Sociology 101
Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2003
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Revised Reading Schedule

Note: This reading schedule has been revised in two ways. First, readings from The Sociology Student Writer’s Manual (abbreviated SSWM) have been added in; they are listed in boldface below. Second, the book Acts of Resistance has been moved to the end of the segment of the course where we discuss The Weight of the World.

Weeks 1-2: Thinking about sociology, thinking through sociology

M Aug 25: Introduction to the Course: Mechanics
W Aug 27: Introduction to the Course: What Sociology Is. Read Ritzer, pp. 1-12; Giddens, ch. 1 (pp. 3-29)
F Aug 29: Introduction to the Course: What Sociology Does. Read Desai, pp. 7-34; Giddens, ch. 2 (pp. 30-54)

M Sep 1: No class – Labor Day.
W Sep 3: Desai, pp. 35-76
F Sep 5: Desai, pp. 77-119

Weeks 3-10: Sociological topics for study – readings for Massey are listed by their number in the table of contents

Week 3: Culture and Society

M Sep 8: Desai, pp. 120-149
W Sep 10: Giddens, ch. 3 (pp. 55-89)
F Sep 12: Massey: Group A: 1, 2, 3, 4; Group B: 1, 2, 3, 5; Group C: 1, 2, 3, 6

Week 4: Socialization, Social Interaction and Everyday Life

M Sep 15: Theory translation paper handed out and discussed; Giddens, chs. 4-5 (pp. 90-137); SSWM chs. 1-2 (15-64)
W Sep 17: Massey: Group A: 8, 9, 11; Group B: 9, 10, 12; Group C: 8, 10, 12
F Sep 19: Ritzer, pp. 13-41

Week 5: Social Groups and Social Stratification

M Sep 22: Giddens, ch. 6, 8 (pp. 138-177, 216-261)
W Sep 24: Massey: Group A: 13, 14; Group B: 14, 15; Group C: 15, 16
F Sep 26: Ritzer, pp. 42-74

Week 6: Global Inequality

M Sep 29: Theory translation DUE at the start of class; Giddens, ch. 9 (pp. 262-291)
W Oct 1: Massey: Group A: 17, 19, 21; Group B: 18, 19, 22; Group C: 19, 20, 21
F Oct 3: Midterm prep sheet handed out and discussed; Ritzer, pp. 75-113; SSWM ch. 9 (167-177)

Week 7: Midterm Exam

M Oct 6: Massey: Group A: 23, 26, 29; Group B: 24, 25, 27; Group C: 25, 28, 29
W Oct 8: Midterm Examination prep session – come prepared with your questions.
F Oct 10: Midterm Examination.

Week 8: Gender, Ethnicity, and Social Movements

M Oct 13: No class – Fall Recess.
W Oct 15: Giddens, chs. 10, 11, 13 (pp. 292-371, 394-434)
F Oct 17: Massey: Group A: 30, 31, 34; Group B: 30, 31, 32; Group C: 30, 31, 33

Week 9: Work, Education and the Mass Media

M Oct 20: Journal critique paper handed out and discussed; Giddens, chs. 14, 16 (pp. 435-466, 498-527); SSWM ch. 10 (pp. 178-193)
W Oct 22: Massey: Group A: 37, 40; Group B: 38, 40; Group C: 39, 40
F Oct 24: Ritzer, pp. 114-145

Week 10: Urbanization, Globalization and the Environment

M Oct 27: Giddens, chs. 19-20 (pp. 604-672)
W Oct 29: Massey: Group A: 44, 47; Group B: 45, 48; Group C: 46, 49
F Oct 31: Journal critique paper DUE at the start of class; Ritzer, pp. 146-177

Weeks 11-13: Social inequality and everyday life

Readings from The Weight of the World are assigned to you on the basis of group (see p. 9 of the syllabus for page numbers).

From this point on in the course, we will utilize a seminar format – essentially, it will be mostly discussion and very little lecture from here on out.

M Nov 3: Research paper handed out and discussed; WW, pp. 1-22 + 3 other essays from “The Space of Points of View”; SSWM ch. 5 (pp. 107-118)
W Nov 5: WW, pp. 123-129 + 2 other essays from “Site Effects”
F Nov 7: Ritzer, pp. 178-202

M Nov 10: WW, pp. 181-189 + 3 other essays from “The Abdication of the State”
W Nov 12: WW, pp. 255-256 + 4 other essays from “On the Way Down”
F Nov 14: Ritzer, pp. 203-231; SSWM ch. 6 (pp. 119-145)

M Nov 17: WW, pp. 421-426 + 3 other essays from “Outcasts on the Inside”; AR, 2 essays from pp. 1-44
W Nov 19: WW, pp. 507-513 + 3 other essays from “The Contradictions of Inheritance”; AR, 2 essays from pp. 52-90, 94-105
F Nov 21: Ritzer, pp. 232-268; SSWM ch. 7 (pp. 146-155)

M Nov 24: Final examination prep sheet handed out and discussed; WW, pp. 607-629
W/F Nov 26/28: No class – Thanksgiving Recess.

Week 14: Wrapping up the course – This segment of the course will be dedicated to dealing with questions about the final exam and the research paper and to pulling everything together

M Dec 1: Final examination prep session – come prepared with questions about the exam
W Dec 3: Paper prep session – come prepared with your questions on the research paper
F Dec 5: Final examination, part one in Hash 210

M Dec 8: Final examination, part two in Hash 210

W Dec 10, 1015am to 1215pm: Research paper DUE at start of exam session; research presentations must be given during final session