ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE

Social Sciences Division

SOC 101-L2V-Introduction to Sociology
Spring, 2025

Course Number and name: Soc. 101-L2V: Introduction to Sociology

Instructor: Abedin Quader PhD
Location: VIRTUAL
February 10 to April 26, 2024
Saturday 1:00-5:00pm
Office Hours: By appointment
Office: Room #.., phone #
E-mail: [email protected]

Credit Hours: 3 .0 Contact Hours: 3.0 Lecture: 3.0 Lab: N/A Other: N/A
Prerequisites: Grade of “C” or better in ENG 096 and RDG 096 or placement
Co-requisites: None Concurrent Courses: None

Course Description: This class will help students critically analyze the world through a sociological lens.
The major theories and methodologies used by sociologists to understand the social world will be
examined and applied.

General Education Goals (GEG): The aggregate of the core courses required for any major at ECC have
the following goals:
1. Written and Oral Communication: Students will communicate effectively in both speech and
writing.
2. Quantitative Knowledge and Skills: Students will use appropriate mathematical and statistical
concepts and operations to interpret data and to solve problems.
3. Scientific Knowledge and Reasoning: Students will use the scientific method of inquiry through the
acquisition of scientific knowledge.
4. Technological Competency/Information Literacy: Students will use computer systems or other
appropriate forms of technology to achieve educational and personal goals.
5. Society and Human Behavior: Students will use social science theories and concepts to analyze
human behavior and social and political institutions and to act as responsible citizens.
6. Humanistic Perspective: Students will analyze works in the field of art, music, or theater; literature;
and philosophy and/or religious studies; and will gain competence in the use of a foreign language.
7. Historical Perspective: Students will understand historical events and movements in World,
Western, non-Western, or American societies and assess their subsequent significance.
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8. Global and Cultural Awareness of Diversity: Students will understand the importance of global
perspective and culturally diverse peoples.
9. Ethics: Students will understand ethical issues and situations.

Course Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:
1. recognize and describe sociological concepts and terms; (GEG 5, GEG 8)
2. recognize the names of important figures in the development of sociology and recognize and explain
theories and concepts they espoused or critiqued; (GEG 5, GEG 8)
3. compare and contrast the various social sciences; (GEG 5)
4. analyze and evaluate social phenomena using sociological theory; (GEG 5) and
5. compare and contrast the diverse global social and cultural perspectives. (GEG 5, GEG 8)

Measurable Course Performance Objectives (MPOs): Upon successful completion of this course,
students should specifically be able to do the following:

1. Recognize and describe sociological concepts and terms:

1.1 articulate the three major sociological theories: Conflict, Structural Functional, and Symbolic
Interaction;
1.2 explain and apply the concept of the sociological imagination; and
1.3 discuss the methods used for sociological analysis

2. Recognize the names of important figures in the development of sociology and recognize and
explain theories and concepts they espoused or critiqued:
2.1 identify early European and American sociological thinkers, such as Marx and Du Bois;
2.2 describe the contributions of the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory and the Chicago School and
identify the central scholars who brought recognition to these institutions; and
2.3 identify contemporary sociologists and discuss their ideas

3. Compare and contrast the various social sciences:

3.1 describe how sociology differs from the other social sciences; and
3.2 explain the differences between applied and pure sociology

4. Analyze and evaluate social phenomena using sociological theory:

4.1 identify a social problem and critically analyze it using the three major sociological theories and
the methods used for sociological analysis;
4.2 explain how social inequality impacts race, class, and gender in society; and
4.3 conduct high quality research projects using the library, the internet, and scholarly research
search engines

5. Compare and contrast the diverse global social and cultural perspectives:
5.1 recognize and discuss biases on a local, national and global level;
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5.2 analyze cultural differentiation using the three major sociological theories and the concept of
the sociological imagination; and
5.3 analyze personal biases and describe how they influence decisions and perceptions

Methods of Instruction: Instruction consists of lectures, class discussions, videos, and a scholarly
research project.

Outcomes Assessment: Weekly analytical reflections and/or quiz/exam questions are blueprinted to
course objectives. Rubrics are used to evaluate the assigned research paper and the final presentation
for the presence of course objectives. Data is collected and analyzed to determine the level of student
performance on these assessment instruments in regards to meeting course objectives. The results of
this data analysis are used to guide necessary pedagogical and/or curricular revisions.

Course Requirements: All students are required to:

1. Read all assigned course materials including the textbook selections.
2. Attend class regularly.
3. Complete all written assignments and participate in classroom discussions.
4. Complete the assigned research paper using ASA format for reference and citation.
5. Take exams/quizzes as scheduled.

Methods of Evaluation: Final course grades will be computed as follows:

% of
Grading Components final course grade
 Analytical Reflections/Class Participation/Attendance 30 – 40%
Weekly assignments are made that analyze reading materials
and/or current affairs, the selection of which is based on
relevance to course objectives. Responses to analytical
reflections will provide evidence of the extent to which
students have met course objectives. Classroom participation
and attendance are also considered here.

 Research Paper (5 – 10 pages) 20 – 40%

This research project requires students to use scholarly
journals as sources and ASA formatting to present a
professional research paper. The papers are evaluated using a
rubric for the presence of course objectives, including using
the three major sociological theoretical perspectives.

 Final Presentation 0 – 35%

The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and discussion
of the student’s paper in conjunction with one of the chapters
covered over the course of the semester and, therefore, relates
to one or more course objectives.

 Literature Reviews 10 – 20%

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Literature reviews are written exercise in which students must

investigate a particular topic either in the textbook or assigned
by the instructor that is related to the course objectives and
conduct a review of the sociological literature. Based on the
literature review, students are required to develop a thesis
and draw conclusions on the topic researched.
Methods of Evaluation (continued):
% of
Grading Components final course grade
 Quizzes 10 – 15%
Quizzes will provide evidence of the extent to which students
have met course objectives.

 Final Exam (optional and alternative to above measures) 0 – 35%

The comprehensive final exam will examine the extent to which
students grasp and synthesize the sociological concepts,
methods, and theories and have achieved course objectives.

NOTE: The instructor will determine (as appropriate) the specific components for the course and provide
specific weights which lie in the above-given ranges at the beginning of the semester.

Academic Integrity: Dishonesty disrupts the search for truth that is inherent in the learning process and
so devalues the purpose and the mission of the College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, the following:

 plagiarism – the failure to acknowledge another writer’s words or ideas or to give proper credit
to sources of information;
 cheating – knowingly obtaining or giving unauthorized information on any test/exam or any
other academic assignment;
 interference – any interruption of the academic process that prevents others from the proper
engagement in learning or teaching; and
 fraud – any act or instance of willful deceit or trickery.

Violations of academic integrity will be dealt with by imposing appropriate sanctions. Sanctions for acts
of academic dishonesty could include the resubmission of an assignment, failure of the test/exam,
failure in the course, probation, suspension from the College, and even expulsion from the College.

Student Code of Conduct: All students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible and
considerate adults who respect the rights of others. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. All
students are also expected to attend and be on time all class meetings. No cell phones or similar
electronic devices are permitted in class. Please refer to the Essex County College student handbook,
Lifeline, for more specific information about the College’s Code of Conduct and attendance
requirements.

Required-Books
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Basirico, Cashion, Eshleman and Khalfani: Introduction to Sociology: Understanding Our Complex
World, Fourth Edition. BVT Publishing

The Sociology Writing Group. 2008. A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. 6th Edition.
New York: Worth Publishers.
Reference website: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/rewriting/rc2.html

Recommended-Reading [on library reserve]

Adler, Mortimer J. & Charles van Doren. 1972. How To Read A Book. New York:
Simon & Schuster.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due at the week’s first class session

Week 1
Introduction and Overview of the Syllabus

Week 2 Read article on Du Bois http://www.iep.utm.edu/dubois/ and bring 3 questions to

class
Read in Preparation for Week 5
Chapters 1

http://www.ncsociology.org/sociationtoday/v31/atlanta.htm and make comparisons with

first article on Du Bois.

Week 3
Culture & Society

Week 4
Social Structure Social Groups and Social Organizations

Racial and Ethnic differentiation

Week 5

Religious Groups and Systems

Midterm Exam

Writing Sociologically
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Guide to Writing Sociology Papers, pp. xiii-xv & 1-117 & 215-221, also Review Pocket
Style Guide

Week 6
Socialization and Interaction

Week 7
Deviance and Social Control

Week 8
Political Groups and Systems

Week 9

Population and Ecology

Week 10
Social differentiation and Stratification

Research Paper Submission

Family Groups and Systems

Week 11
Research paper Presentation
Final Exam
NOTE: The Syllabus and Calendar are subject to change in the event of unforeseen
circumstances. The Grading Policies remain the same.
.

Analytical Reflections

These reflections represent your understanding of the text and/or handouts.

A one-page typed (single-spaced) response to the following is due at the
end of every class on Tuesday. We will use your responses to these
questions during class. Number each step on your assignment.

Step 1: Assignment from textbook will be given out in class. (List the
question you answer.)

Step 2: Generate a definition for any word that is new to you from the
reading assignment.

Step 3: Write a 6 line poem to summarize this chapter. In your poem

consider how the concepts in the chapter helped improve your
understanding of our social world?

This assignment is due every Tuesday, unless something else is assigned.

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Current Affairs Reflections

You should read one of the following papers, and listen to one of the
following radio programs:
NEWSPAPERS
 The New York Times
 Star-Ledger
o www.nj.com

RADIO STATIONS
 WNYC National Public Radio (NPR) 93.9
 WBAI 99.5 Pacifica Radio
o "Wakeup Call" M-F 6:00am-8:00am
o "Democracy Now" M-F 8:00am-10:00am
o Occupy Wall Street Radio: M-F 6:30pm - 7pm
 http://wbai.org/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=11455&Itemid=135

This semester we are focusing on Movements in Newark:

Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, Occupy Newark, People’s Organization for
Progress Campaign, and other local current movements (approval required
for those not listed)

Respond to the following:

(Note: Always indicate the source you are using, the title of the article or
show, and author or host, and the page number, day, time, station etc.)

1. Identify one article or show that relate to the topic of the week.
a. Write the title of the article or topic of the radio program you
listened to (not its title, as it is always the same).
2. Explain what the show was about.
a. Why is this issue being discussed?
b. How does it relate to our weekly topic?
3. Sociological Imagination.
a. Describe how the issue discussed above relates to your
understanding of the sociological imagination.

Use any appropriate sociology terms and knowledge that you have acquired
in class.
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This assignment is due only when assigned.