DR. ROBERT MANIS

SECTIONS 812,934,935

PHONE: 651-4849 

Sociological principles underlying the development, structure and function of culture, society, human groups, personality formation and social change. (Sounds boring, actually it's a lot more interesting than that!)

Henslin, Essentials of Sociology, 2^nd ed. (Abbreviated as HN) 
OR Henslin, Sociology, 4th ed. (H4)
(Hardcover)

Manis, Challenge to Society (MN) 

Huxley, Brave New World

Students will also be asked to read the LA Times, NY Times, SF Chronicle or another major daily paper or their website.

SCHEDULE: week of:
 

Jan. 25-27. Introduction, Theory Methods. READING: HN ch. 1{H4 -same}

Jan.31- Feb. 3. Cultures, subcultures, READING: HN ch.2 {H4-same},MN ch.2 

Feb 7-10. Socialization READING: HN ch. 3{H4 - same} MN p. 56-62 FILM: BEING THERE 

Feb 14-17. Interaction 
READING: HN ch. 4 {H4 -same}

The student will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of: 

1. the Sociological Imagination in the tradition of C. Wright Mills, 

2. cultural diversity 

3. the crucial importance of social locations and statuses in determining our life chances. 

4. how behavior and self image are shaped by the factors of nature and nurture 

5. social science research methods, data interpretation, and ethical issues related to research 

6. major sociological perspectives including conflict, functionalist and interactionist 

7. social institutions created within society to meet social needs of individuals 

8. critical thinking

Feb 29- Mar. 2.  Family READING: HN ch. 12, {H4 -ch.16}MN ch.10. 

Mar 6-9. Groups READING: HN ch. 5, {H4 - ch.6-7};MN p.49-55. 

Mar 13-16. Deviance READING: HN ch. 6, {H4 -ch. 8};MN ch. 5 

Mar 20-23.  Stratification READING: HN ch. 7,{H4 -ch.9}; MN ch. 6 FILM: JUNGLE FEVER 

Mar 27-30.  Racism and Sexism READING: HN ch. 9,{H4 -ch. 12}; MN ch.8 Plus READING: HN p.245-63,{H4 -ch. ch11}; MN ch. 7. 

Apr. 3-6. Economics READING: HN p. 293-305, {H4 -ch. 14};MN ch.11 FILM: THE BIG ONE 

Apr 10-13. Politics READING: 
HN p. 280-292, {H4 - ch. 15};MN ch.3 FILM: BULLWORTH

Apr 24-27. Media READING: MN ch 14. 

May 1-4. Environment READING: HN ch. 15,{H4 -ch.22} --ARTICLE REVIEWS DUE. 

May 10 &11. FINALS 

Reading assignments should be completed before class on the date assigned. Written assignments must be typed double-spaced, and turned in by the beginning of class. Late papers and make-ups will not be permitted except under extreme circumstances. Written assignments will be based on applying sociological concepts and principles to several movies shown in class. 

Every class period when a movie ISN'T being shown, students will be asked to clip, xerox or print out analytical articles from a major newsdaily or its website, relating to the topic being discussed and bring it to class, with a brief critical analysis paragraph. We will discuss these articles weekly. These articles will be turned in at the end of the semester. Students will also be asked to fill out the discussion questions from the workbook weekly. In twice-weekly classes, the workbook questions will be turned in on the first session, the articles the second. 

PARTICIPATION:

This class is heavily oriented towards participation. Because not all students are equally vocal, and because not all will want to share with the entire class, small groups will be frequently used. Class members will be asked to rate each other at the end of the term.

This is a critical thinking course. The article reviews will be a single paragraph answering one or more of the following questions about the topic: [1] causes and consequences, [2] similar and/or dissimilar situations, and [3] who benefits from the situation. 

GRADING:

Grades will assigned according to standard criteria from A to D- and F. Students who drop are responsible to officially withdraw, otherwise they risk getting an F instead of W. 
 

TESTING:

All tests will be done on-line. They may be done in the lab or at home. Quizzes must be completed weekly within one hour of completion of the first class session. They will become available each week on Sunday morning. The Final will cover lectures,movies and readings in MN. All tests and quizzes will be open book and open note, BUT don't be fooled - that doesn't mean they will be easy. The first quiz is optional and may be done as extra credit or to replace a missing quiz.