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Introduction to Sociology

“Knowledge is the power to make your own evaluations.” — Donileen R. Loseke

COURSE INFO Course Title: Introduction to Sociology Course Location: Online / Blackboard Course Times: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 10:00am — 11:10am EST Class periods in which we will meet via Zoom are listed in the course calendar. Course Number: SOC 100-6 Number of Credits: 4 Term and Year: Spring 2021 Prerequisites: N/A Distribution: Social Science (SS), Non-Western (NW), & International/Global (IG)

CONTACT INFO Instructor: Dr. Maggie C. Cobb Email: [email protected] Phone: 813-820-1180 You may call and/or text the above number, but please do not do so as your first line of communication. Do not anticipate a response within seconds and do not assault me with calls and messages. Zoom Office Hours: Fridays, 12:00pm—4:00pm EST & most Wednesdays 4:00pm—6:00pm EST Please visit the website below to reserve a timeframe during office hours, to check my availability, or to check if my office hours have been cancelled. Same day reservations are not guaranteed. https://doodle.com/poll/fvkt456adsydi6fy?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link Google Hangout Hours: (MW from 11:30pm—12:30pm EST) Please visit the website below to reserve a timeframe during Hangouts hours, to check my availability, or to check if my Hangouts hours have been cancelled. Same day reservations are not guaranteed. https://doodle.com/poll/w46s5sgpz7deynxy?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Please refer to the information and instructions posted on Blackboard under “Course Info” prior to reserving an appointment during office hours or Hangout hours.

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to the structure, function, and development of human societies. It emphasizes the character of cultures (i.e., systems of shared meaning), socialization (learning those systems and “becoming a member”), social structure (i.e., “the architecture of everyday life”), social inequality, and social change.

OVERVIEW Sociology is the scientific study of social life. However, it is far from a simple set of concepts or groups of topics. Instead, sociology is a powerful and enlightening way of viewing and understanding the world around us. It offers us a new way to understand the connections between individuals and society, along with perspectives on the impact of social forces on individual behavior. This course is intended to help you use a sociological perspective to enrich your personal, academic, civic, and professional life. It is designed to teach you how to be critical consumers of culture, to evoke curiosity about social life, and to encourage you to ask questions about how we participate in a larger society, how we as individuals influence others and how others influence us, how we come to hold our beliefs and how we act accordingly, and how and why any of this is important in our own lives and in the lives of others. In other words, we will journey together as you develop a sociological imagination, which will enable you to see how our lives, both personally and collectively, are influenced by broader social forces. In so doing, we will review a variety of classical and contemporary theories, concepts, and methods central to sociology, discuss current events that relate to our field, cover a great many topics of sociological interest, such as culture, social interaction, deviance, social class and stratification, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and social change (to name a few), and learn how to apply sociology outside of the classroom in ways that promote positive and sustainable social change in our communities and social worlds.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES After successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Discuss the history, practice, and ethical use of sociological theories, methods, and interventions at micro, meso, and macro levels of society. 2. Understand and apply sociological theories to contemporary social issues, conflicts, and problems in local and global contexts. 3. Understand and apply sociological methods to investigate contemporary social issues, conflicts, and problems in local and global contexts. 4. Compare and contrast the application of different theories and methods to social issues, conflicts, and problems in society.

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5. Understand and apply sociological methods and theories to concrete situations, contexts, and decisionmaking processes via applied research and sociological practice activities. 6. Prepare and disseminate sociological knowledge in written, oral, and multi-media forms. 7. Demonstrate an understanding of various forms of professional socialization and development, such as majoring in sociology at UT, preparing for a career in sociology, applying to graduate school, effective teamwork, and information literacy skills. 8. Understand and discuss examples of sociological processes in both international/global and non-western societies.

REQUIRED TEXT, READINGS, & (OPTIONAL) RESOURCES REQUIRED TEXT Title: SOCIOLOGY: EXPLORING THE ARCHITECTURE OF EVERYDAY LIFE ISBN: 978-1544373850 Edition: 13th Year: 2020 Publisher: Sage Publications Availability: UT Bookstore (limited), Amazon, & Sage Publications, among other popular retailers. The first several chapters of the required text will be made available on BB for those of you who have trouble securing it immediately.

BLACKBOARD, ASSIGNED READINGS, & COURSE REQUIREMENTS ALL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE COURSE ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU ON BLACKBOARD.

This includes required readings that are not in the above text (designated as “On BB” in the course calendar), assignment guidelines, assignment submissions, optional resources, course announcements, and grades. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP UP WITH COURSE CONTENT.

If you are unfamiliar with Blackboard or anything related to it, please let me know.

(OPTIONAL) RESOURCES 

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KeepLearning UT https://www.ut.edu/about-ut/university-services/information-technology-andsecurity/student-service-desk A UT page dedicated to resources to facilitate the remote learning experience. Here you will find helpful information about how to successfully navigate Blackboard and Zoom , for example, as well other tips and tricks for success in remote classrooms. You may need to login in order to access this page.

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Introduction to Sociology https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology This is a wonderful (and free!) book that is currently featured on Wikibooks due to its exceptional content and format. “Sage Edge Student Resources, Sociology” https://edge.sagepub.com/newman11e Includes study plans, flashcards, quizzes, videos, journal articles, and more. I highly recommend them and you can access them for free. Blackboard Resources & Examples: In addition to BB readings, you will also find myriad other resources available to you on Blackboard, including useful supplemental readings, recorded lectures and PowerPoints from last semester, examples of quality film assignments, common errors and mistakes, and study guides for upcoming exams. Keep in mind that examples posted on BB are borrowed from similar assignments in different classes. DO NOT BORROW MATERIAL FROM ANY EXAMPLES POSTED ON BLACKBOARD. Doing so is a VIOLATION OF UT’S ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY (see below) and infractions will be adjudicated accordingly. Student-Led Discussion Forum: An important resource in any class is to help each other. You will find a “Student-Led Discussion Forum” on Blackboard that is meant to facilitate just that. Use this forum to post questions and respond to those posed by your peers. This is strictly an opportunity for you to reach out to your classmates and extend the favor in return. The chances are good that if you have questions, others do too.

“ZOOM CLASSES” We will be meeting during our regularly scheduled class periods via Zoom (link on BB); however, with few exceptions, the vast majority of our Zoom classes will take place on Monday’s and Wednesday’s, where Friday’s are most often reserved for optional one-on-one time via Zoom Office Hours. Similarly, the Monday’s prior to exams and film assignment deadlines are reserved for optional Q&A sessions. With the exception of optional Q&A sessions and those occasions where I simply forget to hit “record,” most Zoom meetings will be recorded and posted on BB for your review. You will find details regarding our class meetings listed by date in the course calendar, so please do keep a close eye on it throughout the semester.

ETIQUETTE & PREPARATION 4

First and foremost, you will need a stable internet connection to attend Zoom Class. If you are new to Zoom, please review the instructions posted on BB and/or the resources made available to you through the university. Unless you are actively speaking, please ensure that your microphone is muted so as not to introduce unnecessary and distracting background noise. Please ensure that your video is turned on. To not know with whom you are speaking or sharing class is simply creepy. Come prepared with relevant course materials already pulled up on your screen (the syllabus and PowerPoints, both of which are posted on BB, immediately come to mind.)

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You can use the messaging function offered by Zoom, but please know that I often fail to see them (though I’m getting better.) The best way to communicate with me during class is to speak. I expect that Zoom classroom etiquette precisely mirrors that of face-to-face classroom etiquette. o HATEFUL, DISPARAGING, RUDE, OFFENSIVE, INAPPROPRIATE, AND/OR DISTRACTING COMMENTS AND/OR BEHAVIOR (INCLUDING ABOVE NOTE ABOUT CAMERAS) IS AN ASSAULT TO A PRODUCTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, ENTIRELY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO THE GOALS OF THIS COURSE, AND, AS SUCH, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

ASSESSMENTS DEADLINES FOR ALL ASSESSMENTS ARE LISTED BY DATE IN THE COURSE CALENDAR. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXAMS, ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON BLACKBOARD BY 11:59PM ON THEIR RESPECTIVE DUE-DATES.

YOUR FINAL GRADE IN THIS COURSE IS BASED ON A WEIGHTED AVERAGE AMONG THREE ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES: 1. EXAMS (40%) 2. QUIZZES (30%) 3. FILM ASSIGNMENTS (30%) ALL ASSESSMENTS WILL BE ADMINISTERED OR SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD.

EXAMS (40%) There are three NON-CUMULATIVE exams in this course that will be administered via BB:  Exam I and Exam II will be administered in two parts over two regularly scheduled class periods (i.e., 10:00am—11:10am EST.) o Splitting exams into two class periods is a result of previous student feedback concerning time. Thus, my hopes are that administering the exam in two parts reduces stress and encourages insight.  Exam III will necessarily be completed in one sitting during our two-hour, scheduled final exam period. PART I & PART II: Part I of the exams will include approximately… -

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10-15 vignettes (short stories/examples followed by multiple choice answer categories)  VIGNETTE QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT APPLICATION, NOT MEMORIZATION. You will be asked to read a short story and then answer a question about that story. Good luck notwithstanding, you simply need to know the material to get these questions correct (likely why most students loathe them.) An example of this type of question is included on Blackboard.

Part II of each exam will include approximately… -

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10-15 multiple choice questions that do not include vignettes.  These are your basic, garden-variety multiple-choice questions.  Example: “Which of the below is the greatest course ever?” a) Organic Chemistry II b) Underwater Basket Weaving c) Introduction to Sociology d) Advanced Astronomical Mathematics 15—20 fill-in-the-blank questions o Example: “Introduction to Sociology is the ________________ course ever.”  Correct answer: “greatest.”

A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT EXAMS: EXAMS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO REGURGITATE BASIC INFORMATION. INSTEAD, THEY ARE DESIGNED AS A WAY TO ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE MATERIAL. THUS, REGARDLESS OF THE QUESTION’S FORMAT, I EXPECT THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR ABILITY TO APPLY, CONNECT, AND ARTICULATE KEY THEMES, THEORIES, AND ARGUMENTS FOUND WITHIN THE READINGS AND/OR DISCUSSED IN CLASS.

QUIZZES (30%) -

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There are nine (9) multiple-choice quizzes in this course that should be submitted by midnight on the days listed in the course calendar (all Friday’s.) Quizzes will typically consist of approximately 15 multiple-choice questions (sometimes more, sometimes less.) Most quizzes will “open” prior to the day on which they are due. Their “opening” fully depends on the pace of class and the amount of material covered. At the very least, you will have the entirety of Friday to complete the quiz, including the one (1) hour and ten (10) minutes typically reserved for class. I will drop your lowest two quiz grades (i.e., you can bomb, skip, miss, etc. without it hurting your grade.) You will have the opportunity to complete one optional quiz at the end of the semester (additional info provided in the course calendar.) If you choose NOT to take this quiz, it will not impact your grade. If you DO choose to take the quiz, regardless of your score, it will impact your grade for better or worse, though if you still have your two drops available, one could apply to this quiz if it is one of your two lowest.

FILM ASSIGNMENTS (30%) THE BELOW INFORMATION IS A SUMMARY. GUIDELINES (AND EXAMPLES) PERTAINING TO FILM ASSIGNMENTS ARE POSTED ON BLACKBOARD FOR YOUR CAREFUL REVIEW. DEADLINES FOR ALL FILM ASSIGNMENTS ARE LISTED BY DATE IN THE COURSE CALENDAR.

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For these assignments, you will be required to APPLY/RELATE AT LEAST 10 SPECIFIC CONCEPTS FROM COURSE MATERIAL TO AN ASSIGNED FILM.

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Assigned films for ALL film assignments are listed below, as are the specific chapters of your required text in which they correspond. O While you may select some concepts from previous chapters, you should give principle focus to the film’s corresponding chapter (listed next to the film and discussed at length in class) and you should NOT jump ahead to chapters that have NOT been covered in class. Also provided below are trailers to each film.

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DO TAKE THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE INDEED WATCHING THE CORRECT FILM. COMPLETING A FILM ASSIGNMENT ON THE WRONG FILM WILL RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT.

You have a considerable amount of freedom when it comes to how you would like to organize your film assignments. There are no style guidelines or length requirements — You do not have to write papers for these assignments. Some students prefer bullet-points, some prefer paragraphs, some prefer columns, etc. Film assignments do, however, need to be free of typos and grammatical errors and, per the guidelines, concepts should be distinct from the rest of the text (bolded, highlighted, italicized, etc.) o Examples of quality film assignments that take various forms have been posted on BB for your perusal. BE AWARE THAT BORROWING ANYTHING FROM THESE EXAMPLES IS A VIOLATION OF UT’S ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY AND WILL BE ADJUDICATED AS SUCH.

THERE ARE FOUR FILM ASSIGNMENTS IN THIS CLASS: 1. “Before the Flood” (Ch. 3) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UGsRcxaSAI&t=1s 2. “13th” (Ch. 8) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6IXQbXPO3I 3. “Requiem for the American Dream” (Ch. 10) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jy3UtlIfVk&t=7s) 4. “Tough Guise II: Violence, Manhood, and American Culture” (Ch. 12) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El4b5_givaQ You can access this film for free via Kanopy on the UT library website (be sure to login): https://tampa.kanopy.com/video/tough-guise-2 At the end of the semester, you will have an opportunity to complete an optional film assignment that will replace your lowest film assignment grade THAT IS NOT A ZERO. More info about this opportunity is available to you on BB.

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETION & SUBMISSION Instructions & Rules (Exams & Quizzes)  Do not begin until you are ready to sit down and complete the exam/quiz in its entirety.

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While you can begin quizzes as soon as they are open and need only submit by midnight on the day that it is due, you must take exams via BB during our regularly scheduled class periods on the days listed in the course calendar. Upon beginning the exam/quiz, you will not be able to leave or navigate away from the page. o If you attempt this, blackboard will kick you off and you will get a zero. The exam/quiz will close and auto-submit following our regularly scheduled class period, regardless of whether or not you are finished. Once complete, you will not be able to return to or retake the exam/quiz. Absolutely expect technological difficulties and be prepared to document them when (not if) they occur (via screenshot or some other creative way) and contact me ASAP. Otherwise it’s a missed exam/quiz without documentation. o To be on the safe side, I recommend that you at least capture the entry page of the exam/quiz (before you click “begin”) and the submission page. o If your “technological difficulties” are a result of your not following the rules and requirements of taking exams via BB, then I do not see them as “technological difficulties.” Instead, I see them as failed attempts. Blackboard provides me all sorts of ways to track and report your progress on the assessment. If I suspect even the slightest hint of funny business, I will shut down the exam/quiz and give you a zero. No questions asked.

Assignment Completion  I understand that this is an online class and I cannot actually prevent you from referencing course materials during exams/quizzes. So….Go for it. However, do NOT assume that this means that you do not have to keep up with the material and/or prepare for these assessments, PARTICULARLY EXAMS. o NEVER should there EVER be verbatim material, regardless of its source, included on ANY assignment.  If you wish to quote something verbatim for film assignments, you MUST correctly cite the source using your preferred citation style.  Do NOT make the wildly problematic assumption that the internet will aid you. It will not. It will only wind up costing you, I promise.  Do NOT assume that PowerPoints are your “notes.” o Instead, they are SIMPLY AND PURPOSEFULLY OUTLINES and should be considered “subheadings” in YOUR NOTES. PowerPoints alone will NOT help you.  Do NOT assume that everything you read is in the PowerPoint and everything in the PowerPoint is in the reading. Likewise, do NOT assume that everything I say is on the PowerPoint OR in the book.  Learning to correctly apply sociology does not happen overnight. And that’s true for everybody. Do NOT presume that because all materials are made available to you via BB, including most Zoom classes, that suddenly cramming over the weekend will somehow assist you in passing the class. YOUR LACK OR ABUNDANCE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS JUST NONE OF MY BUSINESS. ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE MATERIAL AND/OR HAVE ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR EXAMS/QUIZZES IS ABSOLUTELY NOT MY JOB.

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Assignment Submission The deadline for all assignments is listed by date in the course calendar and should be completed and/or submitted via BB. - Quizzes and film assignments are due by midnight (11:59pm EST) on the days that they are listed as due in the course calendar. - Exams will open at the beginning of class and close at the end on the days listed in the course calendar. Once you have submitted any given assignment via Blackboard, double check that it has actually submitted successfully. I encourage you to document that Blackboard has indeed received your assignment. If you receive a zero on an assignment because I do not receive it through Blackboard, and app...