Instructor: Dr. Gonzalo Santos |
Teaching Assistant: Ms. Primavera Monárrez |
santos_class@csub.edu |
pmonarrez@runner.csub.edu |
Office: DDH-AA205 Office Hours: Tu. & Th., 3:05 - 5:00 pm |
Classroom: BDC - C401 [Extended University Bld.] |
Tel: 664-2191 |
Class Time: Tu. & Th. 1:00 - 3:05 pm |
Texts:
Course Content:
This course is designed to introduce the field of Sociology to
the general student population at the lower division level. Students
will learn why and how the study of the social dynamics of contemporary,
complex societies is important and rewarding. General topics include how
the dynamics of social structures and social change relate to history,
the individual, economics, politics, and culture; the nature and causes
of social change, the theoretical perspectives and methods used to study
modern societies. Specific topics include exploring various social problems,
how social identity works, the role of ideologies, global and national
social stratification, the social aspects of work, education, the family,
and religion, and the dynamics of world governance and integration (globalization).
Course Structure:
Classroom activities: The class meets on
Tuesdays & Thursdays for two-hour sessions. On Tuesdays, Dr. Santos
will lecture on the topics covered in the Charon textbook - usually
a chapter at a time. On Thursdays, Dr. Santos will lecture on the classic
writings selected in the Howard anthology, usually two at a time. On both
occasions, there will be class discussion following a brief break. Attendance
is mandatory (absences/tardiness/leaving early will be penalized). Students
must come to class fully prepared to discuss the assigned readings for
that day. On Tuesdays, students may bring prepared personal questions and
comments to orally share with the whole class. On Thursdays, students will
be asked to bring a written (typed) page responding to the discussion questions
found at the end of each selection in the Howard textbook; the students
will form discussion circles (of five or six students) and share and discuss
their responses; afterwards, they will turn in the written responses to
Primavera, the Teaching Assistant, properly labeled (as to the selection
in question), dated, and named. Remember: no more than one page per assigned
reading selection (usually two readings per Thursday, sometimes one). The
more original, thoughtful, insightful, analytical, and critical the responses,
the better!
Research project:
The same discussion groups will also function as research groups. Each
group will design, organize, research, and write a research volume on
a topic related to the class, consisting of individual papers organized
according to some intellectual division of labor (i.e., each student focusing
on a sub topic of the overall group research topic). There will be a training
session on October 2 on how to select a topic, design, and research
a paper, with Ms. Christy Gavin, the library's social science bibliographer,
as our guest lecturer. Students are encouraged to consult with Dr. Santos
during his posted office hours, to seek approval of their groups' topics
and their own paper sub-topics. The completed research group volumes will
be due on Friday, November 21, at Dr. Santos office, no later than 5:00
pm.
Each volume should be bound and should include a title page and a table of content page, listing each paper by title and author. Each individual paper should be between 8 and 10 pages long, excluding the bibliography, or any appendices. For a precise guide on the paper's format and citation style, go to the following web page:
http://www.csubak.edu/~gsantos/guide-paper.htmlEach individual paper should pose a central argument, or thesis, or hypothesis (or a short set of them), and include the following sections: an introduction posing the thesis/hypothesis as well as the main theoretical approach and methodology of the paper; an analytical section presenting the main analysis based on relevant historical data and theoretical arguments; this section should not only be descriptive, but it should include your critical analysis to explain the things described, as well as other explore other plausible alternative explanations found in the literature, and your critique of them; finally, a summary with your main conclusions; after that, a bibliography and any appendices. The bibliography ought to reflect a significant search on the World Wide Web, as well as consulted books and scholarly journals in the library. Appendices should include charts, graphs, and figures covering the pertinent topics - the more well selected, enlightening, and relevant, the better. There is no need for a group bibliography - each paper's own will suffice. Also, each paper need not be paginated with the others.
Instructions for taking quizzes and writing essays in WebCT
To access and take an article quiz or a chapter test, go to the CSUB WebCT site: click and bookmark the following
URL address:
If you are doing it from an off campus computer, make sure your browser is properly configured (click the "Getting Started" link and read how you can ensure your browser is properly configured).
You will need to know your WebCT ID and password. All enrolled students have a "Runner" email account at CSUB. Your WebCT ID is the same as your Runner Mail Logon ID -- that is, what goes before the "@runner.csub.edu". For example, the WebCT ID for John Smith (jsmith4@runner.csub.edu) would be jsmith4. Your initial WebCT password is the last five digits of your Social Security Number. Once logged on to WebCT, you may change your password at any time, or you may be asked to do it immediately. We also suggest that you set up your login hint immediately - and write these codes somewhere where you will not lose them nor expose them to others.
If you don’t know your CSUB RunnerMail Logon ID or if you've changed your password and have forgotten it, contact the Student Technology Help Desk in the library (Lower Level Room 1), by phone at (661) 665-6677, during office hours.
Be prepared! The maximum duration for a Charon Chapter Quiz is 30 minutes, or 2 minutes per question (all quizzes have 15 questions). The maximum duration for a Charon Chapter Essay Test is 60 minutes, again roughly 30 minutes per essay (all essay test has 2 essay questions). After its designated time is up, access to each chapter exam will be closed and no late testing will be allowed, nor are there second chances. So make sure you have prepared well, chosen a day, time & place well, and have ample time and tranquility (no distractions) to begin testing, take time to read carefully each question before you answer it - do not rush! (A common mistake) You may take the test with an open book, but exclusively on your own, please. Never plan to take a test in two or more sittings, plan to take each one completely in a single session.
Save your answers. If you change your mind on a specific answer, don't forget to save it again! And don't forget to send your quiz/test to grade when you are done!
Security precaution: If you are using a public computer always quit both the WebCT site and the browser (Netscape or Explorer) after you are done with testing -- otherwise, someone may access your own WebCT account and "try out" some tests! This is because your access codes stay active until you quit the browser. And remember, never share your testing access codes with anyone.
Warning: Students are hereby forewarned that anybody caught cheating
on the tests & quizzes will automatically fail the course. WebCT
has a monitoring capability that automatically "flags" to instructors
a variety of potential cheating cases and situations -- including
comparing student answers, times of testing, etc.
Grading
The class-delivered written responses to the questions at the end of the Howard classic readings are worth 15 points. The Charon chapter quizzes are worth 30 points; the Charon chapter essay tests are worth 20 points. The research papers are worth 35 points (30 points for the paper, 5 points for the group effort). The final letter grade will be assigned, on a scale of 0 to 100 points, as follows:
94-100 = A | 87-89 = B+ | 77-79 = C+ | 65-69 = D |
90-93 = A- | 84-86 = B | 74-76 = C | < 65 = F |
80-83 = B- | 70-73 = C- |
Dr. Santos' office hours will be 3:05 pm to 5:00 pm, Tu & Th., that
is, after class. Visits by appointment are also possible, as well as
brief consultations by phone during office hours. Email for Dr. Santos
is strongly discouraged for any other purpose than basic communications
(e.g., will be absent, thank you's, etc.). Talking is a lot more efficient
and fun that typing! Students may also email Primavera or make an appointment
to meet.
Schedule of Reading Assignments
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9/9 |
9/11
Introduction + Chapter 1 How do sociologists study society? |
9/16 Charon's Book: Ten Questions
What does it mean to be human? |
9/18 C. Wright Mills: The Promise of Sociology Peter Berger: Invitation to Sociology |
9/23
Charon's Book: Ten Questions
How is society possible? |
9/25
Training Session for Research Groups |
9/30 Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Why are people unequal in society? |
10/2 |
10/7
Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Are human beings free? |
10/9
Classic Readings in Sociology: Robert Merton: Manifest & Latent Functions |
10/14 Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Why can't everyone be just like us? |
10/16 Classic Readings in Sociology: |
10/21
Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Why is there misery in the world? |
10/23
Classic Readings in Sociology: Herbert J. Gans: The Uses of Poverty |
10/28
Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Does the individual really make a difference? |
10/30
Classic Readings in Sociology: Erving Goffman: The Presentation of Self |
11/4
Charon's Book: Ten Questions
Is organized religion necessary for society? |
11/6
D.L. Rosenhan: On Being Sane in Insane Places |
11/11
HOLIDAY NO CLASS |
11/13
Charon's Book: Ten Questions Is sociology important?
Should we generalize about people? |
11/18
Jonathan Kosol: Savage Inequalities Louis Wirth: Urbanism as a Way of Life |
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Other group members' names/phones/email addresses:
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My group's research topic is:
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The individual research sub topics are:
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