SOC 1F90 Introduction to Sociology Syllabus PDF

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Syllabus

Fall Professor: Dr. Nancy Cook
Winter Professor: Dr. Kathy Deliovsky...

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SOC 1F90 Introduction to Sociology Brock University SOC 1F90, Section 2 2016/2017 Lectures: Thursdays 0800-1000 Location: DHOWES Contact Information Fall Professor: Dr. Nancy Cook Email: [email protected] Office: STH 416, Ext 3176 Office hours: Tuesdays 1300-1500; Thursdays1000-1100; or by appointment

Winter Professor: Dr. Kathy Deliovsky Email: [email protected] Office: STH 422, Ext 5267 Office Hours: Tuesdays 17:00-18:00 Thursdays 10:00-11:00; or by appointment

Course Coordinator: Beatrix Prinsen ([email protected]) Course Description This course introduces students to the foundations of the academic discipline of Sociology. A fundamental part of the discipline is the sociological perspective, which provides a critical understanding of the social world and focuses on complex historical trends, developments and social processes. We engage with the sociological perspective when we dispel ‘common sense’ understandings and realise that individual experiences are shaped by societal institutions, processes and norms. The course begins by familiarising students with various theoretical and methodological approaches in sociology. We then consider key social structures - such as class, gender, race and sexuality - that organise social life and produce social inequalities. Finally, we explore social institutions such as families, media and economies, which are in turn organised by these social structures. Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, students will be expected to: a) think critically about various social, historical and political dynamics, as well as a range of social processes that structure everyday life, mainly in the global North; b) develop the beginnings of a sociological imagination that situates personal experience in a larger social context; c) critically read and assess academic sociological literature; d) understand and evaluate a range of sociological theories; 1

e) understand some of the methodologies, methods and ethical concerns related to sociological research and knowledge production; f) work cooperatively and collaboratively in a small group environment; g) communicate ideas clearly and accurately in written and oral form; h) improve familiarity and facility with library resources; i) manage course expectations and develop time management skills; j) proficiently take notes from oral lectures; k) understand the principles and components of academic integrity, and the processes and consequences related to academic misconduct. Required Readings Ravelli, B. and M. Webber. 2016. Exploring Sociology: A Canadian Perspective (Third Edition). Toronto: Pearson. Available at the Brock University Bookstore. Webber, M. and K. Bezanson (eds). 2017. Rethinking Society in the 21st Century: Critical Readings in Sociology (Fourth Edition). Toronto: CSPI. Available at the Brock University Bookstore. Some additional readings are posted on SAKAI. Course Evaluation Fall Term: 1. Library Assignment 2. Midterm Test 1 3. Academic Integrity Quiz 4. Written Assignment 1 5. Progress Exam (Registrar scheduled exam in December)

15% 15%

Winter Term: 6. Written Assignment 2 7. Midterm test 2 8. Final Exam (Registrar scheduled exam in April) 9. Seminar participation (calculated at the end of year)

10% 10% 25% 10%

5% 10%

Please note: Further information on course requirements, readings and expectations may also be provided in class and posted on SAKAI. Successful completion of this course will depend on students’ engaged presence at lectures and seminars. Students are expected to read the assigned material in advance of the corresponding lecture and seminar. They are also responsible for the content of films and other visual media shown in class, which are obtained from multiple sources. Professors do not have copies available for loan. 2

Intellectual Property Notice: All lectures, slides, presentations, handouts, tests, exams and other course materials created by the instructors in this course are the intellectual property of those instructors. A student who publicly posts or sells an instructor’s work, without the instructor’s express consent, may be charged with misconduct under Brock’s Academic Integrity Policy and/or Code of Conduct, and may also face adverse legal consequences for infringement of intellectual property rights. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS Library Assignment: During seminars held the week of October 27 – November 2, students will receive an orientation to the library, after which they complete the library assignment. See SAKAI for the assignment itself, which is posted as a Word document (Resources  Assignments  Library Assignment). Complete the assignment IN the Word document provided, and submit it two ways: (1) bring a hard copy of the assignment to seminar the following week (November 3-9); and (2) upload an electronic copy of it to the Library Assignment tab (Assignments  Library Assignment) by 0800 the day of that seminar (acceptable file types: Word, WordPerfect, Plain text, Rich Text, or PDF). Include the file extension in the document label. Late submissions will be assigned a late penalty (see Late Submissions). Always keep a copy of your work. Further information on this assignment will be provided in lecture. Turnitin, a computerised plagiarism detection system, is used when students submit their written work to the course SAKAI site. Following the University Undergraduate Calendar, “Academic Regulations and University Polices,” Section VI, C, students with a principled objection to using Turnitin.com may elect to complete an additional assignment in lieu of submitting their work through this website. A 3-4 page reflection paper on their specific objection to the practice, including academic references, needs to be submitted alongside a hard copy of the Library Assignment at the beginning of the seminar in which it is due. Midterm Test 1: This test is scheduled for the evening of Friday October 21. The lecture that week (Thursday October 20) is cancelled. Please ensure that you do not book the date and time for other activities such as work. 5:30-7:30 The test is based on lecture material (including films and other visual media) and assigned course readings. Tests will be based on course material immediately preceding the test date. It may consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, definition and short answer questions. Missing a test is a serious occurrence. Missed tests will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Each request for a deferred test based on extenuating circumstances must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which is due to the course instructor within seven days of the missed test. There is no guarantee that a deferred test will be granted. In the case of illness or other medical issues, a Student Medical Certificate Form, available on SAKAI (under Resources), must be submitted to the course instructor. Academic Integrity Quiz: Before seminar the week of November 3-9, students should take a few minutes to complete the Academic Integrity Quiz that is posted on SAKAI under the ‘Test/Quiz’ tab. Seminars that week will provide students an overview of academic integrity 3

and the penalties and consequences incurred by students who commit various types of academic misconduct. After the seminar, retake the quiz on SAKAI until you get 10/10. Students will not be allowed to submit Written Assignment 1 without registering a perfect score on the SAKAI text/quiz site. Written Assignment 1: Detailed instructions about the assignment can be found on SAKAI (Resources  Assignments  Written Assignment 1). It is due for electronic submission at 0800 on November 17. Upload the document (acceptable file types: Word, WordPerfect, Plain text, Rich Text, or PDF; include the file extension in the document label) to the Written Assignment 1 tab (Assignments  Written Assignment 1). A hardcopy is due at the beginning of lecture on November 17. Late submissions will be assigned a late penalty (see Late Submissions). Always keep a copy of your work. Further information on this assignment will be provided in lecture. Turnitin, a computerised plagiarism detection system, is used when students submit their written work to the course SAKAI site. Following the University Undergraduate Calendar, “Academic Regulations and University Polices,” Section VI, C, students with a principled objection to using Turnitin.com may elect to complete an additional assignment in lieu of submitting their work through this website. A 3-4 page reflection paper on their specific objection to the practice, including academic references, needs to be submitted alongside a hard copy of the assignment at the beginning of lecture on November 17. Written Assignment 2: The second assignment is designed to introduce students to the practice of critical reflection. Detailed instructions about the assignment can be found on SAKAI. Further information on the assignment will also be provided in lecture. A hardcopy of the assignment is due at the beginning of lecture on March 9. Late submissions will be assigned a late penalty (see Late Submissions). Always keep a copy of your work. Midterm Test 2: This test will be written outside of the scheduled class time in the week of Feb 13-17, 2017. The exact date, time and location will be scheduled by the Registrar’s office and announced as soon as it is confirmed. The lecture (Feb 16) and seminars for that week will be cancelled. Please ensure that you do not book the date and time for other activities such as work. The test is based on lecture material (including films and other visual media) and assigned course readings. Tests will be based on course material immediately preceding the test date. It may consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, definition and short answer questions. Missing a test is a serious occurrence. Missed tests will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Each request for a deferred test based on extenuating circumstances must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which is due to the course instructor within seven days of the missed test. There is no guarantee that a deferred test will be granted. In the case of illness or other medical issues, a Student Medical Certificate Form, available on SAKAI (under Resources), must be submitted to the course instructor. Progress and Final Exams: Both the progress and final exams are scheduled by the Registrar’s Office. Questions are based on lecture material and assigned course readings. 4

Exams may comprise a combination of multiple choice, definition, short answer and essay questions. The progress exam covers first term material and the final exam concentrates on the topics covered between January and April. Students must write the exam for the course section in which they are registered. If an exam is written for a section in which the student is not registered, then the exam will NOT be graded. Missing an exam is a serious occurrence. Missed exams will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Each request for a deferred exam based on extenuating circumstances must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which is due to the course instructor within seven days of the missed exam. There is no guarantee that a deferred exam will be granted. In the case of illness or other medical issues, a Student Medical Certificate Form, available on SAKAI (under Resources), must be submitted to the course instructor. Late Submissions: Late assignments will be deducted a penalty of 10% per day, for up to 4 days including Saturdays and Sundays, after which time assignments will not be accepted and a grade of 0 will be assigned. Assignments submitted on the date the assignment is due, but after the required time, will be assessed a 10% penalty. Seminar Participation: Seminar participation means more than mere attendance. Seminar participation will be evaluated on the quality and consistency of student participation and their ability to demonstrate a careful reading of the assigned material on a weekly basis. The grading rubric for participation is posted on SAKAI (Resources  Seminar resources  Seminar 1). Switching Seminars: A university scheduling conflict is the sole grounds for switching seminars. Personal timetable difficulties cannot be accommodated. Contact the course coordinator to attempt a scheduling shift. Include your full name, student number, course section, current seminar, and a couple other seminar options that do not conflict with your schedule, and attach your timetable to demonstrate the conflict. All seminar switches should occur by the second week of the course. Teaching assistants should be apprised of these switches; please do not simply attend a new seminar. Missing Seminars: Normally, there is no opportunity to make up missed seminars. However, for on-going issues please refer to ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ below. Extenuating Circumstances: If circumstances arise that prevent students from completing course components, then they should contact the professor to discuss the situation. Official documentation (such as a Student Medical Certificate) may be required as support. Medical Exemption Policy: The University requires that a student be medically examined in Health Services, or by an off-campus physician prior to an absence due to medical reasons from an exam, lab, test, quiz, seminar, assignment, etc. The Medical Certificate can be found at: http://www.brocku.ca/health-services/policies/exemption Email policy: Use email communications with TAs and professors sparingly. Please take advantage of official hours and appointments for discussions requiring more than a minimal response. We will do our best to respond to email messages within 48 hours, although we do not check course emails on Saturdays and Sundays. Please be professional and respectful in all email 5

communications. Include your full name and student number in those messages and specify in which section of the course you are registered. Cell phone policy: Phones should be on silent and kept out of sight. Under exceptional circumstances, receiving texts or phone calls may be necessary. In these rare cases, please discuss the situation with the professor at the beginning of class or the TA before seminar begins. If students do not comply with this policy, then they will be required to leave the lecture or seminar. Laptops and other electronic devices: The use of laptops and other electronic devices is appropriate for lecture note-taking. Other uses are distracting. If students use these devices in distracting ways, then they will be required to leave the lecture or seminar. SAKAI: If you experience difficulty logging onto SAKAI or encounter any other SAKAIrelated problems, then please contact the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation at extension 3933. Grading (from Brock University Undergraduate Calendar) A+ 90 - 100

work of outstanding quality that provides clear evidence of a rare talent for the subject and of an original and/or incisive mind

A 80 - 89

excellent, accurate work that demonstrates a certain flair for and comprehension of the subject.

B 70-79

competent work that shows a sound grasp of the course goals without being distinguished work of adequate quality that suffers from incompleteness or inaccuracy

C 60 - 69

D 50 - 59

the minimum requirements of a course are barely satisfied

F 49 or lower

minimum requirements have not been met, and no credit has been given for the course

Academic Misconduct: Academic misconduct is a serious offence. The principle of academic integrity, particularly of doing one’s own work, documenting properly (including use of quotation marks, appropriate paraphrasing and referencing/citation), collaborating appropriately and avoiding misrepresentation, is a core principle in university study. Students should consult Section VII, “Academic Misconduct,” in the “Academic Regulations and University Policies” entry in the Undergraduate Calendar, available at: www.brocku.ca/webcal to view a fuller description of prohibited actions, and the procedures and penalties. Accessibility: Please notify the professor if you have accessibility issues requiring accommodation. For more information please go to http://www.brocku.ca/accessiblity.

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Academic Accommodation: As part of Brock University's commitment to a respectful work and learning environment, the University will make every reasonable effort to accommodate all members of the university community with disabilities. If you require academic accommodations related to a documented disability to participate in this course, you are encouraged to contact Services for Students with Disabilities in the Student Development Centre (4th floor Schmon Tower, ex. 3240). You are also encouraged to discuss any accommodations with the instructor well in advance of due dates and scheduled assessments. Academic Accommodation due to Religious Obligations: Brock University acknowledges the pluralistic nature of the undergraduate and graduate communities such that accommodations will be made for students who, by reason of religious obligation, must miss an examination, test, assignment deadline, laboratory or other compulsory academic event. Students requesting academic accommodation on the basis of religious obligation should make a formal, written request to their instructor(s) for alternative dates and/or means of satisfying requirements. Class changes or cancellations: Any changes or cancellations of lectures, seminars and office hours will be posted on SAKAI, announced in class and/or emailed to students. Student Development Centre Workshops: The Student Development Centre offers a range of workshops related to university preparation, study skills, notetaking skills, time management, writing, use of social media, and job transferable skills. For a list of workshop topics and times, please consult: https://brocku.ca/sdc/learning/workshops.php.

**The last day to drop this credit without academic penalty is January 20, 2017. University scheduling structures the Fall week to run from a Wednesday to a Tuesday. The Winter week runs from a Monday to a Friday. In the Fall term, all seminars run AFTER the associated lecture. This situation changes in the Winter term. Please pay close attention to these schedule shifts. Week of Sept. 7-13

Course schedule Lecture Topic and Assigned Readings Introduction/What is Sociology

Lecture: Sept. 8

Readings: Lecture: Exploring Sociology No seminars Sept. 8- Chapter 1: Understanding the Sociological Imagination 14 Rethinking Society Chapter 1: C. Wright Mills, The Promise. **Seminars begin September 15th**

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Sept. 14-20

Socialisation

Lecture: Sept. 15

Readings: Lecture: Exploring Sociology Seminars: Sept. 15-21 Chapter 6: Socialisation and Social Interaction Seminar: Rethinking Society 1) Chapter 12: Jacqueline Lewis. Learning to Strip: The Socialisation Experiences of Exotic Dancers. 2) Chapter 13: Erving Goffman. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Sept. 21-27

Culture

Lecture: Sept. 22

Readings: Lecture: Exploring Sociology Seminars: Sept. 22-28 Chapter 5: Culture Seminar: posted on SAKAI 1) Santos, Xuan. 2009. The Chicana Canvas: Doing Class, Gender, Race, and Sexuality through Tattooing in East Los Angeles. NWSA Journal 21(3): 91-120. 2) Sealey, Alison and Nickie Charles. 2013. ‘What Do Animals Mean to You?’: Naming and Relating to Nonhuman Animals. Anthrozoös 26(4): 485-503. Sept. 28-Oct. 4

Classical Social Theories

Lecture: Sept. 29

Readings: Lecture: Exploring Sociology Chapter 2: Classical Social Theories

Seminars: Sept. 29Oct. 5

Seminar: Rethinking Society 1) Chapter 3: Emile Durkheim. What is a Social Fact. 2) Chapter 4: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Manifesto of the Communist Party.

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Oct. 5-11

Contemporary Social Theories

Lecture: Oct. 6

Readings: Lecture: Exploring Sociology Chapter 3: Contemporary Social Theor...