SOCIOLOGY 303: SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

SYLLABUS, SUMMER 2002

Sociology 303, Section 201, 3 semester hours

12:10 pm-1:10 pm, MTWRF, Faner 1222

Instructor: Catherine Field

Office: 4338 Faner

Phone: 453-3891

Office Hours: 1:10-2:10, MWF

Email: Fieldhughes@earthlink.net

Required Textbook: McCaghy, Charles H., et al, Deviant Behavior, Sixth Edition, Allyn & Bacon 2003.

Course Format: Lecture/discussion. The method of presentation may include lectures, guest lectures, videos, and chalkboard and/or overhead projection.

Course Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate in class their knowledge of such basic sociological concepts as socialization, social control, and social institutions, as well as to develop in discussion an understanding of the concept of deviance as it is used by social scientists. Students will be tested on their ability to summarize the history of deviance as a sociological concept, to explain the differences between competing definitions of deviance, and to demonstrate their familiarity with some of the more prominent theories explaining and predicting deviant behavior. By the end of the semester, students will have produced a term paper that analyzes sociologically one particular deviant behavior, defining and describing it, surveying the literature on the subject, putting it in theoretical perspective, and developing a testable hypothesis and a methodology for further study.

Course Description: During this course we will be examining in a scientific manner many social behaviors that someone (perhaps even everyone) considers immoral, illegal, or pathological, including such behaviors as murder, rape, robbery, physical and sexual abuse, white collar crime and official corruption, organized crime, alcoholism and drug addiction, mental illness, cyberdeviance, prostitution and homosexuality. Any students who would find a frank discussion of topics like these to be upsetting are advised to drop the course.

Course Requirements: In addition to the term paper (40%), there will be a midterm examination (30%) and a final examination (30%).

Specific sections of the term paper (topic, literature review, theoretical considerations, hypothesis, research design, first draft, final draft) will be due on the dates specified. The literature review will be a scholarly one—no internet resources should be considered appropriate without the express approval of the instructor. Lateness on any due dates will affect the paper’s final grade. No papers will be accepted after the last day of class.

All sections of the term paper will be typed, using 10 or 12-point font, double-spaced with standard margins. The APA, ASR, or MLA format will be acceptable. A good style manual such as the Little Brown Handbook or Rhinehart Guide to Grammar and Usage can help, as can computer software such as ProCite, which will automatically formulate bibliography pages in any format.

Any essay questions on tests will be judged for the quality of the argument, and the term paper will be judged for the quality of the research, the clarity of the writing, and the thoroughness and appropriateness of the research design. The English Department’s Writing Center (second floor of Faner) provides free help in developing college writing skills.

The examinations may be either objective (multiple choice, for example) or subjective (essay) or both. Please bring a pencil to both tests. Tests may include material from the textbook as well as the lecture, and there will be no makeup exams or extra credit assignments.

Attendance and Participation: Attendance is required in this class, for the reason that a student cannot predict what material will show up on an exam, nor what announcements will be made in class concerning any necessary changes to the syllabus. A student who must miss a class is expected to give the instructor a written reason for missing every class. The format will be this: 1. Name 2. Date of absence(s) 3. Class time and 4. A brief explanation of the reason class was missed.

Plagiarism: It is expected that all work submitted by the student (whether papers or tests) will be his or her original work. Careful attention must be paid to documenting sources that reflect the writings and ideas of other people. Again, any good style manual can be an invaluable guide to citing sources. Plagiarism may result in the failure of the course or even dismissal from the university.

6/10 Introduction

6/11 Chapter 1: Perspectives on Deviance

6/12

6/13 Chapter 2: Theories of Criminal Deviance

6/14 Term paper topic due in writing

6/17

6/18

6/19

6/20

6/21 Preliminary literature review due in writing

6/24 Chapter 3: Why is Certain Behavior Deviant?

6/25

6/26

6/27 Chapter 4: Crime in the Streets—Against the Person

6/28 Final literature review due in writing

7/1

7/2

7/3 Chapter 5: Crime in the Streets—Against Property

7/4 NO CLASS

7/5 Testable hypothesis due in writing

7/8

7/9 MIDTERM EXAMINATION

7/10 Chapter 6: Assaults Against Children and Spouses

7/11

7/12 Research design due in writing

7/15 Chapter 7: Deviance and Organizations

7/16

7/17 Chapter 8: Deviant Drug Use

7/18

7/19 Draft one of term paper due in writing

7/22 Chapter 9: Mental Disorders

7/23

7/24

7/25 Chapter 10: Cyberdeviance

7/26

7/29 Chapter 11: Sexual Deviance: Prostitution and Homosexuality

7/30

7/31 (Last day of class) Draft two of term paper due in writing

Final exam to be announced

The instructor reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus if the need should arise. These changes will be announced in class.