Introduction to Sociology Outline and Schedule

Spring 2009

Note: “Text” refers to Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (8th edition), Henslin; “Reader” refers to Intersections, Shafer and Divney, and the page number refers to the page on which the particular reading begins. "Reader" articles are supplemental; most of them will be discussed in class, and you are always welcome to raise questions about them in class. The reader will be a source for the reflective essay. Underlined topics are hyperlinks in the web version of this syllabus, and take you to Powerpoint presentations on my web site for that topic. The schedule may change somewhat as the semester progresses, so these dates are approximate.

Jan 14-23 (Jan 19 is a holiday):

What is Sociology?....................................................Syllabus, Text Chapter 1

Jan 26-30:

Sociological Theory ....................................................Text Chapter 1 (7-28); Reader:  Durkheim, "What is a Social Fact?" p.14; Blumer, "The Nature of Symbolic Interactionism" p. 8

Feb 2-6:

Research Methods .....................................................Text Chapter 5; Reader: Schuman, "Sense and Nonsense..." p. 37; Lee, "Eating Christmas..." p. 73

Feb 9-13

Culture and Society.....................................................Text Chapter 2; Reader: Becker, "Culture: A Sociological View" p.47; Kluckholm, "Queer Customs" p. 64

February 13: Exam 1

“Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul!
Sweetener of life! and solder of society!” Robert Blair

Feb 16-20:

Socialization................................................................Text Chapter 3; Reader: Berger & Luckman, "Socialization" p. 102; Cooley, "Looking Glass Self" p. 115; Lorber, "Night to His Day" p. 251

Feb 23-27:

Social Interaction .......................................................Text Chapter 4; Reader: Goffman, "Presentation of Self..." p. 120; Levine, "A Geography of Time" p. 82; Staples, "Culture of Surveillance" p. 201

Mar 2-6:

Conformity & Deviance.............................................Text Chapter 8; Reader: Durkheim, "The Normality of Crime" p. 182; Becker, "Becoming a Marijuana User" p. 150; Chambliss, "Saints and Roughnecks" p. 163; Merton, "Social Structure and Anomie" p. 190

Mar 9-13:

Social Class Stratification...............................................Text Chapter 10; Reader: Weber, "Class..." p. 311; Domhoff, "Power and Class" p. 270; Lewis, "Culture of Poverty" p. 217

Mar 13: Exam 2

“There is no such thing as society.” Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and friend of the late Ronald Reagan)

Mar 14-22: Spring Break ***********************************************************************************************

Mar 23-27:

Stratification continued

Mar 30-Apr 3:

Work and the Economy.................................................Text Chapter 14 (388-406); Reader: Weber, "Asceticism..." p. 350;

Apr 6-10:

Work and Economy (continued)......................................Text Chapter 14 (406-416); Reader: Thompson, "Hanging Tongues", p. 131; Ehrenreich, "Nickle-and-Dimed" p. 284

Apr 13-17:

Race & Ethnicity.........................................................Text Chapter 12; Reader: Wilson, "When Work Disappears" p. 325; Wright, "Race, Class, and Income" p. 230; Newman, "The Job Ghetto" p. 224

Apr 20:

 Exam 3

“With the increasing value of the world of things proceeds in direct proportion the devaluation of the world of men.“ Karl Marx

Apr 22-24:

Sex & Gender..............................................................Text Chapter 11; Lorber, "'Night to His Day'..." p. 251

Apr 27-May 1:

Politics..........................................................................Text Chapter 15; Reader: Marx, "Contribution to the Critique..." p. 344; Domhoff, "Power and Class in the United States" p. 270

May 4-6:

Globalization, Environment and Social Change.................Text Chapter 22; Reader:  Ritzer, "McDonaldization..." p. 375; Staples, "The Culture of Surveillance" p. 201

May 8: Exam 4

“Society waits unformed and is between things ended and things begun.” Walt Whitman

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 13