SURVEY OF SOCIOLOGY– SCSS 001

FALL 2004 – BLACKBOARD ASSISTED

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Class Meets: MW 11-12:15 or MW 2-3:15 Office Hours: MW 10-11; 12:30-2

Professor: Rhonda Fisher Ph D. Office Location: Howard 135

E-mail: rfisher@drake.edu Office Telephone:

II. REQUIRED TEXTS AND ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Ehrenreich, Barbara. 2002. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Owl Books.

Ferguson, Susan (ed.). 2002. Mapping the Social Landscape. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.

Henslin, James M. 2004 (5^th ed.). Essentials of Sociology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

A variety of outside data sources may also be used in this course. These materials may include supplemental readings, journal articles, newspaper and magazine clippings, along with pre-recorded television programs, instructional videos, Internet websites, and current news broadcasts related to the text, readings, lectures, or class discussions. It is each student’s responsibility to obtain the required materials, and be able to discuss or be tested over the material, as if it was presented during the regular class session.

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION

As C. Wright Mills wrote, “The sociological imagination enables us to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and external career of a variety of individuals.” Sociology, in short, focuses on how social forces influence our lives as individuals, and, how we as individuals create and maintain the social world around us. This course explores how social structure influences individual chances for success in life, and how society influences individual persons. We will make the familiar unfamiliar by critically examining what we experience as commonplace and ordinary life. We will examine the interplay between the individual and society as we investigate the social world and our ability to be active agents, maintaining the status quo or choosing to work for change.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successfully completing this course, you will be able to describe the major theoretical paradigms, common methods, and significant concepts in sociology. You will be able to discuss the major components of society and the relationship of individuals to the social environment.  A primary goal of this course is the development of critical thinking through use of the sociological imagination.

V. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My role as a teacher is not to recite what you can easily read on your own. Rather, I see myself as one who provides structure and guidance for the materials we will be covering. Each student has the potential to teach and to enrich us, and so I will expect that each student will take on the responsibility not just to learn, but also to share with us their insights, questions and opinions. The integration of personal experiences with the literature will help us develop a fuller understanding of a topic area. The class should provide a friendly, safe environment in which all views can be expressed and heard. To ensure diversity of opinion and cordial debate, comments should be respectful and a supportive atmosphere be created. Such participation will make the class more enjoyable for all of us.

VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1) Three Exams (75%)

The exams are each worth 25% of your final grade and the dates will be indicated on the schedule that follows. Makeup exams will only be given if you contact me BEFORE the exam is given. If you do not, you will receive a ZERO for that exam.

2) Class Participation/Attendance (15%)

This portion of the final grade will be based on the degree of commitment to classroom participation. Your faithful attendance and involvement in the various readings are important elements in grade evaluation. Discussion questions for the various readings will be posted on Blackboard and should be prepared before class in a “bulleted” format. Randomly, the discussion questions will be collected and graded on a pass/no-pass basis. Attendance will be taken randomly as well.

3) In-Class Assignments (10%)

In addition, I will ask you to do numerous assignments to facilitate discussion and thinking about the day’s topic. Some of these exercises may be done in class, others may be assigned and due the next class period. The exercises may include but are not limited to: small group exercises; film analysis; quizzes; a short TYPED 1-2 paragraph in preparation for the next class. Most WILL NOT be announced ahead of time, so your regular attendance is essential to doing well in this course. Unless there are EXTRAORDINARY circumstances, there are no make-ups!

VII. WEATHER/COMMUTING CONCERNS

I commute from Tama, Iowa. In the event of a cancelled class, I will put a message on the Blackboard announcements by 10 AM.

VIII. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS – CHANGE IS INEVITABLE!

Week/Dates:	Topics:		Readings/Assignments:
Week 1 8/23,25	What is Sociology?		Monday: Introduction to the course Wednesday: Read Chapter 1 (Henslin; pp. 1-11) and the following readings from MSL… · 1. C. Wright Mills, The Promise ---classic piece on the sociological imagination. · 2. Donna Gaines, Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead-End Kids ---applying the sociological imagination to teen suicide · Prepare discussion questions (found in Blackboard)
Week 2 8/30;9/1	Social Research and Ethics		Monday: Chapter 1 (pp.17-28) 4. Michael Schwalbe, Finding Out How the Social World Works ---a summary of what it means to be sociologically mindful 6. Elaine Bell Kaplan, Not Our Kind of Girl ---participant observation research among African American teen mothers Prepare discussion questions (found in Blackboard) Wednesday 5. Craig Haney, W. Curtis Banks, and Philip G. Zimbardo, Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison ---classic piece on the research design of Zimbardo’s famous experiment Prepare discussion questions Take Home Assignment: Do a web search on ethics in the sciences and bring to class an actual example of a violation of ethical principles. Be prepared to discuss and turn in a summary of the violation using bullet points.
Week 3 9/8	Theory		Wednesday: Chapter 1 pp.11-16 Read Theory Handouts (found in Blackboard)
Week 4 9/13,15	Theory Exercise Exam 1		Monday: In-class exercise Wednesday: Exam 1 (What will the exam cover?...notes, films, class discussion, readings, discussion questions, and Chapter 1) No study guide will be provided.
Week 5 9/20,22	Culture		Monday: Chapter 2 (Henslin) · 7. Anne M. Velliquette and Jeff B. Murray, The New Tattoo Subculture ---the tattoo subculture and meanings of body adornment · 8. Elijah Anderson, The Code of the Streets ---an exploration of street culture · 9. Eugenia Kaw, “Opening” Faces: The Politics of Cosmetic Surgery and Asian American Women ---the influence of gender and racial stereotypes on the beauty culturePrepare discussion questions. Wednesday: Film “The Wild Child”
Week 6 9/27,29	Socialization		Monday: Chapter 3 · 11. Judith Lorber, "Night to His Day": The Social Construction of Gender ---the socialization of gender identity · 12. Michael Messner, Boyhood, Organized Sports, and the Construction of Masculinities ---the social construction of masculinity · Prepare discussion questions Wednesday: Film “Tough Guise” · 14. Gwynne Dyer, Anybody's Son Will Do ---resocialization into the total institution of the military · Prepare discussion questions
Week 7 10/4,6		Education	Monday: Chapter 13 pp.353-364 13. Robert Granfield, Making It By Faking It: Working-Class Students in an Elite Academic Environment ---working class identity and law school socialization 51. Peter W. Cookson, Jr. and Caroline Hodges Persell, Preparing for Power: Cultural Capital and Curricula in America's Elite Boarding Schools ---an examination of elite education Prepare discussion questions Wednesday: 52. Ann Arnett Ferguson, Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity ---racial and gender stereotyping in American School 50. Mary Crow Dog and Richard Erdoes, Civilize Them With A Stick ---education as an institution of social control Prepare discussion questions
Week 8 10/11,13		Deviance, Crime, and Social Control	Monday: Chapter 6 · 19. David L. Rosenhan, On Being Sane in Insane Places ---classic piece on labeling and social deviance · 20. Penelope E. McLorg and Diane E. Taub, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia: The Development of Deviant Identities ---the social construction of deviant identities · Prepare discussion questions Wednesday: · 22. A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade, Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women? ---the social organization of crime · Prepare discussion questions · In-class exercise
Week 9 10/20		Exam II	What will the exam cover? Everything since Exam 1…notes, films, class discussion, readings, discussion questions, and chapters No study guide will be provided.
Week10 10/25,27		Power and Politics	Monday and Wednesday: Chapter 11 · 35. C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite ---classic piece on the power elite · 36. Dan Clawson, Alan Neustadtl and Mark Weller, Dollars and Votes: How Business Campaign Contributions Subvert Democracy ---an application of Mills' power elite · 37. Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, Playing the Political Slots: American Indians and Casinos ---the politics of and profiteering from gambling on reservations · Complete discussion questions
Week 11 11/1,3		Social Class	Monday: Chapter 8; Begin reading Nickel and Dimed · 23. Kingsley Davis, Wilbert E. Moore, and Melvin Tumin, Some Principles of Stratification ---classic pieces on the functions of social stratification · 24. G. William Domhoff, Who Rules America?: The Corporate Community and the Upper Class ---the lifestyles and social institutions of the upper class · Prepare discussion questions Wednesday: Complete Nickel and Dimed Prepare discussion questions
Week 12 11/8,10		Race and Ethnicity	Monday: Chapter 9 · 25. Melvin L. Oliver and Thomas M. Shapiro, Black Wealth/White Wealth: A New Perspective on Racial Inequality ---a sociology of wealth and racial inequality · 31. Michael Omi and Howard Winant, Racial Formations in the United States ---the social construction of race · 32. Jennifer Lee and Frank D. Bean, Beyond Black and White: Remaking Race in America ---how race is measured by the U.S. government · Prepare discussion questions Wednesday · 33. Lillian B. Rubin, Is This A White Country, Or What? ---working class families talk about race and ethnicity · 34. Charlie LeDuff, At a Slaughterhouse, Some Things Never Die ---an examination of the racial dynamics at one workplace site · Prepare discussion questions
Week13 11/15,17		Gender	Monday: Chapter 10 pp.258-276 · 27. Barbara Risman, Gender as Structure ---a review of four theories that explain sex and gender · 28. Christine L. Williams, The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the "Female" Professions ---an examination of sex typing and job segregation · Prepare discussion questions Wednesday · 29. Yen Le Espiritu, The Racial Construction of Asian American Women and Men ---an examination of racist and sexist images in U.S. culture · 30. Myra Sadker and David Sadker, Failing at Fairness: Hidden Lessons ---gender inequality in the institution of education · Prepare discussion questions
Week 14 11/22		Mass Media	Mass Media Monday: · 38. Martin N. Marger, The Mass Media as a Power Institution ---an examination of power and the mass media · 39. Gregory Mantsios, Media Magic: Making Class Invisible ---how the mass media distorts social class · 40. Todd Gitlin, Media Unlimited: How the Torrent of Images and Sounds Overwhelms Our Lives ---the globalization of American media · Prepare discussion questions
Week 15 11/29, 12/1		The Family	Monday and Wednesday: Chapter 12 · 53. Judith Stacey, Gay and Lesbian Families Are Here ---changing definitions of family · 54. Ann Crittendon, The Mommy Tax ---the income discrimination faced by working mothers · 55. Arlie Russell Hochschild, The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work ---how individuals combine their work and home lives · Prepare discussion questions
Week 16 12/6,8		Sexuality	Monday and Wednesday: Online chapter · To be announced
12/13-17		Final Exam