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WelcomeWelcome to Sociology 421, Social Change and Modernization. I'm glad you decided to take this course and I look forward to exploring this interesting and important topic with you.
Catalog DescriptionMajor theories of the nature, types, causes and consequences of social change. Political, social, psychological, and economic dimensions of modernization. PrerequisitesSOC 204 is a prerequisite for this course. I will presume a basic understanding of fundamental sociological concepts and ideas. If it has been awhile since you took SOC 204, I strongly recommend re-reading an introductory textbooks or spending some time on the internet becoming familiar with introductory sociology. MissionThe basic mission is to use a sociological perspective to understand social change. To that end we will examine institutional change, cultural change, structural change, and globalization. Class discussions will center around three questions:
Conceptual Goals
Measurable ObjectivesStudents should be able to do an analysis of institutional and cultural change using the concepts provided in the text and lectures. Students should demonstrate an understanding of the sociological perspective and ability to use material from text, lectures, and class discussions in an analysis of social change Required Materials and TextbooksMaterialsComputer with web and email access Texts
Both are available from the OSU Bookstore or online at Amazon.com. Grading PolicyThe grade for the course will be determined by work on the two course papers and quality of participation in the weekly discussions. Ninety Percent of the total points will mean an “A” in the course, 80% will be a “B,” and 70% will be a “C.” Students must participate in at least 8 of the weekly discussions or activities to receive a “C” in the course. Policy on Cheating, Plagiarism, and HonestyStudents are expected to do their own research and to provide sources and citations for all material gathered. Failure to provide sources for information used in the Social History will result in a lowered grade or failure in the course. Statement Regarding DisabilitiesStudents who need additional assistance or resources should contact the Instructor as soon as possible – preferably the first week of classes. Every effort will be made to accommodate special needs. Overview of ActivitiesMy goal in this course is to present an analysis of social change from a sociological perspective and to give you the tools you need to look at modern society and global processes using sociological concepts and ideas. Each week I will ask you to read a section of the text, read the on-line lecture assigned for that week, do the Activities included in the lectures, and participate in group discussions on the Discussion Board. Below you will find a list of reading assignments, due dates, and Discussion Board topics. In addition to the weekly activities, you will also be asked to write two papers. One will be on institutional change and the second on cultural change. Instructions for the two papers comprising this social history can be found at the end of the syllabus and in the Project Section on Blackboard. Both the two papers and the Group Discussions are graded activities. The first paper will be worth up to 50 points and the second up to 100 points. Each Group Discussion will be worth up to 10 points for a total of 80 (Weeks 2-9). Your contributions to the group work will be evaluated on the basis of your understanding of the course material and your ability to use it to answer the question posed for the week. There may be additional points available during the week(s) that you are responsible for coordinating the group discussion and posting the Group response to the Main Discussion Board. When you go to the Blackboard Discussion section, for Week 2, you will find that you have been placed in a Discussion Group with 3 or 4 other people. Each week I’ll pose a question based on the readings in the text and lecture. The group should discuss their answers to the question and develop a Group response to be posted on the Main Discussion Board for the course. Each week one person from the group will be in charge of coordinating the discussion, writing the group answer, and posting it to the Main Discussion Board. There will be up to 10 points available for the group coordinator that week. Each of you will have a turn to be coordinator. We’ll do it in alphabetical order. The person with the last name closest to the beginning of the alphabet will go first. You can skip your turn any week but will lose the opportunity to earn the points when you do. Assignments and Due Dates
Schedule
Class ProjectsPaper I: Institutional ChangeThe first paper will be due the 5th week of the term. It is worth up to 50 points. Your assignment will be to pick one of the major social institutions (family, religion, economic, political, military, education, etc.) and do an analysis of the changes in that institution over the past 50 years. The grade for the paper will depend on demonstrated understanding of the concept of institution, quality of the data collected, writing competency, and use of sociological concepts and ideas in an analysis. Plan to use material from text, lectures, resources, and Group Discussions. Paper II: Cultural ChangeThe second paper will be due during Finals week. It is worth up to 100 points. For this paper the assignment is to compare elements of American culture at two different points in time. I’d like you to pick a movie that has an original and a remake, watch both, and identify the changes you see in the culture. You might watch the Rat Pack version of “Ocean’s 11” and the George Clooney/Brad Pitt remake. Or “Rear Window” with Gregory Peck and with Christopher Reeves. “A Star is Born” has had at least three versions. So has Peter Pan. If you like animals, you might compare The Incredible Journey & Homeward Bound. There are many others. Pick your favorites and look at them with new (sociological) eyes. Your final paper is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the sociological perspective on social change so be sure to use ideas and concepts from the text, lectures, suggested resources at the end of each lecture, and class discussions. I am particularly interested in your understanding of the concept of culture but you will probably want to use other concepts we've discussed over the term such as the sociological imagination, rationalization, & the something/nothing continuum. Remember that your goal is to show me what you have learned in this class about the analysis of social change and the sociological perspective. While I am asking you to discuss movies this is NOT a film critique. My main concern is in seeing what you learned about the sociological perspective during the term. Good papers that focus on the movies will earn a “C.” Papers that demonstrate an understanding of the sociological perspective will earn an “A” or “B.” Students are expected to do their own research and to provide sources and citations for all material gathered. Failure to provide sources for information used in the two papers will result in a lowered grade or failure in the course. Course EvaluationIn week 10, the opportunity to evaluate this course is provided with instructions. Please help our teaching staff improve the quality of this course by filling in the evaluation in the Online Student Services area of the OSU web site. Thank you.
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