City University of New York, Baruch College

SOCIOLOGY 1005
Sections KM13 and PR13
Fall 2010 Semester

LECTURER: Sarah Salman

Office Hour Monday 2:10-3:10 & Wednesday 2:10-3:10
Cubicle 4240-1 Ext 4479
LECTURES: Monday and Wednesday 11:10 – 12:25 RM 10180 in VC Building.
And Monday and Wednesday 12:50 – 2:05 RM 10126 in VC Building

Course Objectives

In this course you will learn

• some of the main ideas and issues in present day sociology
• how to recognize a sociological analysis
• what is meant by the ‘sociological imagination’
• why sociological and commonsense ideas about society may not always be
the same

Course Expectations

To achieve the course objectives listed above you will need to

• Attend all lectures
• Pay attention and be an active learner
• Do the required readings, as outlined in your syllabus
• Participate in class discussions in a respectful and professional manner
• Set and submit required assessments, assignments and the final exam in due
time.

To achieve course objectives you must also be aware that lectures are opportunities
to learn and engage with fellow students and with the lecturer. You will NOT text,
make phone calls, surf the web, chat/IM, or play games on your cell
phone/laptop/electronics. Such behavior is rude and distracting. It will not be
tolerated in the lecture.

Course Readings

The readings for this course are in Steve Matthewman, Catherine L West-Newman
and Bruce Curtis. (2006). BEING SOCIOLOGICAL, published by Palgrave
Macmillan. The book is REQUIRED READING. The book also has a companion
website at http://www.palgrave.com/sociology/matthewman/. NOTE: Available at
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the Baruch Bookstore for $38 (new).

Note: For some topics extra readings will be available online on Blackboard, or in
the library.

COURSE PROGRAMME
Week One

August 30 Introducing the Course

Sept 1 Introducing Sociology

Week Two

Sept 6 No Classes

Sept 8 The Sociological Imagination

Reading: C.Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination Chapter 1. (This is

widely available online through university websites. See this
http://legacy.lclark.edu/~goldman/socimagination.html)

Week Three

Sept 13 Identifying: Sociology and the Self

Sept 15 Identifying: Sociology and the Self

Reading: Chapter 11, pp 235-243, 246-249.

Week Four

Sept 20 Emotions: Social Constructions of Feelings

Sept 22 Emotions: Social Constructions of Feelings

Reading: Chapter 12, pp. 258-260, 255-256, 262-270.

NOTE: SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION PAPER DUE SEPTEMBER 20 IN
CLASS.

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Week Five

Sept 27 Gendering: Social Constructions of Gender

Sept 29 Gendering: Social Constructions of Gender

Reading: Chapter 9, 193-207.

Week Six

October 4 Sexualizing: Social Constructions of Sexuality

October 6 Sexuality: Social Constructions of Sexuality

Reading: Chapter 10, 213-219, 222-224, 227-228.

Week Seven

October 11 No classes

Octber 13 Research Session.

Week Eight

October 18 Stratifying: Class

October 20 Stratifying: Class

Reading: chapter 6, pp 131-135, 138-143

Note : October 18, we will have 15-20 minutes to discuss your research findings
and answer questions you might have regarding your Sociological Response
Paper.

Week Nine

October 25 and October 27 Presentations

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Week Ten

November 1 Relating: Family

November 3 No Class

Reading: 379-385, 389-392

Week Eleven

November 8 Believing: Religion

November 10 Believing: Religion

Reading: Chapter 13, 275-284, 289-291

Week Twelve

November 15 Governing: Power

November 17 Governing: Power

Reading: Chapter 7, 151-160, 163-167

NOTE: RESEARCH PAPER DUE WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 17 IN

CLASS.

Week Thirteen

November 22 Informing: Media

November 24 Informing: Media

Reading: Chapter 17, 358-362, 367-372.

Week Fourteen

November 29 Working: Sociology of Work

December 1 Working: Sociology of Work

Reading: Chapter 3, 68-82

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Week Fifteen

December 6: Race and Ethnicity

December 8: Race and Ethnicity

Reading: Chapter 1 of the book Two Nations: Black and White, Separate,
Hostile, Unequal by author Andrew Hacker. The book is available in your
library and can also be requested through the CUNY inter-loan system.
Alternatively, if you wish, you may buy it (secondhand or otherwise).

Week Sixteen

December 13 Revision, Q&A Session

December 15 No Class

Assessment in this Course

This course is designed to give as many opportunities for students to pass and do
well. As such, instead of having a big term paper and a big exam, the course will
utilize different methods of assessments.

You assessments for this course are as follows:

Participation in Class In class 10 Points
Group Presentation Due October 25-27 10 Points
In Class Quizzes 10 Quizzes in class 20 Points
Sociological Imagination Paper Due September 20 15 Points
Research Paper Due November 17 25 Points
Take Home Final Exam Due December 20, 20 Points
3pm

Total: 100 Points.

Please Be Aware That:

Class participation is important and is worth 10 points of your final grade.

Discussions in class will allow many opportunities to participate and voice
viewpoints and ask questions.
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There will be 10 in class quizzes. These will be simple multi-choice mini quizzes
testing your knowledge on the material taught in the previous week. Each quiz will
be worth 2 points. They will total to 20 points of your final grade. There are no
make-up quizzes.

Group Presentations will take place in October 25 and 27, 2010. The purpose of
which is to get you to engage with your fellow students and present an idea
sociologically, using a medium other than writing (which you get to do in your
papers). Topics will be announced in due time. They will be assigned to you
randomly.

You are expected to submit a paper using the Sociological Imagination to examine
how you came to be in this program at Baruch. The paper is two pages double
spaced in length. Please do not go over the word limit. Use 12 sized font and 1
inch all around margins. This paper will be worth 10 points of your total grade. This
is due on September 20, 2010.

The research paper is one where you are expected to respond to an opinion piece or
an editorial using the sociological knowledge you have learned in the class. This is a
research paper, so you are expected to do research OUTSIDE the textbook. We will
go over the research process together. The requirements for this paper are as
follows:

Choose an editorial or opinion piece in the New York Times, Washington Post, LA
Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, or Salon.com published on or after
September 1st, 2006, that expresses an opinion about one of the following topics:
• Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
• Gender Inequality
• Religion
• Families
• Collective and public emotions
• News media

Using material from the textbook and library resources, you must first describe the
author’s opinion and the construct a sociological argument that either agrees, or
disagrees, with the opinion offered by the writer of the piece, and explain why you
agree or disagree. Resources which may be useful for you include:
• Statistical material from government websites;
• Academic journal articles accessed online through the library;
• Books available to you in the library.

It is important that you utilize the academic resources made available to you.

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NOTE: Please do not use WIKEPEDIA or informal online sources such as gossip
sites or personal blogs.

The paper is 4 pages double spaced. Use standard 12-size font and 1 inch all
around margins. Note that the four-page count does not include the reference
list. Please do not go over the word limit. This paper is due on November 17,
2010.

You must attach a copy of the article you discuss to your essay; without the article,
the essay cannot be graded.

Referencing and citation should follow the Sociology referencing guide given in the
syllabus. If you use a different referencing style, that is acceptable as well, as long as
you are using a correct and appropriate style of referencing.

The Final Exam will be a take home exam and will be discussed in more detail later
in the semester. It’ll be worth 20 points.

Break Down of the Grades

A 93-100 points C+ 77.1-79.9 points

A- 90-92.9 points C 73-77 points
B+ 87.1-89.9 points C- 70-72.9 points
B 83-87 points D+ 67.1-69.9 points
D 60-67
B- 70-82.9 points F below 60 points

Plagiarism

Students enrolled in Sociology 1005 must adhere to Baruch College’s policy on

Academic Honesty. Students enrolled in Sociology 1005 understand and abide by
the following statement:

I fully support Baruch College's policy on Academic Honesty, which states, in part:

"Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating,

forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college's
educational mission and the students' personal and intellectual growth.
Baruch students are expected to bear individual responsibility for their work,
to learn the rules and definitions that underlie the practice of academic
integrity, and to uphold its ideals. Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable
excuse for disobeying them. Any student who attempts to compromise or
devalue the academic process will be sanctioned. "
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NOTE: Academic sanctions in this class will range from an F on the assignment to
an F in this course. A report of suspected academic dishonesty will be sent to the
Office of the Dean of Students. Additional information and definitions can be found
at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html

Remember: Baruch College defines plagiarism as “the act of presenting another

person's ideas, research or writing as your own,” such as:

• Copying another person's actual words without the use of quotation marks
and footnotes (a functional limit is four or more words taken from the
work of another)
• Presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without
acknowledging them
• Using information that is not considered common knowledge without
acknowledging the source
• Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory
assignment

Again, my policy is to give a failing grade to any assignment that has been
plagiarized or an exam in which you have cheated. In addition, I am required by
College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of
the Dean of Students. This report becomes part of your permanent file.

In short, plagiarizing and cheating place your academic journey in serious jeopardy.
It is simply not worth it.

1Disabilities and Accommodations

Any student with a specific disability related to academic performance should meet
with me ASAP in order to facilitate a fair and suitable structure for evaluation of
academic work. In addition, I will make every effort to accommodate difficulties
arising from religious observance. You are asked to bring any possible conflicts to
my attention now. Students should not expect, if they do poorly on an exam or
assignment, to claim at that time the need of an accommodation. This statement is to
preclude that problem, and allow people with a need for accommodations to be
treated fairly and appropriately.

Equity

I do not allow rewrites and I do not give extra credit. If you would like to contest a
grade, you must do so in writing, submitting your issue the class period after you
receive the grade. You must give back the paper/test in question and fully explain
what the problem is and why you think you deserve the points. If I agree with you, I
will grant you the points, but re-grades are at my discretion.

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Campus Resources:

• Baruch College has plenty of resources for you to utilize should you ever
encounter problems or challenges. If you are struggling with
social/financial/personal problems or find anything in the university
overwhelming, your first bet is to contact the Dean of Students Office (646)
312-4570, Room 2-255, Newman Vertical Campus. They will do their best
to guide you and facilitate receiving the necessary help. Do not hesitate to
contact them.
• Students with disabilities may receive assistance and accommodation of
various sorts to enable them to participate fully in courses at Baruch. To
establish the accommodations appropriate for each student, please alert me to
your needs and contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities,
part of the Division of Student Development and Counselling. For more
information contact Ms. Barbara Sirois, Director of this office in NVC 2-271
or call her at (646) 312-4590.
• In terms of academic resources, please familiarize yourself with your library,
the Newman Library, located at 151 East 25th Street. The library is also
available online and even has links to e-books and e-journals.
• Baruch College also offers help with academic writing. Please utilize this
service. If you want tips on successful writing contact the Writing Center.
PHONE: (646) 312-4012. ROOM: Baruch's Newman VC 8-185. EMAIL:
writingcenter@baruch.cuny.edu

USEFUL REFERENCE GUIDE FOR SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS

SOCIOLOGY REFERENCING GUIDE

Introduction
Typically, academic writing draws upon pre-existing ideas and texts to develop a new, and sometimes
innovative, response to a particular question or problem.

In contrast to how journalists approach this task, academic writers are required to carefully reference the texts
- book chapters, journal and newspaper articles, videos, websites or personal communications et cetera - that
they have used during the process of writing an essay or article.

Reasons for referencing:

• To acknowledge your use of other people’s ideas
• To enable readers of your work to locate the material on which you have drawn
• To show that you are presenting more than your personal opinions through the provision of supporting
evidence.

When do you need to reference?

In short, the answer is this: all statements, opinions, conclusions etcetera taken from another writer’s work
should be acknowledged, whether the work is directly quoted, paraphrased or summarized.

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If in doubt, it is better to err on the side of acknowledging the use of a source than face possible charges of
plagiarism. Plagiarism consists of presenting the ideas of another as one’s own (for a detailed discussion of
plagiarism see department handbook).

Two-step referencing process:

In the system outlined below (adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 1993) there are two steps to take in
referencing your sources: an in-text citation and an alphabetically ordered bibliography.

CITATIONS IN THE TEXT

In-text citations are comprised of the author’s name, the year of publication and (where appropriate) the page.
The term ‘author’ can also mean an editor or organisation. The in-text reference should appear in parentheses
at the least disruptive point in the sentence, which is often at the end.

• Page numbers are necessary when you have directly quoted material or when the idea you have
summarised or paraphrased is located on a specific page in the text.
• When the ideas you have summarised or paraphrased are spread throughout an author’s work page
numbers are not required.

Short quotes of one or two sentences can be included within the body of your essay and are encased by quote
marks. Longer quotes should be separated from the body of your essay by indenting the quote and leaving a
single line between your writing and the quoted material. Quote marks are unnecessary for longer quotes.

If you are citing more than one source in support of a particular claim then these sources should be organized
by date and then alphabetically.

Single author:
In a study by Kimmel (1996, 23) on masculinity in the United States…
In a study on masculinity in the United States … (Kimmel 1996, 23).
Two to three authors:
Abbott and Wallace (1997, 127) argue that…
It was recently argued that contemporary sociology has been greatly enriched as a discipline by
feminist scholarship (Abbott & Wallace 1997, 127).

More than three authors:

Dei et al (2000) conclude that…
In a recent book (Dei et al. 2000) on the global status of indigenous knowledges…

Secondary sources (i.e. author cited in another author’s work):

Rosemary Crompton suggests that sociologists use the concept of ‘class’ in four distinct ways (cited
Abbott & Wallace 1997, 55).
The concept of ‘class’ has at least four distinct meanings for sociologists (Crompton cited Abbott &
Wallace 1997, 55).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The full details of all of the references given in the body of essay are listed at the end in a bibliography.
Bibliography entries must contain sufficient information for someone else to be able to trace the item in a
library.

Only the first letter of the main title, the subtitle, and any proper nouns in the title of books and articles are
capitalized. Periodical titles use capitals for each word, except articles (such as ‘a’ or ‘the’), prepositions (‘of’,
‘with’), and conjunctions (‘and’, ‘but’) (unless the title begins with one of these words).

If you have cited more than one document from the same author these should be ordered by date, with the
earliest first, and differentiated by letters if more than one was published in the same year (e.g., 1996a,
1996b).

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Finally, it is very important to be consistent and accurate when citing references. The same set of rules should
be followed every time you cite a reference.

BOOKS

Surname, First Name. Year. Title. Edition (if later than first). Place of publication: Name of publisher.

A book by one author:

Kimmel, Michael. 1996. Manhood in America: A cultural history. New York: Free Press.

A book by two to three authors:

Abbot, Pamela and Clair Wallace. 1997. An introduction to sociology: Feminist perspectives. 2nd ed. London
& New York: Routledge.

An edited collection:
Dei, George J. Sefa, Budd L. Hall and Dorothy Goldin-Rosenburg, eds. 2000. Indigenous knowledges in
global contexts: Multiple readings of our world. Toronto & Buffalo: University of Toronto Press.

A translated book:
Foucault, Michel. 1972. The archaeology of knowledge. Trans. A. M. Sheridan Smith. New York: Pantheon
Books.

A book written by a corporate author (e.g., a government department):

National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women and the Dept. of Labour. 1999. Childcare,
families and work: The New Zealand childcare survey 1998. Wellington: New Zealand.

A chapter in a book:
Flax, Jane. 1992. The end of innocence. In Feminists theorize the political, eds. Judith Butler and Joan W.
Scott. New York & London: Routledge.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Surname, First Name. Year. Article title. Journal title Volume number (issue number): first-last pages.
Example:
Anthias, Floya. 1998. Rethinking social divisions: Some notes towards a theoretical framework. The
Sociological Review 46(3): 505-535.

OTHER SOURCES
A conference paper:
Dempsey, Ken. 1998. Men and women’s power relationships and the persisting inequitable division of
housework. Paper presented to Changing families, changing futures, 6th Australian Institute of Family
Studies Conference Melbourne, 25-27th November.

A dissertation or thesis:
Vares, Tiina. 2000. Reading film and doing talk: The pleasures, dangers and possibilities of women as
‘violent subjects’. PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ.
A popular magazine:
Russell, Marcia. 2000. Coming out even. Grace, October, 62-66.

A newspaper article:
Calder, Peter and Jan Corbett. 1999. The new Dad’s army on the march. Weekend Herald, 19-20th June, A15.
(If no author is give then you can simply provide the title, date, newspaper and page).

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 ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

World Wide Web Site:

Surname, First Name. Date. Document title. Available from [Accessed date]

Example:
Van Dijk, Teun A. July 1998. New(s) racism: A discourse analytical approach. Available from
http://www.hum.uva.nl/~teun/racpress.htm [Accessed 18 June 2001]

Full text journal article from an electronic database:

Surname, First Name. Year. Document title. Journal Title Volume (issue): pages. Database/Accession
number [Accessed date]

Example:
Mac an Ghaill, Mairtin. 2000. Rethinking (male) gendered sexualities: What about the British heteros? The
Journal of Men’s Studies 8(2): 195-212. Expanded Academic/A59269942 [Accessed 15 June 2001]

Article in an electronic journal.

Surname, First name. Year. Document title. Journal title Volume (Issue): pages or paragraphs. Available
from. [Accessed date]

Example:
Brearly, Laura. 2000. Exploring the creative voice in an academic context. The Qualitative Report 5(3 & 4).
Available from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR5-3/brearley.html. [Accessed 15 June 2001]

On-line newspaper article:

Surname, First name. Year. Name of news item. Newspaper, Day Month Available from. [Accessed date]

Example:
Bridgeman, Shelley. 2000. Dialogue: Property Laws Need to Respect Right to Choose. The New Zealand
Herald, 5 June. Available from http://www.nzherald.co.nz [Accessed 1 September 2000]

E-mail:
Surname, First name of sender (e-mail address of sender). Date. Subject line. Personal e-mail to recipient’s
name (recipient’s e-mail address).

Example:
Sinclair, Debbie (dsinclair@hotmail.com). 12 November 2001. Outsiders. Personal e-mail to Christopher
Jenkins (cjenkins@auckland.ac.nz)

E-mail discussion group:

Surname, First name. Date. Subject line from posting on List name [e-mail discussion list] Available from
[Accessed date]

Example:
Williams, Nathan. 21 June 2001. ISI Web of science service for UK education on CHEST-WOS [e-mail
discussion list]. Available from chest-wos@jiscmail.ac.uk

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