, ISBN-13: 978-0-17-657006-4 (Order through bookstore.uleth.ca) *Please do not buy an older edition as there have been many updates including much of the statistical data. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Human social behavior; the processes and patterns of group interaction and group influence on individual behavior. Areas of sociological concern such as social organization, social stratification, ethnic relations, family SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 1
structure and interaction, education, gender relations and globalization introduce some of the major concepts, theories and procedures of sociological inquiry. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Students will be expected to learn the appropriate sociological terminology, concepts, theories and paradigms. They should be able to apply these to the substantive (subject) areas listed above, among others. A goal of the course is to prepare students to think critically about current issues, using a scientific approach. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT: IN CLASS TEST VALUE EXAM DATE Midterm #1 30% Oct. 16 Midterm #2 30% Nov. 20 Final Exam 40% Dec. 11 TOTAL 100% GRADING SCHEME: Percent Mark Letter Grade Percent Mark Letter Grade 95-100 A+ 90-94 A 86-89 A- 82-85 B+ 78-81 B 74-77 B- 70-73 C+ 66-69 C 62-65 C- 58-61 D+ 50-57 D 0-49 F Please note: It is the position of the instructor that this course outline constitutes a formal contract between student and teacher. Therefore, in order to ensure equitable treatment of all students, no individual will be granted a reweighting of the various components of the final grade. Similarly, no make up work will be allowed. In order to receive a passing grade (above an F ) in SOCI 1000Y, the student must have written ALL exams, after which the final grade in the course will be based on the weighted consideration of these three exams, as described in the Method of Assessment table above. Failure to write either of the two midterms or the final will result in an automatic F for the entire course. SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 2
COURSE POLICIES: 1. Videos. Several video clips will be shown during class time. As these audio-visual supplements are considered an integral part of the course, exam questions may directly or indirectly refer back to their content, their treatment of a given subject, the subsequent class discussion, etc. Most will be available free online. 2. Format of Examinations. All examinations in this course will be multiple choice. Each of the two midterms will consist of 60 multiple choice questions. The final will be made up of 100 multiple choice questions. None of the exams, including the final, will be cumulative in nature, although some carry-over is to be expected with regard to theory. Each exam will be based on the textbook, the lectures, the video recordings and class discussions. Approximately 50% of each exam will pertain to material not in the text itself, so regular attendance is crucial to success in this course. Good note-taking is essential, and a student who has missed a class must get the notes from a fellow classmate. The instructor does not teach from notes, and any slides which accompany the lecture provide only a skeleton outline of each session. They in no way contain enough information on their own to prepare the student for the exams. 3. Missed Examinations. Midterm Exams: Alternative arrangements for writing a missed midterm exam may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Deferrals will only be granted when there are extenuating circumstances such as extreme illness or other serious situations beyond the student s control. Work commitments, holiday plans or traffic are not considered legitimate reasons for rescheduling a midterm. Any student who does not write a specific midterm will receive 0% for that 30% component of the overall final grade and an F for the course. Final exam: Students who are unable to write a Registrar-scheduled final exam due to extenuating circumstances or for other reasons beyond their control must: (1) read and understand the university s policies regarding Final Exam Deferrals on page 1 of the Special Final Examination Request Form (link: www.ulethbridge.ca/sites/default/files/special%20final%20examination%20v%201.pdf) and (2) meet with their Academic Advisor to initiate the approval process. The final decision for all requests are made at the Dean s level. Please note that if the Dean s Office does not sanction a rescheduled final exam, or if the student neglects to request one, the failure of the student to complete this aspect of the course will result in an F (0 marks) being assigned for this 40% component of the overall course grade and an F for the entire course itself. 4. Conduct in Exams. Textbooks, notes, dictionaries, data or internet-enabled phones (i.e. Blackberry, I- Phone etc.), laptops, tablets, or other electronic devices may not be used during examinations. Students SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 3
who are found to have an electronic device on their person or desk during an examination could be in breach of the electronic devices policy, which could result in a 0 grade on the exam. Please see additional examination policies in the 2017/2018 University Calendar, page 76 (www.uleth.ca/ross/sites/ross/files/imported/academiccalendar/2017-18/part04.pdf.) Washroom use during exams: At any given time, only one student will be allowed to leave the classroom. All mobile devices (tablets, Smartphones, etc.) will be left on the instructor s desk while the student is absent from the classroom. Upon completion of exam: Once a student has completed and turned in his/her exam, that individual will not be allowed back into the classroom until all other students have handed in their papers. 5. Academic Dishonesty/Unethical Conduct. Special care should be taken to understand the University s position on academic and non-academic misconduct as listed in part 4, sections 4 through 8 of the 2017/2018 Academic Calendar. (www.uleth.ca/ross/sites/ross/files/imported/academic-calendar/2017-18/part04.pdf) It is the responsibility of the student to read, understand and comply with these policies. Students will avoid any violations of the basic standards of intellectual integrity, including, but not limited to, cheating or copying someone else s work. In addition, students are expected to take an active role in encouraging other members of the academic community to refrain from academic dishonesty, and are asked to advise the instructor if they are aware of any such violations. In the event that a student is caught engaging in dishonest or unethical conduct during an exam, he/she will receive an F for the test in question and potentially an F in the entire course. Further sanctions may eventually be implemented, in accordance with Faculty/University guidelines. LIBERAL EDUCATION & HOW IT APPLIES TO THIS COURSE: Liberal education has been a community tradition at the University of Lethbridge since its founding. Our principle of Liberal Education is based on four pillars: (1) encouraging breadth of knowledge; (2) facilitating connections across disciplines; (3) developing critical thinking skills so that our graduates can adapt to everchanging employment and social conditions; and (4) emphasizing engaged citizenship in our communities at all levels from the local to the global. We help students become creative explorers, innovative critical thinkers, and leaders who can navigate through complex global issues and who use the breadth, connections, and skills developed here to make our world a better place for all. Sociological analysis draws much of its scientific approach and its thematic content from related disciplines like political science, economics, psychology and history. As a result, it is inherently interdisciplinary in nature, and provides insight into areas that should be of particular interest to future business leaders who SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 4
want to be effective players in fields like market research, consumer trends and behavior, advertising, organizational principles, risk management, and so on. In a broader sense, SOCI 1000 has a universal relevance with regard to a liberal arts education since the focus of this course ranges from an appreciation of society s impact on individuals behaviour, as exercised by their immediate social surroundings, to a discussion of global issues as they concern not just individuals, but larger groups up to and including nations and even supranational bodies. All topics in this course are examined from at least three distinct and potentially competing perspectives, thereby encouraging thoughtful debate and flexible reasoning. The type of critical inquiry stimulated by SOCI 1000 is key to the creation of informed citizens who possess an in-depth understanding of the society which impacts us all on a daily basis. CLASS SCHEDULE: The timetable which follows is a tentative outline. Recognizing that teaching excellence requires a degree of flexibility and responsiveness to both students' needs and emergent circumstances, adjustments to the course outline may sometimes be necessary, provided that no student is disadvantaged by the change. DATE TOPIC PRE CLASS READING Sept. 11 Introducing Sociology Chapter 1 Sept. 18 Culture Chapter 3 Sept. 25 Socialization Chapter 4 Oct. 2 Social Stratification Chapter 7 Oct. 9 NO CLASSES - THANKSGIVING Oct. 16 MIDTERM #1 (75 minutes at end of class) Race and Ethnic Relations Chapter 9 Oct. 23 Discussion of Midterm #1 Gender & Sexualities Chapter 5 Oct. 30 Gender Inequality: Economic & Political Aspects Chapter 8 SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 5
Nov. 6 Health & Aging Chapter 18 Nov. 13 NO CLASSES REMEMBRANCE DAY Nov. 20 MIDTERM #2 (at end of class) Education Chapter 13 Nov. 27 Discussion of Midterm #2 Families Chapter 11 Dec. 4 Development & Underdevelopment Chapter 10 Dec. 6 MAKE-UP CLASS Globalization Sociology and the Environment Chapter 20 Chapter 17 Dec. 11 FINAL EXAM (6:00 pm 8:00 pm in classroom) SOCI 1000 Y Fall 2017 6