Introduction to Sociology

SOC 100
MWF 1:00 - 1:50
243 Altgeld Hall
Professor Jeremiah Bohr
jbohr2@illinois.edu
3084 Lincoln Hall
Office Hours: W 2-4pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Sociology studies social interaction, organization, and institutions in order to systematically
understand human behavior, society, and social change. A sociological researcher might ask any
of the following questions: Why do divorce rates change over time? Why do women earn less
income than men working in similar positions? Why do societies stigmatize some forms of drug
use but condone others? Why is it so difficult for electronic currencies like Bitcoin to gain
widespread popularity?
This class is structured by a unique hybrid format of in-class meetings and online commitments.
Since our face-to-face time is limited, I will spend most of it delivering a traditional lecture,
dedicating our online meeting time to supplemental material and group discussions.

READINGS
There is only one required textbook for this course.
OpenStax College. 2013. Introduction to Sociology.
OpenStax produces freely available electronic textbooks. You will download your copy from
our Compass page. Additional readings will be made available to you through the course
Compass page.

EXAMS
There will be three non-cumulative, multiple choice exams in this class. Exams will test your
knowledge of material discussed during lectures, and each will count 20% towards your final
grade.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
There will be three brief writing assignments throughout the semester. Each of these will be two
pages (double spaced, one inch margins, 12 pt font, Times New Roman) and count 5% towards
your final grade.
Contexts podcast. Contexts is an academic journal dedicated to presenting sociological
research to general audiences. You will listen to one podcast and read the corresponding
article found on their web page. After summarizing the substance of the article, you will
follow up with something new or interesting that you learned about the research by
listening to the podcast.
Sociology of Health. In concurrence with the section on health and aging, you will
watch one video clip from the Unnatural Causes website and discuss how that clip relates
to a concept covered in class. You must explain the concept(s) you are reviewing,
summarize the content of the video, and how this concept relates to the content as well as
how it may help us understanding the social context of health.
Breaking Bad. In concurrence with the section on crime, deviance, and social control,
you will watch one episode of Breaking Bad, a series about a high school teacher who
manufactures crystal meth. This paper will use a concept covered in class to analyze the
socialization and deviance of the shows main character, Walter White. You must
explain the concept(s) you are reviewing, summarize key plot points for illustrating this
concept, and how this concept helps explain Walter Whites socialization and deviance.

ONLINE PARTICIPATION
Several components will account for your online participation in this class.

Sociology in the News (10%)

Throughout the semester, you will post links to news articles, provide a brief analysis of a
sociological concept that can help us make sense of what is happening, and provide a
question or prompt for discussion. Each student will be responsible for providing 5 news
articles and discussion questions, and for commenting on at least 10 posts of your
colleagues. You may not post more than two articles per week, and you will not receive
credit for more than three comments per week.

Connecting Reading Materials (5%)

Operating on the principle of first come, first serve, each student is required to make an
explicit connection between concepts/theories/topics that come from different assigned
readings. You must reference relevant page numbers of both current and prior reading,
and write a couple sentences explaining the connection (briefly describe the concepts,
how they are connected, and/or how recognizing this connection could help explain some
other aspect of society or human behavior). NOTE: Any reading passage containing a
phrase like this concept connects to what was discussed earlier in chapter XX is not

eligible. In other words, if the author(s) makes the connection for you, it is not eligible
for this assignment.

Discussing Lecture Material & Media (10%)

I will also provide a space on our Compass page where you may post any
question/comment directly related to material covered during lecture (or assigned media).
This could include either questions of clarification on a given concept, or more general
questions of how material covered in class may connect with something you observe in
everyday life. I will generally attempt to minimize my participation in this section, but
will intervene if clarification is needed. I expect every student to participate in this
section of the course, either through asking or answering questions, although I will not set
a minimal threshold of posts.

GRADING
Exams (3)
Writing Assignments (3)
Online Participation

60%
15%
25%

SCHEDULE
Week 1
M (3/16)

Course overview

W (3/18)

The Sociological Perspective

Reading: Mills The Sociological Imagination
Reading: OS chapter 1
Watch: Sam Richards Ted Talk

F (3/20)

Research Methods I
Reading: Grohol, Bad Statistics

Week 2 Spring Break 3/23 3/27 (no classes)

Week 3
M (3/30)

Research Methods II
Reading: OS chapter 2
Watch: The Stanford Prison Experiment

W (4/1)

Social Theory I
Reading: OS chapter 4

F (4/3)

Social Theory II

Week 4
M (4/6)

Culture
Reading: OS chapter 3
Watch: Merchants of Cool

W (4/8)

Socialization
Reading: OS chapter 5

F (4/10)

Exam I
Assignment: Select Contexts article & podcast

Week 5
M (4/13)

Social Class & Social Stratification

Reading: OS chapter 9
Watch: People Like Us

W (4/15)

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

Reading: OS chapter 12

F (4/17)

Race and Ethnicity

Reading: OS chapter 11

Week 6
M (4/20)

Organizations, Work, and Economy

DUE: Contexts podcast paper
Reading: OS chapter 6, chapter 18 (pages 411-417)

W (4/22)

Health & Society

Reading: OS chapter 19
Assignment: Watching health video

F (4/24)

Politics and Law

Reading: OS chapter 17

Week 7
M (4/27)

Exam II

W (4/29)

Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

DUE: Sociology of Health paper
Reading: OS chapter 7
Assignment: Watch Breaking Bad

F (5/1)

Collective Action and Social Movements

Reading: OS chapter 21

Week 8
M (5/4)

Environment & Society

Reading: OS chapter 20 (pages 462-476)

W (5/6)

Globalization
DUE: Breaking Bad paper

Finals Week
W (5/13)

Exam III (7:00 9:00 pm)