UT-Austin Unique Course #s 46260, 46265, 46270, 46275, 46280, 46285
Course Description: This course is an introduction to sociological perspectives on social life. Our major course objective is to learn how to “think sociologically” about our lives and the world around us. This means cultivating in ourselves a “sociological imagination” by way of investigating what culture is, how social structures work, how certain ways of thinking and acting become “normal,” how institutions shape our lives, and how social change happens. This may sound abstract and dull, but it’s really a fascinating and important way of seeing and thinking about the world and our own lives.
Along the way we will also be asking ourselves questions like: What actually makes a person “human?” What is morality, where does it come from, and how does it affect our actions? In what sense are individuals really “free?” How important are stories for shaping behavior? How scientific are our actions? How is life in modern society different from the past? How can social structures be invisible yet powerfully affect our lives? What or who determines what is “normal?” How does getting married or divorced affect outcomes in your own life and others’ lives? Why is it that all over the world for all of known history people have been religious? How and why does being religious influence our behavior? What are our sexual behavior norms and how and why have they changed? How do others’ sexual relationships affect how we think about and enter such relationships? And so on. Those who apply themselves to wrestling with these kinds of issues and questions will discover how interesting and important sociological analysis can be. And in the process they will come to understand much more fully their own personal life experiences.
The broader purpose of the course is not unlike that of the best of the liberal arts: to see and think sociologically about their own lives and the social worlds around them, to read more critically, to understand how the world has come to be, how it can be different, and yet how it is difficult—but not impossible—to fashion real, enduring change.
This is not quite like some other introduction-to-sociology courses, especially those which rely on a textbook and neatly cover 15 topics in 15 weeks. Instead, we will spend extended time on several themes—like socialization, the self, morality, institutions, sexuality, family, and religion—rather than provide a brief overview of lots of different themes. Some very important subjects are just not covered directly or extensively here, including issues of race/ethnicity, gender, and inequality.
Contacting the instructor: The best way to reach me is by email at regnerus@prc.utexas.edu. In general the two TAs can answer most course-related technical questions. I enjoy personal conversations, however, so please don’t hesitate to drop by during office hours or make an appointment.
Course Requirements: Final grade is determined as follows:
Class Time: Monday and Wednesday 9-10, various discussion sections on Wednesdays and Fridays
Location: CMA A2.320
Instructor: Dr. Mark Regnerus, Burdine 572. Email: regnerus@prc.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10-11, 3-4, and by appointment
Teaching Assistants: Jorge Derpic, Burdine 602 Email: jderpic@mail.utexas.edu
Isaac Sasson, Burdine 602 Email: saisaac@gmail.com
Jennifer Storch, Burdine 602 Email: jenniferstorch@hotmail.com
TA office hrs: Derpic: Tue 130-230, Fri 1045-1245; Sasson: Wed 12-2, Thu 3-4; Storch: Mon 1-3, Fri 11-12
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Exam #1= 15%
Three quizzes (at 5% each) = 15%
Two written assignments (at 10% each) = 20%
Exam #2= 20%
Exam #3=30%
Lectures: on Mondays and Wednesdays, the class will be led by Dr. Regnerus in a traditional lecture format. This is very important to state—there will be lots of lecture material that will only be covered in class, and that will be on the exams. I have elected not to assign one comprehensive textbook, so my lectures will cover material that is not written down for you. So while you may not wish to attend class much, it’s difficult to fare well in the course if you don’t. So, consistent attendance is both important and very practical. An education is what you make of it. At the University of Texas at Austin, you have great resources from which to draw, but if you wish to ignore them, you can succeed in getting a poor education here. Assigned readings should be done before attending your discussion section for the week it is assigned. Note: Please turn off the cell phones during class. Lecture notes will be posted on Blackboard in a small number of sets over the course of the semester, probably just prior to exams.
Discussions: the discussion sections (which are on Wednesdays or Fridays) will be led by a teaching assistant. This will offer a forum for students to discuss lecture material from earlier in the week, explore topics in greater depth, and link the lectures with the assigned books and readings. In fact, most of the book discussions will occur here, and book material will be on all exams.
Quizzes: Three quizzes will be given over the assigned readings, and will account for a total of 15 percent of the course grade (5 percent apiece). Each will be comprised of 10 true/false and/or multiple choice questions, and will be administered by the TAs during the discussion sections on the weeks of Oct 5, Oct 19, and Nov 9. Different versions of the quiz will be administered to different discussion sections.
Written Assignments: two written assignments will be given over the course of the semester, and will account for a total of 20 percent of your total course grade. The first written assignment, worth 10 percent, is due to your TA (in your respective discussion sections) the week of October 12, and the second, also worth 10 percent, is due to your TA during the week of November 16. No make-up written assignments will be given. All writing assignments must: (1) use either a Times New Roman or CG Roman font in 12pt; (2) be formatted with 1” margins on each side; (3) include the name of the student and the assignment number in the upper left-hand corner of the first page; and (4) be stapled. A document describing each assignment is posted on Blackboard in the “Assignments” folder. Because clarity of thought and clarity of writing are inseparable and important, you are advised to pay close attention to your prose. Poor grammar and writing will invariably result in a lower grade.
Exams: the three exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, and several short answer questions, and will be closed book. The third exam is comprehensive; the first two are not. Note: the exams will not be re-scheduled; please do not ask to take them at a special time. The first exam will be given in class on Monday, September 28, the second exam will be on Wednesday, October 28, and the third (and last) exam on Wednesday, December 2. There is no exam scheduled during finals week. To prepare for them, first make sure that you understand the meaning and function of all of the terms and concepts covered in the unit that the exam tests. That is, you should be able both to define each concept accurately and to demonstrate how it is related to the rest of the material in that unit. Second, you should be able to use the specific content of the unit the exam tests to illustrate or illuminate the general themes developed in the course. When studying and note-taking, always distinguish the centrally important issue or argument in the reading or lecture from the less-important details, facts, and other data that are only meant to illustrate or support the central issue or 3
argument. The danger of not doing so is treating all material as equally important, becoming overwhelmed with information, and failing to see and grasp the major point. It’s not that supporting details and illustrations are unimportant and can be disregarded, just that they should not be cognitively processed in a way that obscures the reading or lecture’s main argument. I give makeup exams only in what I consider extreme circumstances (e.g., hospitalization, death of a family member) and only if I am informed before the exam.
Accommodations: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at (512) 471-6259. At the beginning of the semester, students who need special accommodations should notify me and present a letter prepared by the Services for Students with Disabilities Office.
Professor Profile: Dr. Regnerus received his PhD in Sociology in 2000 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has taught at UT since 2002. He also teaches courses on the sociology of religion, including a Spring 2010 course entitled “Judaism and Christianity.” His research concerns sexual decision-making, family formation, and the influence of religion on human behavior. His first book (assigned here) was published in 2007, entitled Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers. He is currently working on a second book project, this one about the sexual behavior of young adults.
Required Readings: Required books for purchase (at University Co-op or online):
- Tradition in a Rootless World, by Lynn Davidman.
- Moral, Believing Animals: Human Personhood and Culture, by Christian Smith.
- Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers, by Mark Regnerus.
- The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home & Home Becomes Work, by Arlie Hochschild.
All other required readings are posted on Blackboard, in the “Course Documents” folder.
Course Outline and Reading Schedule
Week 1 Introduction
Aug 26 No discussion section first week; the first discussion section is Sept 2/4.
Read “What is Sociology,” pages 3-13, 22-24 on Blackboard.
Week 2 How Sociologists Study People
Aug 31, Sept 2 Read “What is Sociology,” pages 29-46 on Blackboard.
Week 3 Culture and Social Structure
Sept 9 Read Tradition in a Rootless World, pages 1-73.
Week 4 Socialization
Sept 14, 16 Read Tradition in a Rootless World, pages 74-135.
Week 5 Socialization and the Self in Society
Sept 21, 23 Read Tradition in a Rootless World, pages 136-190.
Week 6 Morality and Human Narratives
Sept 28, 30 Exam #1 on Monday, Sept 28
Read Moral Believing Animals pages 3-94.
Week 7 The Role of Stories in Human Behavior
Oct 5, 7 Quiz 1 on Moral Believing Animals this week.
Week 8 Social Institutions, Organizations, and Networks
Oct 12, 14 Read The Time Bind, pages 3-132.
Assignment #1 due in your discussion section to your TA.
Week 9 Religion I: What is it?
Oct 19, 21 Read The Time Bind, pages 133-259.
Quiz 2 on The Time Bind this week.
Week 10 Religion II: Is the world becoming less religious?
Oct 26, 28 Read “How Corrosive Is College to Religious Faith and Practice?” on Blackboard.
Exam #2 on Wednesday, Oct 28
Week 11 Sexual Economics
Nov 2, 4 Read Forbidden Fruit, pages 3-118.
Week 12 Sex in Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood
Nov 9, 11 Read Forbidden Fruit, pages 119-214.
Quiz 3 on Forbidden Fruit this week.
Week 13 Marriage and Divorce
Nov 16, 18 Read Gottman chapter on marriage and divorce on Blackboard.
Assignment #2 due in your discussion section to your TA.
Week 14 Families and Demographic Change
Nov 23, 25 Read “The Global Baby Bust” on Blackboard.
Week 15 Love and Course Conclusions
Nov 30, Dec 2 Exam #3 on Wednesday, Dec 2.
There is NO exam scheduled during Finals Week.
Academic Integrity
Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including possible failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Refer to the Student Judicial Services website for policies and procedures on scholastic dishonesty.
Grading Scale: At the end of the term, you will receive a letter grade, based on the following performance levels: A (94-100), A- (90-93), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72),
D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (<60)
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