Introduction to Sociology

Sociology 104
Fall 2019
Department of Sociology, METU

Time and Place: Tuesday 12:40 – 15:30 Department of Physics Building,

P-6
Instructor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Barış Kuymulu
E-mail: kuymulu@metu.edu.tr
Office Hours: Tuesday after class and by appointment via e-mail.
Office: Social Science Building, B-136

Course Objective
This is an introductory course that aims to familiarize you with the
central theoretical and methodological currents within the discipline of
sociology. We will discuss the issues, which have been the traditional
focus of sociology, such as the emergence of modernity and capitalism,
industrialization and urbanization, as well as relatively newer subjects
such as the emergence of politics of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual
preferences etc. Although we will cover a wide variety of topics, we will
focus more thoroughly on different forms of inequalities of the
contemporary world based on various axes of social difference such as
social class, race, ethnicity and gender.

The course will be based on a mixture of lecture and discussion, therefore

being present in class and showing intellectual engagement with the
issues at hand has a vital role in determining your grade. During the
lectures, I will not confine my self to the textbook, and will make use of
other material, which will not be available to those who are absent.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to come to class and take notes.

Text Book: Henslin, James (2014) Essentials of Sociology: A Down to

Earth Approach (11th Edition). Allyn & Bacon Publishers. (Available at the
Dereağzı copy center)

Course Requirements & Grading:

In-class Midterm Exam: 40 pts.

Attendance & Participation: 10 pts.
Final Exam: 50pts.

The time and place of the final exam will be announced

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. This is not

because you have to respect intellectual property rights, but the
labor of others.

1
Course Schedule

Week 1 – 24 September: Course Introduction

Week 2 – 1 October: The Sociological Perspective (Chapter 1)

Week 3 – 8 October: Culture (Chapter 2)

Week 4 – 15 October: Socialization (Chapter 3)

Week 5 – 22 October: Social Structure and Social Interaction (Chapter 4)

C. Wright Mills, “The Sociological Imagination – The Promise,” in Down

to Earth Sociology
(pp. 20-27). (Available in METU Class).

Week 6 – 29 October: NO CLASS.

Week 7 – 5 November: Global Stratification (Chapter 7)

Week 8 – 12 November: MIDTERM EXAM

Week 9 – 19 November: Social Class (Chapter 8)

Week 10 – 26 November: Race and Ethnicity (Chapter 9)

Week 11 – 3 December: Gender and Age (Chapter 10)

Week 12 – 10 December: Marriage and Family (Chapter 12)

Clifford Geertz, “Life without Fathers or Husbands,” in Conformity and

Conflict
(pp. 201-209). (Available in METU Class).

Week 13 – 17 December: Politics and the Economy (Chapter 11)

Week 14 – 24 December: Population and Urbanization (Chapter 14)