SOCY 1101 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR: Mary McKenzie PHONE: (704) 687-4074

OFFICE: Fretwell 460-A EMAIL: mfmckenz@uncc.edu (usually answered w/I 24
hours)
OFFICE HOURS: MTR 12:30-2:00 WEBSITE: http://personal.uncc.edu/mfmckenz

REQUIRED TEXT
➢ McIntyre, Lisa J. The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology, Fourth Edition, 2009. Published by McGraw-Hill.
➢ McIntyre, Lisa J. The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology, Fourth Edition, 2009. Published by McGraw-Hill.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES
➢ Interwrite Learning PRS RF Response system – “clicker”

COURSE OBJECTIVES
➢ This course is an overview of the various fields and topics of study practiced by sociologists. This course will help you
to:
➢ understand briefly the history of sociology;
➢ understand how sociology is done;
➢ understand the pattern of relationships in American life;
➢ objectively understand patterns of life different from your own;
➢ understand the relationships between various sociological theories and their applications to life.

GENERAL EDUCATION GOAL

This class fulfills the social science element of the area of Inquiry in the Sciences. This course introduces students to the
methods of the social sciences and to the applications of these methods for gaining a scientific understanding of the social
world.

SYLLABUS
08/26/08 Review syllabus
[HW: read Introduction and Chapter 1 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 1 – discuss concepts
from Introduction and Chapter 1 in class blog]
08/28/08 Introduction; Chapter 1 – Responding to Chaos: A Brief History of Sociology
[HW: read Readings 1-3 from “Reader” for Tuesday; Group 14 – discuss readings in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/02/08 Readings 1 – 3;
[HW: read Chapter 2 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 2 – discuss concepts from Chapter 2 in
class blog]
09/04/08 UCAE note-taking workshop; Chapter 2 – The Sociological Eye
[HW: read Chapters 3 & 4 from “Core Concepts” for Tuesday; Group 3 – discuss concepts from Chapter 3 in
class blog; Group 4 – discuss concepts from Chapter 4 in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/09/08 Chapters 3 and 4 – Science and Fuzzy Objects: Specialization in Sociology; Who’s Afraid of Sociology?;
[HW: Prepare for exam on Thursday!]
09/11/08 Exam 1 [Taken on-line, not in the classroom!]
[HW: read Chapter 5 from “Core Concepts” for Tuesday; Group 5 – discuss concepts from Chapter 5 in class
blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/16/08 Chapter 5 – The Vocabulary of Science
[HW: read Chapter 6 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 6 – discuss concepts from Chapter 6 in
class blog]
09/18/08 UCAE learning styles workshop; Chapter 6 – Doing Social Research
[HW: read Readings 4-7 from “Reader” for Tuesday; Group 13 – discuss readings 4-5 in class blog; Group 12
– discuss readings 6-7 in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/23/08 Readings 4-7
[HW : Prepare for exam on Thursday !]
09/25/08 Exam 2 [Taken on-line, not in the classroom !]
[HW : read Chapter 7 from "Core Concepts" for Tuesday ; Group 7 – discuss concepts from Chapter 7 in
class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/30/08 UCAE study habit workshop; Chapter 7 – Culture
 [HW: read Readings 8-13 from “Reader” for Thursday; Group 11 – discuss readings 8-10 in class blog ; Group
10 – discuss readings 11-13 in class blog]
10/02/08 Readings 8-13
[HW: read Chapter 8 from “Core Concepts” for Tuesday; Group 8 – discuss concepts from Chapter 8 in class
blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10/07/08 Academic policies and advising workshop; Chapter 8 – Social Structure
[HW: read Readings 14-19 from “Reader” for the Thursday; Group 9 – discuss readings 14-16 in class blog;
Group 8 - discuss readings 17-19 in class blog]
10/09/08 Readings 14-19
[HW: read Chapter 9 from “Core Concepts” and Readings 20-23 for Thursday after Fall Break; Group 9 –
discuss concepts from Chapter 9 in class blog; Group 7 – discuss readings 20-21 in class blog; Group 6 – discuss
readings 22-23 in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10/14/08 FALL BREAK
10/16/08 Chapter 9 – Society and Social Institutions; Readings 20-23
[HW: Prepare for exam on Tuesday!]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10/21/08 Exam 3 [Taken on-line, not in the classroom!]
[HW: read Chapter 10 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 10 – discuss concepts from Chapter 10 in
class blog]
10/23/08 Chapter 10 – Socialization
[HW: read Readings 24-26 from “Reader” for Tuesday; Group 5 – discuss readings 24-26 in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10/28/08 Readings 24-26
[HW: read Chapter 11 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group11 – discuss concepts from Chapter 11 in
class blog]
10/30/08 Chapter 11 - Deviance and Social Control
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/04/08 Chapter 11 continued
[HW: read Readings 27-32 from “Reader” for Thursday; Group 4 – discuss readings 27-29 in class blog;
Group 3 – discuss readings 30-32 in class blog]
11/06/08 Readings 27-32
[HW: Prepare for exam on Tuesday!]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/11/08 Exam 4 [Taken on-line, not in the classroom!]
[HW: read Chapter 12 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 12 – discuss concepts from Chapter 12 in
class blog]
11/13/08 Chapter 12 – Stratification and Inequality
[HW: read Readings 33-36 from “Reader” for Tuesday; Group 2 – discuss readings 33-34 in class blog; Group
1 – discuss readings 35-36 in class blog]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/18/08 Readings 33-36
[HW: read Chapter 13 from “Core Concepts” for Thursday; Group 13 – discuss concepts from Chapter 13 in
class blog]
11/20/08 Chapter 13 – Inequality and Achievement: Social Class
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/25/08 Chapter 13 continued
[HW: read Chapter 14 from “Core Concepts” for Tuesday after Thanksgiving; Group 14 discuss concepts
from Chapter 14 in class blog]
11/27/08 HOLIDAY
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12/02/08 Chapter 14 – Inequality and Ascription: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender
12/04/08 Chapter 14 continued
[HW: read Readings 37-40 from “Reader” for Tuesday]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12/09/08 Readings 37-40; LAST DAY OF CLASS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12/18/08 FINAL EXAM; (9:00-11:00)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Participation 10% Group Readings - blog 10%
Concept Discussion – blog 10% B = 80-89
4 Exams @ 15% each 60% C = 70-79
Final 10% D = 60-69
100% F = 59 and below

A = 90-100
PARTICIPATION Everyone is required to have an Interwrite PRS RF response system to answer questions in class. This
allows each of you to register your responses to the questions posed throughout the lecture. Class
participation provides interactive learning as we go through the lecture material. Before exams, these
questions will be uploaded to the class website as a guide to the concepts covered on the exams.
Participation is worth 10% of your grade.

We will be using the “clicker” every class, except when we have an exam scheduled. Class meets 25 times
during the semester and you are expected to bring your clicker to use each class. I will start class with a
clicker question to review previous material and then use it for class concepts covered during the class. Each
question answered in class, regardless whether the question was answered correctly, will give you one point
toward your total. There will be at least 250 questions throughout the semester that will provide possible
points. There will be extra questions on many days, so you will have the chance to “make-up” for lost points
for days you are not in attendance, did not bring your clicker, or your clicker battery died, etc. You will be able
to accumulate extra credit points by attending all classes, being there on time, and by staying for the entire
class period.

BLOGS Everyone in class will be randomly divided into groups, numbered 1 through 14. Each group will be
responsible for discussing one chapter of sociological concepts and one set of readings from the reader in the
class blog. These blog entries will be available for the class to prepare for the next class and must be posted
before 9:00pm the night before they are to be discussed. Each member of the group will be graded by their
postings in the blog up to a maximum of 5% of the allotted percentage points (5% for the concept discussion
and 5% for the readings discussion).

I will be tracking postings of all class members in their discussions of these concepts throughout the semester.
Other than your group’s blog postings, it is advised that you post a minimum of 10 more times throughout the
semester for you to receive the full amount of the remaining 5% of points for the concept discussions and 5%
for the readings discussion. Extra credit will be given for more than 10 quality postings, which consists of
more than stating that you agree with what was stated previously. A quality posting will give an example
applying a concept, clarify the meaning of the concept, describe how the concepts were applied in the
readings, etc.

You will be able to access the class blog through Blackboard. If you need help with Blackboard, finding
computer labs, or other computer related questions, most can be answered at http://www.labs.uncc.edu/.

EXAMS Material from the textbook, readings, and lectures will appear on the exams. The exams apply the
sociological concepts covered in class, so when studying, do not study “definitions.” Treating concepts as
definitions will not benefit you when you attempt to apply them to the situations described in the exam
questions. Think about what these concepts are, how they work, in what situations they would be seen in
everyday life.

The exams will consist of multiple choice questions that you will answer on-line. Each exam will be available
for you to log in to take from any computer on campus or at home on the assigned day at 9:30. You will have
20 minutes to start the exam, so if you are running late you still have a window of opportunity in which to start
the exam. After you start the exam, you will have one minute of time allotted for each question on the exam
as the length of time to complete the exam (50 questions = 50 minutes, etc). The computerized exam will end
after the allotted time has been reached, so plan accordingly. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM, YOU MUST TAKE
THE OPTIONAL FINAL.

FINAL The final exam is optional. If you choose to take it, it will be non-cumulative and will focus on the material
covered from the last exam. It will be the same format as the previous four exams.

If you choose to take the final, you may then drop your lowest exam grade and we will shift the course
percentages so that the three exams you keep will count 45 percent and the final exam will count 25 percent.
(P accumulated/250)(10) + (BC)(.1) + (BR)(.1)+[(E1+E2+E3/3) (.45)] + [(FINAL) (.25)] = GRADE

If you take the final and score lower on your final exam than you did on your lowest exam grade, then your
exams will count 60 percent and the final exam will count 10 percent as the course percentages state.
(P accumulated/250)(10) + (BC)(.1) +(BR)(.1)+ [(E1+E2+E3+E4/4) (.6] + [(FINAL) (.1)] = GRADE

If you choose not to take the final, your four mandatory exams will count for 70 percent of your grade instead
of 60 percent (I add the percentage points from the final exam to the percentage points from the exams).
(P accumulated/250)(10) + (BC)(.1) +(BR)(.1)+ [(E1+E2+E3+E4/4)(.7)] = GRADE

CLASS POLICIES
➢ This syllabus contains the policies and expectations I have established for Introduction to
Sociology. Please read the entire syllabus carefully before continuing in this course. These policies
 and expectations are intended to create a productive learning atmosphere for all students. Unless
you are prepared to abide by these policies and expectations, you risk losing the opportunity to
participate further in the course.
➢ I will conduct this class in an atmosphere of mutual respect. I encourage your active participation
in class discussions. Each of us may have strongly differing opinions on the various topics of class
discussions. The conflict of ideas is encouraged and welcome. The orderly questioning of the
ideas of others, including mine, is similarly welcome. However, I will exercise my responsibility to
manage the discussions so that ideas and argument can proceed in an orderly fashion. You
should expect that if your conduct during class discussions seriously disrupts the atmosphere of
mutual respect I expect in this class, you will not be permitted to participate further.
➢ All questions and comments are welcome, but please be considerate of others and do not talk over them,
instead listen to them in the way you would want them to listen to you!!! If you feel compelled to talk to
your neighbor or friend beside you about things non-course related, please do so OUTSIDE of class.
Constant chatterers will be asked to leave the class since they are very disruptive and disturbing to other
students who are trying to hear my lecture and others’ comments!
➢ If I am late in arriving to class, you must wait a full 20 minutes after the start of class before you
may leave without being counted absent, or you must follow any written instructions I may give
you about my anticipated tardiness.
➢ Students in this course seeking accommodations to disabilities must first consult with the Office of
Disability Services at 687-4355and follow the instructions of that office for obtaining
accommodations.
➢ All students are required to read and abide by the Code of Student Academic Integrity. Violations
of the Code of Student Academic Integrity, including plagiarism, will result in disciplinary action as
provided in the Code. Definitions and examples of plagiarism are set forth in the Code. The Code
is available from the Dean of Students Office or online at: http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-
105.html
III. DEFINITIONS OF VIOLATIONS
In this section defining student violations of academic integrity: (a) "Intent" refers only to the intent to commit the
dishonest action. Other aspects of the student's motive (e.g., a desire to avoid academic suspension, or to help a
friend) are not material in determining whether an act of dishonesty has been performed; and (b) "Authorization" is
legitimate only if given by the faculty member responsible for the evaluation of the student's work.
A. CHEATING. Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study
aids or other devices in any academic exercise. This definition includes unauthorized communication of
information during an academic exercise.
Typical Examples: Copying from another student's paper or receiving unauthorized assistance during a quiz, test
or examination; using books, notes or other devices (e.g., calculators) when these are not authorized; procuring
without authorization tests or examinations before the scheduled exercise (including discussion of the substance of
examinations and tests when it is expected these will not be discussed); copying reports, laboratory work, computer
programs or files and the like from other students; collaborating on laboratory or computer work without
authorization and without indication of the nature and extent of the collaboration; sending a substitute to take an
examination.
B. FABRICATION AND FALSIFICATION. Intentional and unauthorized alteration or invention of any
information or citation in an academic exercise. Falsification is a matter of altering information, while
fabrication is a matter of inventing or counterfeiting information for use in any academic exercise.
Typical Examples: (Fabrication) inventing or counterfeiting data, research results, information or procedures;
inventing data or fabricating research procedures to make it appear that the results of one process are actually the
results of several processes; counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences; (Falsification) altering
the record of data or experimental procedures or results; false citation of the source of information (e.g.,
reproducing a quotation from a book review while indicating that the quotation was obtained from the book itself);
altering the record of or reporting false information about practicum or clinical experiences; altering grade reports or
other academic records; submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness in a scheduled academic exercise;
altering a returned examination paper and seeking regrading.
C. MULTIPLE SUBMISSION. The submission of substantial portions of the same academic work (including
oral reports) for credit more than once without authorization.
Typical Examples: Submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without instructor permission; making
minor revisions in a credited paper or report (including oral presentations) and submitting it again as if it were new
work. (Different aspects of the same work may receive separate credit; e.g., a report in History may receive credit
for its content in a History course and for the quality of presentation in a Speech course.)
D. PLAGIARISM. Intentionally or knowingly presenting the work of another as one's own (i.e., without
proper acknowledgement of the source). The sole exception to the requirement of acknowledging sources
is when the ideas, information, etc., are common knowledge. (NOTE: For more information regarding
plagiarism, see PLAGIARISM.)
Typical Examples: Submitting as one's own work of a "ghost writer" or commercial writing service; directly quoting
from a source without citation; paraphrasing or summarizing another's work without acknowledging the source;
using facts, figures, graphs, charts or information without acknowledgement of the source. Plagiarism may occur
orally and in writing. It may involve computer programs and files, research designs, distinctive figures of speech,
ideas and images, or generally any "information" which belongs to another.
E. ABUSE OF ACADEMIC MATERIALS. Intentionally or knowingly destroying, stealing, or making
inaccessible library or other academic resource material.
Typical Examples: Stealing or destroying library or reference materials needed for common academic exercises;
hiding resource materials so others may not use them; destroying computer programs or files needed in academic
work; stealing or intentionally destroying another student's notes or laboratory experiments; receiving assistance in
locating or using sources of information in an assignment where such assistance has been forbidden by the
instructor. (NOTE: The offense of abuse of academic materials shall be dealt with under this Code only when the
abuse violates standards of integrity in academic matters, usually in a course or experience for which academic
credit is awarded.)
F. COMPLICITY IN ACADEMIC DISHONESTY. Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help
another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Typical Examples: Knowingly allowing another to copy from one's paper during an examination or test; knowingly
distributing test questions or substantive information about the material to be tested before the scheduled exercise;
collaborating on academic work knowing that the collaboration will not be reported; taking an examination or test for
another student, or signing a false name on an academic exercise. (NOTE: Collaboration and sharing information
are characteristics of academic communities. These become violations when they involve dishonesty. Instructors
should make expectations about collaborations clear to students. Students should seek clarification when in doubt.)
➢ All students are required to abide by the UNC Charlotte Sexual Harassment Policy
(http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-61.html) and the policy on Responsible Use of University Computing
and Electronic Communication Resources (http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-66.html). Sexual
harassment, as defined in the UNC Charlotte Sexual Harassment Policy, is prohibited, even when carried
out through computers or other electronic communications systems, including course-based chat rooms or
message boards.
➢ The use of cell phones, beepers, or other communication devices is disruptive, and is therefore prohibited
during class. Except in emergencies, those using such devices must leave the classroom for the
remainder of the class period.
➢ Students are permitted to use computers during class for note-taking and other class-related work only.
Those using computers during class for work not related to that class must leave the classroom for the
remainder of the class period.
➢ I do not assign any extra credit work. There are options built into the class to improve your grade.
➢ I strongly recommend reading the assigned chapters since exam questions, blog information, and “clicker”
questions come predominately from the chapters. Also, if the material has been read then we can discuss
the material in class instead of me giving a straight lecture.
➢ In the case of inclement weather, call the University Inclement Weather Line (704) 687-2877 for
information. If the university is open, we will have class. Do not call me, or the department, because we
have no input regarding the university decision. I do ask that you use your best judgment regarding safety.
➢ The best way to contact me is by email at mfmckenz@uncc.edu. Though I will eventually check email on
Blackboard, it is not the best way to get in touch with me. I check my email at least once a day and
answer emails that ask questions, but do not reply to ones that are only informational. I usually receive
about 100 emails a day, so please refer to the syllabus to see if you can answer your own question first. I
prefer that you do not leave voice mail messages. I will answer the phone if I am in my office, but never
check voice mail when I am not on campus.
➢ University Centerfor Academic Excellence provides workshops, consultations, tutorial software and videos
for students to enhance study skills, learning strategies, and test taking strategies:
http://www.ucae.uncc.edu/.