SOCI 4210
Carol Rambo
Website www.carolrambo.com
Best way to contact me is via email: carol.rambo@memphis.edu
Phone, leave message only: 678-2611
Office hours: by appointment.
Folks, I had to get this syllabus ready for you, I am unsure what editions they have ordered for me. What ever they get, we will work it out. I will insert the page numbers for the readings with you later, if necessary.
Randall Collins and Michael Makowsky, The Discovery of Society. Published by McGraw Hill: New York.
James Farganis, Readings in Social Theory. Published by McGraw Hill: New York.
http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/ The Mead Project
The main objective of this course is to give the student an overview of the nature, grounds, and explanatory power of various sociological theories and how these are applied to various areas of social life. We will conceptualize theory as science, philosophy, and politics with a focus on how these forms influence methodology. The ultimate aim of this course is to understand that there are a multitude of perspectives when considering "society" and that "society" is itself a cultural construct. This course will also serve as preparation for entrance into a graduate sociology program.
1. The readings will be our springboard for class lectures and discussion. You are required to keep up with the readings and will be responsible for these as well as class lectures.
2. A liberal arts education means literally to "liberate" your mind. Discussion is of the utmost importance. You have paid money to be sitting here. DO NOT ALLOW ME TO LECTURE WITHOUT ASKING QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE CONFUSED OR UNCLEAR ON THE MATERIALS.
Only VICTIMS allow this to happen to them. If you are having problems, chances are someone else is too! If you feel uncomfortable about your progress in the course, I believe I have a reputation for being VERY approachable, so please see me during office hours or make an appointment. We can work it out!!!
Primary evaluations for grades are based on three unit quizzes and a comprehensive final. Please take note of the grading scale: A = 90-100%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-65%,
D = 64-58%, F = below 58%.
Each of the three quizzes is both multiple choice (26 points) and essay (7 points) in character, for a total of 100 points of your grade. The materials these quizzes cover will be based upon the units most recently covered. They are not cumulative in nature.
The final exam is multiple choice in character and worth a total of 100 points. This exam will be based on all of the materials covered throughout the entire course. There will be no curving, but as you can see below, the grading system is very flexible with 3 opportunities for extra points.
You are allowed to submit up to five 2-3 page papers, each using a different theorist we have discussed in class. Each paper will be worth 2 points for a maximum value of 10 points for the whole assignment. I will not be neurotic picky on this, quality counts more than quantity. Using a one-inch margin, a type written double spaced page consists of about 250 words. You are invited to take things you encounter in your daily life and analyze them in terms of the theories you will pick up in class. I will elaborate more on this in class. You may use your experience, newspaper articles, books, CNN, movies, MTV, songs, a story your friend told you happened to her, ANY kind of experience. Have fun with this. Use the concepts correctly; do not just identify the idea, but demonstrate how it is functioning in the example. Do not repeat specific class examples, you will get no credit. If, however, you notice one of the concepts we learn about at work in class, this is fair game. Neatness will count one point per entry. If you are a slob genius, you could still lose a total of five points on the assignment. If you want to run a sample by me before the date of your first quiz, I will be willing to critique it (no hard
and fast grade).
Upon handing in your final exam, I will look at your face. If it is a face that is constantly adding to class discussion I will at that time add two points to your grade. If it is a face that occasionally contributes, I will add one point.
You are an adult. You pay your money, you decide if you want to attend. I will, however, take attendance for two purposes. If you have perfect attendance after the first week of class, three points will be assigned to your grade, equivalent to the weight of answering three exam questions correctly. If you only miss one or two periods during this time, I will assign two extra credit points. Miss three periods and I will assign one point of extra credit. Students who miss more than this
number of classes (my second purpose) will have a great deal of trouble gaining sympathy if they are not doing well in the class. We can talk about your absences if you are in a dire situation. I must assume, however, if you choose not to attend and you do poorly, that you are choosing to do poorly and I need not put forth any effort on your behalf.
Make up exams are permitted with proper documentation and are to be scheduled with the instructor. You must contact the instructor ONE WEEK after missing an exam or forfeit the opportunity to make it up.
Students will be allowed to skip the final provided they have maintained an A average on their first two quizzes, and that they participate in class. Please see me if you believe you have earned an A the hard way. Do not assume you have earned it without checking with me.
The University of Memphis Code of Student Conduct defines academic misconduct as all acts of cheating, plagiarism, forgery and falsification. The term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to:
*using any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes or tests
*using sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments
*acquiring tests or other academic material before such material is revealed or distributed by the instructor
*misrepresenting papers, reports, assignments or other materials as the product of a student's sole independent effort
*failing to abide by the instructions of the proctor concerning test-taking procedures
*influencing, or attempting to influence, any University employee in order to affect a student's grade or evaluation
*any forgery, alteration, unauthorized possession, or misuse of University documents
The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full or clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Academic dishonesty also includes:
furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or office,
forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University document, record, or instrument of identification.
I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AGGRESSIVELY.
Can and probably will be changed at any time!
August 29
Getting Started. Think or sink. What is Sociology? Theory? Philosophy?
August 30
The times are a changing! St. Simon and Comte. Industrialization and the advent of the scientific frame.
September 4 and 6
Marx
September 11, 13 and 18
Durkheim
September 20
Review for Quiz
September 25
Quiz 1
September 27,
Simmel
October 2 and 4
Nietzsche
October 9 and 11
Freud
October 16
Break
October 18 and 23
Weber
October 25
Review
October 30
Quiz 2
November 1 and 6
African American Sociology
November 8, 13, and 15
Mead, Blumer, and Symbolic Interaction.
November 20
Theory applications due
November 22
Thanksgiving break
November 27
Review
November 29
Quiz 3
December 4
Consolidation and wind up. Grade clinic. You must attend this class period. I will have no sympathy for you if you do not attend, suffer the consequences! You will have been told so many times by this point that if you plead ignorance I will assume you have not been in class much, have not read your syllabus, and are beyond any hope. Got it? I have witnessed students needlessly fail the class because they did not pay attention to this.
December 13, 8:00-10:00 AM
final exam.
1. You have an excuse I have approved.
2. You have documentation for that excuse.
3. You contact me before one week has passed after missing the quiz. NO EXCEPTIONS!
