Welcome To

Welcome To

Sociology 101

Sociology 101

Introduction To Sociology

Introduction To Sociology

Professor: Dr. Richard Pitt

Professor: Dr. Richard Pitt

(r.pitt@vanderbilt.edu)

(r.pitt@vanderbilt.edu)

Teaching Assistant: Lauren Stavish

Teaching Assistant: Lauren Stavish

(lauren.m.stavisth@vanderbilt.edu)

(lauren.m.stavisth@vanderbilt.edu)

http://majorsmatter.net/introhttp://majorsmatter.net/intro

Books

We’ll

Read

Books

We’ll

Read

Social Research

Social Interaction

Social Structure

Social Stratification

Social Institutions

Social Change

What

Past

W

hat

Past

Stu

dents

Say

Stu

dents

Say

About

Me

About

Me

““Dr. Pitt is an unbelievable professor. He communicated

Dr. Pitt is an unbelievable professor. He communicated

perfectly with the class and I loved the way he taught.

perfectly with the class and I loved the way he taught.

He is an animated and fun professor that does not hold

He is an animated and fun professor that does not hold

back. I learned a lot more than I expected to, and he

back. I learned a lot more than I expected to, and he

made this class the best class I have ever taken at

made this class the best class I have ever taken at

Vanderbilt.”Vanderbilt.”

““Dr. Pitt was one of the best professors, if not the best

Dr. Pitt was one of the best professors, if not the best

professor, I ever had at Vanderbilt. He made class so

professor, I ever had at Vanderbilt. He made class so

interesting and fun. His ability to engage the students

interesting and fun. His ability to engage the students

and make us like the subject was astounding. I found

and make us like the subject was astounding. I found

myself missing his style and class on days I didn't have

myself missing his style and class on days I didn't have

it.”it.”

““Professor Pitt has a way of making the material

Professor Pitt has a way of making the material

interesting to the class. If I were not graduating I would

interesting to the class. If I were not graduating I would

love to take more classes from Professor Pitt!”

love to take more classes from Professor Pitt!”

““Dr. Pitt can relate to students, which is obvious in his

Dr. Pitt can relate to students, which is obvious in his

lectures. He relates every theory, every subject, to

lectures. He relates every theory, every subject, to

college students which is so helpful when it comes to

college students which is so helpful when it comes to

studying. He made himself available before tests during

studying. He made himself available before tests during

office hours which was so helpful. He is funny and

office hours which was so helpful. He is funny and

engaging in class lectures - his class was a highlight of

engaging in class lectures - his class was a highlight of

the day and I learned so much about social theory that,

the day and I learned so much about social theory that,

as a sociology major, I felt I should know.”

as a sociology major, I felt I should know.”

What

Els

e T

hey

What

Els

e T

hey

Say

About

My

Say

About

My

Cours

es

Cours

es

Dr. Pitt is the best lecturer I've ever known. I came to

Dr. Pitt is the best lecturer I've ever known. I came to

class eager to learn something new every single class.

class eager to learn something new every single class.

However, I really think that his means of grading his

However, I really think that his means of grading his

students is completely unfair and irrational

students is completely unfair and irrational..

I have really enjoyed this course and learning about how

I have really enjoyed this course and learning about how

the world works, however

the world works, however, , there was way too much work

there was way too much work

for a class many take as an elective. Seven books?

for a class many take as an elective. Seven books?

Really?Really?

Hands-down the best class I've ever had at Vanderbilt in

Hands-down the best class I've ever had at Vanderbilt in

terms of how the material was taught.

terms of how the material was taught. Terrible, Terrible,

ridiculous, utterly unfair grading scale though

ridiculous, utterly unfair grading scale though..

A good professor and knows his material; however, his

assignments are somewhat ridiculous. I am no stranger

to hard work, but his exams and so-called “reading-

check” quizzes are TOO HARD! Grading for the class is

interesting, but somewhat unfair: everyone starts with

500 points and then points are deducted accordingly,

which makes understanding grading difficult.

There is no . . . NO . . . NO way to go back up There is no . . . NO . . . NO way to go back up once you’ve hit a grade threshold except once you’ve hit a grade threshold except

grade replacement for the quizzes.grade replacement for the quizzes.

Reading Quizzes (200)Reading Quizzes (200)Middlesex Analysis (100)Middlesex Analysis (100)

Examination I (100)Examination I (100)Examination II (100)Examination II (100)

176 points176 points87 points87 points83 points83 points79 points79 points

425 425 points points ( the ( the

same as an 85% )same as an 85% )

Grade? BGrade? B425 + 12 extra 425 + 12 extra quiz points = 437 quiz points = 437 points (Grade? B+)points (Grade? B+)

425 + 12 extra 425 + 12 extra quiz points = 437 quiz points = 437 points (Grade? B+)points (Grade? B+)

Average Grades For This ClassAverage Grades For This Class

Mid

dle

sex

Mid

dle

sex

Analysis

Analysis

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER

• This Isn’t A Book Report. This Is A

This Isn’t A Book Report. This Is A

Sociological Argument.

Sociological Argument.

• This Is A Commonly Analyzed Book In

This Is A Commonly Analyzed Book In

English Courses. Remember The

English Courses. Remember The

Honor Code!

Honor Code!

• Big Question: How Do These Twelve

Big Question: How Do These Twelve

Social Dynamics Affect Cal?!

Social Dynamics Affect Cal?!

White-Ethnic Identity

Intersexuality & Gender Identity

The American Dream Ethos

Race Relations

Immigration & Ethnic Enclaves

Entrepreneurship & Industry

Family & Life Course Events

Mores & Taboos

Sexual Orientation: Nature Or

Nurture?

Social Movements

Medicalization

Culture Change & Historical

Context

Mid

dle

sex

Mid

dle

sex

Analysis

Analysis

KEY DATES TO CONSIDER

KEY DATES TO CONSIDER

• September 4

September 4thth : Groups are assigned

: Groups are assigned

topicstopics

• October 18October 18thth : 10-incident master list due

: 10-incident master list due

to Laurento Lauren

• Meeting(s) with Lauren to discuss your

Meeting(s) with Lauren to discuss your

topictopic

• Meeting with graduate student “expert”

Meeting with graduate student “expert”

• November 8November 8

thth : Outline of paper due to

: Outline of paper due to

LaurenLauren

• November 28 – December 6:

November 28 – December 6:

Presentations

Presentations

• December 6: Final paper is due

December 6: Final paper is due