Instructor: Robert Jenkot
Office: Faner 3425 (Use the Museum Entrance, Take Elevator to the 3rd Floor Turn Left, go to 3425–blue door)
Office Phone: 453-7622 Sociology Main Office Phone: 453-2494 Email: rjenk47@siu.edu
Office Hours: Mon., Wed, & Fri 10-11:00 am, and by appointment
TA: Jason Willis: willis45@siu.edu or 453-2494 or Faner, Room 4341

Detailed Course Description: SOC 108 explores some of the ways social scientists explain human behavior. In contrast to psychology, sociology shows how the structure and collective experience of groups influence how people live. Among characteristic questions are: Why are some people wealthy and others poor, and how does this mold their lives and views of one another? How are adult roles developed, and how are children brought up to occupy them? Why do conflicts develop between groups within a society, and how can they be managed? Why do societies designate some behavior as "deviant," and how are individuals recruited into deviant patterns of behavior? By grappling with these questions, students should develop an appreciation of differences between groups and of the complexities of social life.
Required Textbook: Shepard, Jon M. 2002. Sociology, 8th Edition. Wadsworth.
Packaged with Wadsworth Classic Readings in Sociology
Student Learning Objectives: Students will be able to: (a) demonstrate knowledge of basic sociological concepts about social processes (e.g., socialization, deviance, social control, and stratification by class, gender, and race) and social institutions (e.g., the family, religion, and the state); (b) summarize theoretical or explanatory arguments in sociology; (c) apply these arguments to contemporary events or personal experience; and (d) display knowledge of cultural, class, religious, and other differences within and between societies.
Plagiarism: Do not copy from anyone else’s work. You must provide a citation both in the text and in the bibliography in any work turned in if you quote someone else’s work. Ask me if you are not sure. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade. (See the student handbook for details)
Cheating/Copying: Do not cheat or copy from another student. Cheating and/or copying will result in a failing grade. (See the student handbook for details)
Citations/Bibliographies: I am not concerned with “how” you reference the works you use (ASA, APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), but you must do it. In text citations should be as follows: (Jenkot 2001:23-24).
Writing Assignments: These will range between three (3) and six (6) page projects, I will make the assignments clear when I assign them. These assignments must be typed, using 12 point font, double spaced, and with one inch margins. Failure to comply with these parameters will result in lost points.
Late Assignments: I will only accept a late assignment in EXTREME cases. In such extreme cases I will allow for an additional week with a corresponding 10 point deduction, except in special circumstances. The idea is to turn your work in on time. I will accept no late work after December 1, 2002.
Missed Exams: These will be handled on a case by case basis. No exam will be returned until all exams have been turned in and graded. The style of any make-up exam allowed will be at the instructors discretion.
Attendance: Your grade is not dependent upon your attendance. However, I do ask that you provide me with a written reason for your absence. Include your name, date(s) missed, course name, and your reason.
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: Please turn them OFF while in class. The class is more than your time, it is all of the student’s time, please respect that.
Other Behavior that detracts attention from the class will be dealt with if the situation arises. Remember, class time is not “your time” but all of our time. Respect that.

Grading & Evaluation: I will use the standard 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% scale
Review of Assignments: Total points for the course = 550
-Five (5) Multiple Choice Exams worth 100 points each = 500 points possible
~These exams will be about every 3 weeks
-Two Short Papers worth 25 points each = 50 points possible
-Extra Credit MAY be added, these may be in the form of pop quizzes and CAN NOT be made up.

Tentative Course Schedule:
I expect that you have read, or are reading, the chapter as we move through the semester. I will not be lecturing directly from the text.

Week 1:August 19-23
Course Introduction
Shepard Chapter: 1 The Sociological Perspective
Shepard Chapter: 2 Sociologists Doing Research
Mills- The Promise of Sociology
Berger- Invitation to Sociology

Week 2: August 26-30
Shepard Chapter: 3-Culture
Huff- How to Lie with Statistics

Week 3: September 4-6 (NO CLASS (9/2/02, Labor Day)
Shepard Chapter: 4-Socialization Over the Life Course
Miner- Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

Week 4: September 9-13
Mead- The Self
Goffman- The Presentation of Self
EXAM #1: September 11, will begin Chapter 5 on 9/13

Week 5: September 16-20
Shepard Chapter: 5- Social Structure and Society
Shepard Chapter: 6-Groups and Formal Organizations

Week 6: September 23-27
Shepard Chapter: 7-Deviance and Social Control
Assignment #1 Assigned

Week 7: September 30-October 4
EXAM #2: October 2, will begin Chapter 8 on 10/4
Shepard Chapter: 8-Social Stratification
Gans- The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All

Week 8: October 7-11
Shepard Chapter: 9-Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity
DuBois- The Souls of Black Folk
Kozol- Savage Inequalities
Assingment #1 Due Friday, 10/11 by the end of class

Week 9: October 14-18

Shepard Chapter: 10-Inequalities of Gender and Age
Kanter- Men and Women of the Corporation

Week 10: October 21-25
Exam #3: October 23, will begin Chapter 13 on 10/25
Shepard Chapter: 13-Political and Economic Institutions

Week 11: October 28-November 1
Marx and Engels- Manifesto of the Communist Party
Mills- The Power Elite
Shepard Chapter: 14-Religion
Assignment #2 Assigned

Week 12: November 4-8
EXAM #4: November 8

Week 13: November 11-15
Shepard Chapter:16-Population and Urbanization

Week 14: November 18-23
Shepard Chapter: 17-Social Change and Collective Behavior
Assignment #2 Due Monday, 11/18 by the end of class

Week 15: November 25-29 (Thanksgiving Vacation, No Classes!!!!)

Week 16: December 2-6
Shepard Chapter: 17 Continued

December 9-13, Finals Week: Time and Date to Be Announced