Principles of Sociology
SYG 2000, Fall 2009
Section 4882, Online - meeting in Elluminate Wed. 5th
Instructor: Kristin E. Joos, Ph. D.
Office: 3231 Turlington
Office Phone: 392-0265, ext. 286
Office Hours: Wed 6th online & Thurs 7th - 8th in-person, available other times by appointment.
Email: ufsyg2000kristin@gmail.com
Class Web page: http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/krisj/fall09/syg2000/online/
TA: Joshua Sbicca
Email: jsbicca@ufl.edu
Joshua's office is located in 3309 Turlington: Wed 6th - 7th online & in person, Thurs 7th in person.
To access our class in E-Learning, go to: http://lss.at.ufl.edu/
Use your Gatorlink information to login.
To access our weekly sessions in WizIQ, go to: http://www.wiziq.com
(registration & login instructions are below)Required Texts: Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life, 7th Ed. by David M. Newman
Sociology Readings: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life, 7th Ed. Editors: David M. Newman & Jodi A. O'Brien
ISBN for both the text & reader: 978-1-4129-6151-6
(It is essential that you have the 7th edition of the books, the 6th editions will not suffice)
This Book is Not Required, 3rd edition, Pine Forge Press, by Inge Bell, Bernard McGrane, John Gunderson.
ISBN: 1412910110
Other Readings will be posted online at our E-Learning site.
Optional (but encouraged): A subscription to Good Magazine. See: http://www.goodmagazine.com/
Where to get your books:
The books should be available at Goerings (1717 NW 1st Ave, 377-3703) and the UF Bookstore at the Welcome Center.
Course Description
“The sociological imagination,” C. Wright Mills wrote, enables us to “understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and external career of a variety of individuals.” Sociology, in short, focuses on how social forces influence our lives as individuals, and, how we as individuals create and maintain the social world around us. This course explores how social structure influences individual chances for success in life, and how society influences individual persons. We will make the familiar unfamiliar by critically examining what we experience in our everyday lives. We will examine the interplay between the individual and society as we investigate the social world and our ability to be active agents, maintaining the status quo or choosing to work for change.
This course counts for Gen-Ed S and is an introductory course to the Sociology major.
The course will be delivered as part of the Provost's Online Course Initiative, using the E-Learning system. The weekly synchronous meetings (during 5th period on Wednesdays) as well as all of the course content are available through the E-Learning site. The leading edge technology, developed by CITT for this class, including the E-Learning system and the other tools we will use (especially WizIQ) allow us to interact with each other. You will engage in discussion with your classmates on the “Discussion” section of the site (responding to the posted discussions is a requirement and will count towards your grade). Even if you have taken other online classes, because of the special new technologies we will use, this class should be much more interactive-- so, this is a new adventure for us all! If you have difficult using E-Learning System, please go to: https://lss.at.ufl.edu/services/els/stu_intro.shtml or email: helpdesk@ufl.edu.
In order to access our class in E-Learning, please go to: http://lss.at.ufl.edu/
Use your Gatorlink information to login.
Learning Objectives
*Understand the role sociology plays in contributing to our understanding of social reality.
*Understand the connection between individuals and society.
*Understand the methods sociologists use to answer important questions about society and how those methods are informed by their perspectives.
*Understand the roles of individuals in making, maintaining, or changing society.Upon successfully completing this course, you will be able to describe the major theoretical paradigms, common methods, and significant concepts in sociology. You will be able to discuss the major components of society and the relationship of individuals to the social environment. A primary goal of this course is the development of critical thinking through use of the sociological imagination.
Class Requirements and Evaluation Criteria:
Links to our weekly WizIQ sessions
Assignment Possible Points
FINAL Grade Total Points Module 1 - Syllabus Quiz
5 A 288 and above Participation in WizIQ Sessions (15 sessions, 2 pts each)
30
A-
273-287
Discussions (15 discussions, peer evaluated in 3 sets, 15 pts per set)
45
B+ 261-272 Exercises (13 exercises will be submitted, 9 will be graded at 10 pts each, drop lowest two)
70
B 252-260 3 Assessments, 25 points each
75
B-
243-251
Social Issue Service Learning and Action Projects
75
C+ 231-242
C 222-230 TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
300
C- 213-221
D+ 201-212
D 192-200
D- 181-191
E
180 and below
WizIQ Sessions
During 5th period each week we will convene in an WizIQ session. The platform allows us to engage as if we are in a virtual classroom. Your attendance and participation are mandatory. You may not be enrolled in a class that is scheduled to meet on Wednesdays, 5th period, if you are registered for this class. More information about how to use WizIQ is available here: http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/krisj/fall09/syg2000/online/howtousewiziq.pptx
For Week 1, first "Register" here: http://www.wiziq.com/Register.asp
In the registration form, enter your full name, a valid email address, your password and the text you see in the picture. Click the Join Now button. Then open the link listed below for the first week's WizIQ session.
During Weeks 2-15, click on the correct link in the syllabus below, and when it opens, click on the "Yes, I'm already a Member Sign-in" button. Voila!
Discussions
You will be assigned to a small group of students with whom you will interact over the course of the semester. Each week you will be required to "meet" online in the Discussion section of E-Learning (or from time to time during WizIQ) and discuss assigned material. Participation in the discussions is required and will be peer graded according to the rubric. Each week your first post must be made no later than 9pm Thursday and your final post must be complete by 2pm Sunday (with the exceptions of Weeks 5 & 15, see the calendar for details).
Exercises
Each week students will be required to complete an assigned Exercise and submit it through the Assignments section of E-Learning, typically the deadline for submission is 2pm on Fridays, but be sure to confirm this in Elearning as there are a few exceptions (Weeks 6 & 8 are due by 2pm the following Monday).
It is strongly preferred that you submit your Exercise by pasting it into the textbox, but if there is special formatting (like a table) that must be preserved (like a table), you may submit it as an attachment (saved as .doc or .rtf format, do not use .docx or .wps formats). If attaching files, please title the file “your last name_exercise #” for example, “jones_exercise2.” Please format your assignments using 1” margins, 10-12 point arial or times new roman font, and single-spaced paragraphs. Make sure to include your name, UF-ID#, and Exercise number at the top of the first page.
Assessments
There will be three non-cummulative assessments over the course of the semester.
Each Assessment will consist of five multiple choice questions (one from each Module), selected from a bank of questions.
The Assessments will be released in E-Learning at 11:45am (and will close at 11:55am) on the following three dates: 10/7, 11/4, 12/9. Students will have 10 minutes to complete the Assessment (and then the WizIQ session will begin at 11:55am on those dates).
Students are expected to work independently on the Assessments, they should be completed without reference to the assigned readings, course materials, other students, or any other assistance or resources.
Social Issue Service Learning & Action Projects
Students will choose a social issue of interest to them and then select a local nonprofit organization or community agency that addresses that social issue. Students must complete 15 hours of service at an organization on the list provided & approved by Dr. Joos, available by logging in to SweatMonkey (http://www.sweatmonkey.org) and then write about their experience, integrating it with the materials we have discussed. Specific details about the Projects are in the "Social Issue Service Learning and Action Project" folder on the course organizer page in E-Learning. Thanks to the Center for Leadership & Service for help planning and preparing our service-learning experience.
The direct link to our class "group" on SweatMonkey, where you'll log your hours, is: https://www.sweatmonkey.org/organizations/view_group/78
The Ethics & Commitments for Service Learning Form is due in Elearning (you will need to scan it and upload it in the "submit" form) by 9pm on Thurs. 9/24. The SISLA Project is due in Elearning at 9pm on Wed. 11/18 and your completed hours log must be submitted and verified in SweatMonkey by or before this same time, 9pm We. 11/18).
Extra Credit
There will be several extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. Students are permitted to complete up to three of the extra credit opportunities worth up to 5 pts each. The points earned (out of 15 possible) will be added to the students total overall points in the class. Extra Credits are due at 2pm on the Monday following each week's unit.
Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
In general, Discussions will be due in Elearning on Thurs at 9pm (first post) and by Sun at 2pm (all posts), with a few exceptions noted below.
In general, Exercises are due on Fridays at 2pm, though a few are due the following Monday at 2pm
Week 1 Discussion all posts due 9pm Tues 9/1
Week 2 Syllabus Quiz due 2pm Tues 9/1
Week 2 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 9/3, all posts due 2pm Sun 9/6
Week 3 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 9/10, all posts due 2pm Sun 9/13
Week 3 Exercise due 2pm Fri 9/11
Week 4 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 9/17, all posts due 2pm Sun 9/20
Week 4 Exercise due 2pm Fri 9/18
Week 4 Extra Credit 1 due 2pm Mon 9/21
Week 5 Discussion all posts due by 11am Wed 9/23
Week 5 Exercise due 2pm Fri 9/25
SISLA Project Ethics & Commitments for Service Learning Forms due 9pm Thurs 9/24
Week 5 Extra Credit 2 due 2pm Mon 9/28
Week 6 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 10/1, all posts due 2pm Sun 10/4
Peer Evaluation of Discussions (Weeks 1-5) complete by 9pm Fri 10/2
Week 6 Exercise due 2pm Mon 10/5
Assessment #1 – 11:45am Wed 10/7
Week 7 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 10/8, all posts due Sun 10/11
Week 7 Exercise due 2pm Mon 10/12
Week 8 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 10/15, all posts due 2pm Sun 10/18
Week 8 Exercise due 2pm Mon 10/19
Week 9 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 10/22, all posts due 2pm Sun 10/25
Week 9 Exercise due 2pm Fri 10/23
Week 10 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 10/29, all posts due 2pm Sun 11/1
Week 10 Exercise due 2pm Fri 10/31
Week 10 Extra Credit 3 due 2pm Wed 11/4
Assessment #2 – 11:45am Wed 11/4
Week 11 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 11/5, all posts due 2pm Sun 11/8
Week 11 Exercise due 2pm Fri 11/6
Peer Evaluation of Discussions (Weeks 6-10) complete by 9pm Fri 11/6
Week 11 Extra Credit 4 due 2pm Mon 11/9
Week 12 Elluminate on Thursday 11/12 instead of Wed 11/11 due to the Holiday on the 11th
Week 12 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 11/12, all posts due 2pm Sun 11/15
Week 12 Exercise due 2pm Fri 11/13
Week 12 Extra Credit 5 due 2pm Mon 11/16
SISLA Project due 9pm Wed 11/18
Week 13 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 11/19, all posts due 2pm Sun 11/22
Week 13 Exercise due 2pm Fri 11/20
No Elluminate – Wed. 11/25 due to Thanksgiving
Week 14 Extra Credit 6 due 2pm Mon 11/30
Week 14 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Thurs 12/3, all posts due 2pm Sun 12/6
Week 14 Exercise due 2pm Fri 12/4
Assessment #3 – 11:45am Wed 12/9
Week 15 Discussion post 1 due 9pm Mon 12/7, all posts due 9pm Wed 12/9
Week 15 Exercise due 2pm Fri 12/11
Peer Evaluation of Discussions (Weeks 11-15) complete by 9pm Fri 12/11
Schedule of TopicsBelow is a brief overview of the Modules we will study each week. Details about the readings (as well as access to those readings that are not in the assigned text and reader) are in E-Learning. Remember that E-learning is always more up-to-date than this syllabus, so be sure to check E-learning for updated readings.WizIQ Environment:
Please complete the readings before the WizIQ session for the module they're assigned.
Date Readings Week 1
8/24 - 8/28
Welcome, WizIQ Training & Elearning Training
PDF: Tips from Students -- "How to Succeed in SYG2000 online"
Week 2
8/31 - 9/4
Introduction & Course Overview
PDF: Shapiro's "From Sociological Illiteracy to Sociological Imagination"
PDF: "Among Affluent Students – A Culture of Disengagement”
Textbook: Chapter 1
Reader: Mills page 3
Bell Ch. 1-3
Week 3
9/7 - 9/11
Social Structure & Organizations
Textbook: Chapter 2 & Chapter 9
Reader: Van Maanen p. 210
PDF: Handout on understanding Social Research Methods & Theories
Bell: Chapter 4 - 8
Week 4
9/14 - 9/18
Social Construction of Reality
Textbook: Chapter 3
Reader: Babbie p. 44
PDF: Charon Generalizing, Stereotyping, and Social Science
Bell: Chapter 9
Week 5
9/21 - 9/25
Culture
Textbook: Chapter 4
Reader: Miner p. 57
PDF: Schor: Born to Buy
Bell: Chapter 10
Week 6
9/28 - 10/2
Deviance
Textbook: Chapter 8
Reader: Guinier/Torres p. 185
Reader: Glassner p. 20
Reader: Conrad/Schneider 9. 197Week 7
10/5 - 10/9
Socialization
Textbook: Chapter 5
Reader: Messner p. 87
PDF: Berger & Luckman, "Socialization: the Internalization of Society"Week 8
10/12 - 10/16
UF HC on Fri
Self & Identity
Textbook: Chapter 6
Reader: Goffman p. 120
Reader: Hesse-Biber p.111
Week 9
3/2 - 3/6
10/19 - 10/23
Gender
Textbook: Chapter 12
Reader: Williams p. 304
Reader: Grindstaff & West p. 314
PDF: West & Zimmerman: Doing Gender
PDF: Risman: Gender as StructureWeek 10
10/26 - 10/30
Sexualities, Relationships, and Families
PDF: APA: Understanding Sexual Orientation
PDF: GLSEN: Sexual Orientation Development
PDF: Anti-gay slurs could have lasting effects on younger generations
PDF: New York Times: A Player Serves Notice to Homophobic Sports Culture
PDF: Gainesville Sun: UF student starts group to promote gay rights activism
PDF: The Defense Of Marriage Act
PDF: Notes on Sexualities
Textbook: Chapter 7
Reader: Carrington p. 143
Reader: Gerson p. 169
Reader: Coontz p. 158
PDF: NY Times, "Questions to Ask Before Marriage"
PDF: Coontz, "The Way We Really Are: America's Changing Families"
Bell: Chapter 11 - 12Week 11
11/2 - 11/6
Inequalities, Stratification, Social Class and Poverty
Textbook: Chapter 10
Reader: Mantsios p. 243
Reader: Adair p. 250
Reader: Sered/Fernandopulle p. 261
Bell: Chapter 13
Week 12
11/9 - 11/13
Race/Ethnicity
Textbook: Chapter 11
PDF: McIntosh, "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack"
Reader: Omni/Winant p. 269
Reader: Waters p. 276
Reader: Farely/Squires p. 283Week 13
11/16 - 11/20
Industrial Food & Sustainability
Reader: Navarro p. 326
PDF: Pollan, "Unhappy Meals"
PDF: "Sutainable Revolution"
PDF: Sustainability Definitions
PDF: "Sustainable Economy Map"
PDF: Shiva, “Two Myths That Keep the World Poor”Thanksgiving
11/23 - 11/27
Thanksgiving!
No Elluminate, Discussion, or Exercise due to the HolidayWeek 14
11/30 - 12/4
Global Trends, Globalization, Sweatshops, and Fairtrade
Textbook: Chapter 10 p. 320-327 & Chapter 13
Reader: Hochschild p. 338
Reader: Greider p. 346
Week 15
12/7 - 12/11
Creating Social Change
Textbook: Chapter 14
Reader: Romero p. 78
Reader: Kitwana p. 367
Reader: Krauss p. 374
PDF: Hill Collins, "Towards a New Vision"
PDF: "Cycle of Socialization & Cycle of Liberation"
Bell: Chapter 14 - 16• When we are in WizIQ together, you should be focused on actively engaging in the material at hand. You should not surf the internet, reply to emails, play games, or anything else other than engage in class. You should not write letters or complete assignments for other courses. You should not text message or check to see if you've received messages. Please find a quiet place where you are not tempted to pay attention to other people or other forms of media. Your responsibility is to be mentally engaged in the material that is being presented.
• This is a course in which very interesting – and sometimes controversial – issues are considered. In order for everyone to feel comfortable voicing their opinions or asking their questions, a climate of tolerance and respect is essential. No racist, sexist, ageist, heterosexist, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate or personally insulting comments will be tolerated. In our virtual classroom, everyone has the right to their own opinion and the right to a classroom free from hostility, ridicule, or embarrassment. It is likely that we will discuss volatile social issues and disagree regularly. In order to create an atmosphere conducive to learning, every student is expected to participate in a responsible and mature manner that enhances education. As the classroom facilitator, I reserve the right to end any discussion that I feel is damaging to any member of the class.
Email Etiquette for Students in Dr. Joos’s Sociology Classes … 6 Tips
1. We have a class email list based on your Gatorlink email address. Learn to check your Gatorlink often or you will miss-out on important news, or have it forwarded to an address that you do check regularly (see: http://help.gatorlink.ufl.edu/email.html).Important Notes:
2. Before emailing me, ask yourself if you can find the answer to your question from another resource-- if its advising related, perhaps www.registrar.ufl.edu or www.ufadvising.ufl.edu. If its class related, perhaps you can find the answer on the syllabus or some other location in E-Learning, or by emailing the TA. Do not email me to inquire about the posting of grades (asking when they will be posted, if there appears to be a mistake, etc.) these questions should be addressed to our TA who will promptly reply or will ask me to email you if he is unable to answer your questions.
3. When emailing the TA or myself, be sure to include the following information:
-in the subject line: “question from your name in your course number regarding whatever your question or concern is about”
-example of a proper subject line: question from Jane Doe in SYG2000 online regarding questions about Assessment #1
...never leave the subject line blank (or my spamblocker will delete your message)
-in the signature of your email be sure to include your first and last name, your email address, and your UFID number
-avoid sending unduly large emails or attachments (>1MB)
-do not send messages with the words "help" or "urgent" in the subject line. If you are truly in an emergency, you should be calling 911 and not emailing your instructor.
4. Remember that faculty members do not work 24/7 (actually we sometimes do, but we have numerous other obligations on campus in addition to teaching your class). It is unreasonable to expect reply within a few hours. In general, I will reply to your emails during my office hours and in the afternoons, so if you're wondering when you'll hear from me, checkout my office hours listed on my syllabus. For example, if you email me on Thursday evening (after my office hours) I may not be able to reply until the following Wednesday (during office hours), however, I will make a concerted effort to write back sooner, when able. Do not email the night before our WizIQ session and expect a reply before the WizIQ session.
5. If you are in a difficult situation (extremely ill and needing to miss an exam, severely injured, engaged in a family emergency, etc.) and need to ask to be excused from something or need an extension, make sure to contact me as soon as possible by email. Our phone system is funny and it doesn't ring in my office, it goes straight to voicemail.
6. In general, when emailing faculty or administrators at UF, be sure to use complete sentences and write as if you are typing a business letter-- NOT as if you are instant messaging friends. Avoid using abbreviations and improperly spelled words. You should always communicate with faculty with the utmost respect (as you may be asking them to write a letter of recommendation for you to get into graduate school or other endeavors). If an instructor or advisor does something for you (like writes you a letter of recommendation, takes care to go out of their way to help you or give you advice) be sure to write them a personal thank you letter (preferably a card rather than an email). When addressing faculty members, if you do not know the proper pronoun (Dr., Mr., Ms., Mrs.), use Dr. or Professor and if it is incorrect, the person will correct you.
Having said all of that-- I do hope to hear from you... and moreover, I welcome you to stop by my office hours, that's what they are for.
• If you have questions, please ASK-- either during class, in my office, or email me (ufsyg2000kristin@gmail.com)
• If you have any special needs or considerations, please let me know as soon as possible so I may make the necessary accommodations.
• If you are experiencing an extenuating circumstance (personal/family emergency, health concern, or other serious problem) I strongly recommend you contact the Dean of Students Student Support Office they are there to help you.
• Information on this syllabus is tentative & subject to change. Adjustments & revisions will be announced in class.
• By enrolling in this course, you are indicating your consent to the following 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."
(from the Student Guide, http://www.dso.ufl.edu/studentguide/studentrights.php#studenthonorcode)
• Students who violate the Academic Honesty Guidelines will be penalized according to the procedures outlined in the guide above, which include failing the course. If you have any questions as to the integrity of your conduct, read the information in the link above. "I didn't know," is not an excuse.
© Please do not use course materials without permission.