SYG2000: Principles of Sociology
Section #4195, Spring 2008
MWF 6th Period (12:50 - 1:40)
Turlington Hall (TUR) 2305
Instructor: Orli Zaprir
Office: 3309 Turlington Hall
Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm, Fridays 11:40 am - 12:40 pm
and by appointment
Phone: (352) 392-0265 x239 (only during office hours)
Voicemail: (352) 392-0265 x155
E-mail: ozaprir@soc.ufl.edu (do not e-mail from aol accounts)
Website: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ozaprir/index.html
Course Description:
Sociology concentrates on the scientific and systematic study of society, by examining general topics such as race and ethnicity, culture, class, workplace, gender, family and intimate relationships, social stratification, deviance, aging, health, religion, education and many other social issues. You will become familiar with the main theories and research methods used by sociologists to answer the following questions: What is a society? How is a society accomplished? What is the individual’s role in a society? What is the link between society and individuals? What is the role of power, prestige and status in a society? In what ways do social institutions provide different opportunities/choices or lack of opportunities/choices to different groups of people based on their race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and/or geographic location? How does a society create, reinforce and/or challenge definitions of what is normal? How and why do societies change over time?
Course Objectives:
§ Provide students with a brief overview of sociology as a discipline within the social sciences.
§ Introduce students to the basic concepts, social theories, and research methods that are used by sociologists.
§ Help students develop their ability to understand how various social processes and structures affect one another.
§ Encourage students to critically think about how their own lives and significant relationships are shaped by larger social forces.
Course Materials:
Required Textbook:
Kimmel, Michael and Amy Aronson. (2009). Sociology Now. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon ISBN: 0205404421
Additional Readings:
They will be located on the library course reserves system, ARES and/or the e-learning website.
Course Website/E-learning (lss.at.ufl.edu):
The course website contains a copy of this syllabus and a link to the e-learning site. The e-learning site will have the most current class schedule (in the calendar), homework assignments and additional links, resources, and materials for this class. Announcements and updates will be posted on the e-learning site so it is your responsibility to check it regularly.
Attendance Policy:
I do not take daily attendance; HOWEVER, any part of lecture, discussion, in-class assignments, homework assignments, readings and media are fair game for the exams. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting the notes from another student. Also, there are random in-class assignments that make up 20% of your grade. Documented and excused absences are required to make up missed work and MUST be provided within one week of the missed date. ALL make-up exams will be held during the course’s scheduled final exam time: Monday, April 28, 2008, 7:30-9:30 am. According to the University of Florida, documented and excused absences are as follows:
Absences: ”Students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives as defined by the instructor. Absences count from the first class meeting. In general, acceptable reasons for absence from class include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligation, severe weather conditions, religious holidays and participation in official university activities such as music performances, athletic competition or debate. Absences from class for court-imposed legal obligations (e.g., jury duty or subpoena) must be excused. Other reasons also may be approved.” (UF Undergraduate Catalogue, 2006-2007).
Religious Holidays: “Students, upon prior notification to their instructors, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the material or activities covered in their absence. Students shall not be penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances." (UF Undergraduate Catalogue, 2006-2007).
Illness Policy: “Students who are absent from classes or examinations because of illness should contact their professors. The student should contact his or her college by the deadline to drop a course for medical reasons. After the college petition deadline, students can petition the Faculty Senate Committee on Student Petitions to drop a course for medical reasons. The university’s policy regarding medical excuse from classes is maintained by the Student Health Care Center.” (UF Undergraduate Catalogue, 2006-2007).
Contact Policies:
Email: This is the best way to contact me. I usually respond within 24 hours except on weekends. UF requires students to maintain a Gatorlink email address as their primary mode of email communication, so please use your gatorlink account when e-mailing me. I will respond to other email addresses if possible, but do not e-mail me from an AOL account.
Office Hours: I have devoted 3 hours of office hours a week on Mondays & Wednesdays 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm and Fridays 11:40 am - 12:40 pm. Knock really hard on room 3309 or 3305 which are on the third floor of Turlington Hall. I encourage you to visit my office hours to discuss any questions, comments or problems you have regarding the course. Occasionally I may cancel office hours due to illness or other obligations. I will provide as much notice as I can and will try to make up the lost hours either during that week or through schedule appointments.
Phone: I do not recommend trying to reach me by phone. I share a phone with 21 other graduate students and I will only hear it during my office hours. Also, I forget that I have a voicemail box and rarely check it. I am required by the university to have my phone number on the syllabus.
Course Evaluation:
Your grade will be determined by three exams worth 100 points each for a total of 300 points, ten in-class activities worth 10 points each for a total of 100 points and ten homework assignments worth 10 points each for a total of 100 points for a grand total of 500 points. However, I may award a student up to 10 additional points if she/he has done a consistent and extraordinary job in class discussions by asking thought provoking questions and offering insightful comments on a regular basis. Simply talking a lot in class does not constitute critical thought. Also, do not expect to gain points by starting to engage class discussion at the end of the semester when you need extra points. This is a way for me to reward the students who engage in the class from the beginning.
Grading Policy:
Grades are calculated based on the “total points” method. The total number of points possible in the course is 500. Grades will be posted on the E-learning site: lss.at.ufl.edu.
The breakdown is listed below:
|
Points |
Percent |
Grade |
|
450 - 500 |
91-100% |
A |
|
440 - 449 |
88-90% |
B+ |
|
400 - 439 |
81-87% |
B |
|
390 - 399 |
78-80% |
C+ |
|
350 - 389 |
70-77% |
C |
|
340 - 349 |
68-69% |
D+ |
|
300 - 339 |
60-67% |
D |
|
299 or less |
below 60% |
E |
In-class assignments:
There will be 11 random in-class assignments throughout the semester. They are worth 10 points each. Your grade will be based on the best out of ten for a total of 100 points (20% of your grade). Make sure you print and sign your name, ufid and date on all in-class assignments to receive credit (if any of those items are not present then you will lose half credit). These can either be small group or individual assignments. You cannot make up these assignments since this is part of your responsibility to attend class. Only if you have a university authorized absence with proper documentation will you be given an alternative assignment to complete within one week of receiving the assignment. If you do not contact me before the next class after the absence, then you forfeit your ability to get a make-up assignment.
Homework assignments:
There will be 11 homework assignments throughout the semester. They are worth 10 points each. Your grade will be based on the best out of ten for a total of 100 points (20% of your grade). They will be located on the e-learning site and you will also submit them on the site.
Exams:
There are 3 noncumulative, multiple-choice examinations. Each exam is worth 100 points for a total of 300 points (60% of your grade). Material for the tests can come from the assigned readings, class lectures, in-class assignments, homework assignments and any media that is used. Make- up exams will only be available for university authorized and documented absences and will be offered during the final exam period: Monday, April 28, 2008, 7:30-9:30 am. If I administer a make-up exam, I reserve the right to give an exam that is different from the exam the class had and to give an essay exam. Students are not permitted to take a copy of the exam out of the classroom or office nor may they write down exam questions. Failure to comply will result in an "E" since non-compliance is, in effect, cheating. Also, if you are caught cheating on an exam you will automatically fail the course. Exam #1: 2/13; Exam #2: 3/21; Exam #3: 4/23.
Make-up policy:
If you will miss or have missed an exam for a university authorized and documented reason then you must contact me ahead of time or as soon as possible after an emergency. There are no make-up assignments for missed in class assignments unless you have a university authorized absence with proper documentation. I will then assign an alternative assignment to complete within one week of receiving the assignment. If you do not contact me before the next class after the absence then you forfeit your ability to get a make-up assignment.
Academic Honesty Guidelines:
Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. I follow the Student Honor Code and will pursue the stiffest penalties available for academic dishonesty. The following comes from the Student Government website: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/stg/
Preamble: In adopting this honor code, the students of the University of Florida recognize that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the university community. Students who enroll at the university commit to holding themselves and their peers to the high standard of honor required by the honor code. Any individual who becomes aware of a violation of the honor code is bound by honor to take corrective action. The quality of a University of Florida education is dependent upon community acceptance and enforcement of the honor code.
The Honor Code:
We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied:
"On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."
Violations of the Academic Honesty Guidelines shall result in judicial action and a student being subject to the sanctions in paragraph XI of the Student Conduct Code. The conduct set forth hereinafter constitutes a violation of the Academic Honesty Guidelines (University of Florida Rule 6C1-4.017).
Cheating: ”The improper taking or tendering of any information or material which shall be used to determine academic credit. Taking of information includes, but is not limited to, copying graded homework assignments from another student; working together with another individual(s) on a take-home test or homework when not specifically permitted by the teacher; looking or attempting to look at another student's paper during an examination; looking or attempting to look at text or notes during an examination when not permitted. The tendering of information includes, but is not limited to, giving of your work to another student to be used or copied; giving someone answers to exam questions either when the exam is being given or after taking an exam; giving or selling a term paper or other written materials to another student; sharing information on a graded assignment.”
Bribery: “The offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any materials, items or services of value to gain academic advantage for yourself or another.”
Misrepresentation: “Any act or omission with intent to deceive a teacher for academic advantage. Misrepresentation includes using computer programs generated by another and handing it in as your own work unless expressly allowed by the teacher; lying to a teacher to increase your grade; lying or misrepresenting facts when confronted with an allegation of academic dishonesty.”
Conspiracy: “The planning or acting with one or more persons to commit any form of academic dishonesty to gain academic advantage for yourself or another.”
Fabrication: “The use of invented or fabricated information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive for academic or professional advantage.”
GENERAL POLICIES:
§ If you have a question or something is unclear ASK or EMAIL me ASAP.
§ Turn off or silence cell phones and other electronic devices before class begins.
§ You are expected to complete reading assignments on a weekly basis.
§ All material presented and announcements made in class are your responsibility.
§ Due date reminders and assignments will be posted on the E-learning site.
§ Doctor’s notes presented as documentation of absences will only be acceptable for the date(s) specified by the note. In most cases, ongoing medical treatment is not an acceptable excuse for not attending class.
§ Class participation is highly encouraged but disruptive participation will not be tolerated. Examples of disruptive participation include private conversations with other class members when I or your fellow students are speaking, asking questions to get attention, cell phone use/messaging, and reading the Independent Alligator.
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drp). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Speak to me within the first week of classes. The Disability Resource Center has a checklist for this process: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE *
|
Week |
Topic |
Reading Assignment ** |
|
1 / 7 |
Introduction to SYG2000, Drop/ADD |
SN: Chapter 1 |
|
1 / 14 |
Introduction to Sociology; Culture and Society |
SN: Chapter 1, 2 |
|
1 / 21 |
Culture and Society; Interactions, Groups and Organizations |
SN: Chapter 2, 3 |
|
1 / 28 |
Interactions, Groups and Organizations; Research Methods |
SN: Chapter 3, 4 |
|
2 / 4 |
Research Methods; Socialization |
SN: Chapter 4,5 |
|
2 / 11 |
WEDNESDAY (2/13): EXAM 1 Deviance and Crime |
SN: Chapter 5, 6 |
|
2 / 18 |
Deviance and Crime; Stratification and Social Class |
SN: Chapter 6, 7 |
|
2 / 25 |
Stratification and Social Class |
SN: Chapter 7 ARES: Domhoff |
|
3 / 3 |
Race and Ethnicity |
SN: Chapter 8 |
|
3 / 10 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
3 / 17 |
Race and Ethnicity FRIDAY (3/21): EXAM 2 |
ARES: Feagin and Feagin |
|
3 / 24 |
Sex and Gender |
SN: Chapter 9 ARES: Lorber |
|
3/31 |
Sexuality |
SN: Chapter 10 ARES: Smith |
|
4 / 7 |
Age: From Young to Old |
SN: Chapter 11 ARES: Stoller and Gibson |
|
4 / 14 |
The Family |
SN: Chapter 12 |
|
4 / 21 |
WEDNESDAY 4/23: EXAM 3 |
|
* Topics may shift according to the pace of the class. Exam
dates will not change.
** "SN"
refers to Sociology Now. "ARES" refers to articles and
chapters available on course reserve at the library.
**I reserve the right to change the syllabus at any point in the semester**