Sociology 300: Introduction to Sociology
American River College, Fall 2008

Instructor: Nidal Hijazi			Email: hijazin@arc.losrios.edu
Phone: 484-8757 				Classroom: Davies 203         
Office: D364					Course Web Page: http://itc.arc.losrios.edu/~hijazin
Class: 16 Week (Aug.25-Dec 12), M/W 3:00-4:20pm. 

Office Hours
Mon-Thurs: 12-1pm

Key Quotes	
"If men (humans) define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." ~ W.I. Thomas
“The personal is political”~ Carol Hanisch
"The first rule of sociology, 'things are not always what they seem.'"~ Peter Berger
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it."~ Karl Marx

Course Description
The goal of the course is to familiarize students with the sociological perspective to develop a particular sociological understanding of social life. Sociology stresses that individual behavior is not as individual as we sometimes suppose; rather, how we think, act, and feel has a lot to do with group norms and social structures and institutions around us. The discipline is concerned with the inter-relationship between individuals and the social structures and groups to which they belong. The application of sociological concepts and theories will be used to analyze the complexity of our society and the social inequality that plagues the United States and the world. The course will introduce the study of sociology through a critical analysis of U.S. society. We will explore various topics through concepts such as socialization, social construction of reality, hegemony, and human agency. Since this is an introductory course, we will deal primarily with the basic frameworks and ideas that are represented in the field. 

Required Texts and Materials 

1. Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 7/E, Loose-leaf and Access Code.  
ISBN: 9780205542031. 
2. Free Articles and Handouts (Posted on our web page).
Buy nine scantrons and three blue books (Bring to second class meeting). 

Grading Criteria and Course Requirements
Attendance and Participation		10%						
3 Exams 				45% (three exams worth 15% each)		
5/6 Quizzes				20% (4% each)
5/6 Article Assignments		25% (5% each)
Extra Credit 				3%			
Possible Points/Percent		103%

Grade Scale
90-100 = A
80-89 = B		
70-79 = C		
60-69 = D		
59 and below = F

		

Course Expectations and Format 
Class meetings will involve lectures, class discussions, group activities and videos. This is not an easy class and will require substantial reading and studying. I will make a reasonable effort to help you succeed in this course. However, it is your responsibility to work hard and it is highly recommended that you ask for help when necessary. If you require help with learning and study skills, feel free to discuss your concerns with me and visit the LRC (Learning Resource Center) on campus (484-8693). This center includes the Reading Center, The Writing Center, English as a Second Language Center, Computer Skills Center and the Tutoring Center. Active and critical learning is essential to the success of the course. The course requires that you be open to diverse perspectives and I encourage you to respectfully and openly express your ideas and thoughts. Treat other students like you would like to be treated. I will not tolerate disrespect and intolerance in my classroom. A learning environment is most productive when we are able to work cooperatively without hostility I will assume that you have done your required assigned course work and are prepared to ask questions and discuss sociological issues. 

Students with Disabilities and Special Needs 
Students requiring special learning accommodations are highly encouraged to speak to me. We will discuss your learning and study needs for success in my course and review your options. Remember that the DSPS (Disabled Student Program and Services) is an excellent resource to utilize (484-8382). 

Academic Dishonesty- Cheating 
Cheating and plagiarism is totally unacceptable. This can be in the form of copying the works of others, not citing and giving credit to authors of works and ideas, cheating on exams and quizzes, recycling assignments, etc. All exams and quizzes are closed book and cheating will not be tolerated. I take cheating very seriously and any such incident will result in an F (0%) on that assignment, points off attendance/participation, and possible suspension or explosion from the course and/or academic probation. You will be forwarded to the ARC Disciplinary Officer. Do not consider cheating on any of your tests or assignments because ruining your college career due to dishonesty regarding one assignment or class is not worth it.

Attendance, Participation, and In-Class Films 
Attendance and participation is worth 10% of your total grade. Attendance is mandatory and I take roll everyday. Students are expected to be present in ALL classes unless there is a legitimate reason for missing class. I do allow for 3 unexcused absences throughout the semester and points will be taken off for every unexcused absence thereof. Excessive absences or lack of participation may result in me dropping you from the course. Please be timely. Walking in late to class frequently is unacceptable. If you have to be late on a specific date or must leave before class ends, make sure I am aware of your intentions. Participation and involvement in the course is important to the ultimate success of the class and students will be rewarded based on appropriate behavior. Films are class material- another way to teach you about sociology and these sources are extremely important. Take good notes for you will see many questions regarding the films on your exams. The question sheets given and picked-up during films will also be used to calculate this grade. 

Midterm and Final Exam
The exams will include multiple choice, true/false, id’s, and essays. The essays will involve a substantial amount of writing. The exams are NOT cumulative and will only cover material since the previous test. Exams will focus exclusively on what we discuss during lecture and on the content of films. Exam preparation sessions will be offered outside class time prior to the test. Exams will be returned to you approximately one week after the exam was taken. Bring in three blue books and hand them to me ASAP! 

Article Quizzes 
As indicated in the class schedule, we will have six "article quizzes." These quizzes will test you on your knowledge regarding particular articles assigned in the course. You will aware of the quiz dates in advance and the quizzes will only cover a few articles on a specific topic. Multiple choice and true/false type questions only will be utilized in quizzes. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the term. Quizzes will require one scantron each. Important: All articles must be downloaded from the course web page. 

Article Assignments
Some readings not quizzed on will be accompanied by a few questions you will be required to answer. 
Refer to the assignment guidelines under the “article” section of the course web page. Your grade for this section will entail responding to five of the six assignments. If you do all six, the lowest grade will be dropped. 

Extra Credit
You will have the opportunity to do extra work for credit. Extra credit will be due on the date of your final exam. During the semester, I will give you multiple opportunities to attend a sociologically relevant event or film showing for extra credit. Another way of earning the extra credit points is by joining the Beacon or RAD programs. You can earn 2 of the 3 possible extra credit points by attending Beacon (or one-on-one tutoring) or RAD. If not, you can attend 3 events as they become available. The Beacon program is a peer group tutoring service. The RAD (Reading Across the Disciplines) program offers assistance with reading comprehension and study skills to improve student success across the disciplines. These services are highly recommended! 

Make-Up Policy
Students are expected to complete all exams, quizzes, and assignments on the dates specified. These set times will be strictly adhered to. In case of a serious documented emergency, students should contact me immediately. Keep in mind that simply missing class does not delay a due date. 
Quizzes: No make-ups. 
Assignments: Can make-up assignment- 25% penalty, turn in no later than a week after the due date.
Exams: Can make-up one exam at 15% penalty, take no later than a week after the original exam date. 

Obligatory Disclaimer
This syllabus represents my plan for the semester and will be followed as closely as possible.  However, all assignments, dates are subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Check periodically for changes on the announcement board on the course web page. 

Course Schedule
First Day of Class: Syllabus and Introductions. 
Aug. 25th (M)

I. Introduction: Sociological Perspective
Defining Sociology: What is Sociology? 
Aug. 27th (W) and Sept.3rd (W)
What is Sociology? Brief History of Sociology. Sociological Research Method. 

Text Reading: Henslin Chapter 1
Articles: 1) Sociological imagination- Mills and 2) Are Human Beings Free? - Charon.
Careers in Sociology- Stephens: Handout for your information (Not included in quiz #1).
*Article Quiz #1- Sept. 3rd (W)

Monday, Sept. 1st- Labor Day, no class!

Main Perspectives (Theories): Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory (Feminism), Symbolic Interactionism, and Feiminist, and Post-Modernist Theory
Sept. 8th (W) and Sept. 10th (W)  
Text Reading: Continue Henslin Chapter 1
Articles: 1) Letter to the Boston Bee- Monroe, 2) Declaration of Sentiment- Stanton, 3) Discourse on Women- Mott, 4) Three Sociological Perspectives, and 5) Postmodernism- TBA. 
*Assignment #1: TBA

The Theorists- Marx, Durkheim, and Weber
Sept. 15th (M), Sept. 17th (W) and Sept. 22nd (M)
Text Reading: Finish Henslin Chapter 1 and Chapter 5 (121-129)
Articles: 1) Hegemony- Lull and 2) The Mc.Donaldization of Society- Ritzer. 
Film: Clip from Modern Times (1936).  
*Assignment #2: TBA

II. The Individual in Society/Society in the Individual

Culture
Sept. 24th (W) and Sept. 29th (M)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapter 2
Articles: 1) India's Sacred Cow- Harris and 2) A look Behind the Veil- Fernea and Fernea. .
*Article Quiz #2- Sept. 29th (M)

*Exam #1: Oct. 1st (W) - Covers Chapters 1 and 2                                                        
___________________________________________________________________________________
Socialization 
Oct. 6th (M) and Oct. 8th (W)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapter 3
Articles: 1) Social Construction of Gender- Lorber. 2) Becoming and Marijuana User- Becker, 3)The Five Sexes- Fausto-Sterling, and 4) The Social Construction of Sexuality- Katz.
Film: Tough Guise
*Article Quiz #3- Oct. 8th (W)

Macro-Sociology: Social Structure and Societies
Oct. 13th (M) 
Text Reading: Henslin Chapters 4 (Pgs. 82-96)
Articles: 1) Saints and Roughnecks- Cambliss and 2) Panic: Myth or Reality- Clarke.
*Assignment #3: TBA

Micro-Sociology: Social Interaction in Groups and Organizations
Oct. 15th (W), Oct. 20th (M), and Oct. 22nd (W)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapters 4 (96-111) and 5 (112-121 and 129-137).
Article: 1) The Lucifer Effect- Zimbardo and 2) Aces and Bombers- Albas and Albas.
Film: Revisited-Stanford Prison Experiment. 
*Assignment #4: TBA

Mass Media and Society
Oct. 27th (M) and Oct. 29th (W)
Articles:  1) The Big Media Game: McChesney and 2) Fear, the Media, and the Construction of Deviance- Glassner, and 3) Do Media Monsters Devour Diversity?- Gamson and Latteier. 
Text Reading: - Henslin- Read pages under "Mass Media" in the Glossary
Film: Rich Media, Poor Democracy.  
*Article Quiz #4- Oct. 29th (W)

Deviance, Conformity, Crime and Social Control
Nov. 3rd (M)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapter 6
Article: 1) The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Get Prison- Reiman and 2) Crack/powder Cocaine and Sentencing.  
Assignment #5: TBA

*Exam #2: - Nov. 5th (W): covers chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6.

III. Social and Structural Inequality
Social Stratification and Class Inequality
Nov. 12th (W), Nov. 17th (M), and Nov. 19th (W)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapters 7 (166-180) and Chapter 8.
Articles: 1) Corporate Welfare-Barlett and Steele, 2) Nickel-and-Dimmed: On (Not) Getting By in America- Ehrenreich, 3) The Uses of Poverty- Gans, and 4) As American As Apple Pie- Rank. 
*Article Quiz #5- Nov. 17th (M)

Monday, Nov. 10th- Veterans Day, no class! 
Race and Ethnic Inequality
Nov. 24th (M) and Nov. 26th (W)
Text Reading: Henslin Chapter 9
Articles: 1) Defining Racism- Tatum , 2) The Myth of the Model Minority- Takaki, and 3) How Jews Became White.
Film: Race Power of an Illusion, part I. 
*Article Quiz #6- Nov. 26th (W)

Gender Inequality and Sexual Orientation
Dec. 1st (M) and Dec. 3rd (W)
Text Reading: Chapter 10 (Pgs. 254-276).
Article: 1)The Conundrum of the Glass Ceiling- Economist, 2) Rethinking Gender- Rosenberg (Newsweek), 3) Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man- Faludi, and 4) Divorce in Perspective- Coontz.
Handout: The Heterosexual Questionnaire  
Film: Killing Us Softly or Busting Out (Time-permitting).  
Assignment #6: Dec. 3rd (W)

Global Inequlaity
Dec. 8th (M) and Dec. 10th (W)
Text Reading: Ch.7 (180-191).
Articles: TBA
Film: Life and Debt (Time Permitting)

*Final Exam: Wed, Dec. 17th from 3-5pm.  

You Survived! 

Keeping Track: Progress Sheet

Quiz #1	_______ (5%)
Quiz #2	_______ (5%)
Quiz #3	_______ (5%)
Quiz #4	_______ (5%)
Quiz #5	_______ (5%)
Quiz #6	_______ (5%)			
Quiz Total     ______ (Out of 25%)
Remember to Drop Lowest Grade above. 

Exam #1	_______ (15%)
Exam #2	_______ (15%)
Final Exam	_______ (15%)
Exam Total  _______ (Out of 45%)

Assign #1	_______ (5%)
Assign #2 	_______ (5%)
Assign #3	_______ (5%)
Assign #4 	_______ (5%)
Assign #5	_______ (5%)
Article Assign _______ (Out of 20%) 	
Remember to Drop Lowest Grade above. 

Attend/Part	  _______ (Out of 10%)
		
Extra Credit   _______ (Out of 3%)

FINAL TOTAL ______   (Out of 103%). 

FALL SESSIONS	Classes begin	Last day to enroll	Last day to drop to qualify for all fee refunds*	Last day to drop without notation on record	Last day to petition for Credit/No Credit; Independent & Special Study	Last day to drop with W notation*	Classes end	
Full Semester	August 23	September 7	September 5	September 21	September 26	November 18	December 18