920:344:01 Sociology of Deviance
Spring 2007
Dr.
Humphries email:
humphri@camden.rutgers
phone: 856-225-6073 Office: 116 in 405-407 Cooper St.Department of Sociology, Anthropology,
and Criminal Justice
Office
Hours: Tuesdays 2-3 pm & Thursdays 5-6 pm
This
course covers explanations for deviance and conformity, with emphasis
on the varieties of deviance, social reactions to deviance, and
sociological theories. It is broken down into three parts: definitions
of deviance, stigma and the problem of spoiled identity, and group
deviance.
Readings
that are required include:
Emile Durkheim, "The Normal and the Pathological" (handout)
Stuart Henry and Roger Eaton, Eds. 1999. Degrees of Deviance: Student
Accounts of Their Deviance Behavior. Salem, Wis.: Sheffield
Publishing Co.
Selected Readings from Henry Pontell (Ed.). Social Deviance. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Prentice Hall. (On Reserve in the Library)
pp. 71-96 and pp. 273-296.
John Krakauer. 2002. Under the Banner of Heaven: A
Story of Violent Faith. New York: Doubleday.
Course Grade: Course
grades are based on two exams, three writing assignments, and classroom
participation. In general the exams count for 30%, the writing
assignments 50%, and participation 20%. Because you are in complete
charge of the writing assignments, your final grade is truly in your
hands.
Two Exams: The exams
involve essays and short answers. They come at the end of units 1 and
2. I reserve the right to require a third exam at the end of unit
3, should that appear to be necessary.
Three Writing Assignments:
All writing assignments are to be formatted as follows: typed,
double-spaced, one-inch margins, font 12. Maximum page lengths are
given for each assignment. You can use ASA or APA style, but remember
that this is an upper division course and it is assumed that students,
who have taken English Composition and another writing course are
familiar with style and style manuals, which are available at the
reference desk in Robeson Library. Consequently, assignments that fail
to meet college standards for writing will be returned with a zero
grade. Papers will be reviewed for plagiarism and if found papers will
referred to the Dean.
Assignment 1: Doing Deviance. Read
Durkheim' "The normal and the pathological." Consider his definition of
deviance (he uses the term crime) and his overall functions in society.
Then commit a deviant act or engage in some form of deviant behavior.
The act or behavior must not violate the law or University regulations.
Failure to heed this warning will result in an F for the assignment and
referral to the Deans Office. The reading and the act will form the
basis for an essay in which you briefly describe your deviant act,
summarize Durkheim's definition, and then relate the definition to your
act. Two page limit. Anything beyond two pages will not be evaluated.
Well written essays, with clearly described acts, accurate renditions
of Durkheim's position will receive higher grades. Poor writing style,
misplaced descriptions, and factually incorrect renditions of
Durkheim's position will result in lower grades.
Assignment 2: Being Deviant.
Read pp. 71-96 from readings by Pontell. Pay particular attention to
the essay by Erving Goffman, "Stigma and Identity." The behavioral part
of the assignment is to assume a "discreditable identity" and to
maintain it for a day, taking notes on how you protected or compensated
your "secret," what risks you ran of exposure, and how it felt to
"pass" as a "normal." Five page limit. Evaluation will focus
application of Goffman's ideas to your situation. Again, the essay will
briefly describe your spoilt identity and will focus on those ideas
that are most relevant to your experience while passing. Well
written essays, with clearly described acts, accurate renditions of
Goffman's position will receive higher grades. Poor writing style,
misplaced descriptions, and factually incorrect renditions of Goffman's
position will result in lower grades.
Assignment 3: Group Deviance.
Read Under the Banner of Heaven and be sure to take notes that will
help with this assignment as you go. Write an essay that sorts out what
is deviant and what is normal in the contemporary and historical
events, groups, practices, beliefs, and behaviors depicted in Under the
Banner of Heaven. 10 page limit. Evaluation will focus on clear
identification of multiple frames of reference and their applicability
to definitions of deviance. Well-written essays that use accurately
rendered examples that also are relevant to questions of deviance will
receive higher grades. Poor writing style, inaccurate descriptions, and
factually incorrect statements about deviance will receive lower grades.
Rules
of the Road
Plagiarism:
Students are expected to be familiar with the Rutgers' policy on
plagiarism and to know how to avoid violating its provisions. If you
are uncertain about the policy or how to avoid plagiarism, consult the
college catalog and read about how to use citations and references
properly at
http: www.
camden.rutgers.edu/dept-pages/sociology/curriculum/plagiarism.htm.
Absences: Students are responsible for
meeting all course requirements and to be aware of any changes in the
syllabus for the course. Excessive absences result in poor performance
on exams and papers. When absences are extreme and warnings have been
issued, continued absences will result in an F grade.
No late papers will be accepted.
All papers must be turned in in person in class on the day it is
due. When the class is over, the paper is late and will not be accepted.
Missed Exams. Students should
arrange for an early exam if they play to be away on the date of an
exam. Those who miss an exam are required to contact the instructor
within 24 hours of the exam to discuss the possibility of a make up. To
qualify for a make up exam, students must provide written documentation
that the absence was to due to a change in circumstance over which you
had no control.
