TR YOUNG:

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Spring, '97

  1. ABOUT THIS COURSE. Sociology is the study of symbolically created relationships. Social relationships are activated within social occasions. Social occasions are activated within social institutions. We will consider how much of human behavior is organized within such relationships; within such occasions; within social institutions.

  2. TEXT: SOCIOLOGY: Down to Earth by Jim Henslin

  3. SCHEDULE: Meetings: 9:05-9:55 MWF: Williams 301

    Lectures:

    15 Jan. Wed.
    Introduction to Course: PARADIGMS LOST: PARADIGMS FOUND. Read Ch. 1 in Henslin. Learn any 5 concepts; learn any five names of great sociologists!!!

    17 Jan. Fri.
    THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION: Understanding Mind, Self, and Society sociologically. How do we know when the sociology of it all is working to shape human behavior? Read Ch. 2. FA # 1: MLK & Racism.

    22 Jan. Wed.
    Ch. 2: CULTURE: Folkways; Morés; Cultural Complexes; Cultural Diversity; Cultures and sub-Cultures; Language systems; Values/Sanctions; Social Control in Mass Institutions; Culture and Identity.

    24 Jan. Fri.
    Culture Con't: Value Clusters; Contradictions; Change. Genes v. childhood v. Culture v. Social Control. Universals; Animals & Culture; Globalization and Cultural Destruction. Read Ch. 3.

    27 Jan. Mon.
    SOCIALIZATION: Human Nature; Mind, Self and Society; Race, Gender, Ethnicity: Who Am I??? Agents of Socialization.

    29 Jan. Wed.
    Total Institutions & Re-socialization; Life Cycle and Socialization. Social Change, Social Conflict and Identity Wars in 1997. Read Ch. 4.

    31 Jan. Fri.
    SOCIAL STRUCTURE & SOCIAL INTERACTION: Key Structures; Groups, Institutions and the Social Construction of Reality.

    February:

    3 Feb. Mon.
    Symbolic Interaction and Symbolic Social-Life worlds. Five Interpersonal Media; Dramaturgical Analysis; Ethnomethodology: Reality Creating/Interpreting processes in mass societies.

    4 Feb: Movie Lab # 1: Boyzn'theHood See List of Basic Concepts posted in Hall.

    6 Feb: Movie Lab: Breakfast Club...get terms from your email.

    7 Feb: Fri. Finish Chapter 3: Socialization...Read Chapter 4 over weekend

    10 Feb: Mon. Social Structure
    Wed. 12 Feb: Status: getting into status-roles via rites of passage
    Fri. 14 Feb: Modes of Production/forms of society through history
    Field Assignment: first 20 to sign up via TR.Young@UVM.EDU 20 pts...typed, edited, due Monday, 17 Feb
    Mon. 17 Feb: Forms of Solidarity: Mechanical/Organic
    Wed. 19 Feb: Review for Quiz: Form study groups
    Fri. 21 Feb: 30 pt Exam on the first four/Five Chapters...REQUIRED OF ALL!!

  4. GRADING. Each Student is given 200 points to spend on the Menu Below. Some items are non-profit; some entail a 10% profit rate...ask your prof in class to explain. Generally, if I write them, no profit margin is available; if you write/organize, then profit is possible. Or...those who take a risk and do something first can usually plan on a profit...i.e., invest 20 pts; earn up to 22.


    1. A = 180 Quality points or more
      B = 160 Quality points plus
      C = 140 Quality points plus

    2. Exams:
      Mid-term Exam. Cost = 100 pts. Mandatory
      Final Exam: Cost up to 100 pts. Optional

    3. Point Menu: Cost varies.

  5. SOAP OPERAS: Limit of three per person. Each episode illuminates 3 concepts from the text.

    20 points for the Director/Producer; 10 points per student/actor per Episode. P/Ds write, direct and act in each episode. SEE GUIDE SHEET; 10% profit for the team which goes first. P/Ds have the first ten minutes of class time to present each episode. Schedule with T.R.

    1. CAPTAIN SCIENCE: A semi-serious spoof on sociological explanations of human behavior/social problems. Captain Science always Saves the Day by applying sociological knowledge to heart-rending problems. Captain Science takes himself a bit more serious as he uses THEORY!

    2. BOYZN'AMERICA: All about Identity Politics in America. Racist/Gender/Ethnic/Religious/Nationalistic politics. When the going gets tough, the tough pick on someone weaker. Have fun; be nice if you can, but have fun.

    3. SAVED BY THE BELL: All about the ways schools are organized in primary, secondary, and university. Explore the sub-cultures; Expose the politics; Explain the Crazy; Examine the Hierarchy; Enquire into the Secrets of the school. Have fun; be nice.

    4. JUNK SOCIOLOGY: Use this Soap to expose the silly sociology that people use to rationalize dumb things they want to do. Focus on social problems for the most part; crime, suicide, divorce, racism, etc.

    5. GAME TALK!: Run a spoof on T.V. Game shows/Talk shows/sit-coms. Use GAME-TALK to explain/clarify any three concepts from current or coming lectures.

  6. FIELD ASSIGNMENTS: 10 points each; Limit 2/person; 20 total. These field assignments ask you to visit some social occasion and, using any five concepts from the current Chapter, do an analysis of the sociology of it all. Bars, other classes, church meetings, sports events, parties; others discussed. Sign Up.

  7. SPECIAL SELF-DIRECTED PROJECTS: 15 POINTS EACH. Limit 2/person. Any student can design a special written project for her/himself for points. Each such report will be about five pages long. Do these as early as possible since time will be a problem the last three weeks of class. They might include case histories, cross cultural research on rape, teenage pregnancy, educational policy, or disemployment. Anything which affects the fate of young people in America. Approval required; see Professor.

  8. Movie Labs: 20 points each. Limit 3/person; Limit 20 students per lab. Sign Up Wednesdays. Movies: Boyzn'theHood, Breakfast Club, Dead Poets Society, Malcolm X, Beverley Hills Cops, Other Peoples' Money, The Wizard of Oz. Others as posted.