Sociology
Course Description
Sociology is the study of human behavior in groups which range from two people to societies of millions of people. Students will gain an understanding of important sociological concepts such as culture, socialization, status, role and group dynamics. Students discover how humans interact within and between groups and groupings. Students will use the tools and techniques of sociology along with audiovisuals, group discussions, and simulations to investigate and analyze human relationships.
Grade Level(s): 11th-12th grades
Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): Missouri Learning Standards (6-12)
Essential Questions
- What is the value of the sociological perspective?
- To what degree does social interaction determine who we are?
- Why do we act the way we do in social settings?
- What is the relationship between the sociological perspective and other social sciences such as economics, psychology?
- What are the scientific foundations of sociology?
- What are some applications of sociological thought?
Enduring Understandings/Big Ideas
- Students will understand and apply knowledge of major sociological ideas and processes in positive relationships with friends, family, coworkers and citizens..
- Students will understand how we both create and are created by society.
- Students will understand the concept of multiple perspectives and examine major social issues and problems from different frameworks.
- Students will understand and apply knowledge of major sociological ideas and processes.
- Students will understand and evaluate interactions between social groups on racial, ethnic, religious, gender, political and other issues.
- Students will create a foundation of mutual respect within the class as a model for positive interactions. Integrate a variety of instructional strategies into a high-functioning, dynamic, achieving and enjoyable course.
- Students will learn how to conduct a sociological scientific research project.
Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)
Unit 1: Introduction to Sociology & Culture
Students will be introduced to sociological perspectives, the key figures in the development of sociology (Comte, Spencer, Martineau, Weber, Durkheim), and theoretical perspectives (functionalism, conflict perspective, symbolic interactionism). Students will study the basic concepts of culture including: folkways, mores, laws, sanctions, values, material, real and ideal culture, diversity, ethnocentrism, and cultural universals. Students will:
- Understand and apply knowledge of major sociological ideas and processes in positive relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and citizens
- Understand how we both create and are created by society
- Look at human behavior, particularly in groups, and explore its role.
- Explain the importance of patterns in our social relationships
- Explain how people’s culture interacts with others
Key questions to be explored include:
- Why should we study sociology and what does it teach us?
- How can society be viewed through various theoretical perspectives?
- Who are the major contributors to the development of sociology?
- How do the beliefs and values of a culture affect individuals and society?
- What are the benefits and challenges of a diverse society?
- Are there universally held values and customs?
- How are American values reflected in the media?
Unit 2: Socialization, Social Structure, & Society
Students will debate/discuss the importance of socialization, the involvement of self in socialization, agents of socialization (family, peers, schools, media) and the process of socialization. Students will:
- Understand and apply knowledge of major sociological ideas and processes in positive relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and citizens
- Understand how and evaluate interactions between social groups on family, peers, schools, and media
- Illustrate their own self-concept
- Analyze how culture influences individuals, including themselves
- Understand and explain how there are many agents of socialization (i.e. family, school, peers, media)
Key questions to be explored include:
- What part do family roles play in social structure?
- How has technology changed families?
- What are some of the trends in American family life currently being examined by sociologists?
- What do societies want from their schools?
- What role do forces outside of the educational system have in influencing student achievement?
- Why is education important to social mobility?
Unit 3: Groups and Formal Organizations
Students will evaluate the benefits and limitations of groups and formal organizations. Students will apply their understanding of the pros and cons of groups and formal organizations to settings relevant to them (professional setting, family, school, etc.). Compare and contrast the major ideas and beliefs of different cultures. Summarize how the roles of class, ethnic, racial, gender, and age groups have changed in society, including causes and effects. Describe the major social institutions (family, education, religion, economy, government) and how they fulfill human needs. Identify the consequences that can occur when institutions fail to meet the needs of individuals and groups. Students will:
- Understand and apply knowledge of major sociological ideas and processes with roles of racial, ethnic, religious, gender, political, and other issues
- Understand how and evaluate interactions between social groups on racial, ethnic, religious, gender, political, and other issues
- Create a foundation of mutual respect within the class as a model for positive interactions in relationship to roles of class, ethnic, racial, gender, and age groups
- Analyze current social issues and how that is reflected in American society institutions such as roles of class, ethnic, racial, gender, age groups, religion, economy, and the government.
Key questions to be explored include:
- How does race and ethnicity impact social structure?
- What roles do gender, age and race play in our behavior and interactions with each other?
- How do race and ethnicity affect group behavior?
- How do world events affect or change group behavior?
- How and why do ethnic groups become dehumanized by racism?
- Does race play a big role in shaping a person’s identity?
Unit 4: Deviance & Social Control in Regards to Inequalities of Social Stratification
Students will evaluate the nature of deviance and social control in common social groups (popular culture, school, family, professional settings, etc.). Students will assess the value of different theoretical perspectives (Functionalism, Conflict, & Symbolic Interactionism) to explain the nature of Deviance and Social Control. Students will apply their understanding of factors that create social stratification to common social groups (i.e. school, family, professional settings) Students will evaluate the pros and cons of social stratification in its different forms. Students will create and evaluate viable solutions towards reducing social stratification where it is deemed detrimental to common social groups (i.e. school, family, professional settings). Students will:
- Identify common patterns of social inequality in relationship to deviance
- Assess responses to social inequality in relationship to deviance
- Analyze the effects of social inequality on groups and individuals
- Analyze what the distribution of power and inequalities can result in conflict
- Propose and evaluate alternative responses to inequality
- Create and evaluate viable solutions toward reducing social stratification where it is deemed detrimental to common social groups (i.e. school, family, race)
Key questions to be explored include:
- What defines deviance and why is it functional for society?
- How does human behavior reveal human nature?
- What makes a behavior deviant?
- How does society identify and deal with criminal behavior?
Course Resources & Materials
- The Sociology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2015. 352 pp. This book profiles the world's most renowned sociologists and more than 100 of their biggest ideas, including issues of equality, diversity, identity, and human rights; the effects of globalization; the role of institutions; and the rise of urban living in modern society.
- You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist. You May Ask Yourself gives instructors an alternative to the typical textbook by emphasizing the “big ideas” of the discipline, and encouraging students to ask meaningful questions. Conley employs a “non-textbook” strategy of explaining complex concepts through personal examples and storytelling, and integrates coverage of social inequality throughout the text.
- Sociology OpenStax
- Additional online and teacher-created resources, including the following:
- Sociological lens Case study
- Culture Project
- Differences in Culture
- Research Starters: Cultural Relativism
- Understanding Cultural Relativism
- HSBC - PPT
- Assignment - create their own 2 words 3 images
- Research a Culture
- Peer group notes
- Family intro
- Bullying
- Family Dynamics
- Social Media
- Messages in the Media
- Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace
- Sectarian Violence
- Afghan Women
- Age Notes
- Family Notes
- Group Dynamics
- Family Situation
- Age and Gender
- Are we all Sheep?
- Asch Conformity Experiment
- Candid Camera: The Elevator Experiment
- Conformity Experiment - People are Sheep
- WYFFT: The Elevator Experiment
- Bystanders Effect: Kitty Genovese
- Conformity Experiment
- Warm-Up: What is deviant behavior?
- Identifying Deviance
- Warm-Up: Criminal Deviance
- Analyzing Criminal Behavior
- Comparing Governments
- American Civil Rights Movement
- Anti-Apartheid Movement
- Indian Independence Movement
- Black Lives Matter
- Standing Rock
- Me too movement
- Listing Deviance
- Deviance Ethnography
Date Last Revised/Approved: May 2019