Sociology 100: Principles of Sociology

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10:00-10:50 am

Instructor: Mellisa Holtzman Office: North Quad 224

Office #: 285-5253/5977 E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: by appointment

Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to the theories, methods, and topics of Sociology. We will begin by
exploring how social structure and culture work together to form the society that we live in. After developing this
basic understanding of Sociology, we will begin to explore sociological theories and topics in more detail, including
issues of socialization, stratification, institutions, group dynamics, and so forth. People often assume that
Sociology is nothing more than the study of the obvious of everyday life. Sociology is the study of everyday life,
but the goal is to help you see that what seems obvious and what we routinely take for granted as just that way,
can be viewed through a more critical lens and understood at a deeper level. Enjoy the course and I hope to see you
in many of our advanced Sociology courses!

Transferrable Skills
This course will help you build the following skills:
1. Situate issues within a larger macro perspective
2. Use evidence-based arguments
3. Think critically
4. Possess problem-solving skills
5. Recognize the value in a variety of arguments
6. Celebrate diversity
7. See beyond the obvious

Course Readings
For this class we will be using an online text created by a company called Vizi Courseware. The text is called
Introduction to Sociology: An Engaging Approach by Melinda Messineo, Mellisa Holtzman, and Chadwick
Menning. This text is preloaded in Blackboard for you. You do not have to go to the bookstore to purchase it.

You also need a Reader called Sociology in Action, 18th Edition edited by Richard Petts and Mellisa Holtzman.
You do need to go to the bookstore to purchase this book. (NOTE: earlier editions of the reader will not contain
all the readings you need so you need to purchase the 18th edition).

Both of these texts are required and are necessary to do well in the course.

Course Requirements
Readings/Vizi Modules
You are expected to read/complete the assigned material for each class meeting prior to coming to class. This will
be necessary for class discussion and group projects, both of which will be a regular aspect of the class if you
havent read the material, you will be ill-prepared to participate in class. Furthermore, not all readings/modules
will be discussed in class, but you will nonetheless be responsible for all of them on quizzes and exams.

Quizzes and Exams

You will take 5 quizzes (25 questions each you have 30 minutes to complete these) and 2 exams (50 questions
each you have 60 minutes to complete these) over the course of the semester. These will focus on both lecture
and reading materials (including the Vizi). The quizzes and exams are administered on-line through Blackboard.
They must be taken in a proctored computer lab located in Robert Bell or the Student Center for lab hours, visit:
http://cms.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/labs/computerbasedtesting. Labs operate on a walk in basis no
appointments are needed, but you must leave the lab when it closes even if you are not finished with your exam so
plan accordingly. You must also take your exam in the window of time I provide (usually 3-4 days). I WILL NOT
excuse you from an exam or open it back up for you if you are unable to get a spot in a computer lab. DO
NOT wait until the last minute to take your tests. When you visit a lab to take your tests, be sure you bring an
ID with you. You will not be able to take the exam without it. For more information on lab policies, see:
http://cms.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/labs/computerbasedtesting/cbtlabpolicies.

Importantly, you cannot use anything for the exams no notes, no phones, no iPods, etc. If you do even if
you arent accessing class material the lab monitor will report you to me as a possible case of cheating and
you will automatically fail that quiz or test. DO NOT use any electronic device while in the lab it puts you
at risk of losing a lot of points!!

Each quiz/exam is accessed via our course Blackboard site. I will explain how to access the quizzes and tests in
class as we get closer to the first one. Each quiz/exam is open for a pre-determined amount of time. If you do
not take a quiz within the scheduled time period you will get a zero. There are no make-ups for the quizzes.
However, at the end of the semester I will drop the lowest of the quiz scores this means if you have a scheduling
mishap, do poorly on one quiz, or miss it altogether, it will not negatively impact your grade.

The 2 exams (a Midterm and a Final) that are given must be taken as scheduled as well. If you do not take these
exams during the open window you will get a zero on them. Only in very rare and extreme circumstances will I
allow students to take the Midterm or Final exam outside of the scheduled time period and all such requests must be
made in advance of the exam. Failure to contact me before the exam will result in a zero. I will NOT drop either
of the exam scores.

***Blackboard contains study guides for all the quizzes and exams.***

Extra Credit
You will have two sources of extra credit throughout the semester. First, most of the readings in the Reader have
a worksheet immediately following them. These worksheets are not required for the course (the readings ARE
required), but you may turn up to 5 worksheets in for extra credit if you would like to. Each worksheet will be
worth 1 point of extra credit. You cannot turn them in if you are not in class. Important note: copyright laws
prohibit reproduction of the worksheets (this means no photocopies or hand copies of the worksheets);
consequently, if you purchase a used copy of the Reader and it is missing the worksheets, you will not be able to
complete this extra credit. You may only turn in the original worksheets for credit.

Second, sometime between the midterm and the final exam I will offer a 10 point extra credit opportunity to
everyone who is present in the class the day I make the announcement. Students who have completed the 5
worksheets will still be able to do this extra credit as well. So, in total, there are 15 points of extra credit available
during the semester.

Class Participation and Attendance

Although I cannot take attendance every day given our class size, attendance and class participation will impact
your grade. You are expected to be in class and you are expected to participate. To encourage your attendance
and participation, small group projects and in-class activities will be a regular, but unannounced, feature of this
class. Points will be awarded to those students who are present for these group projects, while students who are
absent will get a zero. Students who are absent from class on a group project day cannot make up the missed
points. There are absolutely NO exceptions to this rule. If you contact me in advance of an absence, however, I
will excuse you from any missed points. Because of the number of small group and in-class activities I use in this
class, poor attendance and participation will impact your grade negatively. Plan to be here we all get a lot more
out of this class when that happens.

Office Hours
Please feel free to come by my office to discuss any questions you may have regarding the course. Im in my office
before class as well as throughout the rest of the day. I have an open door policy if Im there, you can just pop in
and see me. Or, you can make an appointment ahead of time. Either way, you should always feel comfortable
coming to see me.

Grading Policy
Grades will be determined based strictly on point totals and their corresponding percentages. Using this system,
you should be able to figure out your grade at any time. For instance, if you have received 100 points of 120
possible, you would have an 83%, B. The points/percentages will be subject to the following scale:
100-93%=A 92-90%=A-
89-88%=B+ 87-83%=B 82-80%=B-
79-78%=C+ 77-73%=C 72-70%=C-
69-68%=D+ 67-63%=D 62-60%=D-
59% and below=F

I use Blackboards Grade Center. It is your responsibility to check your grades regularly and remain aware of your
standing in the class. If you think there is an error in Grade Center you must bring it to my attention immediately
not at the end of the semester.

Additional Information
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty not only undermines the credibility of your own grades; it undermines the credibility of the
grades of all others who attend BSU. Therefore, dishonest conduct will be dealt with very harshly. Punishments
may range from a zero for a particular assignment, a formal hearing on your conduct, an F in the course, and even
dismissal from the university. Moreover, it is worth noting that academic dishonesty that is discovered after the
assignment of course grades (i.e. using a friends work from a previous class or giving your work from a previous
class to a friend) can result in a failing grade for both students (grades can be retroactively changed). Dont take
that chance.

Course Adaptations or Accommodations

Please note, if you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible. I am committed to helping you obtain the tools necessary for
reaching your goals in this course.

Electronic Devices
You may use laptops or tablets for note-taking purposes only. Please be sure that all other electronic devices are
shut down by the start of class. I dont want to hear your phones, see you texting, or find you playing games or
watching videos on laptops.
Class Schedule
All assignments below are due BEFORE class starts on the listed day. For instance, before coming to class on
January11, you should complete each of the listed segments in Lesson 1 in the Vizi and you should read the
Sharp article in the Reader.

INTRODUCTIONS
Day 1: January 9
Understanding the class requirements

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Day 2: January 11
Vizi: Lesson 1, Segment 1 Sociological Questions and Debunking Myths
Segment 2 Related Disciplines and Identifying Disciplines
Segment 4 Career Examples
Reader: Sharp, What is Sociology
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Day 3: January 13
Vizi: Lesson 2, Segment 1 American Culture, Assumptions, and Individual-Level Thinking
Segment 2 World Culture, World Culture Assumptions, and Sociological Imagination
Segment 3 Mate Selection, Partnered Individuals, and Changing Your Perspective
**Note, these three segments will take some time to get through so dont put them off until
right before class!!**

January 16
No class MLK Day

SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Day 4: January 18
Vizi: Lesson 2, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Lesson 2, Segment A Assignment Important: This is the first Vizi assignment that will be
submitted electronically for a grade. You must have this completed and
submitted by 9:59 am on 1/18 (e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will
receive a zero. No exceptions!
Lesson 4, Segment 1 Social Structure, Defining Statuses, Types of Statuses, and Choose a Status
Segment 2 Defining Roles, Role Conflict & Strain, Role Conflict or Strain, and Statuses
& Roles

Day 5: January 20
Vizi: Lesson 4, Segment 2 Name Your Status Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted
electronically for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by
9:59 am on 1/20 (e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero.
No exceptions!
Segment 3 What is the Asch Experiment?, The Asch Experiment, Unaware Participants,
and Groupthink
Segment 4 Defining Institutions, Recognizing Institutions, Examples of Institution
Constraints, and Summary of Institutions

THE POWER OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE: AN EXAMPLE

Day 6: January 23
Vizi: Lesson 4, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Reader: Meyer, If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably.

CULTURE
Day 7: January 25
Vizi: Lesson 6, Segment 1 Shaping Perceptions
Segment 2 Nonmaterial Culture Values and I.D. Nonmaterial Values
Segment 3 Defining Norms and I.D. Folkways or Mores
Lesson 4, Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 1/25
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!

Day 8: January 27
Vizi: Lesson 6, Segment 3 Sanctions, Violating Folkways, and Summary Important: This Vizi
assignment (Violating Folkways) will be submitted electronically for a
grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 1/27 (e.g.
before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!
Segment, 4 Defining Material Culture and ID Material Items
THE POWER OF CULTURE: AN EXAMPLE
Day 9: January 30
Vizi: Lesson 6, Segment 5 Body Ritual Among the Nacerima, Reveal of Nacerima, and Learning the
Truth
Reader: Faw, Are Millennials Lazy or Avant-Garde Social Activists?

QUIZ 1 REVIEW
Day 10: February 1
This is the only time during the semester we will review for a quiz or test as a class. We are doing it
because this is your first quiz with me and I want to help prepare you for this process.

Vizi: Lesson 6, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions

Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 2/1
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!

Quiz 1 Opens After Class, open from 11:00 am February 1st through 5:00 pm February 3rd

Covers material from January 11th through January 30th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 1, 2, 4, and 6,
including the Flash Cards and Review Questions

RESEARCH METHODS
Day 11: February 3
Vizi: Lesson 3, Segment I Introduction
Segment 1 Research in the Real World This is a gallery of individuals talking about how
they use data in their jobs. The final piece in the gallery gives one example of
how you, as a student, might use data in your everyday life. After you
complete this segment, write down 2 additional examples of when you use
data during the day or week. Bring that with you to class (e.g. on 2/3) this
will be turned in for a grade. No late assignments will be accepted!
Reader: Yasseri, How Big Data Will Change Our Lives and Our Understandings of Them

Day 12: February 6

Reader: Bryan, MMO Family: Study Challenges Common Views on Digital Media, Video Games, and Family
Pew Research Center, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Affiliation

Day 13: February 8

No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

Day 14: February 10

Vizi: Lesson 3, Segment 1 Parking Study and Kindergarten Study
Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions

Day 15: February 13

No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM AND SOCIALIZATION

Day 16: February 15
Vizi: Lesson 1, Segment 3 Perspectives read only the items on Symbolic Interaction (slide 2 in the gallery);
you dont have to do any of the other features of this segment
Reader: Szalavitz, A Feral Childs Journey to Recovery
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF
Day 17: February 17
Vizi: Lesson 5, Segment 2 Overview of Agents and Theory of Agents

CHILDHOOD AND GENDER SOCIALIZATION

Day 18: February 20
Vizi: Lesson 5, Segment 3 Family as Agent and Agents of Socialization (skip Family Influences videos)
Segment 4 School as Agent and Agents of Socialization (skip School Influences videos)
Segment 5 Peer as Agent and Agents of Socialization (skip Peer Influences videos)
Segment 6 Media as Agent and Agents of Socialization (skip Media Influences videos)

Day 19: February 22

No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

Day 20: February 24

Vizi: Lesson 8, Segment 1 Atypical Appearances, Socially Constructed, and Gender Socialization
Segment 2 Gender Roles by Culture and Summary
Lesson 5, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Reader: Bosman & Rich, As Transgender Students Make Gains, Schools Hesitate at Bathrooms

IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
Day 21: February 27
Vizi: Lesson 5, Segment 7 Re-Socialization
Lesson 5, Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 2/27
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!

Quiz 2 Opens After Class, open from 11:00 am February 27th through 5:00 pm March 1st

Covers material from February 1st through February 24th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 1 (a very
small piece), 3, 5, 7, and 8 (small pieces of 7 and 8), including the Flash Cards and Review Questions

Day 22: March 1

Vizi: Lesson 7, Segment 1 Social Categories, Rubric, Goffman, and Impressions
Reader: Miller, Paternity Leave: The Rewards and the Remaining Stigma

Day 23: March 3

NO CLASS you may take your Midterm during our normal class period if you would like to
Midterm Exam Opens Today, open from 10:00 am March 3rd through 5 pm March 15th

Covers all material from January 11th through March 1st

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, and 8 (just a little bit of 7 and 8), including the related Flash Cards and Review Questions

Just to reiterate, we will NOT have class this day so you can take your Midterm during our class
meeting time if you would like to (but you dont have to; you can take it up through 3 days after
Spring Break)

March 6, 8, 10
No Class Spring Break

DEVIANCE
Day 24: March 13
No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class
Day 25: March 15
Vizi: Lesson 5, Segment 7 Re-Socialization, What are Total Institutions, and Effectiveness of Total
Institutions (youve watched the Re-Socialization segment before but the
review will be helpful for the next two segments)
Reader: Chambliss, The Saints and the Roughnecks

FAMILY
Day 26: March 17
No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

Day 27: March 20

Reader: de Vogue & Diamond, Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide
Angier, The Changing American Family

FUNCTIONAL AND CONFLICT THEORY

Day 28: March 22
Vizi: Lesson 1, Segment 3 Perspectives read only the items on Structural Functional theory (slide 2 in
the gallery); you dont have to do any of the other features of this segment

Quiz 3 Opens After Class, open from 11:00 am March 22nd through 5:00 pm March 24th

Covers material from March 13th through March 20th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lesson 5 (just a little
bit), including the Flash Cards and Review Questions

Day 29: March 24

Vizi: Lesson 1, Segment 3 Perspectives read only the items on Social Conflict theory (slide 2 in the
gallery); you dont have to do any of the other features of this segment
Lesson 9, Segment I Introduction

STRATIFICATION
Day 30: March 27
No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

Day 31: March 29

Vizi: Lesson 9, Segment 1 Evaluation Tool, Structural Functionalism, Class Inequality, and Class
Mobility
March 31
No class I will be at a conference

Day 32: April 3

Vizi: Lesson 9, Segment 1 Summary
Reader: Reardon, No Rich Child Left Behind

April 5
No class I will be at a conference

Day 33: April 7

Reader: Searcey & Gebeloff, Middle Class Shrinks Further and More Fall Out Instead of Climbing Up

Day 34: April 10

Vizi: Lesson 9, Segment 2 Poverty Simulator and Poverty
Reader: Picchi, The Corrosive Impact of Americas Growing Wealth Gap
STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, AND DISCRIMINATION
Day 35: April 12
Vizi: Lesson 9, Segment 3 Corporate v. Individual Interest, William Domhoff, Case Studies, and
Marxs Predictions
Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 4/12
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!

Quiz 4 Opens After Class, open from 11:00 am April 12th through 5:00 pm April 14th

Covers material from March 22nd through April 10th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 1 (just a little
bit) and 9, including the Flash Cards and Review Questions

RACE
Day 36: April 14
Vizi: Lesson 7, Segment I Introduction
Segment 1 Impressions youve already been assigned this gallery earlier in the semester but
I would like you to quickly review the final video in the gallery (called
summary); it will help you with the rest of lesson 7 and it is only 50 seconds
long
Segment 2 Differences Between Cultures

Day 37: April 17

Reader: Mooney, Across America, Whites are Biased and They Dont Even Know It
Blake, The New Threat: Racism without Racists

Day 38: April 19

Vizi: Lesson 7, Segment 3 Events and Policies, African American, Asian American, Native American,
Latin American, and Caucasian American
Segment 4 How to Compare Cultures and Comparing Cultures
Reader: Wade, Two 7-Year-Old boys, Two Dramatically Different News Stories

GENDER
Day 39: April 21
Vizi: Lesson 8, Segment 3 Western Culture and Inequalities of Power
Lesson 7, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 4/21
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!
Reader: Sommers, Wage Gap Myth ExposedBy Feminists

Day 40: April 24

Vizi: Lesson 8, Segment 4 Double Standards
Segment 5 Exploitation & Violence
Reader: Wallace, Work-Life Balance Not Just a Womens Issue

SEX
Day 41: April 26
No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class
Vizi: Lesson 8, Segment R Flash Cards and Review Questions
Segment A Assignment Important: This Vizi assignment will be submitted electronically
for a grade. You must have this completed and submitted by 9:59 am on 4/26
(e.g. before class starts). Late assignments will receive a zero. No exceptions!
Reader: Kerner, Young Adults and a Hookup Culture

Quiz 5 Opens After Class, open from 11:00 am April 26th through 5:00 pm April 28th

Covers material from April 12th through April 24th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 7 and 8,
including the Flash Cards and Review Questions

Day 42: April 28

SOCIAL CHANGE
No New Reading Homework will be assigned in class

Day 44: May 1

Final Exam Opens Today, open from 10:00 am May 1st through 5:00 pm May 5th

Covers all material from March 13th through April 28th

To prepare, review your notes, readings, and all of the assigned Vizi content for Lessons 1 and 5 (just
small pieces) and 7, 8, and 9, including the related Flash Cards and Review Questions