Sociology – Socio 1
Jose R. Lopez
Class meeting times: Tuesdays
& Thursdays 2:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Section: 2965 Room:
The major goal of the course is to introduce students to the
discipline of Sociology. Students will be introduced to sociological jargon,
research models, and issues of sociological significance.
Each student should be able to explain some of the major
problems in sociology and be able to state and validate reasonably well some
major hypothesis or solutions that apply to these problems.
Each student should demonstrate evidence of his/her concern
for sociological problems by constantly examining and challenging his/her own
thinking and that of others. Evidence for achievement of this goal will be
presented in class discussions. This class will therefore test the student’s
ability to critically analyze issues and to develop
his/her sociological imagination.
Attendance is strongly recommended. Besides the readings,
information from lectures and the videos may help you for your midterms and
your Final exam. I also encourage you to ask questions and comment on the
readings. Your participation in class strengthens the dynamics of the course.
Each student is expected to participate in the class discussions on a regular
basis. This can best be done by completing the reading assignments before
lectures. By doing so, you are taking a pro-active part in your education. It
also allows you to facilitate the comprehension of the material. You, as a
student, are better equipped to ask relevant questions and engage successfully
with your classmates and myself. I will also take attendance on a regular
basis. Attendance is also a component of your final grade.
Instructions will be given during Week 1. You will use
Turnitin.com to turn in your assignment. Class i.d.
is 3353497. Enrollment password is sociology. Due November 19 at 11:59 p.m.
You will be required to participate in a group project. You
will present your findings to the class during the last two weeks of the
semester. Everyone in the group must be included in your presentation. (Further
instructions will be given in Week 1)
Course attendance: 10%
Group Project: 15%
Written Assignment: 15%
3 Exams: 20% each (60% total)
- Giddens, A; Dunier, M. &
Appelbaum, R. 2005. Essentials
of Sociology. London & New
York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc.
(This bundle includes Readings for Sociology by Garth Massey 5th
ed. and Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral
Life of the Inner City by Elijah Anderson.)
There will be three exams in the class. Students must take
the exams on the scheduled date.
September 30 Exam 1
November 2 Exam 2
December 16 Exam 3
September 11: Last
day to drop the class without receiving a “W”.
November 12: Last day
drop and receive and “W”.
(subject to change):
Week 1: August 31 & September 2
Introduction to the course
Video: When the Levees Broke: A
Requiem in Four Acts Act One
Week 2: September 7 & 9
Chapter 1: Sociology: Theory and Method
Week 3: September 14 & 16
Chapter 2: Culture & Society
Video: Merchants of Cool
Week 4: September 21 & 23
Chapter 3: Socialization and the Life Cycle
Video: When the Levees Broke: A
Requiem in Four Acts Act Two
Week 5: September 28 & 30
30: Exam I (Ch 1-3)
Week 6: October 5 & 7
Chapter 7: Stratification, Class and Inequality
Week 7: October 12 & 14
Chapter 8: Global inequality
Mardi Gras: Made in China
Week 8: October 19 & 21
Chapter 9: Gender inequality
Video: Zoned for Slavery
Week 9: October 26 & 28
Chapter 10 Ethnicity & Race
Week 10: November 2 & 4
Video: Hate Rock
November 2: Exam II (Ch
Week 11: November 9 & 11
11- No Class “Veterans Day”
Chapter 6: Conformity, Deviance, and Crime
Week 12: November 16 & 18
Chapter 11: Families and Intimate Relationships
November 19: Written Assignment Due on
Week 13: November 23 & 25
25- No class “Thanksgiving”
Chapter 12: Education and Religion
Week 14: November 30 & December 2
Group Projects: Groups 1-3
Group Projects: Groups 4-6
Week 15: December 7 & 9
Group Projects: Groups 7-9
Group Projects: Groups 10-12
Week 16: December 16
Thursday December 16: Exam III
(Ch 6, 11, &
Students will demonstrate through original written and/or oral analysis
their ability to identify sociological
structural functionalist, interactionist) and apply
the sociological perspectives to social events
cannot successfully identify theoretical perspectives, and analyze cause and
effects of events in the social world.
shows limited understanding of theoretical perspectives and demonstrates
marginal capacity to link them to the social world
can identify some of the theoretical perspectives and can connect them in an
adequate manner to the social world.
has a good understanding of theoretical perspectives. A competent student can
explain thoroughly the relationship
between theoretical perspectives and the social world.
Mastery Student clearly and elegantly demonstrates
great understanding of different theoretical perspectives, and draws critical
connection between these perspectives and the social world.
Students will identify, understand and
analyze social institutions, issues and social problems utilizing the three
cannot identify social institutions, issues and social problems through theory.
demonstrates some awareness of social institutions, issues and social problems
through a theoretical lens.
can critique/argue theoretically the value of some social institutions, issues
and social problems.
demonstrates finely tuned awareness of social institutions, issues and social
problems using different theoretical
demonstrates a superior awareness and critique of social institutions, issues
and social problems using advanced
demonstrate the ability to locate, retrieve and evaluate sociological articles,
journals, books and other
cannot identify and evaluate sociological articles and other sociologically
is able to locate some sociological materials without demonstrating providing
extensive evaluation of the material.
demonstrates an understanding of where to find some of the sociological
relevant information and can present some
understanding of different points of view.
has been able to locate most of the relevant information and is able to
demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of
can identify most of the important sociological information and demonstrates a
superior understanding of different
points of view.
Students will compare and contrast the experiences and issues impacting
minority groups with that of mainstream
groups in power, including issues of race, class, gender, sexual
orientation, deviance, culture, poverty, and global
inequality, and social
lacks understanding of marginalized groups in relation to the dominant power
structure. Student cannot explain the
relevant issues of race, class and gender and their importance in
sociological analysis. Student shows lacks of interest and
motivation for the course material.
exhibits minimal understanding of marginalized groups in relation to the
dominant power structure. Student
understands the relevance of
race, class and gender in sociological analysis. Student shows some effort but
is not always
prepared for class.
exhibits some understanding of the experiences of marginalized groups and can
compare them through a race, class
and gender sociological approach.
can compare and contrast most important issues relating to marginalized groups
and can explain how the power
structure contributes to these particular experiences.
demonstrates superior sociological understanding of minority perspectives.
Student can compare and contrast the
experiences of marginalized groups using a comprehensive sociological
approach to race, class, and gender.
Students will learn how to
think critically (which questions to ask and which questions to omit) and how
society through different
does not demonstrate any critical understanding of the importance of sociology
to his/her own life. Student does
make any efforts to ask questions about the class material and does not
show personal responsibility in attending class and
turning assignments in.
demonstrates basic understanding of the importance of sociology to his/her own
life. Student demonstrates some
personal responsibility for his/her academic learning.
demonstrates some understanding of how sociology applies to his/her own life,
and demonstrates personal
responsibility for his/her own academic learning.
shows growth and demonstrates extra effort in his/her critical assessment of
sociology and how it might apply to his/
her own life.
demonstrates increased social understanding. Student can critically apply the
lessons of sociology to his/her own life.