INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Robert E. Wood, Professor of Sociology
Fall 2008 (50:920:207)
        Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice

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

Daily Schedule

Check Here for Special Announcements and Reminders
You may want to bookmark this page!

Wed. Sept. 3
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 Remember that your print copy will soon be outdated, so check this page regularly.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.

Fri. Sept. 5
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
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Mon. Sept. 8
Finish reading Ch. 1 if you haven't already.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Wed. Sept. 10
Read: Ferrante Ch. 2, Theoretical Perspectives and Methods of Research--Mexico, pp. 26-39.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Sept. 12
Finish Ferrante Ch. 2
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 1 (The Sociological Imagination) due at beginning of class.
Mon. Sept. 15
Continue discussion of Ferrante Ch. 2
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
For Review: online streaming video on Making Causal Arguments (covers this part of class discussion)
Wed. Sept. 17
Read: Ferrante Ch. 3, Culture--South Korea.
Japanese Baseball film Streaming Video clip on "Samurai Baseball"  [phone modem users] [cable/T1 users]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Sept. 19
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")
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 2 (Culture and Society) due at beginning of class.
Don't forget your printout!
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Mon. Sept. 22
Read: Ferrante Ch. 4, Socialization--Israel/West Bank/Gaza
Resocialization FilmVideo clip on military resocialization [phone modem users] [cable/T1 users]
Nacirema short paper assignment should be submitted via Sakai before this class
Wed. Sept. 24 Continue discussion of Ferrante Ch. 4.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout .
Fri. Sept. 26
Study guide for second exam available
Read: Ferrante Ch. 5, Social Interaction and the Social Construction of Reality--Congo
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout (includes Monday)
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 3 due at beginning of class.
Don't forget your printout!
Mon. Sept. 29
Continue discussion of Ch. 5.
Wed. Oct. 1
Exam Review.
Fri. Oct. 3
In-Class Exam #1. Bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser.
Mon. Oct. 6
Read: Ferrante, Ch. 6: Social Organizations-McDonald's/MNCs
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Wed. Oct. 8
Continue discussion of Ch. 6
Excerpt from Bill Moyers NOW: Water War in Bolivia: Leasing the Rain (July 5, 2002) [Film Clip]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Oct. 10
Mon. Oct. 13
Read: Ferrante Ch. 7, Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control--China.
Resocialization Film Video clip on sexual harassment as a stigma contest   [phone modem users] [cable/T1 users]
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Wed. Oct. 15
Continue discussion of Ch. 7
Film clip: NOW: Prisons for Profit (links to both video and transcript)
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Oct. 17
Read: Begin Ferrante, Ch. 8, Social Stratification--World's Richest and Poorest, pp. 198-208
Discussion of Virtual Exploration assignment (due by Dec. 3rd)

PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Mon. Oct. 20
Read: Finish Ferrante, Ch. 8.
Film: Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
Wed. Oct. 22
Continue discussion of Ch. 8
PBS News Hour excerpt on Winner-Take-All Society
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Oct. 24
Further discussion of social stratification
SIEU streaming videos: Stronger Together: Invisible No More: Quality Home Care and Janitors for Justice
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Mon. Oct. 27
Film: "Race--the Power of an Illusion. Episode 1: The Difference Between Us." Film website highly recommended.
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 6 (Social Stratificaiton) due at beginning of class. Don't forget your printout!
Wed. Oct 29
Read: Ferrante Ch. 9, Race and Ethnic Classification--United States.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Oct 31
Study Guide for Exam 2 available
Continue discussion of Ch. 9.
Review online: Ten Quick Facts About Race (requires Internet Explorer)
No new PowerPoint
Mon. Nov. 3
People's Century film: Skin Deep . Film begins at 9:00 am.
Wed. Nov. 5
Film discussion and exam review
Fri. Nov. 7
In-Class Exam #2. Bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser.
Mon. Nov. 10
Do-Your-Own Exercise discussed. (Reading through the assignment ahead of time is recommended)
Wed. Nov. 12
Read: Ferrante Ch. 10, Gender--Samoa. Discussion of sex and gender, gender polarization, and Margaret Mead's research in Samoa.
Excerpt from film, Margaret Mead: An Observer Observed.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Nov. 14
Film: Still Kiling Us Softly III
Mon. Nov. 17
Continue discussion of rest of Ch. 10. Excerpt on micro-credit from Beyond Beijing: Women and Economic Justice
Wed. Nov. 19
Ferrante, Ch. 12, Family and Aging--Japan
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Fri. Nov. 21
Continue discussion of Ch. 12.
Mon. Nov. 24
Barkan MicroCase Exercise 12 (Education and Religion) due at beginning of class. Don't forget your printout!
Film: 1-800-India (changing family and gender roles in India's new economy)
Wed. Nov. 26
Ferrante, Ch. 13, Education--European Union, pp. 366-398
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Mon. Dec. 1
Continue discussion of Ch. 13, p. 494 to end of chapter.
PowerPoint - Pdf Handout
Wed. Dec. 3 Continue discussion of Ch. 13.
Do-Your Own Exercise due at the beginning of class.
Fri. Dec.5
Study Guide for final exam available
Ch. 16: Social Change--Greenland, pp. 458-488.
Mon. Dec. 8
Continue discussion of Ch. 16
Course evaluation
Virtual Exploration due (any one from Wadsworth Virtual Exploration site)
Wed. Dec. 10
Final Exam Review--bring questions from the study guide
Mon. Dec. 15
Final Examination 9:00-12:00 (arrive on time and bring a #2 pencil and a good eraser)

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

updated: September 6, 2008