SOC 100 (A1): Introductory Sociology

Fall 2019

Instructor: Prof. Zohréh BayatRizi

Class meeting times: MWF 9:00-9:50

Classroom: TL (Tory Lecture Theatres) 12

Break-out room: T 1-93

Office hours: M 10:30-11:30am or by appointment

Office: Tory 6-11

Contact: Please contact the TA for routine questions. The TA will refer

you to me if he cannot resolve your issue or answer your question.

TA: Charles Stubblefield

TA office hours: (TBA)

TA contact: Stubblef@ualberta.ca

Break-out room: On select days we will ask half of the class to go directly

to Tory 1-93 for discussions rather than come to our usual classroom.

Students whose last name begins with letters A to K will have to go to that

room. Dates will be announced in advance in class and on eClass. You will

get eClass notifications through your uAlberta email.

Course description

In this course you will acquire the basic concepts and necessary skills to think
sociologically (commonly referred to as the ‘sociological imagination’). You will learn
how sociologists look at the world as compared to psychologists or economists or
philosophers.

Course objectives
By the end of the term, you should be able to
• Describe and apply the ‘sociological imagination’;
• Describe major sociological concepts, such as ‘culture’, ‘social structures’;
• Discuss major sociological issues such as inequality, gender, crime, media.

Course content
The course will cover several chapters from Karen Anderson’s Thinking about Sociology,
2nd edition as well as supplementary readings. Through these sources, we will explore the
following three themes:
1. The Sociological Perspective or "Imagination"
• The distinction between sociology and other social sciences
• Sociological theories
• The social construction of reality

2. Society and the individual

• Culture
• Socialization and social interaction
3. Core sociological topics
• Inequality, crime, gender, media

Skills
Students who pass this course will be able to
• Evaluate and apply abstract concepts and theoretical perspectives to particular
cases
• Synthesize text materials with personal observations and experiences
• Organize and summarize information and textual material
• Understand, critically analyze, and review information presented in multi-media
• Express informed views on relevant topics

Textbook and Exam Resources

1. Karen Anderson’s Thinking about Sociology, 2nd edition
2. Supplementary readings on eClass (marked by * in the Course Plan below)
3. My lectures, slides, and videos shown in class, guest lectures

I post lecture slides online before class to aid you in taking better notes.

Class activities

Class activities will involve lectures, discussions, documentaries, and guest lectures.
Lectures will cover key themes. Everything discussed in class, including video clips, is
fair game for the exams.
Students are expected to read the material in advance and come to class with questions or
post their questions on the eClass Lecture Question Forum (see below). This is
particularly the case with readings marked by *, which will be discussed in class
collectively. Please come prepared.

Course Evaluation
Date Weight Considerations
Assignments Sept. 16, 15% Short, one-page reflections on class
Oct. 16, material. Each worth 5% of final grade.
Nov. 18
Midterm exam October 40% Multiple choice, true or false, fill the blank
18
Final exam TBA 40% Non-cumulative. Multiple choice, true or
false.
Date of deferred final exam: Saturday,
January 11, 2020, BUS 1-10; 9:00am
Participation --- 5% You need to contribute at least 4 questions
points to the lecture discussion forum throughout
the term to be eligible.

Exams
Exam will consist of multiple choice and True/False questions. Emphasis will be on
analytical questions that will test your ability to apply your knowledge in a conceptual or
comparative way. However, memory questions will be included too. The exams are non-
cumulative. Sample exam questions will be provided in class on designated exam prep.
days.

Assignments
The three short assignments are reflection pieces in which you activate your sociological
imagination (see week 2 of lectures) and apply the sociological perspective to specific
cases. They are meant to be ‘low stakes’ assignments, designed to encourage students to
use their analytical skills. Due to the large class size, feedback will only be provided
upon request.

Length 250-300 words.

Formatting: single or double-spaced, 12 point Times Roman fonts, any style.

Assignment 1: Due September 16

Topic: Illustrate the sociological imagination by analyzing a media story, a
vignette from your own life, a social issue, or a hypothetical scenario. How would
a sociologist look at this issue differently than a layperson or an expert in another
discipline?

Assignment 2: Due October 16

Topic: Drawing on at least one concept from the chapters on the Social
Interactionist Perspective, Socialization, and Interaction Rituals analyze the
Netflix episode (Nosedive) shown in class.

Assignment 3: November 18
Topic: Read ‘Squat the City, Rock the Courts’ (digital copy available on eClass).
Is homelessness a form of social inequality (a social issue vs. a personal trouble)?
Why? Do you think squatting is a good solution for homelessness? Why?

Participation
You are invited to post your questions regarding weekly course readings in an eClass
forum titled ‘Lecture Questions’. Charles and I will review your questions every week
and attempt to answer frequently-asked or significant questions in class. You will receive
5 percent of your final grade for taking part in this activity. This is a pass/fail assignment,
you must post a meaningful question in at least four different weeks to receive any
credit.

Grading Guide
Percentage Letter grade Grade point value
90-100 A+ 4.0
86-89 A 4.0
82-85 A- 3.7
78-81 B+ 3.3
74-77 B 3.0
70-73 B- 2.7
66-69 C+ 2.3
62-65 C 2.0
58-61 C- 1.7
54-57 D+ 1.3
50-53 D 1.0
<50 F 0

Missed exams and assignments: You must notify me within two days of the missed
exam or assignment. Scheduling a make up exam/assignment is at my discretion and will
depend on circumstances (e.g., serious medical problems). Unexcused absence during the
exam will result in a mark of 0. Missing the assignment deadline without an approved
excuse will result in 5 points deduction per day. See above for info on Final Deferred
Exam. See the policy section for more information.

Contacting the instructor: If you have any questions about the course, consult the
syllabus and eClass first. If you still have questions, email our TA. If your issue cannot
be resolved by the TA, your email will be forwarded to me and I will aim to answer
within one business day (no weekends or holidays). You are also encouraged to make
use of my office hours listed above.

Course Plan: Lecture topics and readings

Note: This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Not everything on the list will
be discussed. There might be some deviations from the timeline to allow flexibility to
address the needs and interests of the students. Stayed tuned to eClass and Twitter for
updates.

Module 1: What Is Sociology?

September 2 (no class), 4, 6
Anderson, Chapter 1 The Sociological Perspective

September 9, 11, 13
Anderson, Chapter 1 The Sociological Perspective (continued)
*Mills, The Sociological Imagination
*Berger, Invitation to Sociology
*Szasz, Shopping Our Way to Safety

September 16, 18, 20

Anderson, Chapter 5 The Beginnings of Sociology
Anderson, Chapter 6 Karl Marx and Max Weber
BayatRizi (lecture) Freud, DuBois, Gilman

Module 2: Mind, Self, and Society

September 23, 25, 27
Anderson, Chapter 7 The Social-Interactionist Perspective
*West and Zimmerman: Doing Gender

September 30, October 2 & 4

Anderson, Chapter 8 Socialization
*Schor: Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child
*Dyer: Anybody’s Son Will Do

October 7, 9, 11
Anderson, Chapter 9 Interaction Rituals
Black Mirror: Nosedive (season 3, Netflix)
[Supplementary text] *Karyn Lacy: Public Identities: Managing Race in Public Spaces

October 14 (no class), 16, 18

Midterm Exam prep./midterm exam

Module 3: The Individual in Society

October 21, 23, 25
Anderson, Chapter 10 Culture
*An Indian Father’s Plea
*Miner: Body Ritual among the Nacirema
*Gardner and Assadourian: Rethinking the Good Life

October 28, 30, November 1

Anderson, Chapter 11 Social Structure and Social Agency
*Milner: Creating Consumers: Freaks, Geeks, and Cool Kids

November 4, 6, 8
Anderson, Chapter 12 Social Inequality
*Freeman: Squat the City, Rock the Courts.

November 11, 13, 15

NO CLASSES

November 18, 20, 22

Anderson, Chapter 14 Gender
*Hugill: Missing Women, Missing News
Krenshaw: Ted Talk on Intersectionality

November 25, 27, 29

Chapter 16 Deviance and Crime
*Zimbardo: The Pathology of Imprisonment

December 2, 4, 6
Anderson, Chapter 17 Culture and Media
Guest presentations: What can you do with sociology?
Wrap up and review
Exam prep.

Policies and Procedure

“Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures
and Grading of the University Calendar.”

Academic honesty: “The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic
integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic
honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to
familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/) and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result
in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an
offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the
University.”

Learning and working environment
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and
study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not
tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment. The department urges anyone who feels that
this policy is being violated to:
• Discuss the matter with the person whose behaviour is causing concern; or
• If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or
threatening, discuss it with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the student ombudservice:
(http://www.ombudservice.ualberta.ca/ ). Information about the University of Alberta
Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures can be found in the GFC Policy Manual,
available at http://gfcpolicymanual.ualberta.ca/ .

Recording of Lectures:
“Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other
teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the
instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content,
digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used
solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without
prior written consent from the content author(s).”

Attendance, Absences, and Missed Grade Components:
Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. In cases of potentially
excusable absences due to illness or domestic affliction, notify your instructor by e-mail within two
days. Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components
missed as a result, consult Attendance of the University Calendar. Be aware that unexcused absences
will result in partial or total loss of the grade for the “attendance and participation” component(s) of
a course, as well as for any assignments that are not handed-in or completed as a result. Students
with an excused absence from an exam will be given an opportunity to make up the exam.

Policy for Missed Exams:
You may bring a doctor's note if you miss an exam due to illness, however this cannot be required. If
you do not have a doctor’s note, you can do one of the following:

• “University of Alberta Medical Statement” signed by a doctor (this cannot be required, but
must be accepted if provided in lieu of other documents).

http://www.registrarsoffice.ualberta.ca/en/Online-
Services/~/media/registrar/Forms/2010_Medical_Statement.pdf
• “ Request for Excused Absence or Deferral of Term Work”. Suggest adding the link to the
form: https://www.ualberta.ca/arts/student-services/undergraduate-student-
services/forms-for-students
• "Statutory Declaration" (to be obtained from the Office of the Registrar)

For other acceptable absences, such as domestic afflictions or religious convictions, the student
should submit appropriate documentation. This could include the following:
· For a death in the family – a copy of the death certificate
· For a religious conflict – a letter from the church or pastor
· For a car accident – a copy of the accident report

Accessibility Resources:
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during
the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already
registered with Accessibility Resources, contact their office immediately (1-800 SUB; Email
ssdsrec@ualberta.ca; Email; phone 780-492-3381; WEB https://www.ualberta.ca/current-
students/accessibility-resources).