Intro to Sociology Syllabus PDF

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New York University Faculty of Arts and Science College of Arts and Science Department of Sociology

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY SOC-UA 1, Summer 2021 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 1:30 - 3:35PM Location: Zoom Meeting ID: 996 9418 0783 Passcode: 202402) * Note some classes are recorded and asynchronous Instructors Prof. Nahoko Kameo – [email protected]

Course Description and Learning Objectives Welcome to Sociology! Sociology is a discipline in social sciences that studies human life in relationship with the “society” – the family, groups, economies, nations, etc., in the modern world. Sociologists ask questions that are similar to the other social sciences (such as Economics, Political Science, Psychology, or Anthropology), but we have distinctive theories and methods that lead us to approach problems in a unique, multidimensional way. This course has two learning objectives. The first is expose students who are new to sociology some contemporary sociological work to see what we do with sociological thinking. This would mean you’ll be learning about different subdisciplines within sociology – such as sociology of race, sociology of city and urbanization, sociology of globalization, so on and so forth. Second, you’ll learn how to think sociologically. This means you’ll learn a bit of sociological theory and methodology, to understand how sociologists think about the world around them, and also to prepare you for more sociological courses later on, if you are so inclined. I know many of you are new to sociology (or college courses in general, for that matter), and we’ll do our best for you to succeed in this class and to become interested in sociology – we sure think it’s interesting! Please read below carefully and until the end. Books to Buy You have to buy one textbook and a few books for this course. All other readings will be posted on the NYU Class website. 1. The Sociology Project by Pearson Publishing, Revel version. 2018. by NYU sociology professors. Which you will need to purchase as follows: PLEASE DO NOT BUY BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS 1. Go to: https://console.pearson.com/enrollment/8hhylg 2. Create a Pearson Account. 3. Redeem your access code or purchase instant access online. **Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus.

4. There is a 24 hour Pearson help number if you are having problems: 877.896.8691. IMPORTANT: The Revel version is required for submitting the assignments online. Don’t buy other versions. 2. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. 1959. Anchor Books. By Erving Goffman. Retail or online bookstores carry it for less than $10. 3. Between the World and Me. 2015. Spiegel & Grau. By Ta-Nehisi Coates. Available online in NYU Library – or, about $12 in bookstores/online.

Basic Rules 1. Students are required to attend all classes and participate actively. 2. Students are required to complete all assignments on time. 3. If a student has a question, they have to read the syllabus first and then email me. Please wait 48 hours for me to get back to you. 4. Students are encouraged to make an appointment during our office hours.

Assignments and Grading 1. Mini-exercises (45% -- 5% each, 9 times – chapters 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 20, 23) 2. Attendance and participation (10% -- please discuss with me if you are taking sections asynchronously) 3. Short essays (10% -- 10% each, 2 times) 4. Midterm – take home exam (25%)

Mini-exercises: the students are required to complete the assignment embedded in The Sociology Project 2.5 in the same week the chapter was taught. So for example, if the lecture covered Chap 4. Social Interaction in the week, you will have to finish the embedded assignment that week. Attendance and participation: We only have 25 students, so everyone is expected to speak up during the class discussions. Please note that your attendance and participation grade will be marked by how you contribute to the class discussions. Asynchronous students will have alternative assignments – please reach out to me. Short essays: Please see the week-by-week schedule for more details. Short essay 1: Reflections on The presentation of self in everyday life Short essay 2: Reflections on Between the World and Me Short essay must be 2-4 pages long (1-inch margin, font size 12, doubled-spaced), to be submitted to me by email. Midterm: There will be a take-home midterm posted during the fourth week, on June 17th at noon. There will be questions asking your understanding of basic sociological concepts and theories, and some essay questions for you to develop your sociological thinking. Do not cooperate with other **Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus.

students. Please see below on what plagiarism is – in short, write in your own words and credit people by citations when you use their ideas.

**Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus.

Week 1 (May 24, 25 and 27): Introduction and sociological theory Monday: Introduction. Live zoom. What is sociology, and why does it matter? No readings required for the first lecture. Tuesday: Live zoom. TSP Chapter 1 “The Sociological Imagination.” Thursday: Recorded lecture on sociological theory. Please post your thoughts on the forum at least twice for attendance by the end of the day. TSP Chapter 2 “Social Theory.”

Assignment for Week 1: Thursday forum posts + Mini-exercise for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 by the end of week (end of Sunday). Submit through Revel. * because it’s the beginning week, I’ll grant extensions for any technical problems. Do not worry!

Week 2 (June 1, 3): Sociology of everyday life – symbolic interaction (1) Monday: No class – Memorial Day. Tuesday: Live zoom. TSP Chapter 4 “Social Interaction” Start reading Goffman’s The presentation of self in everyday life. You’ll need to finish it and write up something by the end of Week 3. Thursday: Recorded lecture on The presentation of self in everyday life. Introduction – chapter 3 (until p. 140.) Please post your thoughts on the forum at least twice for attendance by the end of the day.

Assignment for Week 2: Thursday forum posts +Mini-exercise for Chapter 4 by the end of week (End of Sunday). Submit through Revel.

Week 3 (June 7, 8, 10): Sociology of everyday life – symbolic interaction (2) & City and communities Monday: Live zoom. Erving Goffman, The presentation of self in everyday life. Chapter 4 – the end of the book (p. 141 –256.) Tuesday: Live zoom. Concluding lecture on Chapter 4, symbolic interactionism, and why everyday life matters sociologically. Thursday: Recorded lecture on TSP Chapter 9 Cities and Communities Assignment for Week 3: Thursday forum posts +Mini-exercise for Chapter 9 by the end of week (End of Sunday). Submit through Revel + Short essay on Goffman’s The presentation of Self in everyday life.

**Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus.

Week 4 (June 14, 15, 17): Sociology of race and ethnicity Monday: Live zoom. TSP Chapter 11 Race and Ethnicity. Start reading Ta-Neheshi Coates’ Between the world and me. You will have to finish reading and write the short essay by the end of Week 5. Tuesday: Live zoom. Coates, Ta-Neheshi. 2015. Between the world and me. Chapter 1. Thursday: Recorded lecture on Between the World and me and Du Bois, W.E. Burghardt. Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880. Selected chapters will be posted online. (Chapters 1-3 pp. 3-54). Assignment for Week 4: Thursday forum posts +Mini-exercise for Chapter 11 by the end of week (End of Sunday). Submit through Revel

Take-home midterm: You will have 36 hours to finish the midterm. It will be emailed to you on June 17th at noon. Please return the midterm to me by June 18th Friday by the end of day (midnight).

Week 5 (June 21, 22, 24): Sociology of markets and globalization Monday: Live zoom. TSP Chapter 8: Markets, Organizations, and Work Tuesday: Live zoom. TSP Chapter 23: Globalization Thursday: Recorded lecture on Giddens, Anthony. Sociology: a brief but critical introduction. 1986. Macmillan. Chapters 1, 2 and 7. For this Thursday, you don’t have to post anything on Google room chat because you have a lot of assignments. Assignment for Week 5: Mini-exercise for TSP Chapter 8 and 23 by the end of week –Submit through Revel. Short Essay 2 on Between the world and me is due by the end of the week.

Week 6 (June 28, 29, July 1st): Sociology of gender and sociology of environment Please watch Paula England’s “Understanding Hookup Culture with Paula England” available at Youtube before Monday lecture! Monday: Live Zoom: TSP Chapter 12 Gender and Sexuality. Tuesday: Live Zoom: TSP Chapter 20: Environmental Sociology. Thursday: Recorded talk by Professor Colin Jerolmack, Chair of Environmental Studies on Fracking. Please post your discussion at least twice. Assignment for Week 6: Thursday forum posts +Mini-exercise for TSP Chapter 12 and 20 by the end of week. Submit through Revel.

**Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus.

Week 7 (July 5th): Last class! Monday: Live Zoom to recap the entire course

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Class rules Academic Integrity We take academic dishonesty very seriously. It’s great to read and use some other people ideas, just make sure you properly cite it! We understand you are not used to academic writing; ask me if you are unsure how to write academically. All work should be your own. If we find academic dishonesty, we will report it to your advisor without exceptions. Late Work We expect that you will submit assignments by the deadlines specified on the syllabus. Any late assignments will be deducted half a letter grade for each day it is late. Legitimate extension reasons include medical emergency, family emergency, and religious observance. Contact me for requesting extensions. We require documentations for all such requests to be considered (typically, doctor’s note). Communication We will respond to emails within 72 hours and emails sent over the weekend will not be answered before Monday. Office Hours Office hours are the best way to get your questions answered, and know more about sociology and your professors! I’ll in general be available a bit before/after class, please email me for longer conversations. Grading changes We take equity very seriously and thus the request for re-grading should be used only when the student believes there is a genuine mistake or misunderstanding. The new grade may be lower, the same, or higher than the original grade. Accommodations A student who requires accommodations can contact the NYU Moses Center for student accessibility: www.nyu.edu/csd. NYU is committed to providing equal educational opportunity and participation for all students. ----end of the syllabus------------

**Disclaimer. The instructor reserves the right to change any aspect of this syllabus....