1 Soc 1010.001 - Introduction to Sociology (4) Spring 2009 Instructor: S. Cihan Bozkus Class Meetings: Monday – Wednesday – Friday (09.40 AM – 10.30 AM) Location: SW 134 Office Hours: On Monday 11.00 AM – 11.50 AM and by appointment Office: BEH 332 E-Mail: [email protected] Text: Anderson and Taylor, Sociology – The Essentials, Wadsworth, 2009, 5th Ed. Course Description: An introduction to the basic nature of society and the relationship between society and the individual. This course focuses on how society functions and is organized, and how society impacts and influences individual motivation, understanding, action, and well-being. Basic sociological ideas regarding social relations, social interaction, social structure, and social change are examined. Students are introduced to key issues addressed by contemporary sociologists; class, race, gender, sexuality, religion, globalization, education, health care, crime, the media, and the environment. The knowledge gained in this course will aid students in future studies within a variety of fields and careers, and encourage the development of critical thinking about important issues. Course Objectives: The end of this course, the student will be able to recognize and understand many theoretical perspectives and main topics of sociology and he/she have an idea about the practical research methods used by scientists of the area to answer such questions. In addition, this course, like all Intro classes, is 4-credit course. The 4th credit will involve out-of-class exercises. There will be three main observational exercises, and each of them will require an observation of a social daily life activity for 3 times. Here, students will have to make certain observations from daily life issues, which will certainly be related to the social characteristics of people; their race, gender, age and education and income levels. There will be a due date till when students are supposed to write a three-page paper to show the results of their observations.2 1st Observational Exercise Paper: Visit 3 different market places or shopping malls of same company. Like Smith’s Marketplace at 6th East 4th South and Smith’s at 6th Avenue F Street. As you can imagine, the former one is close to downtown whereas the other one is at avenues. It can be also other companies like Albertsons, Wal-Mart, etc. The point is, one mall must be in a relatively more well-to-do neighbourhood, the other one must be in a relatively low income neighbourhood and the third one should be in an entertainment – shopping area. Make a 1 hour of observation in each of them and take notes or photos if necessary. Your paper should answer certain question about customer types (according to their income level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of these malls. Further and more specific questions will be discussed in the class. 2nd Observational Exercise Paper: Go to McDonalds or Burger King or any other fast food agency near downtown, or in a low income area. Have a meal there or just stay there but make sure that you spend around 1 hour for your observations. Another day, visit an expensive restaurant, like Aristo – a restaurant on 13th East 250 South (roughly). Have a meal there, but it may be a bit expensive, so just tell them you are part of a study and make sure that you stay there for 1 hour and make your observations about customer types (according to their income level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of these restaurants. The third restaurant should be an ethnic restaurant. Take your notes if necessary. Further and more specific questions will be discussed in the class. 3rd Observational Exercise Paper: Ride 3 buses of 3 different routes for 1 hour. One must be very early in a week day. It is ok if it is between 7-8 AM (Though not necessary, riding a bus around 6 AM would be quite interesting and illuminating!!!) It should be going to or coming from downtown. Make your observations. Take notes if necessary. Another one should be going to Sugar House or any other shopping – entertainment area, a weekend afternoon. The last one should go through Avenues. Make sure that you spend 1 hour in each bus. Your paper should answer certain question about customer types (according to their income level, race, ethnicity, age, gender etc) of these buses. Further and more specific questions will be discussed in the class. Requirements & Grading In this course, you are going to have two ways to test your knowledge: First one is midterms. We will have 2 midterm exams throughout the semester. We will not have3 cumulative final exam. The midterms will cover almost the half of the chapters in your textbook, which will have been discussed in the class by that time. In all exams, you will have multiple choice questions. Exams will also include bonus (extra credit) question. Second part of your grade will come from out-of-class exercises. For each of three observational exercises, students will write a 3-page paper. Papers will be double-spaced, 3-paged at most, and be written by Times New Roman characters. We will also have pop-quizzes through out the semester. Main aim of these quizzes is measure your knowledge about the previous lectures of such quizzes and to see your attendance rate. Total share of quizzes in your final grade will be 10%. Plus, students can earn occasional “one-point-increase” for their exams and observational exercise papers as a result of their outstanding performances in class activities. Midterms, observational papers and pop-quizzes will have such shares of your final grades: 2 Exams (Midterms) (30 % each): 60% 3 Observational Exercise Papers (10 % each): 30% Pop – quizzes : 10 % No make-ups will be given for midterms unless there is an extraordinary condition. For Observational Exercise Papers, you are supposed to bring them to class on each due date and late papers will not be graded. Faculty and Student Responsibilities: All students are expected to maintain professional behavior in the classroom setting, according to the Student Code, spelled out in the Student Handbook. Students have specific rights in the