Sociology 110 Social Justice
MWF 8:00-8:50
am
G110
My Office: 315A Aconda Court
MWF 9:05-9:55
am
HSS 204
Phone: 974-6021
Email: nbrannon@utk.edu
TEXTS: Beeghley, L. 2005. The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. 4th Edition. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Johnson, A. G. 2001. Privilege, Power, and Difference. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Course Objectives: In 1963 Peter Berger wrote in Invitation to Sociology, “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this - things are not what they seem.” Everyone has a perspective, a world view, a common sense notion of how human society operates. Yet Berger goes on to say that, “Social reality turns out to have many layers of meaning. The discovery of each new layer changes the perception of the whole.” (p. 23)
The main objective of the course is to examine those various layers of meaning and reality, to introduce the sociological perspective and understanding of society. While doing so, we will examine the structural aspects of human society that most often go unnoticed by the individual, yet have an enormous influence on the life chances, life style and opportunities available to people. People, in turn, make choices, take advantage of opportunities (or make opportunities) and influence changes in society. This examination will, hopefully, help you better understand the forces that shape your own life and how you shape the lives of those around you and the society in which you live.
Other objectives are to introduce students to social science research and how it can be useful in application to better understanding society and in shaping public policy.
Social stratification is a major feature of society and theme of the course. While often thought of as “human nature,” sociological examination reveals the social construction of stratification, how stratification occurs, and who benefits and who does not benefit from the stratification system.
The unequal distribution of societal “goods,” resources, and harm is a main feature of this course, just as “human rights” has become an important issue globally. The course will culminate in a discussion of proposed solutions and policy changes that can be implemented to solve issues of injustice and promote human rights.
Major Conceptual Tools: Sociological Imagination
Critical Thinking
Evaluation:
Three exams @ 100 points each
Four investigative/analysis papers @ 25 points each.
Total points: 400
Grading scale:
A=360-400
B+=340-359
B=320-339
C+=300-319
C=280-289
D=240-280
F=239 and less
Investigative/analytical papers:
Choose a topic of interest
Investigate: course materials and library resources to describe the topic.
Use observation of the topic as well as written resources, where appropriate.
Analyze the topic logically, in sociological perspective.
Present your findings in an organized 3-4-page paper, typewritten, double-spaced, 12-point font.
Attendance: is expected and required. (otherwise you should sign up for a strictly on-line course). If there is illness or some emergency and you must be absent from class, please notify your instructor, in advance if possible (though illness isn’t always predictable). Exemptions for exam absences will only be granted if the emergency is documented.
Assignments: Reading and writing assignments are expected to be done on time and late papers will not receive full credit, as those turned in on time.
Disability services: If you have any special needs, please contact the Office of Disability Services and then inform your instructor of any arrangements that need to be made. Your needs will be accommodated to the extent possible. If you need a note-taker, please provide a note from Disability Services to this effect.
Plagiarism: means that the work of someone else has been copied without giving proper credit to the original author; it is stealing someone else’s ideas and work and using them as your own. This is unacceptable and against school policy! Cheating is likewise unacceptable and will no only result in failing the assignment in which evidence of cheating is found, but could result in failing the course.
Class
Schedule (subject to change as opportunities arise)
On-line readings available through Hodges Library, Course Reserves,
Sociology 110, Sociology 110 Hastings
Aug.
18
Introduction to course. Sociological Imagination and World Views.
Read: Johnson, Chaps. 1,2
Aug.
20
Logical thinking tools. More on Sociological Imagination. What is
sociology? Sociological Perspective.
Read: “Dispassionate analysis: Definition
and format” on reserve
Aug.
23
How
does social justice fit in the discipline of Sociology? Basic concepts of
Sociology; sociological perspective continued.
Read: Johnson, Chap. 3 and Macionis,
Chap. 1, “Sociology: Perspective, Theory & Method” at course reserves.
Aug.
25
Scope of research and methodology
Read:
Babbie, “The Importance of Social Research”
Aug.
27
Public Sociology and Public Policy
Suggested reading: Michael Burawoy,
William Gamson, Charlotte Ryan, Stephen Pfohl, Diane Vaughan, Charles Derber,
and Juliet Schor. 2004. "Public Sociologies: A Symposium from Boston
College." Social Problems. 51(1): 103-130. (on reserve)
Aug.
30
Culture. Ideation. Expectations about behavior. Web of social relations.
Read: Macionis, Chapter 2 “Culture” at course reserves.
Sept.
1
Culture. Sub-culture. vs. Sub-Society. Institutions. Group culture.
Statuses (positions/social scripts). vs. Group behavior. Roles. Personality vs.
Identity. Nature vs. Nurture debate
Read: Macionis, Chap. 3
“Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age” and “India’s Sacred Cow” on
reserve.
Sept.
3
Socialization. Development of self. Mechanisms of control. Conformity vs.
deviance.
Read:
Champion, et al., Chap.4 “Socialization” at course reserves
Sept.
6
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Sept.
8
Productions of social differences and social inequalities. Social
differentiation. Social class
stratification. Status hierarchies.
Read Johnson,
Chaps. 4, 5
Sept.
10
Read Beeghley, Chaps. 1
First investigative/analytical paper due.
Sept. 13 Read Beeghley, Chap. 4
Sept. 15 Privilege [rich vs. poor]
Prestige [honored vs. stigmatized]
Read Johnson, Chaps. 6, 7
Sept. 17 Social mobility. Open vs. closed societies. Ascribed
vs. achieved. Sexism vs gender free.
Read Beeghley, Chap.
5 and Johnson, Chap. 8
Sept. 20 First exam on material covered so far.
Sept. 22 Read: Champion, Chap.
6, “Social Inequality: Stratification & Life Chances”
Sept. 24 What kinds of costs? Life
chances: physical and mental morbidity/mortality, economic costs of survival.
Read Beeghley, Chap. 6
Sept.
29 Power
[legitimate vs. illegitimate/ empowered vs. unempowered].
Oct.
4 Ethnicity & Race
Read
Beeghley, Chap. 2.
Oct.
6 Read Champion, Chap.
7, “Ethnicity and Race” on reserve.
Oct.
8 Read Brodkin, “How
did Jews Become White Folks?” on reserve.
Second
investigative/analytical paper due.
Oct. 11 Gender.
Read Beeghley, Chap. 3.
Oct.
13 Read Champion, Chap.
8 “Gender”
Oct.
14-15 FALL HOLIDAY
Oct.
18 Read: McIntosh,
White Privilege.”
Oct.
20 Read: Benokratitis,
“How subtle sex discrimination works” on reserve
Oct. 25 Poverty.
Oct. 29 What is social justice?
Nov.
3 Third
investigative/analytical paper due.
Nov.
5 Criminology.
Read Weisheit and Morn,
Chap. 7 “Justice American Style.”
Suggested reading: Jeffrey Reiman. 2004. The Rich
Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison. Pearson: Boston.
Nov. 8 Political economy. What is
the state? What is role of the state, institution, and the individual?
Nov. 10 Read Weisheit and Morn,
Chap. 12, “Individual Strategies for Achieving Justice.”
Nov.
12 Read Weisheit and Morn,
Chap. 13, “Organizations Seeking Justice”
Nov. 15 Read: The Robinson Rojas
Archive, “Notes on the Notions of State &
Development”
Nov. 17 Read: Beeghley, Chap.
11
Nov.
22 Social Policy. Finding
Solutions. Read: Johnson, Chap 10.
Nov. 24 Putting sociology and social
research into action and public policy.
Read: SSSP’s “Solutions: Agenda for Social Justice
2004.” Purchase for $3 or read on-line at www.sssp1.org
Fourth
investigative/analytical paper due
Nov.
25-26 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Dec. 8 FINAL
EXAM (8 am class) 8 – 10 am
Dec.
6 FINAL
EXAM (9 am class) 10:15 am – 12:15 pm