Oakland University

College of Arts and Sciences

Sociology
SOC 100

Introduction to Sociology

Course: Introduction to Sociology Days: TR Time: 1:00 – 2:47 PM

Semester: Winter 2018 Building: Engineering Center Room: 116
Instructor: Joseph J. Byle, PhD Website: josephbyle.weebly.com
Contact Info: (248) 935-8423 Email: jbyle@oakland.edu
Format: Lecture/Discussion Credits: 4
Semester: Winter 2018 (January 3rd - April 25th )

Methods of Instruction: Readings, lectures, videos, discussions, Power Points, and an end of
the semester review activity.
Methods of Assessment: Pretest, quizzes, and final exam.
Required Text: Our Social World Sixth Edition, by Jeanne H. Ballantine and Keith A. Roberts.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage/Pine Forge.
Course Catalog Description: Introduction to the basic concepts of sociology relating to the
study of people as participants in group life. Particular attention is given to culture, socialization
and self development, social class, and major social institutions. Satisfies the university general
education requirement in the social science knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university
general education requirement in U.S. diversity.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course students should be able to identify the major
sociological theorists as well as the major sociological areas of study, including both micro and
macro level approaches. In addition, students will become familiar with the most common
methodological and analytical tools used by social scientists in the research process. These
objectives will be achieved through course readings, lectures, discussions, quizzes, and through a
class presentation.
Attendance/Participation: All students are allowed 3 unexcused absences without penalty, but
after the 3rd absence there will be an 8 point reduction in participation points for each unexcused
absence. If students have 3 or less absences, then they will receive the full 50 participation
points. I will excuse absences for extreme emergencies and for students who have a note from
their doctor. Students who do not attend for the full class period will be considered absent,
unless if there is a legitimate reason for leaving early. Students should share their reasons for
leaving early with the instructor at the beginning of class, otherwise they will be marked absent.
Students who are more than 10 minutes late for class are considered tardy. Three unexcused
tardies equals one absence.
Cell Phone/Lap Top Policy: Please do not use lap tops, tablets, or cell phones while class is in
session.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will be given out to all students who choose to volunteer at least 1
hour of their time to help their community. Students can choose the organization that they wish
to volunteer for, but some possibilities would include: The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, soup
kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, tutoring, etc. Students must provide an official letter
from a site manager in order to receive 10 extra credit points. Another way to receive 25 extra
credit points would be to give a 10 minute in-class presentation on the topic of your choice, so
long as it is sociological. Students should submit their topic outlines to me by

Pretest: The pretest will occur on the first week of instruction. This pretest is worth a total of 10
points. All students will receive the full 10 points regardless of how many right or wrong
answers they select. This test is simply to assess the base sociological knowledge that students
are bringing with them at the start of the semester.

Quizzes: There will be 13 quizzes given throughout the semester. Each quiz will be worth 20
points for a total of 260 points. Quizzes will be given out every week on Fridays. If students
miss quizzes due to absences they cannot make them up by taking the quizzes at later dates,
but they can make up the points by writing a two page summary of the reading that was
assigned for the class that was missed. Students who have taken a quiz(s), but did not score as
high as they would have liked, can replace their quiz(s) score by writing a two page summary
outline of the reading that they were quizzed on. Summaries should be typed using 12 point font
with 1 inch margins all around. Scantron sheets are required for quizzes.

Final Exam: The final exam will be worth 60 points and will be given on the last day of class. I
will provide a final exam study guide toward the end of the semester. Scantron sheet is required.

Review Activity: On week fourteen there will be a review activity that will allow you to
synthesize the theoretical perspectives, methodologies, and major sociological principles covered
throughout the semester. I will provide directions for this exercise at the same time that the
assignment is posted on Blackboard. This exercise will also serve as a review for the online
exam. This activity will be worth a total of 20 points.

Course Points:
Quizzes – 20 points ea. 260 total points
Pretest – 10 - points
Review Activity – 20 points
Final Exam – 60 points
Participation/attendance – 50 - points
Extra Credit - up to 35 possible points

Total……………possible points – 400 (not including extra credit points).

TOTAL TOTAL NUMERICAL LETTER GRADE
POINTS PERCENT GRADE

392-400 98-100% 4.0

384-391 96-97.9% 3.9
A
376-383 94-95.9% 3.8
368-375 92-93.9% 3.7
360-367 90-91.9% 3.6

352-359 88-89.9% 3.5

344-351 86-87.9% 3.4
336-343 84-85.9% 3.3 B

328-335 82-83.9% 3.2

324-327 81-81.9% 3.1
320-323 80-80.9% 3.0

316-319 79-79.9% 2.9

312-315 78-78.9% 2.8
308-311 77-77.9% 2.7
304-307 76-76.9% 2.6 C
300-303 75-75.9% 2.5
296-299 74-74.9% 2.4
292-295 73-73.9% 2.3
288-291 72-72.9% 2.2
284-287 71-71.9% 2.1
280-283 70-70.9% 2.0

276-279 69-69.9% 1.9

272-275 68-68.9% 1.8
 268-271 67-67.9% 1.7
264-267 66-66.9% 1.6 D
260-263 65-65.9% 1.5
256-259 64-64.9% 1.4
252-255 63-63.9% 1.3
248-251 62-62.9% 1.2
244-247 61-61.9% 1.1
240-243 60-60.9% 1.0

Tentative Course Calendar:

January

Week One (01/04) - What is Sociology? / What do sociologists do?

Pretest
Read: Chapter One

Week Two (01/09 – 01/11) – How do we Know?

Read: Chapter Two
Quiz One (on chapters 1 & 2)

Week Three (01/16 – 01/18) – Society and Culture

Read: Chapter Three
Quiz Two (on chapter 3)

Week Four (01/23 – 01/25) – Socialization

Read: Chapter Four
Method review: scientific sampling in social research
Quiz Three (on chapter 4)

February

Week Five (01/30 – 02/01) - Interactions

Read: Chapter Five
Quiz Four (on chapter 5)

Week Six (02/06 – 02/08) – Deviance and Social Control

Read: Chapter Six
Method review: social experiments
Quiz Five (on chapter 6)

Week Seven (02/13 – 02/15) – Social Stratification

Read: Chapter Seven
Method review: correlation/causation
Quiz Six (on chapter 7)

Winter Recess - February, 17th – 26th

March

Week Eight (02/27 – 03/01) – Race and Ethnicity

Read: Chapter Eight
Method review: research interviews
Quiz Seven (on chapter 8)

Week Nine (03/06 – 03/08) – Gender Studies

Read: Chapter Nine
Method review: content analysis
Quiz Eight (on chapter 9)

Week Ten (03/13 – 03/15) – The Family

Read: Chapter Ten
Quiz Nine (on chapter 10)
Guest Speaker – Human Trafficking – 3/15

Week Eleven (03/20 – 03/22) – Education

Read: Chapter Eleven
Method review: participant observation
Quiz Ten (on chapter 11)

Week Twelve (03/27 – 03/29) – Religion

Read: Chapter Twelve
Method review: mixed methods
Quiz Eleven (on chapter 12)

April

Week Thirteen – (04/03 – 04/05) Politics and Economics

Read: Chapter Thirteen
Quiz Twelve (on chapter 13)

Week Fourteen – (04/10 – 04/12) Population and Urbanization

Read: Chapter Fifteen
Quiz Thirteen (on chapter 15) Given on Tuesday 10th
The Process of Change
Read: Chapter 16

Final Exam Online (04/19 until 04/24 at 3:00 PM)