Bilkent University

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology Fall 2014

Section: 009
Instructor: Jale Grzumar
e-mail: gjale@bilkent.edu.tr
Office: T-262 Office Phone: 290 1671 Cell phone: 0533 336 79 85
Office Hours: Tuesday 13:40-15.30 + Wednesday 10:40-11:30 + any date, time by
appointment
Teaching Assistant: Chien Yang Erdem (Bonnie); e-mail: chien@bilkent.edu.tr


COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introduction to Sociology which is essentially the systematic study of
human society. Basic theories and relevant concepts will be introduced along with class
discussions relating them to our real life experiences and environment. The aim of this
course is to equip the student with a basic sociological understanding and an awareness of
different perspectives in dealing with social contexts within which we live, work, and try to
achieve our goals and ultimately happiness.

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To enable the student to further understand oneself, ones
relationship with the society, ones place in society and the societys place in the world, thus
to further equip the student in making decisions while progressing on ones life path.

TEXTBOOK: James Fulcher & John Scott, Sociology, Fourth Edition, 2011, Oxford
University Press. (Available at Meteksan Bookstore).

COURSE FORMAT: Class meets twice a week for a total of three hours. Please note that
Friday classes will meet at 9.40 unless it is used for MOODLE discussions. Class time
will be spent primarily on the introduction of the days topic and discussion. All students are
required to read the assigned chapters before they come to the class meetings.

GRADING:
Mid-term Exam 30%
Term-Paper 20%
2 MOODLE Exercises (5 % each) 10%
Final Exam 40%
TOTAL 100%

FZ GRADE: Only students who have
- attended the mid-term exam and submitted the term-paper
- AND collected at least 25 points in total (mid-term + term paper + moodle
exercises)
will be entitled to take the final exam. Otherwise you will receive the grade FZ and will
not have the right to a retake exam.

TERM-PAPER: You will write a term-paper within the semester. For this assignment you
have to read Jerzy Kosinskis novel Being There (information about the procurement of the
book will be announced within the first 2 weeks of the semester). The objective of this
assignment is to use the knowledge which you will acquire from this course to analyze the
relationship between individuals and the society, to see the social background of the events
and to understand social change. The question for the paper will be given at the beginning of
the semester. The length of the term-paper will be 1000-1200 words. An electronic copy of
the term paper is to be submitted on MOODLE, TURN-IT-IN ASSIGNMENTS before the
deadline AND a hard-copy to the instructor latest on the same day.

MOODLE EXERCISES: There will be 2 MOODLE exercises within the semester. Each is
worth 5 points. You will be given 2 different questions about the 2 different parts of the
course. For each part you have to watch a movie. The movies are: for the first part (to be
announced); and for the second part (to be announced), The questions will be put
on MOODLE and you will upload your answers on MOODLE TURN-IT-IN ASSIGNMENTS
within a defined period. The length of these assignments will have to be maximum. 300-400
words. No late submission will be accepted. After the answers are uploaded, two
discussion groups will be formed in your section and each group will discuss the issue /
question with the teaching assistant. The deadlines and the times of the discussion groups
will be announced regularly. For all these reasons, it is very important to check your e-
mails regularly.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

" Regular attendance to classes is an inherent requirement of any course for
which one aims to learn the entire content, or at least to increase the probability
for getting higher grades.
" If you cannot take an exam for a valid reason please contact the instructor as
soon as possible. For health reasons, please read the information provided on
http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/bilkent-tr/admission/saglik_raporu_uygulama.html page, not
to miss the chance for a make-up exam.


COURSE OUTLINE:

PART 1 - Theory and Practice

(1) Sep 15-19 ............................ Ch. 1 - What is Sociology?
(2) Sep 22-26 ............................ Ch 1 (continued) + Ch. 2 -Theories and Theorizing
(3) Sep 29-Oct 3 ........................ Ch. 2 continued No classes on Oct 3 Friday
(4) Oct 6-10.............................. Ch. 2 continued No classes on Oct 6 and 7
(5) Oct 13-17 ............................ Ch. 2 continued

The deadline for the first MOODLE exercise is Oct 15, 2014.

(6) Oct 20-24 ............................. Ch. 3 Methods and Research

1
st
Discussion sessions on Oct 22 Wednesday, 2 groups: at 08:40 and at 09:40
(groups will be announced at the beginning of the week)

(7) Oct 27-31 ........................ Ch. 3 continued No classes on Oct 27, 28 and 29

PART 2 - Social Structures and Social Change
(8) Nov 3-7 ............................. Ch. 4 - Socialization, Identity and Interaction

MID-TERM (a date between Nov 3 - 7, 2014)
The exact date, time and place of the exam will be announced later

(9) NoV 10- 14 ..................... Ch 4 (continued) + Ch. 5 - Sex, Gender and Sexuality
(10) Nov 17-21 ............................ Ch. 5 continued

The deadline for the second MOODLE exercise is Nov 19, 2014.

(11) Nov 24-28 ................. Ch. 5 continued

2
nd
Discussion sessions on Nov 26 Wednesday, 2 groups: at 08:40 and at 09:40
(groups will be announced at the beginning of the week)


PART 3 - Global Society and its Institutions
(12) Dec 1-5 ................. Ch. 16 Globalization

The deadline for the submission of the TERM-PAPER is Dec 5, 2014 Friday


(13) Dec 8-12 .................... Ch. 16 continued
(14) Dec 15-19 ........................... Ch.10 - Communication and the Media
(15) Dec 22-26 ........................... Ch.10 continued No classes on Dec 25
(16) Dec 29-30 ........................... Ch.10 continued


SUMMARY FOR IMPORTANT DATES:

Deadlines for MOODLE exercises:
1st exercise October 15, Wednesday
2nd exercise November 19, Wednesday

Dates and times for Discussion hours:
1
st
discussion: October 22, Wednesday at 08:40 / 09:40
2
nd
discussion: November 26, Wednesday at 08:40 / 09:40
(The 2 groups of students for each discussion session will be determined and
announced later)

Date for Mid-Term Exam: A day between 3 and 7 November (to be announced later)

Deadline for TERM-PAPER: December 5, Friday