Introduction to Sociology

Sociology 201-011 – Spring 2006

SYLLABUS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important note regarding syllabus

General course information and instructor contact information
Course objectives
Lecture structure
Required text
Online learning center
Accessing the online learning center
Study aids
Final grade calculations
Exams
Format
Information on dropped exam
Missing an exam
Class participation and attendance
Class communication and email
Class cancellation policy due to weather
Adjustments to the schedule
Disabilities
Academic integrity
Class schedule
Other important dates

IMPORTANT NOTE

I will be going through the syllabus in great detail on the first day of classes; however, you are
responsible for knowing the information provided in this syllabus.

If you do not understand any of the expectations laid out below, please see me immediately and I will
be more than happy to clarify. If you added the course after the first day, you must make an
appointment to meet with me or the TA and go over the expectations outlined below.

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Professor: Dr. Tricia Wachtendorf

Office Location: Disaster Research Center; Rm. 208, 87 E. Main Street; Newark, DE 19716
The building is near Main & Academy, beside Grassroots.
Use the side door. Faculty offices are upstairs on your left.
Office Phone: 302-831-1254 (DRC office number is 302-831-6618)
Email: twachten@udel.edu
DRC Homepage: www.udel.edu/DRC
Office Hours: Wednesday 12-3 or by appointment

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Teaching Assistant: Jenny Froemming
TA Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-3pm or by appointment
TA Office Phone: 831-4420
TA Email: froem@udel.edu
TA Office Location: 25 Amstel (directly across from Smith Hall)

Class Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45

Class Location: 140 Smith Hall

COURSE OBJECTIVES

What is sociology?

How does the sociological perspective help me better understand the world in which I live?

How can sociological insights help me, whether or not I go on to a career in teaching, medicine, law
enforcement, politics, research, restaurant management, social work, disaster relief, running my own
business, or any other profession?

These are just a few of the questions we’ll try to answer.

The primary objective of this course is to provide an introductory overview of the sociological
perspective and its study of society, social organizations, and social institutions with special emphasis
on the social causes and consequences of human behavior.

You will study key sociological concepts used in the discipline and learn how to use them to observe
and interpret social behavior.

You will also learn to use sociological perspectives to interpret and understand contemporary social
issues as well as the relationship between individual/group experience and social structures.

Lectures and readings include discussions on how the social structure influences the experiences of
diverse groups in society; how people influence and shape their social environment; and what social
changes are affecting the character of both U.S. society and societies abroad.

Due to the size of the class, I must rely heavily on multiple choice and true/false questions. Readings,
assignments, online resources, and class discussions are aimed at helping students develop critical
thinking skills.
LECTURE STRUCTURE

No “review” of the readings will be conducted during class; however, discussions will consider the
assigned readings for the week.

You can expect lectures to cover in detail some (but not all) of issues and concepts introduced in the
text.

I will typically begin a section by calling attention to a few of the key terms highlighted in your text
and introducing some terms not mentioned in the book.

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I will then highlight several key research studies that have considered those concepts in order to
illustrate how sociologists examine such social behavior. Findings from those studies will be
discussed.

We will consider contemporary problems and events, look at what sociologists have found when
studying them, and consider for ourselves how sociology could contribute to our understanding of
those problems. Again, the objective is to take what you have learned in the text and to use it to
actively understand social phenomena.

Classes may also make use of guest lectures and films.

REQURIED TEXT

Sociology (9th Edition): Richard T. Schaefer. McGraw Hill Publishing

Others short readings may be assigned in class

ONLINE LEARNING CENTER

The textbook's Online Learning Center has various useful resources for students, including practice
quizzes, research exercises, videos, web links, and other study resources. Trust me, visit this site!

Accessing the Online Learning Center:

Instructions for accessing the textbook’s Online Learning Center:

Go to: http://www.mhhe.com/schaefer9
Click on first time users or student edition
Follow the instructions on the registration card in your text book.

If you purchased a used textbook and cannot reregister, click on student edition.
You will not have access to the New York Times or the extra articles; however, you will have access to
all required other resources without logging in. In other words, you can make use of used textbooks.

Study Aids:

The Online Learning Center will help you prepare for your exams and provide another way of learning
the material. Many of the text-related questions are taken directly from the practice questions on the
chapter multiple choice and true/false quizzes or they are slightly altered versions.

For example, the practice quiz may give a term and provide several definitions to choose from,
whereas I may provide a definition and give you several terms to choose from. Alternatively, the
online quiz may give you a definition for which Option A is the correct answer, while I may give you a
definition for which Option B will have been the correct answer.

You cannot rely on these quizzes alone, but they will give you a good idea of the TYPES of questions I
may ask on your exam.

Doing the practice quizzes should help you prepare for some sections of the exams.

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 FINAL GRADES

A plus/minus grading policy will be followed for your final grade in the course.
Final grades for the course will be based on:
Best two of first three exams .........................................33% each
Fourth exam....................................................................34%

Each exam question is worth a half percent of you’re total grade.

EXAMS:
Format:

You will take four exams in this course. Exam questions will consist of multiple choice and/or true and
false questions. Please note that fourth exam will take place during the final exam period. The first
exam will cover all readings, lectures, and discussions to the date of the exam; each subsequent exam
will cover all materials since the previous exam. In other words, exams are not cumulative. Questions
will also cover material presented in class and not covered extensively in the textbook. Consequently,
class attendance is important, mandatory, and you will have a difficult time passing the exams if you
choose not to attend all classes and do not complete all the readings.

Information on Dropped Exam:

Only the two highest grades of your first three exams will count. Your lowest grade of the first three
exams will be dropped.

Given the large class size and the number of individual circumstances that inevitably emerge before
each exam, this policy gives students the benefit of the doubt without me having assess cases that do
not officially fit the university's policy but indeed make it difficult for students to take the exam. When
you return, your time should be spent focusing on the next exam. If you miss an exam for an excused
or unexcused absence, you will receive a 0, which will comprise your lowest score.

If you take all three exams, your lowest grade will still be dropped. Since many students tend to see
their lowest grade on the first exam (when the material is still quite new and students are learning how
best to study for the exams), students are required and strongly advised to take and study for all four
exams.

Missing an Exam (IMPORTANT!!):

You must inform me by email if you intend to miss an exam or within 3 days of missing an exam and
inform me of the reason. If you don’t receive a reply from me, I did not receive your email.

If you miss one of the first three exams for either an excused or unexcused absence, there will be NO
REWRITE OPPORTUNITIES as students will be expected to use their opportunity to drop this
exam and rely on their grades from the other two exams.

In other words, if you blow off the first or second exam, sleep through it, book a vacation, or opt not to
take it for another reason not excused by university policy and then find that you must miss the second
or third exam – even for an excused absence – you will have put yourself at a disadvantage and still

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only be able to drop one of the first three exams. Again, taking the exams is required. It is your
responsibility to note the exam dates.

Student must write the final exam. Make-up exams for the final will be given only in cases involving
a serious medical emergency or a death in a student’s immediate family. Written documentation will
be required in all cases. There are no exceptions to this policy. See the university’s policy on excused
absences. If you anticipate missing an exam or, in fact, miss an exam, you should contact me asap.

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE

You are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to coming to class. You should be familiar
with what is contained in the readings and prepared to actively take part in class discussions on the
material.

Due to the class size, I will not take attendance but attendance is required and I strongly advise that
you attend all class lectures. If you miss a class, be sure to find a fellow student who takes thorough
notes and ask him or her for a copy. You are still responsible for the material even if you choose to
miss a class. I will not review the lecture material for a class, although the TA and I will be very happy
to clarify lecture material for classes for which you have the notes.

Although you are students in this class, each of you brings to our group your own experiences and
perspectives. Use this class as an opportunity to reconsider your experiences and perspectives with a
critical and sociological eye. At the same time, you are encouraged to share your experiences and
perspectives during the class. Not only will this make for a more interesting semester, but by engaging
in these two activities, it will lead to a more active learning process for us all.

While your opinions may differ from your classmates, please be respectful in your interactions at all
times.

We will sometimes be discussing sensitive material. If, for some reason, you find that you need to
leave class when this material is discussed, you will not be penalized. You are, however, responsible
for all material covered in the lectures and the text.

CLASS COMMUNICATION

Students are required to have a University of Delaware email account and to check it regularly as I
may need to send notices electronically to the class list between class meeting times. If you use another
account, be sure to check your UD account or have emails from the UD address forwarded to your
regular email address.

CLASS CANCELATION POLICY

Please see the University of Delaware’s policy on the canceling of classes due to bad weather.

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SCHEUDLE

I reserve the right to make adjustments to the course schedule as I determine appropriate. Students are
still required to have completed all assigned readings and assignments by the dates specified in the
syllabus unless I specify otherwise.
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 DISABILITIES

Students are encouraged to meet with the Office of the ADA and inform me at the beginning of the
course if adaptations/accommodations are believed to be necessary due to a disability. You are also
encouraged to notify me of the need for special assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation.

ACADEMIC INTEGRETY

I take the issues of academic honesty and dishonesty very seriously.

The University’s rules on academic honesty and dishonesty are described in the official student
handbook, available on the web (http://www.udel.edu/judicialaffairs/ai.html) or through the Dean of
Students Office. At minimum, if, during an exam, you are found cheating, your exam will be
confiscated and you will receive a zero for that exam. If it can be determined that someone that you
are copying from is assisting you, that person’s exam will also be confiscated and given a zero.
Similarly, if you are found to be plagiarizing in any written assignment, at minimum you will be given
no points for the assignment. Following University policy, all cases of plagiarism, fabrication,
cheating, or other forms of academic misconduct will be reported to the Dean of Students Office for
disciplinary action. If there is sufficient proof of academic dishonesty, I will not hesitate to fail the
student from the course and move forward with charges of academic dishonesty.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Section 1: Feb 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28

Introduction (Syllabus; OLC); Theory; Research; Culture; Socialization

Readings: Chapters 1; 2; 3; 4

March 2: First Exam

Section 2: March, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23

Social Interaction and Social Structure; Groups and Organizations; Mass Media; Deviance:

Readings: Chapters 5; 6; 7; 8;
March 7 Boyz in the Hood; 6pm; Film screening; place TBA
Students who cannot make the screening can view the
film on their own in Morris library or opt to rent the film,
although it should be viewed prior to March 9

April 4: Second Exam

Section 3: April 6, 11, 13, 18, 20,

Social Stratification: Class; Race & Ethnicity; Sex & Gender

Readings: Chapter 9, 10, 11, 12

April 25 Third Exam

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Week of April 27, May 2, 4, 9, 11, 16

Disasters; Environment; Collective Behavior & Social Movements; Social Change & Technology

Readings: Chapter 21; 22; 23

December

Final Exam Period Final Exam

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:

February 7: First Class

February 20: Last day to register or to add course for Spring 2005. After this date there is a
tuition and change-fee charge, and a grade of "W" is recorded for course
withdrawal. Last day for textbook refunds.
March 2: First Exam
March 7: 6pm film screening; place TBA
March 25-April 2: Spring Break
April 4: Second Exam
April 17: Last day to change registration or withdraw from a course without academic
penalty and dean’s approval. This includes changing registration to a pass/fail.
April 25: Third Exam
May 16: Last class
May 19-26: Final Exam during final exam period. Do not make travel plans before you
know and accommodate the date of the exam!