Race and Ethnic Relations in the U.S.
Sociology 215
Section 2
Spring 2001
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays,
8:00 – 9:15 am
Room: Lawson 201
Instructor: Glen L. Lantz
Office: Faner 3429
Sociology Office: Faner 3384
Office Phone: 453-7621
Home Phone: 618-993-0422
E-mail: Lantz1@midwest.net
Office
hours: Tuesdays 9:30 – 11:30 am
Thursdays 9:30 –
11:30 am or by appointment
Student Learning
Objectives
This course will
examine the status of racial, ethnic, and cultural minority groups from
historical, economic, and political perspectives. The course will explore the experiences of these minority groups
in the U.S. Students are expected to
read the assigned materials before each class and to participate in class discussions.
Students in this
will be able to:
· Demonstrate an understanding of such
concepts as assimilation, pluralism, ascribed and
achieved statuses, prejudice, and discrimination;
· Display basic knowledge of historical,
socioeconomic, and political demographics of the U.S;
· Demonstrate critical thinking about
different theories and perspectives pertaining to race, class, gender, and
sexuality.
· Apply sociological concepts for the
analysis of race and ethnicity to personal and family experience.
Textbooks
Healey, Joseph
F. 1998. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class: The Sociology of Group
conflict and Change. 2nd
edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
Rosenblum, Karen
E. and Toni-Michelle C. Travis
(Eds.). 2000. The Meaning of Difference: American
Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, and Sexual
Orientation. 2nd
edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Guidelines
Basic guidelines for behavior in class are based on showing respect for others. Students are expected to appreciate and pay respect to others’ opinions. When the instructor or a student is talking, students are expected to listen. This means no talking or reading while someone else is talking. Not paying attention when someone is talking shows disrespect for your instructor and other students.
Students are required to be
on time. Being late for class and
leaving in the middle of class are major disruptions for the instructor and
other students. If you need to leave
early, you must give the instructor an explanation before the class
starts.
Attendance
You are expected
to attend each class. Attendance will
be taken and will be used in cases of close grades at the end of the
semester. Attending and participating
in class will help you better understand the course material. It is important that you attend out of
respect for other members of class.
Learning is greatly enhanced when discussion takes place between
students. Being absent deprives others
of this opportunity.
Examinations
There will be 3
examinations during the course.
Examinations will cover information from the readings and lectures. The exams will consist of 50 multiple choice
questions and 5 short answer essay questions.
All exams are worth 100 points each.
All
make-up exams will be essay exams.
Make-up exams must be taken within one week of the original exam date.
Final Paper
Select one racial or ethnic minority group for your final paper. You can select any racial or ethnic minority group from any country. You are not restricted to only groups in the United States.
The final paper
should contain an introduction, description of the racial/minority group,
analysis section, and conclusion. The
final paper will be graded using the following criteria:
· Introduction: introduce your topic and
layout what you are going to talk about.
Provide the most important statement that your paper makes. You should write the introduction last. 5
points
· Description of racial/ethnic group:
Provide the social and historical context.
Describe the minority group and the first contact experience with the
dominant group.
10 points
· Analysis:
(1)
Blauner Hypothesis: According to the Blauner hypothesis, the
selected minority group represents what type of minority group. Provide evidence to back-up your claim. 15 points
(2)
Noel Hypothesis: Indicate the degree of ethnocentrism,
competition, and differential of power experienced by selected minority
group. Provide evidence to back-up your
claims. 45 points
· Conclusion: Summarize what the paper
was about and indicate the main point or points of your paper. 5 points
· Spelling/Grammar/References: The paper
will be checked for proper spelling and grammar. The
paper must be typed and double-spaced. Also, provide a reference sheet that
indicates the sources that were used for the paper. The paper should reference 5 sources such as books, journal
articles, magazines, or web pages. 10
points
· Length: The final paper should consist
of 5 pages of text. This does not
include a title page, reference page, or any pages of tables, graphs, or
pictures. All tables graphs and
pictures should be placed at the end of the paper. 10 points
The final paper counts for
100 points. The final paper will be due
at the beginning of class on May 1.
Late papers will be reduced 10 points for each day they are past the due
date.
Grades
Students’ grades
will be determined by 2 elements: 3
exams and a final paper. The 3 exams
will make up 300 points and the final paper will count for 100 points. The exams and final paper will combine for a
total of 400 points. Course grade will
be assigned on the basis of points accumulated during the semester from the two
elements listed above. In order to get
an A in this course, for example, a student needs to accumulate 360 points (90%
of the total score).
3 Exams (100 x 3 = 300) 75%
Final Paper (100) 25%
Total (400) 100%
A 360 or more 90 - 100%
B 320 to 359 80 - 89%
C 280 to 319 70 - 79%
D 240 to 279 60 – 69%
F Less than 240 00 – 59%
Reading
Assignments and Lecture Schedule
Readings in the
Rosenblum and Travis reader are indicated by (R).
This schedule is
tentative and subject to change.
Week 1
Jan 16: Introduction
Jan 18: What is Sociology?
Week 2
Jan 23: Healey, Ch.1 – Diversity in the United States
Jan 25: Ch.1 continued
Davis, “Who is Black? One Nation’s
Definition” ( R ) (34-42)
Week 3
Jan 30: Healey, Ch.2 - Assimilation and Pluralism
Feb1: Ch.2 continued
Frye, “Oppression” ( R ) (190-194)
Week 4
Feb 6: Healey, Ch.3 – Prejudice
Feb 8: Ch.3 continued
Heyl, “Homosexuality: A Social
Phenomenon” ( R ) (146-156)
Week 5
Feb 13: Healey,
Ch.4 – Prejudice in 1990s
Feb 15: Ch.4
continued
Jones, “The Rise and Fall of
Affirmative Action” ( R ) (320-332)
Week 6
Feb 20: First
examination (lecture, chapters 1-4, and assigned readings)
Feb 22: Healey,
Ch.5 – Minority Groups in Pre-industrial America
Week 7
Feb 27: Ch.5
continued
Suro, “Strangers Among Us” ( R )
(362-372)
Mar1: Healey, Ch.6 – Minority Relations in
Industrializing America
Week 8
Mar 6: Ch.6 continued.
Mar 8: Healey, Ch.7 – African Americans
Spring Break Mar
12 – Mar 16.
Week 9
Mar 20: Ch.7
continued
Lamberth, “Driving While Black” ( R ) (240-243)
Mar 22: Healey,
Ch.8 – Native Americans
Week 10
Mar 27: Ch.8
continued
Mander, “What Americans Don’t Know About Indians” ( R ) (441-445)
Mar 29: Second
examination (lecture, chapters 1-4, and assigned readings)
Week 11
April 3: Healey,
Ch.9 – Hispanic Americans
April 5: No
Class
Week 12
April 10: Ch.9
continued
April 12:
Healey, Ch.10 – Asian Americans
Week 13
April 17: Ch.10
Continued
Liu, “The Accidental Asian” ( R ) (212-223)
April 19:
Healey, Ch.11 – European Immigrants
Week 14
April 24: Ch.11
continued
Lipsitz, “The Possessive Investment in Whiteness” ( R ) (351-362)
April 26: Healey, Ch.12 - Dominant-Minority Relations in
the Contemporary United States
Week 15
May 1: FINAL PAPER DUE
Ch.2 continued
May3: Healey,
Ch.13 – Minority Groups and U.S. Society
Finals Week
Final
Examination, Tue. May 8th 7:50 – 9:50