Sociology of Deviant Behavior

 

Sociology 303                                                                          Office:  Fanner 3426

Course Time:  10-10:50 a.m. (MWF)                                       Office Hours:

Location:  Fanner 1226                                                             8 a.m. – 9 a.m. (MW)

Instructor:  Dr. Calhoun                                                            8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (TTH)

Email:  tcalhoun@siu.edu                                                          12 noon – 1 p.m. Wednesday

Office:  453-7610                                                                     and by appointment only

 

Textbooks:  Thio, Alex.  2001.  Deviant Behavior.  6th Edition.  Needham Heights, MA:

Allyn & Bacon.

 

Thio, Alex and Thomas C. Calhoun. 2001. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 2nd Edition.   Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

 

Course Objective:  In this course we will study some of the rules that bind us together into a “society,” and some of the behaviors that violate these rules.  Over the course of the semester we will investigate such rule-violating behaviors as alcoholism, drug abuse, prostitution, homosexuality, etc.  In all instances we will be concerned with the social construction of deviant behavior – how society makes certain behaviors acceptable and others deviant, how deviant behaviors affect those who participate in them and how these behaviors ultimately affect the overall society.

 

Attendance:  You are expected to be in class each scheduled time; however, for whatever reason, you are allowed three (3) absences this semester without penalty.  However, for each additional absence 3 percentage points will reduce your final average.  For example, if at the end of the semester, your average is 72 and you have missed a total of five days, your new average will be 66.  Therefore, instead of receiving a “C” for the course, you will receive a “D.”  Obviously, if you have a legitimate reason for missing class (i.e. personal illness accompanied by a written excuse from a health care provider; death in your immediate family (brother/sister, mother/father, grandmother/grandfather, husband/wife/partner, or child; need to be away on official university business – accompanied by a legitimate document from the appropriate source, your absence(s) will be excused.  I strongly recommend that you attend class each day because you cannot anticipate exactly when you will need to be out of class or for how long.  You can always reach me via email or you can leave a message for me with the departmental secretary whose number is 453-2494.  Do not call me at home unless it is absolutely necessary.

 

Subject Matter:  During this semester we will be scientifically studying some of society’s most disapproved behaviors.  If frank, candid discussion of topics such as prostitution, rape, alcohol or other drug abuses and the like offend you, then you are most likely in the wrong course.  Therefore, any student who anticipates that the subject matter will be upsetting to you – for whatever reason – withdraw immediately.

 

Examinations:  This semester there are three (3) examinations scheduled and they may be multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, short answer/essay or any combination thereof.  The mere fact that a particular chapter in Thio or articles in Thio and Calhoun has not been discussed in class does not eliminate that material from the examination.  You must bring to each examination one and perhaps two number 2 pencils for the portion of the examination that will be machine scored.  For the short/answer, essay, or fill in the blank portion of the examination, these must be completed in blue, blue/black, or black ink or ballpoint pen.  I will not grade these portions of your examination if written in pencil or some other unapproved color of ink, and you will receive no credit for these responses.

 

Class Participation:  You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the material assigned each day.  Your contributions must have a foundation and be substantive in nature.  To merely hear oneself talk is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.  Until I learn each of your names, please when responding identify yourself not only so that I will know whom you are but your classmates as well.  Finally, you can disagree with the opinions of others; however, at no time will you be allowed to disrespect another member of this class.

 

Research Paper:  Every student will write individually or in a group a research paper for this course.  All topics must be approved by me and are due during the week indicated in the schedule that follows.  I would suggest that you review the table of contents of your textbooks for ideas; however, you may write on a topic not included in these sources.  Your final paper should not exceed 25 typewritten double spaced pages exclusive of bibliography.  The margins of your paper should not exceed 1” from either side or from the top and bottom of the page.  Every paper must have an outline and sections in accordance with that outline should break down the body of your paper.  The conclusion should be a separate entry on your outline.  Every page of your paper must be numbered.  Failure to turn in a paper at or before April 10, 2001 will result in automatic failure for this course irrespective of grades made on the examinations.  Do not wait until the last minute to try to write this paper because unanticipated problems always have a tendency to crop up (i.e. hard drive crashes, problems with disks, a need to be out of town, etc.).  You have been warned and I will not waiver from this deadline.  If you have to be away on university business or experience a personal loss, plan now to complete your paper ahead of time.  Your paper should primarily be composed of scholarly sources (i.e. journal articles and books) and INTERNET sources should be used sparingly.  I expect a minimum of 10 citations of which no more than 3 can be obtained from the Internet.  Your research paper should conform to an acceptable style such as APA, MLA, Turabian, etc.

 

Grading:

Examination # 1                        100 points

Examination # 2                        100 points

Examination # 3                        100 points

Research Paper                        100 points

               Total Points              400*

 

 

 

A =      360 and above

B =      320-359

C =      280-319

D =      240=279

F =       239 and Below

 

*Class participation may impact your grade positively; however, it will not affect it negatively.

 

Do not ask for extra credit work because the request will be denied.

 

Reading Schedule:  The following is presented only for planning purposes; it may change as situations dictate.  It is only to be used as a guide and not to be construed as “written in stone.”

 

Week 1 (January 14-18)

            Monday – Introduction

            Wednesday – Chapter 1 from Thio

            Friday – Thio & Calhoun, pages 1-17

Week 2 (January 21-25)

            Monday – No Class

            Wednesday – Thio & Calhoun, pages 18-36

            Friday – Thio pages 17-23 and Thio & Calhoun pages 41-45

Week 3 (January 28 – February 1)

            Monday – Thio, pages 24-33 and Thio & Calhoun pages 46-54

                        PAPER TOPICS DUE

            Wednesday – Thio, pages 34-44 and Thio & Calhoun pages 55-62

            Friday – Thio, pages 44-48 and Thio & Calhoun pages 63 – 66

Week 4 (February 4 – 8)

            Monday – Thio, pages 48-53 and Thio & Calhoun pages 67-79

            Wednesday - Thio, pages 59-70 and Thio & Calhoun pages 81-92

            Friday – Thio, pages 71-87

Week 5 (February 11-15)

            Monday – First Major Examination

            Wednesday – Thio, pages 89-102 and Thio & Calhoun pages 94-98

            Friday – Review First Examination

Week 6 (February 18-22)

            Monday – Thio, pages 102-118

            Wednesday – Thio, pages 119-129

            Friday – Thio, pages 129-138

Week 7 (February 25 – March 1)

            Monday – Thio, pages 139-153

            Wednesday – Thio and Calhoun pages 353-357

            Friday – Paper outline with proposed bibliography

 

Week 8 (March 4 – 8)

            Monday – Thio 153-169

            Wednesday – Thio and Calhoun pages 247-255

                                    Thio pages 170-183

            Friday – Thio pages 184-199

Week 9 (March 11-15)

            Spring Break – No class

Week 10 (March 18-22)

            Monday – Thio pages 202-212 and Thio and Calhoun pages 293-313

            Wednesday – Thio pages 213-229 and Thio and Calhoun pages 147-157

            Friday – Thio pages 229-234 and Thio and Calhoun pages 158-189

Week 11 (March 25-29)

            Monday – Second Major Examination

            Wednesday – Thio pages 236-249

            Friday - Thio and Calhoun pages 197-202

Week 12 (April 1 – 5)

            Monday – Thio pages 249-259 and Thio and Calhoun pages 193-197

            Wednesday – Thio pages 259-265 and RESEARCH PAPERS DUE

            Friday – Thio and Calhoun pages 202-221

 Week 13 (April 8-12)

            Monday – Thio and Calhoun pages 115-127

Wednesday - Thio pages 267-280

            Friday – Thio pages 280-295

Week 14 (April 15-19)

            Monday - Thio and Calhoun pages 128-136

            Wednesday – Thio pages 298 – 310

            Friday – Thio and Calhoun pages 137-143

Week 15 (April 22-26)

            Monday – Thio pages 310-338

            Wednesday – Thio and Calhoun pages 283-292 and 236-247

            Friday – Thio pages 338-351 and Thio and Calhoun pages 223-235, 105-111

Week 16 (April 29 – May 3)

            Monday – Thio pages 354-378 and Thio and Calhoun pages 99-104

            Wednesday - Thio and Calhoun pages 315-346

            Friday - Thio and Calhoun pages 257-280

 

FINAL EXAMINATION:  Tuesday, May 7th from 12:50 – 2:50 p.m.  Do not ask that this examination be given earlier than its scheduled time.