Deviance in US Society Maymester, 2006
SYLLABUS
Class Hours: M-F 12:15-3:30, Ketchum 234
My Office: Ketchum 207
Office Hours: before and after class, before class by appointment
Telephone Numbers: office 492-1177 (rarely relevant), home 449-3021
Internet: adler@colorado.edu
Website: http://spot.colorado.edu/~adler
REQUIRED READING
Patricia A. and Peter Adler, Constructions of Deviance Custom Edition. This book is available for purchase at the UMC Bookstore. The specific reading assignments are noted on the Topics and Readings sheet in the book. It is your responsibility to keep up with the readings in a timely manner. In addition to purchasing the book, you are required to purchase SIX of the larger, eight-page blue books available at the bookstore, and hand them by Wednesday. Do NOT write in them. You will need two blue books for each exam, and these will be randomly distributed back to you at the exams.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course I want to introduce you to the central sociological concepts of deviance, social order, social power, identity construction, and identity management. In this class we will work together to begin to understand the basics of the sociological perspective, and to see how it differs from the psychological approach that most people are used to using to understand society and social life. We will use the topic of deviance to see how groups of people have the power to shape social definitions and apply them onto others. We will then look at the consequences for those defined as deviant of this label. We will look at how people come to develop a deviant identity and what that means to them in the exercise of their everyday lives. The readings I have selected are designed to take us through this intellectual pathway in an interesting and informative manner.
You are responsible for the material and announcements presented during class, whether or not you attend. Please arrange with another student to get missed notes and announcements. There are also no make-up exams in this class. If you have to miss, for any reason, you will probably get an F on that exam. If you think you may have to miss, or if you have any problems, please do not hesitate to call me at home (303 449-3021) right away.
In this course I expect students to conduct themselves, both orally and in their written assignments, in a civil and appropriate manner at all times. Hate speech, profanity, and defamation of any individuals or groups will not be tolerated, and will result in a serious diminution of a student’s grade in the class. I also expect students to follow the mandate of the University of Colorado’s HONOR CODE. Cheating in this class will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with in the most serious manner possible under the guidelines of the Honor Committee. No study sheets of any kind will be permitted in the classroom during any exam, and if I find them anywhere within five feet of you, for example, in your pockets, your backpack, at your feet, or anywhere else, I definitely WILL construe that you are cheating and will report you to the honor council.
The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff and faculty. Sexual
harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation,
threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive.
Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between
any combinations of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff,
and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the
classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall. Any student, staff or
faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the
Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial
Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus
resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually
harassed can be obtained at: http://www.colorado.edu/sexualharassment/
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Out of the lecture section, there will be three exams. These will consist of some combination of fill-in and short essay questions. The first exam will be given after section III (Constructing Deviance), the second one after section V (Managing Stigma), and the final will cover the rest of the course. The fill-in questions are designed to let you match basic terms and ideas to their definitions and applications, and are intended to capture knowledge and recall. The short essay questions are designed to ask you to identify the main lists from the lectures and readings and apply them to hypothetical situations we create. These will involve some creativity as well as analytical and intellectual challenge. I enclose the complete packet of exams that we used in the course last semester at the end of this book, so that you can get an idea of the types of questions we ask on our tests, although it will be different for the Maymester class. I use the same types of questions (format, wording) on all of my tests. You will know what to expect on the second test from your experience with the first test, but these exams give you something to look at to help prepare you for the first test. You will also receive a classroom grade that will be figured 1/3 on attendance, 1/3 on participation, 1/3 on daily five-minute reading quizzes.
Your grade in this class will depend on the following formula:
Assignment Percentage Total Points Possible
First Exam 25% 250
Second Exam 25% 250
Third Exam 25% 250
Classroom 25% 250
Total Points Possible 1000
To calculate how you are doing in the class, use the following scale to convert your letter grades on the exams into numbers:
A:10 A-:9 B+:8 B:7 B-:6 C+:5 C:4 C-:3 D+:2 D:1 D-:0 F:-1
Multiply your converted letter grade by the percentage that each assignment is worth, and add these all together. Your final grade in this class is usually calculated by the following numbers (although special exceptions may be made):
A:1050-950 A-:945-850 B+:845-750 B:745-650 B-:645-550 C+:545-450 C:445-350 C-:345-250 D:245-150 F:145 and below