Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course Number/Section SOC 1301
Course Title Introduction to Sociology
Term Spring 2007
Days & Times TR 11:30-12:45am

Professor Contact Information

Professor Melinda D Kane, Ph.D.
Office Phone 972-883-4766
Email Address melinda.kane@utdallas.edu
Office Location GR 2.204
Office Hours T 1:30-2:30pm
W 9:00-10:00am and by appointment

Teaching Assistant Contact Information

TA Thomas Elliott
Email Address thomas.elliott@utdallas.edu
Office Location GR 2.510
Office Hours M 2:00-3:00pm
R 1:30-2:30pm

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

There are no pre-requisites for this course

Course Description
This course has two primary goals. First, it will introduce you to sociology as a discipline, familiarizing
you with the contributions sociology has made to our understanding of the social world. Second, and
more importantly, this course will help you develop your “sociological imagination.” Sociology
encourages us to set aside our private views of the world in order to see more clearly and objectively the
social forces that shape and control our lives. Learning to use the perspective can be challenging because
we are used to relying upon individual level explanations for people’s behaviors and attitudes. However,
by the end of the semester, you should be better at recognizing the influence societal factors have in
shaping your life and the lives of others.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

By the end of the semester, students in SOC 1301 should be able to:
*explain the key theoretical perspectives and concepts in sociology

*apply these theories and concepts to new situations (i.e., current events, personal life
experiences)

*describe and evaluate examples of empirical work conducted by sociologists

Course Syllabus Page 1

Required Textbooks and Materials
Required Texts
Both required books are available for purchase at the University Bookstore and at Off Campus Books
(561 W. Campbell, #201):

Ferguson, Susan J. 2005. Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology, fourth edition.
New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Macionis, John J. 2005. Society: The Basics, eighth edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Two additional required readings are available on-line through the university library web site:

Snow, David A., Cherylon Robinson, & Patricia L. McCall. 1991. “‘Cooling Out’ Men in
Singles Bars and Nightclubs: Observations on the Interpersonal Survival Strategies of Women
in Public Places.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 19(4): 423-449.

Kanter, Rosabeth Moss. 1977. “Some Effects of Proportions on Group Life: Skewed Sex Ratios
and Responses to Token Women.” American Journal of Sociology 82(5): 965-990.

Locating the On-Line Required Reading:

There are two ways to locate the on-line readings.

First, I have placed both items on electronic reserve. Just go to the library website and click “find course
reserves.” Select “find electronic reserves.” Follow the directions from there. You will need a password
to access the reserves. I will announce it in class soon.

Both articles are also available through the library’s on-line journal collection. Here are the steps to find
them:
1) “‘Cooling Out’ Men”
*Go to the University Library web page and enter Journal of Contemporary Ethnography in the
catalog search engine.
*Go to the first e-journal link [vol. 1-24 (Apr. 1972-Apr. 1996)] on the journal’s card catalog record
and click it. [At this point, if you are on a non-school computer, it will ask for your student id
number.]
*You will now be on the journal web site. There will be a list of journal volumes and issue numbers.
Select “19(4)”—the volume and issue number of the article.
* “Cooling Out” is the third article in that journal issue. Select “view article” or “view article as
PDF.” You can either read the article on-line or print it out for later reading.

2) “Some Effects of Proportions”

*Go to the University Library web page and enter American Journal of Sociology in the catalog
search engine.
*Go to the first e-journal link [vol. 1-106 (1895-2000)] on the journal’s card catalog record and click
it. [At this point, if you are on a non-school computer, it will ask for your student id number.]
* You will now be on the journal web site. Select “Browse this Journal.”
* There will be a list of journal volumes and issue numbers. Select “Vols. 81 - 90 (1975 - 1985)” and
go to the 5th issue in the 82nd volume.
* “Some Effects of Proportions” is the 3rd article. You can either read the article on-line or print it out
for later reading.

If you have any questions or problems, a reference librarian will be able to help.

Course Syllabus Page 2

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Assignments
WEEKLY QUIZZES: Daily attendance will not be taken. However, in order to encourage regular
attendance and class participation, small "pop" quizzes will be given at the beginning of one class period
every week. The exact day of the quiz will not be announced ahead of time, but will instead be a
"surprise" every week. A total of twelve quizzes will be given and each student's two lowest scores will
be dropped for a total of ten quiz grades. [There are actually fourteen weeks during the semester. We end
up with a total of 12 quizzes because there will not be a quiz this week (January 9th or 11th) and we will
skip another week sometime during the semester.] Since two quizzes will be dropped, quizzes will not be
distributed to students who arrive after the quiz has been collected and no make-ups will be given,
no matter why the quiz was missed. In addition, quizzes will not be counted for students who leave
anytime after taking the quiz. The quizzes will be simple questions based on the readings due that
day. (See the course schedule below for the daily reading assignments.) If a student has carefully read
and thought about the assignments for that day, s/he will have no difficulty answering the questions.

EXAMS: Three examinations will be given during the semester (see dates below). All three exams will
cover both class material and assigned readings (this includes reading material that is not discussed in
class). The first exam will cover the course material from January 11th through February 6th while the
second exam will cover the course material from February 13th through March 15th. The final exam is
cumulative and will include the material after March 15th and anything else covered in the course. All
three exams will include a combination of multiple choice, true false, and essay questions. Please bring
a Parscore score sheet, form F-1712 to each exam. They are available at the University Bookstore and
Off Campus Books.

Calendar
[“Macionis” refers to the textbook by John Macionis and
“Ferguson” refers to the reader Mapping the Social Landscape.]

Date Topic Reading

Jan 9 Introduction to None
the Course
SOCIOLOGY AS A DISTINCTIVE
DISCIPLINE
What is Macionis: Chp 1, pp 2-8
Jan 11 Sociology? Ferguson: Chp 1, Mills, The Promise, pp 1-7
Total: 14
Macionis: Chp 1, pp 8-14 & the Applying Sociology Box
Jan 16 Theoretical on page 16-17
Paradigms I Ferguson:
Chp 23, Davis and Moore, Some Principles of Stratification,
pp 279-282 (not the whole chapter)
Chp 41, Marx & Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party,
pp 482-487
Total Pages: 19

Course Syllabus Page 3

 Jan 18 Theoretical Ferguson:
Paradigms II Chp 49, Karp, Illness & Identity, pp 559-573
Total Pages: 15
Macionis: Chp 1, pp 15-33
Jan 23 Sociological Ferguson:
Research Chp 5, Haney et al., Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated
Methods Prison, pp 47-57
Total Pages: 30
FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY

Macionis: Chp 2, pp 36-44 & 46-61 (skipping the

Jan 25 Culture Technology & Culture section)
Ferguson:
Chp 8, Anderson, The Code of the Street, pp 79-90
Total Pages: 37
Jan 30 Socialization I Macionis: Chp 3, pp 64-74
Total Pages: 11
Macionis: Chp 3, pp 75-85
Feb 1 Socialization II Ferguson:
Chp 14, Dyer, Anybody’s Son Will Do, pp 161-172
Total Pages: 23
Macionis: Chp 4, pp 88-99 (not the whole chapter)
Feb 6 Social Interaction On-Line Reading:
Snow et al., ‘Cooling Out’ Men in Singles Bars and
Nightclubs, 26 pages
Total Pages: 38
Feb 8 ***********First Exam************
Macionis: Chp 5, pp 110-118
Feb 13 Groups I On-Line Reading:
Kanter, Some Effects of Proportions on Group Life: Skewed
Sex Ratios and Responses to Token Women, 26 pages
Total Pages: 35
Feb 15 Groups II Macionis: Chp 5, pp 118-132
Ferguson:
Chp 56, Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society, pp 637-645
Total Pages: 24
Macionis: Chp 7, pp 162-175 (not the whole chapter)
Feb 20 Deviance Ferguson:
Chp 19, Rosenhan, On Being Sane in Insane Places, pp 230-
240
Total Pages: 25

Course Syllabus Page 4

 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Feb 22 Stratification Macionis: Chp 8, pp 192-204
Total Pages: 13
Macionis: Chp 8, pp 205-223
Feb 27 Social Class Ferguson:
Chp 24, Domhoff, Who Rules America? pp 289-303
Total Pages: 34
Mar 1 Global Macionis: Chp 9, pp 226-248
Stratification Total Pages: 23
Mar 5-9 *********** Spring Break***********
Macionis: Chp 11, pp 280-307 (skim pgs 293-305), but
Mar 13 Race & read Controversy & Debate box on pages 304-305
Ethnicity I Ferguson: Chp 32, Lee & Bean, Beyond Black and White,
pp 390-398
Total Pages: 37
Ferguson:
Mar 15 Race & Chp 34, LeDuff, At A Slaughterhouse, Some Things Never
Ethnicity II Die, pp 410-420
Chp 25, Oliver & Shapiro, Black Wealth/ White Wealth, pp
303-317
Total Pages: 26
Mar 20 *********** Second Exam***********
Macionis: Chp 10, pp 252-258
Mar 22 Gender I Ferguson:
Chp 11, Lorber, Night to His Day, pp 119-132
Total Pages: 21
Macionis: Chp 10, pp 258-277
Mar 27 Gender II Ferguson:
Chp 28, Williams, The Glass Escalator, pp 342-353
Total Pages: 32
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Macionis: Chp 12, pp 324-334 (not whole politics section)
Mar 29 Politics Ferguson:
Chp 36, Clawson et al., Dollars & Votes, pp 429-442
Total Pages: 25
Apr 3 Family Macionis: Chp 13, pp 346-363
Total Pages: 18
Apr 5 Education I Macionis: Chp 14, pp 382-395
Total Pages: 14

Course Syllabus Page 5

 Apr 10 Education II Ferguson:
Chp 51, Cookson & Persell, Preparing for Power, pp 581-591
Total Pages: 11
SOCIAL CHANGE
Apr 12 Social Macionis: Chp 16, pp 450-455 (not the whole chapter)
Movements I Total Pages: 6
Apr 17 Social No Reading
Movements II
Apr 19 Review & No Reading
Conclusion
Thursday,
April 26,
8am-
****CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM****
10:30 am

Grading Policy
Student Evaluation
Semester grades will be based on the student's performance on:

1. Ten in-class quizzes (1.5% each) 15%

2. First exam 25%
3. Second exam 30%
4. Cumulative final exam 30%
100%

Calculating Semester Grades

To calculate your semester grade, just multiply each grade you earned during the semester by the weight
given to that particular assignment and add those weighted scores together. For example, if a student has
a quiz average of 82, earns a 79 on the first exam, a 90 on the second exam, and an 85 on the cumulative
final, her course grade would be calculated like this:

Quizzes 82 * .15 = 12.30

Exam one 79 * .25 = 19.75
Exam two 90 * .30 = 27.00
Final 85 * .30 = 25.50
Course Grade = 84.55 B

Course Syllabus Page 6

Grading Scale:

The grading scale for the course is as follows:

A= 93-100% = 4.0 B- = 80-82% = 2.67 D+ = 67-69% = 1.33

A- = 90-92% = 3.67 C+ = 77-79% = 2.33 D= 63-66% = 1.0
B+ = 87-89% = 3.33 C= 73-76% = 2.0 D- = 60-62% = 0.67
B= 83-86% = 3.0 C- = 70-72% = 1.67 F= 59% or less = 0.0

Important Dates:
Exam 1 Thursday, February 8th
Exam 2 Tuesday, March 20th
Final Thursday, April 26th, 8:00-10:30am

Course Policies
Course Organization
I plan to use a variety of teaching methods in this course. These include, but are not limited to, lecture,
class discussion, small group activities, and videos. My ability to make the class period interesting and
the material relevant to your lives is largely based upon your level of preparation and the degree to which
you are willing to participate in class. Therefore, I expect students to come to each class having carefully
read and thought about the material assigned for that day and ready to participate.

I have found over the years that students can be hesitant to ask questions or to request that I repeat
material. My goal, however, is to be as clear as possible so each of you has the opportunity to learn the
course material. Therefore, one of your responsibilities as a student in this class is to ask questions and
to let me know if we are going too fast.

Make-up exams
My policy is not to give make-up exams; however, on rare occasions circumstances can arise that prevent
students from taking the exam at the assigned time. If you believe you have a valid reason to reschedule
the exam, you must contact me in person or by phone as soon as you know about the conflict and at
least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled exam. In the extreme cases warranting a make-up, the
rescheduled exam time and conditions will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Requests for make-ups after the exam has been given will almost certainly be refused. However, if you
believe you have a valid reason to contact me after the exam, you must contact me as soon as physically
possible (for example, immediately after you have called the tow truck or immediately after waking from
the coma). Requests after the exam has been given will only be granted with written documentation and
will receive a late penalty, regardless of the excuse.

Extra Credit
There will be no extra credit work available.

Class Attendance
As mentioned above, rather than grading attendance, weekly quizzes will be used to encourage attendance
and participation.

Classroom Citizenship
Tardiness and leaving early are very disruptive to the class. Class will start on time, so please make sure
you are present at 11:30 am. Also, let me know at the beginning of class if you absolutely must leave
early and make sure your exit distracts others as little as possible. Also, please remember to turn off your
pagers and cell phones when you enter class.

Course Syllabus Page 7

Finally, this course covers sensitive topics; therefore, we must always make sure to respect one another.
Disagreements are allowed and expected, but should focus on ideas rather than the individuals that
express them. Signs of disrespect that will not be tolerated include, but are not limited to, making
derogatory comments about others and/or their ideas, having background conversations when others are
talking, packing up early when others are still talking or asking questions.

“Snow Day” Policy

If a university closure due to inclement weather causes us to miss one of our class meetings, we will cover
the material originally scheduled for that missed class period the very next time we meet. For example, if
campus was closed on January 23rd, you should come to class on January 25th (the next scheduled class)
prepared to discuss (and maybe be quizzed on) the material scheduled for that missed day, Jan 23rd. This
also holds true for examinations. If campus is closed on a day we are scheduled to take an exam, the
exam will be given the very next time we meet. Any further adjustments required due to the closure will
be made in class.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the
orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student
organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and
activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to
Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of
Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and
regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she
is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the
value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that
degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her
scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s
own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism,
collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for
details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism
and is over 90% effective.

Course Syllabus Page 8

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning
security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official
student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and
staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the
security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be
used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T.
Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These
dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be
followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other
words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will
not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of
academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter
with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter
called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the
respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written
response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the
grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean
of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals
Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process
will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where
staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the
semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be
resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to
complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the
incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Course Syllabus Page 9

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to
those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office
hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to
eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom
prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind.
Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral
presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments
may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special
services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation.
Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student
has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact
the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel
to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property
tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the
absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the
exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of
the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or
assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a
religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a
reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor
may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student
and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University
policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and
regulations may be found at the website address given below. Additional information is available from the
office of the school dean. (http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 10