 |
Classroom News
Sociology Sociology Syllabus - Spring, 2011 Gemini Course, FLCC, Instructor: Mr. Campbell Introduction Sociology is the systematic study of human society. We will examine how society affects us, and how we interact and impact society. We will become familiar with the current major schools of sociology, and see how those different perspectives, lenses, if you will, impact how we view our society, and others. Students will come to understand and be able to manipulate the science of sociology, and have a better understanding of their world in the process. _Here are a couple of good sociology sites. Articles or papers may be used from these sites for your portfolios. Also, these contain a lot of extension information and games for review. 1. Your text book web site – Lots of good practice stuff…http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_macionis_sociology_12/2. American Journal of Sociology Good journals and links3. Allyn & Bacon's Sociology Links Home Page Lots of stuff, by category and other links.Instruction Students will use myriad pedagogical strategies to achieve comprehension of material and be able to critically think about its components, including: text book sociological/anthropological/psychological, writings and journals movies/videos cooperative learning weekly quizzes and worksheets critical thinking portfolios mid-term and final exams research paper field trip
Materials
1. Text - Sociology - John J. Macionis - Eleventh Edition 2. Three-ring note binder with loose leaf paper 3. Writing utensils 4. Portfolio binder/cover (will not need this daily)
Assessment Four parts of the student’s grade will be divided approximately between; 1. Weekly assignments a. Quiz b. Two Critical Thinking Questions, Per chapter – Minimum 50 words each c. Term Sheets – These are meant as study guides for your use, but are not graded. d. Weekly Articles – Should be relevant and topical, and about the human condition, specifically sociological. e. In-class group/project work f. Research papers 2. Mid-Term and Final exams (each 20% of the semester’s grade) 3. Portfolio (see attached for details) 4. Active participation in the learning process Although this is a social studies course, writing is very important. All work will be graded on content, correctness, neatness, legibility, punctuation and grammar, and strength of argument (evidence). There are approximately 60 grading units per course (quiz being one unit, for example). Late work is always assessed a penalty, and in some cases will not be accepted at all. Since this is a college level course, it is expected that you will be producing your best quality work at all times, and it is assumed that your behavior will reflect the fact that you are advanced high school seniors, in a collegiate environment.
Sociology PortfolioPurposeTo demonstrate student understanding of major sociological content, and to provide a vehicle for quantifying and qualifying a student’s work in this course. FormAll documents (except journals, logs, term sheets, critical thinking) are to be typed or word processed: 12 font, double spaced, one sided, one and one-half (1 ½) inch margins. All typed documents should have one line at the top for students’ name and title of document. Pages should be stapled together or placed in a small three ring binder. Please don’t use plastic page covers. DueCompleted portfolios are due at 8 weeks, and again at 18 weeks. The second, or final portfolio, will be graded alone, but must be accompanied by the first portfolio. q Attractive cover q Table of contents q Letter to the reader, including self assessment q All critical thinking responses (you may also include any completed term sheets, but they are not mandatory). q One sample of your cooperative work (from class). q One research paper (TBD). q One sociologically relevant article-summary-reflection papers (minimum, 1.5 pages, typed, double spaced, one and 1/2 inch margins, 12 font); One (1) per ten week period. Must be cited or copied from one of the following magazines: World and I; National Geographic; Parenting; Parent; Time; Newsweek; Health; U.S. News and World Report; People (Don't use Psychology today). q One sociology experiments/papers, chosen from the following list (one (1) per ten week period). Unless otherwise noted, all projects must include a hand-written journal of your research, and a 1 page paper (see #3) with summary, conclusions, and sociological connections from the chapter associated with the experiment. q One, three to five minute experiment presentation, using an effective visual, explaining your findings (to be announced). q Course Reflection (included in final portfolio).
Sociology Experiments1. Spend a few hours walking or driving around a local community (NOT PHELPS OR 2. Go to at least two high-school sporting events, and observe the event from a sociological perspective. Take some notes on what you see. What functions do sports serve for your school, and what patterns of inequality do they reflect and/or reinforce? (ch 1) 3. Conduct an interview with at least three of your classmates, on the topic: “What do you expect to gain from going to college?” Prepare a list of specific questions you think are relevant, conduct the interviews, then comment on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of your questions. (ch 2) 4. Try to find someone in school or in the community who has lived in another country. Ask for a chance to discuss how the culture of that other society differs from the way of life here. Also, try to identify ways in which the other person sees 5. Ask 6 people, over the age of 25, whether they think our society is getting better or worse, and why they hold that opinion. Is there agreement or disagreement? Why? Take notes of their answers. (ch 4) 6. During a 24 hour period, every time someone asks, “how are you?” stop and actually give an honest answer. What happens when you respond to a polite question in an unexpected way? (ch 6) 7. Write out a list of groups or cliques in school. What traits account for defining theses groups? Ask several other people to comment on your list so see if they agree with your classifications. (ch 7) 8. Watch two episodes of a police show – COPS or 9. Sit down with parents, grandparents, or other relatives, and try to assess the social class position of your own family over the last three generations. Have changes taken place? If so, what caused this mobility? (ch 10, 11) 10. Visit the social services offices that oversees financial assistance to people with low incomes in your community. See what you can learn about how they are dealing with the 1996 welfare reform that limits poor people’s benefits. (ch 10) 11. Keep a log book noting any advertising involving low income countries (coffee from 12. Visit the web site for the National Organization of Women (http://www.now.org) OR another political action site (get approval first). What issues does NOW find most important for women? How is this organization using this web site to advance its political goals? (ch 8,12, 13) 13. Visit a discount store such as Wal Mart or K Mart, and select an area of the store of interest to you. Do a little “fieldwork” and take some notes, inspecting products to see where they are made. Does your research support the existence of a global economy? Why or why not? (ch 12, 16) 14. Develop a series of questions for an interview of two married couples, each from a different generation (parents, grandparents). Ask about why they married, when they married, what their married lives were like, and what changes in today’s world stand out to them. (ch 15) 15. Do some research (library, guidance, etc.) about the effects of the 1975 special education laws for children with physical disabilities, and how this district has enacted these policies? (ch 20) 16. What social movements are represented by groups/clubs in school? Interview at least two different club leaders to determine their goals and strategies. Compare these two and hypothesize as to why the differences. (ch 23) 17. Interview at least two elderly people (65+), about the social changes they have witnessed over their lifetimes, and keep your note. Then write a one page paper that compares the two list, and discusses the social aspects of aging (ch 15). 18. Using one of the methods described in chapter two, investigate some sociological phenomenon of your choosing. Make sure to clear it with the instructor first. (ch 2) Then, write a one page paper describing your findings. 19. Read a book which you feel has sociological relevance (ask instructor for approval). This can be fiction or non-fiction. Your text has suggested readings. Write a TWO PAGE summary of the book and its sociological relevancy. 20. Develop a survey which addresses some form of prejudice. This needs to be worked out in advance with Mr. Campbell. A rough draft, a questionnaire or interview sample, an overview of your sample population, and some sort of excel pie graph which summarizes the results (Mr. Campbell will instruct you in how to create this pie-graph). 21. Go to any public place where there are many people you don't know. Keep a written or VIDEO journal of your attempts to get people to hug you. Based on an MTV music video, this experiment should give you a real sense of the different personality types, racial and sexual stereotypes and taboos, etc. Then write a one page paper summarizing your experience and findings. (
Sociology Calendar 2011 Jan. 31 Sociology Begins - Ch. 1 Forms and checks by Feb. 4, $129, Register for FLCC during lunch Feb. 7 14 21 (Mid-Winter Recess) 28 7 14 Ch. 6 First portfolio due Weds, March 16th-experiment presentations begin 21 28 April 4 Mid term review and mid term exam EMP - 11 18 (Spring Break) 25 May 2 Media Research – 9 16 23 Ch. 18 Portfolios due Weds May 25 and experiments begin 30 (Monday, Memorial Day) June 6 Final review, finish experiments 13 final exam, Monday and Tuesday (June15-24 Regents)
|
|
