SOC M01 Introduction to Sociology at Moorpark College. Course # Fall 2012

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1 SOC M01 Introduction to Sociology at Moorpark College Course # Fall Instructor: Robert Wonser Class Time and Place: Tuesdays and s 7:00 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Room: Fountain Hall 215 Office Hours: After class and by appointment only rgwonser@gmail.com Website: "Sociology's misfortune is that it discovers the arbitrary and the contingent where we like to see necessity, or nature... and that it discovers necessity, social constraints, where we would like to see choice and free will." - Pierre Bourdieu Student Learning Outcomes 1. Students will be able to explain and analyze the main theoretical and research perspectives in sociology and apply them to an array of social issues. 2. Students will be able to apply what C. Wright Mills called the Sociological Imagination; that is the ability to situate his or her life in a social context and to understand the impact of social forces on the individual. Required Text: Cinematic Sociology Second Edition Edited by Jeanne-Anne Sutherland and Kathryn Feltey ISBN: Available in the bookstore or online. Recommended Text: Free Text Available here: Course Description: Analyzes major theoretical constructs involving human interactions, cultural origins, community organization, collective behavior, social change, institutional growth, and social movements. Applies to Associate Degree. Transfer credit: CSU; UC. IGETC AREA 4 Course Presentation: This course will utilize lectures, discussions and possibly films throughout the semester. Exam questions will come from all three sources, as well as the required text. Additionally, there will be a project assigned pertaining to course material. Details will be discussed later in the session and found on the course website. Course Requirements: Attendance and reading are imperative for success in this class. I trust you all are responsible adults and this won t be a problem. Therefore, missing more than three classes may result in the lowering of one letter grade. Reading the textbook is important; assigned readings must be done by the day in which they are posted on the syllabus. Grades will be based on the following: 1

2 % Points Possible Points you Earned: Assignment 1: Doing Nothing 10 Assignment Two: TST 10 Participation 5 Final Project 15 Exam 1 15 Exam 2 15 Exam 3 15 Final Exam 15 Total (Your Grade) / 100% DISCLAIMER #1 Since this is a college-level course we will be discussing adult themes and issues that some of you may hold strong opinions about. At all times we must have an environment conducive to learning, therefore, everyone will have respect for each others ideas. Along with this comes the recognition that our own views may not be the only or correct views about these issues. DISCLAIMER #2 In this course you will be expected to keep up with your attendance, readings and class assignments. It is your job to come to class everyday, read ALL of your assigned readings (on time) and pay attention and participate in class discussions. Doing so will ensure yours and the rest of the class learning experience is optimal. It is also you responsibility to keep up with your grade throughout the course. DO NOT wait until the end of the semester to panic about your grade and inquire about extra credit. I cannot stress this enough; if you do not plan to take this course seriously then I urge you to strongly consider dropping this course. Other Stuff: Any behavior that is rude, distracting or disrespectful in any way to anyone in the class (including me) will NOT be tolerated! To make sure we are clear this includes all of the following (and anything else related that I forgot to mention); NO: ipods, cell phones (texting, talking, playing games, internet whatever), no laptops (unless for the sole purpose of taking notes you must run this past me before using), no arriving late (once or twice is ok, after that it will become a problem and you will have to talk with me about it), no leaving early, no packing up before the class is dismissed, no studying/reading for another class, no talking with your neighbor, and sleeping etc. Please note this list does not include everything possible. Use common sense and common courtesy. If you don t want to be here then don t come; there are plenty of students who would love to have your spot. Tips: I teach several sections of this course at several schools, therefore, when ing me please do include the following: Your name school, section number and meeting time (e.g. T/TH 7-8:15) an appropriate subject in the subject line (e.g. questions about Marx) Grading System: Final grades will be based on the following breakdown. There will be no curve. A % B 80-89% 2

3 C 70-79% D 60-69% F 59% and below Exam Format: There will be four exams in this class. Material covered in class readings, films and lectures will be on these exams. The final will be non-cumulative. Exams will consist of multiple choice and true/false questions. You will need the scantron brand form 882E (sold in the bookstore). * Note: If you do not attend class regularly and keep up with the assigned reading I can almost assure you will not perform well on these exams. There will be no make-up exams. If you know in advance that you will not be able to take the exam on exam day let me know ahead of time (AT LEAST two weeks from the date listed on the syllabus!) and we will make arrangements for you to take it an earlier date during office hours. Students must give advance notice if an exam schedule conflicts with other obligations. Should a student not be able to take a test on the scheduled date, the examination may involve an alternate evaluation technique, such as an oral exam. Note, forgetting an exam is not considered a valid reason for missing an exam. Additionally, as soon as the first person leaves the room I will no longer allow anyone to start, because the questions are then out in public circulation. Oral Exam Evaluation: A means you have complete command of material and can bring it to the next level. B means you have understandings and could carry on a reasonable conversation C means some things right, but others wrong D means a lack of understanding. Assignment Policy: All work in this course must be your own. They are to be worked on independently and individually. Any assignment can be submitted early for review and will be returned the next class session to be revised and resubmitted by the original due date. Unless noted otherwise, all assignments are to be submitted at the beginning of class on the assigned due date to me in person. This means no ing of assignments will be allowed. If you turn in an assignment late it will have 10% deducted for every weekday it is late. NO ASSIGNMENT CAN BE TURNED-IN PAST TWO (2) WEEKS OF THE DUE DATE. Assignments: The class will have two papers due throughout the semester at the beginning of class. They are listed in the syllabus. These essays will serve as the springboard for a class discussion on a topic and/or to get you thinking critically about the material as it pertains to your life. Assignments will usually be due at the beginning of class the day we discuss the chapter. On most occasions, there is no right or wrong answers. Essays will be approximately 3-4 pages in length (unless specified otherwise in the assignment!), 12-pt Times New Roman (or similar) font, double spaced. You will not be getting physical handouts on these but the guidelines will be available on the course website listed above for download. I highly encourage you to format your paper the way the guidelines are presented. That is, if there are three parts to the handout, your paper should have the corresponding three parts. Every 3

4 question asked of you in the handout should be addressed in the paper. Don't lose crucial points by not addressing them and labeling them in your paper. Cheating policy: It s not tolerated, not worth it, and hopefully won t be a problem. If it becomes one, I will report it. All college academic honesty rules will be enforced. Please refer to the policy on academic dishonesty for further questions. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form. If you are unsure how to cite something check with me or the various campus services listed in this syllabus. Copying from wikipedia without citations is NOT ok! There is NO excuse to cheat or plagiarize ever! For further questions please see the college s policy on plagiarism available at this link: Students enrolled in this course are encouraged to use The Learning Center, The Math Center, and the Writing Center services to support their efforts in this class. The Learning Center, Math Center, and Writing Center, located in Library 322, will provide tutorial services and supplemental instruction based on course goals. When using these services, students need to state their instructor s name for tracking and reporting purposes. Students will also need to provide their student ID numbers when receiving tutorial services. For further information call The Learning Center (805) or the Writing Center (805) ext Participation Participation accounts for 5% of your final grade, while this may not seem like a lot it is often the difference between letter grades. More importantly, this class is discussion based. It works better when more people contribute and you learn more through discussion than through passive listening alone. 5 out of 5 in participation points is for the person who attends regularly and contributes meaningfully to the discussion. These are not random comments or stories that detract from learning but rather insightful comments that enhance learning. Disruptive behavior bodes negatively for your participation grade. Special Accommodations If you have a learning, attention, or physical disability that may require classroom or test accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please register with ACCESS. The ACCESS office is located just to the right of the Campus Center Building. Call them at Verification from ACCESS is required before any classroom or testing accommodation can be made: Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact ACCESS as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made. The phone number for ACCESS is and they are located on the ground floor of the LMC Building. For Your Information: Should you need to get in contact with the chair of this department her contact info is listed below: Cynthia Barnett, Department Chair Office HSS-216, ext Tentative Topic Outline and Reading Assignments 4

5 WEEK DAY TOPIC READINGS (Free text readings are the chapters in the 'topic' heading) 1, August 16, 2 Tuesday, August 21,, August 23, 3 Tuesday August 28, August 30, 4 Tuesday September 4, September 6, 5 Tuesday September 11, September 13, 6 Tuesday September 18, September 20, 7 Tuesday September 25, September 27, 8 Tuesday October 2, Introduction to the Course PP.1 - Sociological Beginnings PP.1 - The Sociological Imagination PP.2 - Theorists PP.2 - Social Theories PP.3 - Sociological Research Methods PP.3 - Sociological Research Methods Exam 1 (PPs 1-3) PP.4 - Culture PP.4 - Culture PP.5 - The Self and Interaction, Socialization PP.5 - The Self and Interaction, Socialization PP.6 - Society and Groups PP.6 - Society and Groups Syllabus (read it thoroughly to make sure you do not have any questions about the course requirements) Chapter 1: Introduction (p. 1) Reading 2.1: Sitting in the Dark with Max: Classical Sociological Theory through (p. 27) Reading 2.2: Decoding Modern Society: The Matrix Trilogy and the Realm of Alienation (p. 42) Outtake: Lights, Camera, Theory: Picturing Hollywood Through Multiple Sociological Lenses (p.55) Free text chapter: Sociologists Doing Research Reading 9.2: Sport as Social Institution: Football s and the American Dream (p. 320) Reading 8.3: Battles and Balloons: Old Manhood in (p.286) Reading 9.4: The 1991 Iraq Invasion in Cinematic Perspective: Jarhead and Three Kings (p. 347) EXERCISE DUE #1 - Doing Nothing October 4, 9 Tuesday October 9, October 11, 10 Tuesday October 16, Exam 2 (PPs 4-6) PP.7 - Deviance and Conformity PP.7 - Deviance and Conformity Reading 7.1: The Caped Crusader: What Batman s Tell Us about Deviance (p. 213) 5

6 October 18, 11 Tuesday October 23, October 25, 12 Tuesday October 30, November 1, 13 Tuesday November 6, November 8, 14 Tuesday November 13, November 15, 15 Tuesday November 20, November 22, 16 Tuesday November 27, December 29, 17 Tuesday December 4, December 6, 18 December 13, PP.8 - Social Stratification, Class and Inequality PP.8 - Social Stratification, Class and Inequality PP.9 - Race and Ethnicity PP.9 - Race and Ethnicity Exam 3 (PPs 7-9) PP.10 - Sex and Gender PP.10 - Sex and Gender No Class: Thanksgiving PP.11 - Family PP.11 - Family PP.12 - Popular Culture and the Media PP.12 - Popular Culture and the Media Final Exam 8:00-10:00am (PPs and all films) Reading 3.1: Understanding Social Mobility Through the Movies (p.60) Reading 3.2: Class in the Classroom: Hollywood's Distorted View if Inequality (p. 70) Reading 4.2: Don't Worry, We Are All Racists! Crash and the Politics of Privatization (p.104) Reading 8.1 "Look Out New World, Here we Come"? Race, Racialization, and Sexuality in Four Children's Animated s (p. 261) Reading 5.1: The Masculinity of the Governator: Muscle and Compassion in American Politics (p. 135) Reading 5.3: Working the Boundaries: Bisexuality and Transgender on (p. 162) Reading 8.2: First Comes the Baby Carriage? Nonnormative Transitions to Parenthood in (p. 272) Reel Families: The Delicate Balance of Family and Work in (p. 194) Important Dates for Fall : Last day to add class: 29-AUG-12 Last day to drop with a refund: 29-AUG-12 Last day to drop without a "W": 31-AUG-12 Last day to drop with a "W": 16-NOV-12 #2 Twenty Statements Test Final Project Due 6