PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGYCourse No: SOCI-104-05, 08, 09 Instructor: Roland BlanchetteFall Semester 2009 Office no: LA 450Classroom: Office hrs: MWF 9:00-10:00 amClass hrs:TTh 9:00-9:30 amE-mail: rblanchette@massasoit.mass.edu Office phone: 508-588-9100 ext. 1706Text: Benokraitis, N. V. (2010). SOC (1st ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth CengageLearning, 2010. [ISBN-13: 978-0-495-60141-8]Students may wish to purchase this textbook through an online bookseller such aswww.amazon.com. Amazon lists the book at $53.95 new. You can purchase newand used editions much cheaper on the web and they will be sent to you fairly quickly.The ISBN number has been provided for you.Catalogue Description: Involves the study of humans as social animals. The attributes of theindividual will be presented, and a study will be made of behavior as influenced and modified by groupactivity. Social institutions such as the family, the community, and education will be described.Problems which interfere with the successful operation of society will be fully discussed.Prerequisite: Preparing for College Reading II (ENGL-092), Introductory Writing (ENGL-099), andFundamentals of Math (MATH-010), or waiver by placement testing results, or departmental approval.Course Objective: The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the field of sociology.Students will be taught how to “do” sociology, that is, how to analyze behavior from the point of view ofa sociologist. By the end of the course, the student should have an adequate knowledge of the following:1) what the discipline of sociology is, 2) sociological methods and perspectives, and 3) the areas ofsociological interest. In addition, through the reading, writing, and critical thinking that are part of thecourse, students should be better able to: 1) evaluate and interpret the meaning of textual material, 2)organize and connect ideas, 3) view situations from different perspectives, and 4) differentiate betweenfact and fiction, concrete and abstract, theory and practice.Disability Statement: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in theclassroom are encouraged to contact a disability counselor as soon as possible. Students at the BrocktonCampus with learning disabilities should contact Andrea Henry, at extension 1805. Students withphysical disabilities at the Brockton Campus should contact Mary Berg, at extension 1425. All studentsat the Canton Campus should contact Mary Berg at extension 2132.

WORK FOR THE COURSEAssignments: All students are required to complete three writing assignments. Students who do notcomplete the writing assignments will not receive a grade for the course. These assignments will beexplained during the first week of class. Students are also expected to read the text assignments by thedates specified on the course outline. All students are required to make a brief visit to my officesometime during the beginning of the semester. This visit need not take more than 30 seconds and youare encouraged to visit between classes if your schedule permits.Exams: There will be ten weekly brief exams and a cumulative final exam. The tests will be based onthe text and the material presented in class. All students are required to take all the exams on the datesspecified on the course outline. There are no make-up exams.Teaching Procedures and Attendance: This is primarily a lecture course, but there will be opportunityfor questions and discussion. Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes. Do notcome to class late; interrupting class by walking in late or getting up to leave early is rude and will not betolerated. Students caught cheating will receive an F for the course. Please read the Attendance andAcademic Integrity policies printed in the College catalogue. Students are also strongly encouraged toactively participate in class discussions; part of the work of this course is to show up ready, eager, andprepared for the class.Grades: Evaluation and grading is based on the following distribution: The average of your best sevenbrief exams will count as one grade. The three writing assignments will each count as one grade. Thefinal exam will count as one grade. The five grades will be averaged to compute the final grade.Brief exams 20% 94-100 = A 73-76 = CPaper I 20% 90-93 = A- 70-72 = C-Paper II 20% 87-89 = B+ 67-69 = D+Paper III 20% 83-86 = B 60-66 = DFinal Exam 20% 80-82 = B- -59 = F77-79 = C+

COURSE OUTLINENote: This is a tentative outline of the subjects that will be covered in this course. You will be givenample time and notice to prepare for class work and assignments. A more detailed discussion of thetopics will be found in your study guide.Week 1 Sep 8-11 Week 9 Nov 2-6Introduction. Theoretical Perspectives. Social Control and Deviance.Benokraitis, Ch 1. Benokraitis, Ch 7. Exam 6.Week 2 Sep 14-18 Week 10 Nov 9-13Research Methods.Veterans Day: Wednesday.Benokraitis, Ch 2.Social StratificationBenokraitis, Ch 8. Assign 2 due.Week 3 Sep 21-25 Week 11 Nov 16-20Culture.Scheduling Day: TuesdayBenokraitis, Ch 3. Exam 1.Race and Ethnicity.Benokraitis, Ch 9. Exam 7.Week 4 Sep 28-Oct 2 Week 12 Nov 23-27Socialization.Thanksgiving Recess: Thursday-FridayBenokraitis, Ch 4. Exam 2.The Family.Benokraitis, Ch 13. Exam 8.Week 5 Oct 5-9 Week 13 Nov 30-Dec 4Social Structure.The Family.Benokraitis, Ch 5. Exam 3. Benokraitis, Ch 13. Exam 9.Assign 1 due.Week 6 Oct 12-16 Week 14 Dec 7-11Columbus Day: Monday.ReligionSocial Groups.Benokraitis, Ch 15. Assign 3 due.Benokraitis, Ch 6. Exam 4.Week 7 Oct 19-23 Week 15 Dec 14-18Formal Organization.Human Ecology.Benokraitis, Ch 6. Exam 5. Benokraitis, Ch 16. Exam 10.Week 8 Oct 26-30 Week 16 Dec 21-24Social Control and Deviance.Final Exam Week.Benokraitis, Ch 7. Exam 6.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTSConsult your study guide for some important advice on writing these assignments. If you haveproblems, come talk to me.Assignment #1 RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT Due: Oct 9As active researchers, sociologists make frequent use of important resources such as the internet and thelibrary. For this assignment, I want you to research the topic you have been given and provide thefollowing:1. Who created this term or concept?2. A brief description of the topic.3. Citations of the sources of your information.4. A proper format to your paper which will be discussed in class.Do not cite Wikipedia or your textbook. Do not cut and paste a reference and do not simply provide aURL. Do walk into a library and do consult your English handbook. Be sure your citation is writtenin APA style.Your paper will be graded according to: 1) your ability to follow instructions, 2) care and thoroughnessgiven to your research, and 3) accurate use of a proper style.Assignment #2 IMMIGRATION Due: Nov 13What do your neighbors think about immigration to the United States? For this assignment, you mustinterview two of your neighbors, make some assessment of their opinions, and write an essay. Thefollowing steps are the easiest way to accomplish this task.1. Have a brief number of questions prepared ahead of time. The first few should be demographicquestions such as occupation, age range, marital status, and home ownership. Then prepare your topicalquestions on immigration. These may be open-ended. Take care to avoid emotionally charged wordsand offend no one.2. Talk to your neighbors. Tell them you have a class assignment and ask for their help. Record whatthey tell you and their reasons for their answer.3. Write this up in an essay. Provide a description of your neighbors and your speculation about theiranswers. Do not use their names. Then provide some description of the interview. And finally, includeyour analysis and conclusions.I expect you to interview at least two of your neighbors’ households. Your paper will be gradedaccording to the quality and thoroughness of your discussion.

Assignment #3 FILM REVIEW Due: Dec 11View one of the films on the following list and write a review. Be sure to use a sociological focus. Howdid the film highlight some of the concepts we have discussed in class? This is not as easy as it looks, Iexpect some critical analysis of the film. Do NOT plagiarize!The Accused 1988; Jody FosterAppaloosa 2008; Viggo MortensenChildren of Men 2006; Clive OwenGhost World 2000; Thora BirchGone Baby Gone 2007; Casey AffleckIn America 2003; Samantha MortonLittle Miss Sunshine 2006; Abigail BreslinNapoleon Dynamite 2004; Jon HederThe Station Agent 2003; Peter DinklageWhale Rider 2003; Keisha Castle-HughesAkeelah and the Bee 2006: L. FishburneBend It Like Beckham 2002; P. NagraCrash 2004; Don CheadleGlory 1989; Denzel WashingtonHotel Rwanda 2005; Don CheadleJuno 2007; Ellen PageMillion Dollar Baby 2006; Clint EastwoodNo Country for Old Men 2007; Tommy Lee JonesToy Story 1995; Tim AllenWitness 1985; Harrison FordYour paper will be graded according to: 1) care and thoroughness given to your analysis of the movie,and 2) appropriate use of the concepts mentioned in class and from the readings.ALL PAPERS MUST BECAREFULLY PROOFREAD AND PRINTED