INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Robert E. Wood, Professor of Sociology
Spring 2009 (50:920:207)
        Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice

Course Homepage URL: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/~wood/207syl.htm

Tentative Daily Schedule


Tues. Jan. 20
Innaguration Day!
Introduction to the Course. Begin discussion: What is sociology?
Please Complete the following tasks ASAP:
Access the online syllabus. Read it carefully and familiarize yourself with its navigation structure. You are responsibe for knowing its content. Remember that your print copy will soon be outdated, so check this page regularly.
Update your email address if necessary at https://www.acs.rutgers.edu/studentdir/ (this is important for receiving course and departmental emails). Be sure to keep your registered email address current in order to receive important course and departmental information.
Get a Student Photo ID (available from the Impact Booth in the Campus Center) right away if you don't have one.
 Access this course in Sakai (click on the relevant link above) and familiarize yourself with its layout. The course should be automatically listed when you log into Sakai, once you are formally enrolled.
Thurs. Jan. 22
What is sociology? We will use Microcase and Emile Durkheim's study of suicide to continue exploring this question.
Read: Ferrante Ch. 1, The Sociological Imagination
Barkan Exercise 1 briefly discussed.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Tues. Jan. 27

Continue discussion of Ch. 1.
Thurs. Jan. 29
Read: Ferrante Ch. 2, Theoretical Perspectives and Methods of Research--Mexico, pp. 26-39.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 1 (The Sociological Imagination) due at beginning of class.
Tues. Feb. 3
Finish Ferrante Ch. 2
For Review: online streaming video on Making Causal Arguments (covers this part of class discussion)
Thurs. Feb. 5
Read: Ferrante Ch. 3, Culture--North and South Korea.
Read: Horace Miner, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema," American Anthropologist (June 1956) (you will be asked to log in with your net id; at the next screen click on "proceed to pdf")
Nacirema Paper assignment discussed in class.
Japanese Baseball film Streaming Video clip on "Samurai Baseball"  [phone modem users] [cable/T1 users]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Tues. Feb. 10

Continue discussion of Ch. 3
If time permits: The Colonel Comes to Japan (video)
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 2 (Culture and Society) due at beginning of class. Don't forget your printout!

Thurs. Feb. 12
Study guide for first exam available
Read: Ferrante Ch. 4, Socialization--Israel/Palestinian Territories
Resocialization FilmVideo clip on military resocialization [phone modem users] [cable/T1 users]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Nacirema short paper assignment due at beginning of class
Tues. Feb 17
Read: Ferrante Ch. 5, Social Interaction and the Social Construction of Reality--Congo
Exam review.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Thurs. Feb 19
Exam Review.
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 3 due at beginning of class. Don't forget your printout!
Tues. Feb. 24
In-Class Exam #1. Bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser.
Thurs. Feb. 26
Read: Ferrante, Ch. 6: Social Organizations-McDonald's/MNCs
Resocialization Film Excerpt from Bill Moyers NOW: Water War in Bolivia: Leasing the Rain (July 5, 2002) [Film Clip]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout (for today and Wednesday)
Tues. March 3
Thurs. March 5 Complete discussion of Ch. 6.
Read: Ferrante Ch. 7, Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control--China (through core concept 5)
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout for today and Tuesday
Tues. March 10
Finish reading: Ferrante Ch. 7, Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control--China.
Resocialization Film Video clip on sexual harassment as a stigma contest  [cable/T1 users]
Recommended Film clip: NOW: Prisons for Profit (links to both video and transcript), about the privatization of incarceration in the U.S. Responses encouraged on Sakai discussion board
Thurs. March 12
Read: Begin Ferrante, Ch. 8, Social Stratification--World's Richest and Poorest, pp. 198-208
Film: Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
Tues. March 24
Read: Finish Ferrante, Ch. 8.
Referenced in class: The Gini Index by Country
SIEU streaming videos: Stronger Together: Invisible No More: Quality Home Care and Janitors for Justice
 PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Thurs. March 26
Film: "Race--the Power of an Illusion. Episode 1: The Difference Between Us." Film website highly recommended.
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 6 (Social Stratification) due at beginning of class. Don't forget your printout!
Tues. March 31
Read: Ferrante Ch. 9, Race and Ethnic Classification--United States.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Thurs. Apri 2
Study guide for the second exam
Continue discussion of Ch. 9.
Review online: Ten Quick Facts About Race (at film's website)
Tues. April 7
People's Century film: Skin Deep
Thurs. April 9
In-Class Exam #2. Bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser.
Tues. April 14
Do-Your-Own Exercise discussed. (Reading through the assignment ahead of time is recommended)
Film: Still Kiling Us Softly III
Thurs. April 16
CLASS CANCELLED (Prof. Wood has to be out of town)
Tues. April 21

Read: Ferrante Ch. 10, Gender--Samoa.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout

Thurs. April 23
Study Guide for final exam

Film: 1-800-India (changing family and gender roles in India's new economy)
Do-Your Own Exercise due at the beginning of class.
Tues. April 28 and Thurs. April 30
Ferrante, Ch. 12, Family and Aging--Japan
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Film: Beyond Beijing: Women and Economic Development (Microcredit in Bangladesh)
Time for exam review on April 30
Friday, May 8th, 2:00 p.m.
Final Examination (arrive on time and bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser) . Note: While the final exam will not be cumulative, the study guide will identify some key concepts and skills from earlier in the course that will be included, along with the chapters since the second exam.

The URL for this page is: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/~wood/Intro/207schedule.htm

updated: April 22, 2009