BronxCommunityCollege

IntroductiontoSociologySOC11E06W(79431)
FallSemester2014
RoomNL109
Thursday6:00to8:45pm
Professor:SusanLucky
CellPhone3476871722
OfficePhone(718)2895660OfficeCo314
OfficeHours:Thursday5:306:00,Saturday9:3010:00am
Email:luckysuepro@gmail.com
Textbook:Sociology:ABriefIntroduction;ByRichardT.Schaefer,2008orlater,ISBN
9780073566409
CourseDescription:
Sociologyisthestudyofhumansocietiesaroundtheworld.Sociologistsexplorehow
societyandthegroupstowhichpeoplebelonginfluencehowpeopleliveandbehave.Inthis
coursewewilldelveintothetopicsofcultureandculturaldiversityonaglobalscale,socialclass
andcaste,race,ethnicity,gender,sexualityandotherformsofstratificationindevelopedand
developingsocietiesinallmajorworldregions.Additionalthemeswillincludediscrimination,
prejudiceandpoverty,racismandxenophobia,religionandideologyusingexamplesfrom
differentworldsregions.Inthiscoursewewillexploretheinterrelationshipsofthesephenomena
andtakealookathowpeopleslivesareaffectedbythem.Fromasociologicalpointofviewwe
willcriticallyinvestigateandattempttodevelopanunderstandingofhowsocietiesthroughout
theworldpersistandchangesaresultoftheinteractionofitsmembers.Wewillexplorethe
behaviorsofindividualsandgroupsandthesocialinstitutionthatinfluencethosebehaviors.This
courseexaminesmajorissuesinSociologyandlooksatdifferentapproachestounderstanding
humanbehavior.Wewillapplythethreemainapproachestounderstandinghowsocietychanges
andwhywebehavethewaywedoandapplythemtodifferentsituations.Theseapproachesare
theconflicttheory,thestructuralfunctionalisttheoryandthesymbolicinteractionisttheory.

Attendance:Youmaynotbebarredfromclassduetolackofattendance,however,attendance
canandwillbecountedinyourfinalgrade.Studentswithmorethanthreeunexcusedabsencesor
6ormoretimesbeinglatearesubjecttofailureintheclassatthediscretionoftheinstructor.
CellPhones:Cellphonesmaynotbeusedinclassatanytime.Youmaynotleavetheroomto
makeortakeaphonecall.Ifyoudoleavetheroomtodothisyouwillbemarkedabsentand
yourfinalgradewillbereduced.Otherelectronicequipmentcanbeusedbutonlyastherelatethe
class,otherusewillreduceyourfinalgrade.Peopleusingelectronicequipmentmustsitinthe
firsttworows.
WritingandSociology
Thiscoursethroughbothformalandinformalwritingassignmentswillstrengthenyour
writingskills.Itisexpectedthatthroughthesemeaningfulopportunitiesforwriting,youwillbe

abletobecomebetterwritersandcommunicators,skillshighlyvaluedbothincollegeandinthe
jobmarket.
Thewrittenexams,homework,andtheoptionalresearchpaperarenotmeanttomake
yourlifeasastudentdifficult;onthecontrary,theyaremeanttoenrichyourlearningexperience.
Forinstance,ifyoumemorizeaseriesofnamesinsociologyandthehistoricdevelopmentofthe
fieldyouwillonlyhavemasteryoveraseriesoffactsthatwillallowyoutofillinblanks.Butif
youwriteandapplyconceptsinsociologyyouwillhavemasteryoverabodyofinformation,and
youwillbeabletoexpressyourviewsandideasusingtheinformationyouhaveread.Writing
aboutwhatyouhaveread,studied,andhavetakennotesonleadsyoutodrawconnections
betweenmaterials.Itpushesyourthinkingforward,makingyouamoreinquisitiveandcritical
student.Onceyouhaveadeeperunderstandingofthematerialyoucanthenbringinyourown
ideas,linkingthethoughtsyouhavetodaytotheeventsthathavetakenplaceinhistory.
Outsideofthisclassroom,yourabilitytowritewillbenefityouonceyouleaveBronx
CommunityCollege.Whetheryouplanonenteringthejobmarketorafouryearcollege,the
abilitytothink,writeandcommunicateclearlyandeffectivelywillmakeyoustandoutamong
yourpeers.
Plagiarism:Plagiarismistheuseofanymaterialthatisnotyours,whetherquotedorputinto
yourownwordswithoutreferencingthematerialinthetextonthereferencelist(inthisclass
usingA.P.A.format).Plagiarismischeatingandassuchisgroundsforbeingfailedinthecourse
attheinstructorsdigression.Whenastudentisfailedforplagiarismtheyhavetherightto
appeal.
Whatmakesupthefinalgrade?
WeeklySummaries,ClassParticipationandQuizzes(20%)
Eachweekyouaretohandinasummaryontheassignedchapter.Thesesummaries
aredueonthefirstdaythatthechapterisdiscussed.Onthesyllabus,youwillfindaseriesof
questionsundereachchapterheading.Usethesequestionstogenerateandorganizeyour
summary.Becausethesesummariesaredesignedtoensureyourunderstandingofthemainpoints
ofeachchapter,useyourownwordsandstylewhenaddressingtheissuesinthequestions.They
willalsopushyoutothinkcriticallyabouttheideasandissuesraisedineachchapter,thereby
makingyouanactiveparticipantinthelearningprocess.
Thesummariesshouldbe1to2wordprocessedpages.Theyshouldbein12pointtype
withoneinchmarginsontheleftsideandatthetopand11/2inchatthebottom.Thereshouldbe
noextraspacebetweentheparagraphs.Whenthesummaryisreturnedtoyouitwillhaveamark
ofeither.
1)Excellentyouhaveidentifiedandfullydevelopedallofthemainpointsofthechapter
2)Goodthemainpointsareidentifiedandthereissomeelaboration
3)Satisfactory(ok)youhaveidentifiedthemainideas;buttheyneeddevelopment
4)Unsatisfactory(redo)youhavenotgraspedthemainideasofthechapter
Thoughthesummariesarenotgradedwithnumericalorlettergrades,theydocount,andfailure
tosubmitthemwilljeopardizeyourchancesofpassingtheclass.Theyarealsomeanttohelp
youthinkaboutthematerialandbetterprepareforfutureexams.

EssayMidtermExam(40%ofyourgrade)
Yourmidtermexamiscomprisedof4to6questionsthatrequirefulllengthessay
responsesanddefinitionsofkeytermsinthebookorusedinclass.Asuccessfulessayshowsthat
youhavenotonlymemorizedthematerial,butthatyouhaveunderstoodit,andcandiscussit.
Anessayquestionalsobenefitsyoubecauseitgivesyouthechancetodisplaythedepthofyour
knowledge.Essayexamsarenotgradedforgrammar.Theexamwillalsoinclude20to30
wordstodefine.
FinalExam(40%ofyourgrade)
Thefinalexamwillincludefourtosixessayquestionsand20to30wordstodefine.

ClassPolicies
Allworkmustbeonstandard81/2x11"paper.Anyassignmentnotturnedinontimewillbe
deductedfromyourfinalgrade.Allpapersmustbewordprocessedandprintedonone
sideonly.Therearenoexceptions.
Noincompletegradeswillbegivenexceptwhenafinalexamismissedandthenonlywith
documentationandapprovalfromtheinstructor.
Makeupsonexamsareonlyofferedifyouhaveadoctor'snoteexplainingyourabsence.
Makeupexamswillbemoredifficultthanregularexamsbecauseoftheextratimeyouhave
toprepareforthem.
ScheduledAssignments
WeekOne:IntroductiontotheCourse
Assignmentfornextweek:Read:Chapter1.Doachaptersummary
Questionsforclassdiscussion:
WhatisSociology?
Whatmadeuswhowearetoday?
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter1:
Whatismeantbythesociologicalperspective?
Whydoestheeconomygrowandcontractsofrequently?
Whatdowemeanbyindividualityandwhatroledoesindividualityplayinoursociety?
Whatdowemeanbydiversity?
Whatdowemeanbythetermglobalvillage?
Howourunderstandingofpeopleisimprovedusingasociologicalperspective?
Whatisstructuralfunctionalismandhowdoweapplythisapproachtogainabetter
understandingofsociety?
Discusstheconflicttheoryandhowitdiffersfromstructuralfunctionalism.
Giveexampleswhereyoumightuseoneortheother.
Discusssymbolicinteractionandhowyouwoulduseittobetterunderstanddating.
WeekTwo:TheSociologicalPerspective
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter2anddoachaptersummary
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter2:
Whyisitimportanttobeethicalwhenconductingsociologicalresearch?

Whatisthescientificmethodandhowdoweuseitinsociology?
Whatissurveyresearch,whataresomeofitsstrengthsandsomeofitsweaknesses?
Whatisfieldparticipantobservationandhowdoesitdifferfromsurveyresearch?
Discussthetenimportantstepsinsociologicalresearch.
WeekThree:SociologicalInvestigation
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter3anddoachaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter3:
Whatisculture?
Defineandgiveexamplesofeachofthekeycomponentsofculture,
symbols,valuesandbeliefs,norms,moresandfolkways,socialcontrol,idealculture,andreal
culture,materialculture,culturaldiversity,subcultureandmulticulturalism.
Discussculturalchangeinmodernsocietyandculturallag.
Whatdowemeanbyglobalculture?
WeekFour:Culture
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter4anddoasummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter4:
Howisthefamilyimportantintheprocessofsocialization?
Whatroledoschoolsplayinsocialization?
Whatroledopeersplayinsocialization?
Howareweaffectedbythesocialnormsofgroupswebelongto?
Arewesocializedwelltoliveinadiversesociety?
Whathappenswhenhumansareraisedinisolation?
Howwouldaconflicttheoristunderstandsocializationandhowwouldastructuralfunctionalist
understandsocialization?
WeekFive:Society
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter5anddoachaptersummary
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter5:
Whatisthedifferencebetweenasocialgroupandacollectionofpeopleandwhatcanleada
collectionofpeoplesayonthesubwaytobecomeagroup?
Whatistheimportanceofgroupleadershipandhowdoesitdevelop?
Whatcausesgroupconformityandhowisitenforced?
Whatdowemeanbygroupsturninginwardandwhatdowemeanbygroupsturningoutward?
Definenetworkandwhatwemeanbynetworking?
Howisagroupdifferentfromaformalorganization?
Discussthedifferenttypesofformalorganizations?
Discussthecharacteristicsofbureaucracy.
Discussthestrengthsandweaknessesofbureaucracies.

WeekSix:GroupsandOrganizationsandInClassReviewfortheMidterm
Assignmentfornextweek:Studyformidterm.

WeekSeven:MidtermExam
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter7anddoachaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter7:
Howdowedefinesocialdeviance?
Doesthedefinitionofdeviancevaryfromculturetoculture?
Issocialdevianceathreattothestabilityofsociety?
Dodefinitionsofdeviancechangeindifferentcultureschangeovertimeandifsowhataresome
ofthecausesforchange?
Whatsanctionscansocietybutonsocialdeviancetocontrolbehavior?
WeekEight:SocialDevianceandSocialControl
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter8anddoachaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter8:
Definesocialstratification.
Discussthedifferencebetweenacastesystemandaclasssystem.
Whatisameritocracyanddowehaveone?
Discussthesocialrelevanceofhierarchy.
Whatarethesocialfunctionsofstratificationandareallsocietiesstratified?Giveastructural
functionalistanalysisandcontrastittoaconflicttheoristanalysisofstratification.
WeekNine:Stratification
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter11anddochaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter11:
Whatdowemeanbygenderstratification?
Whatispatriarchyandhowmightasociologistunderstanditscauses?
Howgenderrolesaredefinedinthefamilyandhowdoesthefactthatmostwomenworkoutside
thehomeintheUnitedStatesaffecttheseroles?
Whatkindsofconflictsaredevelopinginfamiliesthataredirectlyrelatedtotraditionalgender
rolesandthechangesintherolesonwomeninsociety?
Howaremenandwomenconditionedtobemenandwomenfrombirthtoadulthoodinour
society?
Howwillthechanginglevelsofeducationaffecttherolesofwomeninthefutureandwhatisthe
socialsignificanceofincreasingnumbersofwomeninhighereducation?
Discusssexualharassmentwhatitisandwhyitishardtofight.
Giveaconflicttheoristanalysisofsexismandcomparethatanalysistoastructuralfunctionalist
analysis.Besuretothinkabouttheroleoffeminisminthecomparison.
Whatdowemeanbyagestratification?
WeekTen:GenderStratification
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter10anddochaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter10:
Defineraceandethnicity.
Whatdowemeanbythetermminority?
Defineprejudice.

Howdostereotypesdevelopandwhatsocialpurposedotheyserve?
Giveaconflicttheoristanalysisofprejudice.
Isitpossiblefornonwhitestoassimilateintoawhitesocietyandevenifitisshouldthatbea
goal?
Definegenocideandgiveexamples.
Whatroledoculturalnormsplayinracism?
HowhaveracialattitudeschangedinAmericaoverthelast50yearsandinwhatdirectionare
racialattitudeslikelytogointhefuture?

WeekEleven:RaceandEthnicity
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter12anddoachaptersummary.
QuestionstothinkaboutforyoursummaryofChapter12
Definefamily.
Howdofamiliesdifferindifferentpartsoftheworld?
Comparehowastructuralfunctionalistmightexplainfamilyrelationshipswithhowaconflict
theoristmightexplainfamilyrelationships.
Whatisromanticloveandhowdoesabeliefinromanticloveleadtopotentialproblemsfor
familystability?
HowdofamiliesintheUnitedStatesdifferbyraceandeconomicstatus?
Whoarewemostlikelytochoosetomarryandwhatmarriagesaremostlikelytoendupin
divorce?
Asasociologisthowwouldyouexplaintheincreaseinoneparentfamilies?
Shouldgayandlesbiancouplesbeallowedtoadoptchildren?
WeekTwelve:Family
Assignmentfornextweek:ReadChapter13anddoachaptersummary.Forthoseofyouthatdo
nothavechapter13inyourbook,youwillreceiveitasahandout.Questionstothinkaboutfor
yoursummaryofChapter13
Definereligion
Discussthesocialrolesofreligion.
Whatismonotheism?Giveexamples.
Whatispolytheism?Giveexamples.
Doreligionsneedtohaveagod?
Howwouldastructuralfunctionalistdescribetherolereligioninsociety?
Howwouldaconflicttheoristdescribetheroleofreligioninsociety?
Howwouldaninteractionistdescribethesymbolsofreligionandtherepurpose?
WeekThirteen:Religion
Assignmentfornextweek:Also,prepareforOralReports.Preparequestionsyoumayhaveon
materialcoveredinthecourseforourfinalexamreview.
WeekFourteen:Reviewforthefinalexam
Assignmentfornextweek:Studyforthefinalexam
WeekFifteen:FinalExam