Unit+One+Learning+Outcomes

Class meetings: January 26, February 2, and February 9
 * __Sociology__** **Learning Outcomes for** **__Unit 1__**
 * **During the next three weeks, students will get an introduction to the field of sociology, including basic terminology, major theorists, and sociological perspective.** ||
 * **At the end, students will know…** ||
 * Definition of //sociology//

What is the sociological perspective, and how does it help scientists and laypeople develop an understanding of the world around them? “Taking the role of the other,” and “Seeing the strange in the familiar, the general in the particular.” Origins of sociology (when, where, and why) Major theorists and their //theoretical paradigms//: Auguste Comte Father of sociology, scientific process, //positivism// Karl Marx Social conflict theory, //social class, communism, proletariat and bourgeoisie// Emile Durkheim Structural-functionalism, //manifest and latent functions, social dysfunction// Max Weber Symbolic interactionalism, //en pianissimo, compartmentalization// W.E.B. DuBois Social conflict pertaining to race, //double consciousness// C. Wright Mills Sociological imagination, //biography and history//

Macro-level theory Micro-level theory Generalization v. Stereotype || · Explain and analyze the three major paradigms, including whose they were/are · Apply sociological perspective/ sociological imagination to a personal scenario · Identify when they have experienced the double consciousness · ||
 * **At the end, students will be able to…** ||
 * · Define sociology and explain when, how, and why it developed as a field of thought and study.

High school and the social paradigms- which model most closely resembles American public high school? || High School/social paradigms paper || o Notebook review o Exit pass sticky note (one question) o Reading annotations o Online posting || Textbook reading, chapters 1-2 C. Wright Mills //The Sociological Imagination//
 * **Activities:** What big things will students be doing in and out of class? ||
 * Reading, in-class discussions, group work, observation, and writing
 * **Major projects, tests, writing assignments, or other assessments:** ||
 * Summative assessments
 * **Formative Assessments:** ||
 * o Daily discussion
 * **Resources:**

W.E.B. DuBois handout from //The Souls of Black Folk,// Ch. 1- “Of Our Spiritual Strivings” (see attached) [] (full text of chapter) ||
 * **ASSIGNMENTS:** ||
 * See Assignments Link ||
 * NOTES:**

**__Chapter One Notes- What is Sociology?__** __Sociology__: The scientific study of human behavior as it relates to the social forces that influence that behavior. //No man is an island. Our actions are shaped by the world around us. (Sociological Perspective)//

Sociologists look for patterns in the social world. They try to understand why people do the things they do. They believe that no act is completely random. While some of the answers to sociological questions may, at first glance, seem like common sense, you will find through closer examination, __Sociological Imagination__: Theory of //C. Wright Mills// The ability to link details of the individual life (biography) with the general structures of society (history). This makes you able to see the “big picture.” à Divorce is a personal issue (**biography**), but fits into a bigger picture of our society (**history**) when it begins an epidemic. __Sociology as a Science__: Five Basic Characteristics · Empirical : Information is gathered through the 5 senses (surveys, observation, experiments) · Systematic : Everything is based on a plan, in such a way that you can “do-over” o Hypothesis: A statement that sets out to predict a phenomena · Falsifiable : Hypothesis is capable of being proven wrong · Generalization : A statement with broad application (applies to more than one circumstance) · Explanation : Seeks to explain something about the world __Why is it difficult to study sociology in a scientific manner?__ Can people study people? What are the problems here? We try to rely on “Common Sense” Because we are human we consider ourselves “Experts” We want to believe we are all unique There are exceptions to every rule

What was going on in the world when sociology was in its fledgling stages? **INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION**

__Theorists__

“Each according to his ability, for all according to their needs.” Capitalism is BAD- responsible to social inequality and injustices. Bourgeoisie: owners Proletariat: workers · Clashes among groups are routine and often healthy, and can promote cohesion · Resources are not distributed equally (which causes conflict). · Social arrangements benefit some groups at the expense of others. This helps maintain the hierarchy (think capitalism). · Consensus may be a sign of exploitation =Marxism- economic conflict is the best way to examine capitalism. Communism is the solution.= · People have lost control of what they procude. They can’t take pride in it. · People are NOT inherently lazy. Visual: The Mechnical Machine · Individuals are bound together by their common interests. This connection allows us to function as human beings. · Society is larger than the individual. · We __need__ to follow rules, and we need people to tell us what to do. · We are like jell-o that needs a mold. Without the mold we are likely to experience //anomie.// · Society is composed of interrelated, interdependent parts. These parts must function together as a cohesive whole in order to be at its optimum level. · Institutions are adaptive. · Social phenomena should be examined in terms of their consequences. · “Dysfunction” threatens the society and should be controlled. =Dysfunction- Something that is detrimental to a society= **Consensus Perspective- Most members of society agree on the important stuff** We follow a natural hierarchy. Those with the intellectual capability //should// be the leaders. There //should// be a sort of bourgeois class. Visual: The Human Machine
 * Auguste Comte:** Coined the term “sociology.” Thought about what //ought// to be. Thought Sociology should be studied scientifically, but he never did it that way.
 * Karl Marx:** Social Conflict Theory
 * The only way to change the system is to REVOLT!!**
 * Emile Durkheim:** Structual Functionalism
 * Latent Function- An act has an intent that was not planned**
 * Manifest Function- A function that is intended and recognized by the group**

Societies evolve for the best possible outcome. Sociology must offer an __objective,__ value-free look at a topic (although finding something interesting enough to study already shows that you are not objective) · Individuals (sociologists) attempt to understand the meaning of interactions (verstehen) · People act based on the basis of that meaning · Meaning is highly flexible and depends upon a number of variables. It grows out of the interaction we have with other human beings · To make a proper interpretation of an act, one must have a thorough understanding from whence it came. Our understanding changes constantly based on our experiences. //Verstehen////-// The relationship between an individual’s feelings/thoughts and their actions -Science can only tell us what //is,// not what //ought to be// We are stuck in an //IRON CAGE//. We have lost religion and our connection to one another. Our the different areas of our lives have been //compartmentalized.// The best we can do is hope to find solace //en piannissimo//. Visual: The Iron Cage, Compartments Minorities live in a __veil__ and often develop a __double consciousness__. Visual: The Veil
 * Herbert Spencer:** English philosopher. “Survival of the fittest” (Darwin didn’t make it up.) He applied this theory to all aspects of society, biology, etc.
 * Max Weber:** Symbolic Interactionalism
 * Symbol**: An object or event whose meaning is not fixed by the nature of the item, but by the agreement of the people who use it in communication. (Words, pictures)
 * W.E.B. DuBois:** Racial Conflict theory