Sociology

Course Description 

This course is designed to provide junior and senior high school students with an introductory level course in Sociology.  Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior and its patterns and that is why this course is designed to give students an understanding of basic sociological concepts:  including theory, research methods, culture, stratification, social structure, and a variety of other sociological phenomenon.  The course will be broken up into sections relating to sociological perspectives and research, socialization, social structure, crime and deviance, division, and social institutions.  The focus of the course is to provide students with a survey of what the field of Sociology has to offer.  

Essential Learning Goals 

• Inquiry Practices and Processes: Demonstrate the skills and ability to construct meaningful questions, gather and evaluate sources, use objective evidence to support one’s reasoning, and clearly communicate a logical argument, opinion and/or conclusion in order to show depth of understanding. (30%)

• Sociological Knowledge and Understanding:  Students will critically examine the complexities and diversity of sociological perspectives, social structure, stratifications, and/or theory in order to provide a survey of sociological phenomena (35%)

• Sociological Application:   Investigate and interpret the interactions between individuals and groups by applying the complexities and diversity of sociological perspectives, social structure, stratifications, and/or theory in order to provide opportunities for students to administer sociological concepts. (35%)

Major Assessments and Success Criteria 

Students will complete various assessments that demonstrate a student’s ability to analyze, evaluate, apply, and interpret information related to the following concepts:  the genesis of sociology, social science research, culture and socialization, social structure, deviance, social differences, and social institutions.  Students will have to write and apply their opinions, analysis, and interpretation of personal reflections concerning diverse sociological concepts and topics.  Students will also have to collaborate and create various authentic assessments related to sociological phenomenon, culture, societal concerns, and themselves.

Key Course Learning Experiences 

Sociology students will work together collaboratively and individually to analyze research practices and to investigate the influence(s) that society has on their lives.  Students will investigate similarities and differences among different and unique cultures, their socialization process, social structure, how groups and authority influence action, deviance, divisions, and social institutions.  Sociology students will scrutinize and dissect key issues that are important to them as individuals and to society as a whole.   

Performance Task Examples

Perform a content Analysis

Creation of a Hypothetical Ethnographic Study

Socialization of the Self Project

Deviance Investigation Presentation

Poverty of Milwaukee Analysis