Intro to
Sociology
Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Joseph P. Ferry, M. A.
ferry@tenebrae.org
Syllabus
Course Description:
We will study the development of thought on social matters, the emergence of sociology as a distinct discipline, and we will practice the application of the sociological perspective to common concerns: patterns of growing up, making/unmaking families, social malevolences and injustices - structured deprivation, rites and dynamics of group exclusion/inclusion.
We will look at ways of making a living, the patterned care/neglect of dependents, economic and social marginalization processes. Students will study the ways in which race, class and gender, communications are generated and used within and between societies.
We will note the construction of social categories, and study the institutions that manage and mismanage, nurture and abuse, produce or counterproduce, the objects of their creation.
Course Objectives
Acquire a capacity to view common occurrences from a sociological perspective.
Appreciate the distinction between personal situation, psychology and troubles, and social issues, social facts, cultural dynamics and forces.
Become acquainted with the presence of sociologies in historical and vernacular societies, and the rise of academic and scientific sociology in the 19th century.
Read in the works of the pioneer social philosophers: Comte, Marx, Weber, Durkheim.
Read, study, research and discuss:
Individual and society.
Culture, community, communications.
Family, schools, kin, friends and work: recreating society every day.
Social institutions, formations, customs and dynamics.
Genders, races, classes, clubs, networks: groups, grouping and excluding.
Symbolic interactions.
The Commons - the environment, heritage, legacy, history and creation- the setting of human social life.
Social power- the routines of empowering and impoverishing.
Theories of social change and transformation.
Required Text and Readings:
Society in Focus, by Thompson and Hickey, published by Allyn and Bacon
www.tenebrae.org - follow links through 'coursework' and 'Intro to Soc' for announcements, assignments, some readings, soc links, some notes and references.
Student work
1. Readings
Each week there will be readings in the text that will cover subject areas that will be the focus areas of class discussion. Each week there will be readings of the social philosophers and social scientists that made seminal contributions to our understanding of those topics under discussion. Students will need to prepare for class discussions by having read these pages and papers prior to class.
2. Social research project and papers:
Your project will be to do independent sociological research, write a 2000 -3000 word (about 10 pages) report on that research, and submit report to class by end of session. The topic will be announced in class. This paper with scholarly research and references will be done according to APA style, and will be due on the last day of class.
3. Class participation
Having done readings, all students will need to be present and participate actively in class discussions.
Attendance at all classes is required for consideration as excellent (‘A’ grade). Missing four or more class hours will be considered withdrawal, and will require contact with teacher before continuation with course.
4. Take two tests during the session.
The tests will require responses to objective questions and the formulation of an essay responses.
Grading
Class preparation and participation 25%
Research Projects 25%
Mid exam 25%
Final exam 25%To the degree possible, grades will be a reflection of what student has learned during the course. The grade will not be an attempt to reflect a student's rank in the field of social scientists. Excellence will be a mark of having studied and learned much during the semester. Evaluating student's work