Sociology

Syllabus

Mr.TrentGatzemeyer
Trent.gatzemeyer@raypec.org
Room607SHS
8168922378

Course Description
Sociologyisthestudyofhumanculturesandsocietiesandthegroupsfoundwithin.Thisclassisabasicintroductiontothestudyof
sociology.Theclassplacesanemphasisonviewingsubgroupsinsocietyfromavarietyofperspectives,equality&humanrights,
preparingforsocialchange(college,workforce,marriage,etc.),communityinvolvement,socialproblems,aging,majorsociology
perspectives,andsocialmovementsthroughouthistory.Coursematerialshouldbeapplicabletoeverydaystudentlifewithdirect
correlationbetweentheRayPeccommunityandthesociologyclass.Sociologyisallaroundyou.RayPecstudentsareexperienced
expertsinthisfieldofstudyandwilllearnhowtoidentify,analyzeandutilizethoseaspectsofsociologytheyencountereachday.

Unit Preview
Unit1IntroductiontoSociology
Chapter1Introduction,Chapter2Culture,Chapter3SocialStructure,Chapter4Conformity&Adaptation,GroupResearchProject
(conductingBehavioralResearch,articlereview)
Unit2TheIndividual&Society
Chapter5Socialization,Chapter6Adolescence,Chapter7Adulthood,Chapter11Ageism,Chapter16PopulationGrowth
(book/moviereviewAssignment,socializationtimeline,)
Unit3SocialInequality
Chapter9SocialStratification,Chapter10Race&Ethnicity,Chapter11Gender,Chapter11HealthCare,(Socialissuepresentations)
Unit4SocialInstitutions
Chapter12Family,Chapter13Economy&Politics,Chapter14Education,Chapter14Religion(GroupProjectDiversityproject)

Course Goals & Essential Skills

Studentswillbeabletodistinguishbetweencommonsensemisconceptionsanddatadrivenresearchwhenmaking
generalizationsaboutsocialsubgroups.
Studentswillbeabletoidentifysocialproblems,designviablesolutions,andapplyonesmallscalesolutiontoasocialproblem.
Studentswillbeabletoconductbehavioralresearchusingthescientificmethodandidentifyinefficienciesintheirresearch.
Studentswillexplorethestructureofandidentifyqualitiesandweaknessesofthefollowinginstitutions:HealthCare,Education,
EnvironmentalConservation,andHuman/CivilRights.
Studentswillbeabletoapplyconceptsandideasinsociologytoreallifecircumstances.
Studentswillexplainmajorsociologyperspectivesandexplainhowinstitutionsandculturesdirecthumanbehavior.
Studentswillbeabletoillustratethethreemainsociologicalperspectivesandhowtheyviewthesocialworldandissues.
Studentswillbeabletodefinesociologyandperspectivewhilebeingabletoapplyittotheirownlivesandcommunities.

Course Assignments
InclassassignmentsNotebookwillbekeptbystudentsthroughoutthesemester.Notebookswillcontainbellwork,lecturenotes,
andinclassassignments.Notebookswillserveasanaidforcompletingtakehometestsandstudyingforthefinalexam.Bringthis
notebooktoclassdaily.Notebooksubmissionwillbeoptionandwouldreplacequestionsfromthetakehomeportionofthetest.
Teststherewillbe3tests.Ifpossible,testswillbetypedessays.Testswillbepartialinclassm/candparttakehomeandstudents
mustsubmitacopytoturnitin.comalongwiththepossibilityofprovidingcoachGatzwithatypedpapercopy.(3testsaccountfor
about50%ofsemestergrade)
ArticleReviewswillbeassignedduringthefirstgradingperiod.Studentswillselect&readanarticlerelatedtosociologyandmake
ashortpresentationtotheclassortypea2pagereflectioninaccordancewiththescoringguide.(1articlereviewaccountsforabout
710%ofsemestergrade)
Book/moviereviewTherewillbeonestudentreviewduringthe2nd
/3rd unitwherestudentswillselectamovieorbookthatdealswith
asociologytopicoftheirchoosing.Theywillthengiveabriefclasspresentationor2pagesummaryoftheirexperienceandhowit
relatestosociology.Studentsmustgettheirbookormovieapprovedbeforecompletingthisassignment..(510%ofgrade)
DiversityProjectwillbeassignedatthebeginningoftheclass,andwillbedueatthecompletionofthesemester.Studentswill
volunteertheirtimeataimpoverishedcenter,anethniccenter,oranalternativereligiouscenter(fromtheircurrentphilosophy)and

willviewthegathering/activity.Studentswillthensummarizewhattheysawandgivereflectionsontheirexperience.(Thisprojectwill
accountforabout510%ofthesemestergrade)
AGroupProjectwillbeassignedforthefinalgradingperiod.Studentswillworkwithoneortwopartnerstoidentifyasocial
concern,collectresearchdata,planandcompleteacommunityserviceproject,andpresenttheirprojecttotheclass.(Thisproject
willaccountforabout10%ofthesemestergrade.)
Participation:Throughoutthesemesterwewillworkingroups,createinformalpresentationsandexpectallstudentstoactively
participatewithinboththegroup&classsetting.
TheSemesterFinalExamwillbeacomprehensiveassessment.(Thefinalaccountsfor10%ofsemestergrade)

Academic Procedures
MaterialsStudentsareresponsibleforcomingtoclasspreparedwiththeirtextbook,classfolder,paper,writingutensil,andany
assignmentsduethatperiod.Studentswillnotbegivenpassestoretrieveassignmentsormaterials.
AbsentworkTheteachermaintainsanabsentbinderformakeupwork/missedclassinformation.Itistheabsentstudents
responsibilitytochecktheabsentbookandcompleteassignments.ItisthestudentsresponsibilitytoarrangewithMr.Gatzan
alternativeduedateifadditionaltimeisneededtocompleteassignments,otherwisethepostedduedatewillstandforallstudents
(absentornot).Arrangementsmustbemadepriortotheduedateinquestion.
LateworkNotebookcheckswillnotbeacceptedlateunlessapprovedbeforetheassignmentdeadline.Testswillbeacceptedupto
oneweeklateoruntiltheyaregradedandreturned.Testsmaynotberesubmittedaftergradingbutstudentsareencouragedto
checktheiranswerswiththeinstructorbeforetheduedate.
Resubmissionsofwork/schoolredopolicyAllassignmentsinthisclassaregivenatleastoneweekpriortobeingdue.Workwillnot
beacceptedlate.Testswillbeaccepteduptooneweeklateuntiltheyaregradedandreturnedtostudents.Testsmaynotbe
resubmittedbutstudentsmaycheckanswerswiththeinstructorbeforetheduedate.Thearticleandbookreviewsmaybesubmitted
lateandorresubmittedinaccordancewiththeschoolpolicyofupto3late/redoassignments.
Guidelines for Success
Thiscourseisnotdifficultifyouareengagedinclass,butmuchofthecontentisabstractandsignificant.Portionsoftheworkmustbe
completedathomeandsomestudentswillstrugglewithbudgetingtheirtime.Becauseofthis,itiscriticalthatallstudentsdothefollowingto
besuccessful:
Takenotesoverlecturesanddiscussionsandactivelyparticipateintheseactivities.
Keeporganizedandaccuratefolderofclassmaterial..
Startearlyonassignmentsandplanaheadfortheduedate.
Turnintests,reviews,andnotebookchecksontime,everytime.Maintaintheseassignmentsandthenotebookdailysoitisalways
preparedforthecheckorsubmissiondate.
Contributetoclass/groupdiscussionsandparticipateinclassactivities.
Bepreparedtodiscusssocialissues,difficulttopicsandopinionsthatyoumaynotagreewithinarespectfulmanner.
Donotmakeexcusesforyouractions,words,orthoughts.Takeresponsibilityforthem.
Activelyparticipateindiscussion,askanyrelevantquestionsandalwaysrespecttheopinionsofotherseveniftheyarenotagreed
upon.
Classroom Rules / School Policies
1. RPHSruleswillbeenforced.Thisincludesruleson:electronicdevices&cellphones,tardies,IDbadges,anddresscode.
2. Takeresponsibilityforyourselfandyouractions.
3. Treatclassmates,teachers,staff,andyourschoolwithrespect.Thisincludesrespectingothers;desiretolearn,opinions,space,
andproperty.
4. Studentsarenotpermittedtosleep.Studentsareexpectedtobeengagedduringtheentireclass.
5. Cellphonesandotherdistractionsshouldnotbeoutinterruptingclassworkoractivities.
6. Studentsshouldremainneartheirdesksuntilthecompletionofclass.Donotlineupatthedoor.
7. Studentswillbeexpectedtoworkwithgroupsandpartners,cooperatinginanygrouptheyareassignedto.

Daily Procedures
Food&Drink Areallowedinthisclassunlesstheseitemsdisruptlearningorstudentsleavemessesbehind.
PassesUsetherestroomanddealwithotherissuesduringpassingperiods.
ConclusionofClass Takeresponsibilityforcleaningupanymess aroundyourdeskandreturndeskstotheiroriginalspace. Students
arenottoputmaterialsawayattheendofclassunlessinstructedtodoso.Studentswillnotlineupatthedoor..

"Sociologyisanoverarchingunificationofallstudiesofhumankind,includinghistory,psychology,andeconomics."
AmericanSociologicalAssociation.