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SOC 430: SOCIETY AND TECHNOLOGY
SECTION: 01, SPRING 2015
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Professor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
E-mail**:
Teaching
Assistant:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
E-mail**:
Dr. Raoul S. Liévanos
251 Wilson-Short Hall
TU, TH / 2 – 4pm & by apt.
509-335-2460
[email protected]
Class Information
Class Number:
Credits:
Days/Time:
Location:
Website:
Darcy Hauslik
151 Wilson-Short Hall
W, 11am-1p; TH, 11am-12pm &
by apt.
509-335-4595 (messages only)
[email protected]
Course Prerequisite:
Recommended
Course Prep:
03824
3
TU, TH / 12 – 1:15pm
Cleveland Hall 30E
WSU Angel
(https://lms.wsu.edu)
Junior standing
SOC 101:
Intro to Sociology
**Please put “Soc 430” in subject line of e-mails
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
This course introduces students to the systematic study of patterned relations between material objects,
technological systems, and social systems. Accordingly, it will focus on the role of social and ecological
processes in technological development and the social and ecological impacts of various technologies.
The course will offer a blend of insights from on a number of related subfields within sociology,
particularly environmental sociology and the sociology of science and technology. The course has three
learning outcomes that coincide with select components of Washington State University’s learning goals
and outcomes (see http://ugr.wsu.edu/faculty/7goals.html). First, students are expected to improve their
scientific literacy in the sociology of technology and basic understanding of the major scientific concepts,
theories, and methods used by scholars in this broad area by completing required readings, attending
course lectures, and excelling in course examinations. Second, through independent research and writing,
and in-class discussions, students are expected to improve their critical and creative thinking and
communication skills. Third, students are expected to refine their “sociological imagination” and improve
their ability to describe and explain the interconnection between their personal troubles and public issues
like societal, ecological, and technological change. It is hoped students will develop such breadth, depth,
and integration of learning for the benefit of themselves, their communities, and for society at large.
Regular course instruction begins January 13, 2015 and ends April 30, 2015.
REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS
Bliss, Catherine. 2012. Race Decoded: The Genomic Fight for Social Justice. Stanford, CA: Stanford
University Press. [Available through WSU online library:
http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2159/lib/wsu/detail.action?docID=10546502]
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Freudenburg, William R, Robert Gramling, Shirley Laska, and Kai T. Erikson. 2009. Catastrophe in the
Making: The Engineering of Katrina and the Disasters of Tomorrow. Washington, DC: Island
Press/Shearwater Books. [Available through WSU online library:
http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2159/lib/wsu/detail.action?docID=10508799]
Molotch, Harvey. 2003. Where Stuff Comes From: How Toasters, Toilets, Cars, Computers, and Many
Other Things Come to Be As They Are. New York, NY: Routledge.
Electronic Reader: Supplemental required readings listed on the course schedule below. [Available on
Angel: “Lessons” tab “Electronic Reader”]
ASA. 1997. American Sociological Association Style Guide. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American
Sociological Association. [Available on Angel: “Lessons” tab “Electronic Reader”]
RECOMMENDED COURSE TEXT
Strunk, William, Jr. and E.B. White. 2000. The Elements of Style, 4th ed. New York: Longman.
[Various editions of this text are available for purchase from online vendors (e.g., Amazon) or
on loan from the Holland & Terrell Library]
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
The course will combine three exams, a term paper, and in-class participation exercises to meet its
expected learning outcomes. These assignments are introduced below.
Exams: There will be three exams during the semester. All exams will test students on the course
material (i.e., readings, lectures, and class discussions) and include a combination of true/false, multiple
choice, and short answer questions. Exam 1 will cover material from sections 1 and 2, exam 2 will cover
material from section 3, and exam 3 (the final) will cover material from section 4 of class. If a student is
unable to take an exam on the exam day, then arrangements must be made between the professor and the
student for the student to take the exam prior to the exam day. Students should expect make-up exams to
be in a different format than normally-scheduled in-class exams. Each exam has a maximum of 100
points possible and is worth 20 percent of the course grade.
Term Paper: Every student is expected to submit one 10-page, double-spaced term paper with one-inch
margins in week 15 of class (see course calendar below). Additional guidelines for the term paper
assignment (process of the assignment, grading criteria, and the format of the final product) will be
provided to students in an assignment handout during week 2 of class. The professor and teaching
assistant will help students with the substantive elements of the term paper. Students are encouraged to
consult the recommended reading (Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style) and meet with staff at the
WSU Undergraduate Writing Center as needed for assistance in writing mechanics for this paper. The
Undergraduate Writing Center is located at Smith Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE) 403; see
also: http://universitycollege.wsu.edu/units/writingprogram/units/writingcenter/undergrad/. The term
paper has a maximum of 100 points possible and is worth 20 percent of the course grade.
In-Class Participation Exercises: Classes will clarify and apply course concepts with lecture,
discussion, and audio/video rather than merely summarizing the reading. Thus, students are expected to
have completed the reading assigned for each class session prior to class, attend class regularly, and
participate in class discussions and exercises. Regular attendance means having no more than two
unexcused absences. Participation will be tracked with a variety of methods throughout the semester, such
as through pop quizzes or successfully participating in class activities. Three points will be subtracted
from the in-class participation grade for every unexcused absence beyond the limit of two (the equivalent
2
of one week of class; see “Attendance Policy” below for more on attendance). Normal in-class
participation credit will be calculated as follows: There will be a total of 12 opportunities to earn in-class
participation points. Each in-class participation opportunity is worth 10 points. Students’ two lowest days
of participation credit will be subtracted from the total participation points accrued during the semester to
account for some combination of unexcused absences and students’ lowest participation scores. In-class
participation has a maximum of 100 points possible and is worth 20 percent of the course grade.
Summary of Grade Percentage for Class Assignments
Assignment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Term Paper
In-Class Participation
Sum of all assignments
Total Points Possible
100
100
100
100
100
500
Percent of Grade
20
20
20
20
20
100
GENERAL GRADING CRITERIA
Timely Submission of Assignments: The term paper is the only assignment that can be submitted late.
A fraction of a letter grade (3 points/3 percent) penalty will be imposed on that assignment for each 24hour period it is submitted past its due date and time of Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the start of class.
The latest the term paper can be submitted is Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 12pm via e-mail. Submitting the
paper this late will result in minus 15 points, or 1 and 1/2 letter grade, off the assignment before it is
evaluated for a grade. Submission of the assignment between April 30 and May 5 should be done so via
e-mail to the teaching assistant at [email protected] with “Soc 430: Term Paper, (student last
name)” in the subject line. Term paper submissions after 12pm on May 5 will earn no credit.
Feedback on Graded Assignments: The type and timing of feedback on assignments will vary
depending on the assignment, but in most cases it will be provided to the student no more than 7 days
after the assignment has been submitted for evaluation.
Grade Questions: Students can direct any questions they have about a grade to the professor. However,
students must allow 24 hours to pass before they ask their question(s). Once these 24 hours have passed,
students must provide the professor with a written response to the grade, documenting where the student
feels inaccurately graded on the course assignment. Students should be advised, however, that
reconsideration of an assignment grade may result in more points being taken off of the assignment if
additional flaws are found in the assignment that might have been missed the first time it was graded.
University Academic Regulation (UAR) #104 provides additional information on the academic complaint
procedures beyond the initial grading dispute guidelines between students and professors discussed here
(see http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/Acadregs.ASPX).
University Grades and Grade Points: Students’ final grades will be a percentage (0 to 100%) of the
total 500 points possible on the course assignments. The professor will use the following grading scale to
convert the percentage of points earned to a final letter grade per UAR #90:
A
= 93-100%
B
= 83-86%
C
= 73-76%
D
= 60-66%
A-
= 90-92%
B-
= 80-82%
C-
= 70-72%
F
= 0-59%
B+
= 87-89%
C+
= 77-79%
D+
= 67-69%
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Please note that an “I” or “incomplete grade” will only be given for students who, for reasons beyond
their control, are unable to complete their course work in a timely manner. Additional information on the
incomplete grade and the procedures the professor will follow for processing such grade can be found at
http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/Acadregs.ASPX/#90. Students who anticipate that they will
not complete the course assignments in a timely manner for reasons beyond their control are advised to
convey that to the professor, their academic advisor, and any other pertinent university personnel
immediately to determine the best course of action for the student.
University Grading Scale: Per UAR #90, a student’s final letter grade for the course that is reported to
the university will be translated to grade points and associated grade point average with the following
university grading scale:
A
= 4.0
B
= 3.0
C
= 2.0
D
= 1.0
A-
= 3.7
B-
= 2.7
C-
= 1.7
F
= 0.0
B+
= 3.3
C+
= 2.3
D+
= 1.3
Description of Grade Ranges
A: Student work demonstrates consistently excellent scholastic performance; thorough comprehension;
ability to correlate the material with other ideas, to communicate and to deal effectively with course
concepts and new material; reliability in attendance and attention to assignments (UAR #90a). Course
clarification: Students who earn a grade in the A range likely completed the assigned readings prior to
weekly activities, had at least 90 percent participation scores, and likely spent at least 6 hours a week
outside of class studying for or completing course assignments (see UAR #27).
B: Student work demonstrates superior scholastic performance overall, reliability in attendance, and
attention to assignments; may demonstrate excellence but be less consistent than the work of an A student
(UAR #90b). Course clarification: Students who earn a grade in the B range likely completed most of the
assigned readings prior to weekly activities, had at least 80 percent participation scores, and spent around
4 hours a week outside of class studying for or completing course assignments.
C: Student work demonstrates satisfactory performance overall, as well as reliability in attendance, and
attention to assignments (UAR #90c). Course clarification: Students who earn a grade in the C range
should be concerned, as this suggests they likely did not complete most of the assigned readings prior to
weekly activities, had around 70 percent participation scores, and spent only two or three hours a week
outside of class studying for or completing course assignments. Students are not advised to let their
grades drop into the C range, as students at or below a 2.0 grade point average (a “C”) may be subject to
serious academic penalties.
D: Student work demonstrates minimal, barely passing performance overall; limited knowledge of subject
matter (UAR #90d).
F: Student work demonstrates unsatisfactory performance and comprehension or unfulfilled
requirements. The grade is failing (UAR #90f).
Course clarification: The D-to-F grade range is rare in college. Students who earn a grade in this range
likely did not complete any of the assigned readings prior to weekly activities, earned at most 60 to 50
percent in-class participation credit, and spent at most 1 hour a week outside of class studying for or
completing course assignments. Students should avoid the D-to-F grade range.
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ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY AND COURSE POLICIES
Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations are
available for students with a documented disability. If a student has a disability and needs
accommodations to fully participate in this class, the student should either visit or call the Access Center
(Washington Building 217; 509-335-3417) to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All
accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center. For more information, students should
contact a Disability Specialist at the Pullman campus at 509-335-3417; http://accesscenter.wsu.edu;
[email protected].
Respect for Others and Technology in the Classroom: This course is supposed to spark lively
conversation on a diverse set of view points and practices. Everyone in the course is expected to respect
each other’s thoughts in class by not cutting anyone off and not belittling anyone for a comment. If a
hurtful or inappropriate comment is made, the professor will handle it according to class, departmental,
and university policy. Also, students cannot begin packing up while someone is talking or finishing a
point before the end of class, as doing so is extremely disrespectful, annoying, and disruptive to the class.
Technology in the classroom: Likewise, students must turn off or silence all modes of electronic
communication—for example, cell phones, and laptops—prior to coming to class. If one of these or
another mode of electronic communication in possession of a student rings or otherwise disrupts class,
then that student may be asked to leave the class session immediately, be given an unexcused absence,
and not to return until the next class session. Laptops will only be permitted in class if students have a
note from the Access Center (see above) stating that they require a laptop accommodation in class to take
notes and otherwise participate in class learning activities.
Academic Integrity: Students are encouraged to work with classmates on assignments. However, each
student must turn in his or her own original work. No copying will be accepted. Students who violate
WSU’s Standards of Conduct for Students will receive an F as a final grade in this course, will not have
the option to withdraw from the course and will be reported to the Office Student Standards and
Accountability. Cheating is defined in the Standards for Student Conduct WAC 504-26-010 (3). It is
strongly suggested that students read and understand these definitions.
Safety and Emergency Notification: Washington State University is committed to enhancing the safety
of the students, faculty, staff, and visitors. It is highly recommended that students review the Campus
Safety Plan (http://safetyplan.wsu.edu/) and visit the Office of Emergency Management web site
(http://oem.wsu.edu/) for a comprehensive listing of university policies, procedures, statistics, and
information related to campus safety, emergency management, and the health and welfare of the campus
community.
Adding or Dropping the Class: Students are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s office for guidance
on adding or dropping the class this semester. The Registrar can be contacted at 509-335-5346 or
[email protected]; see also: http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/HomePage.ASPX.
Attendance Policy: Class attendance will be taken during the first week of class to ensure enrollment.
Students who have not attended class meetings during the first week of the semester may be dropped from
the course by the Sociology Department; students should not assume that they have been dropped without
verification from the Sociology Department or Registrar’s office (UAR #72). Absences after the first
week of class are those where students showed up to class more than 20 minutes late or left the class more
than 20 minutes early. Students who need to leave class early or who will arrive late should sit closest to
the class entrance/exit as possible so as to not disrupt class. In order for these absences to be excused, the
student must submit to the professor signed documentation by a doctor for a medical excuse, a parent or
guardian for a family excuse, an employer for a job excuse, a coach for student-athletic excuse, or some
other legitimate authority that explains the absence (UAR #73). Students must submit an assignment prior
to missing class for an athletic event since they are usually planned in advance. An unexcused absence
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will count for zero points for in-class participation should a participation exercise be assigned during the
absence. A student should not e-mail the professor or the teaching assistant to ask if the student has
missed something important from class during an absence, as everything covered in class will be
important. If a student is absent, it is incumbent upon the student to find out from a classmate what he or
she may have missed in class.
Bathroom Breaks: Each class meeting is 75 minutes long. Bathroom breaks will be granted only for
legitimate personal emergencies. Illegitimate bathroom breaks will likely result in an unexcused absence.
Office Hours: As stated on page one of this syllabus, the professor’s office hours this semester are from 2
to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in 251 Wilson-Short Hall. The teaching assistant’s office hours are
from 11am to 1pm on Wednesdays and from 11am to 12pm on Thursdays in 151 Wilson-Short Hall.
Wilson-Short is located south of the Compton Union Building on Terrell Mall. Office 251 is located on
the second floor, southwest of the main Sociology Department Office (#204); office 151 is located on the
first floor, southwest of the main entrance to Wilson-Short Hall. Office hours can be arranged by
appointment if the times, dates, and locations of these office hours are not mutually convenient for the
student and the professor or teaching assistant.
Course Changes: Course content and schedule as stated on this syllabus may change at the discretion of
the professor. Such changes will be communicated to the class via e-mail and in class as soon as they are
made.
COURSE CALENDAR
SECTION 1: INTRODUCING SOCIETY AND TECHNOLOGY
Week 1: Introduction and Classical Statement
Tue., 1/13: Class Introductions and Course Outline
Thu., 1/15: Initial Problem Statement: The Tragedy of Culture
Reading: Simmel, Georg. 1997. “The Concept of Culture,” pp. 36-40; “The Concept and Tragedy
of Culture,” pp. 55-75 in Simmel on Culture: Selected Writings, edited by D. P. Frisby
and M. Featherstone. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. [Available in print on
day 1 of class and in the “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Week 2: (Some) Contemporary Theorizing on Society and Technology
Tue., 1/20: Reformulating the Tragedy of Culture
Reading: Epstein, Steven. 2008. “Culture and Science/Technology: Rethinking Knowledge,
Power, Materiality, and Nature.” Annals of the American Academy of Political and
Social Science 619:165-182. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Thu., 1/22: Social Dimensions of “Natural” vs. Technological Hazards and Disasters
Reading: Freudenburg, William R. 1997. “Contamination, Corrosion, and the Social Order: An
Overview.” Current Sociology 45(3):19-39. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in
Angel]
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SECTION 2: PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, AND TECHNOLOGY
Week 3: Introducing Technological Change and the Materials Economy
Tue., 1/27: Technological Change and the Materials Economy
Reading: Gould, Kenneth A. 2009. “Technological Change and the Environment.” Pp. 95-106 in
Twenty Lessons in Environmental Sociology, edited by K. A. Gould and T. L. Lewis.
New York, NY: Oxford University Press. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
In-Class Video: “The Story of Stuff” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM]
Thu., 1/29: “Lash-Ups” and Professional Operations
Reading: Chapters 1 and 2 in Where Stuff Comes From.
Week 4: Forms, Functions, and Facilitators
Tue., 2/3: Form and Function; Stability and Change
Reading: Chapters 3 and 4 in Where Stuff Comes From.
Thu., 2/5: Venues and Middlemen
Reading: Chapter 5 in Where Stuff Comes From.
Week 5: Places, Organizations, and Reformulations
Tue., 2/10: Placing and Organizing Products
Reading: Chapters 6 & 7 in Where Stuff Comes From.
Thu., 2/12: Reformulating Stuff
Reading: Chapter 8 in Where Stuff Comes From.
Week 6: Sections 1-2 Wrap-Up & Exam 1
Tue., 2/17: Sections 1-2 Wrap-Up & Exam 1 Review
Thu., 2/19: Exam 1
SECTION 3: DISASTERS
Week 7: Technological and “Natural” Disasters Revisited
Tue., 2/24: Technological Disasters
Reading: Prologue (pp. 11-23); Ch. 4, “Three Mile Island” (pp. 139-157); “Epilogue: On
Trauma” (pp. 226-242) in Erikson, Kai. 1994. A New Species of Trouble: Explorations
in Disaster, Trauma, and Community. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
[Available in “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Thu., 2/26: Katrina: Natural Disaster?
Reading: Prologue and Chapters 1 and 2 in Catastrophe in the Making.
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Week 8: Building Vulnerabilities
Tue., 3/3: Swamps and Growth Machines
Reading: Chapters 3 and 4 in Catastrophe in the Making.
Thu., 3/5: Engineered Waterways
Reading: Chapters 5 and 6 in Catastrophe in the Making.
Week 9: Katrina’s Lessons
Tue., 3/10: Hurricane Buffers and Highways
Reading: Chapters 7 and 8 in Catastrophe in the Making.
Thu., 3/12: Katrina’s Larger Lessons
Reading: Chapters 9 and 10 in Catastrophe in the Making.
Spring Break: No Classes (3/16/15 to 3/20/15)
Week 10: Section 3 Wrap-Up and Exam 2
Tue., 3/24: Section 3 Wrap-Up & Exam 2 Review
Thu., 3/26: Exam 2
SECTION 4: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND JUSTICE
Week 11: Section 4 Introduction
Tue., 3/31: Science, Technology, Ethics, and Justice
Reading: Mamo, Laura and Jennifer R. Fishman. 2013. “Why Justice? Introduction to the Special
Issue on Entanglements of Science, Ethics, and Justice.” Science, Technology &
Human Values 38(2):159-175. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Thu., 4/2: Genomic Justice
Reading: Reardon, Jenny. 2013. “On the Emergence of Science and Justice.” Science,
Technology & Human Values 38(2):176-200. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in
Angel]
Week 12: Genomic Justice Revisited 1
Tue., 4/7: The New Science of Race
Reading: Introduction and Chapter 1 in Race Decoded.
Thu., 4/9: Racilizing Science
Reading: Chapter 2 in Race Decoded.
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Week 13: Genomic Justice Revisited 2
Tue., 4/14: Paradigms and Values
Reading: Chapters 3 and 4 in Race Decoded.
Thu., 4/16: Everyday Race-Positive
Reading: Chapter 5 in Race Decoded.
Week 14: From Genomic Justice to Reproductive Justice
Tue., 4/21: Activism, Expertise, and the Enduring Trouble with Race
Reading: Chapters 6 and 7 in Race Decoded
Thu., 4/23: Reproductive Justice
Reading: McGowan, Michelle L. and Richard R. Sharp. 2013. “Justice in the Context of Family
Balancing.” Science, Technology & Human Values 38(2): 271-293. [Available in
“Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Week 15: Environmental Justice and Exam 3 Review
Tue., 4/28: Environmental Justice
Reading: Liévanos, Raoul S., Jonathan K. London, and Julie Sze. 2011. “Uneven
Transformations and Environmental Justice: Regulatory Science, Street Science, and
Pesticide Regulation in California.” Pp. 201-228 in Technoscience and Environmental
Justice: Expert Cultures in a Grassroots Movement, edited by G. Ottinger and B. R.
Cohen. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Available in “Electronic Reader” in Angel]
Thu., 4/30: Exam 3 Review & **Term Paper due at the start of class**
Finals Week: 5/4/15 to 5/8/15
Class Final (Exam 3): Wednesday, May 6, 2015 from 8am to 10am in Cleveland Hall 30E.
9
ADDITIONAL WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY DATES FOR SPRING 2015**
Jan. 12
Spring 2015 instruction begins
Jan. 16
Last day to add a course on-line (adding after this date requires appropriate signatures)
Jan. 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY
Jan. 23
Last day to change audit to credit
Jan. 30
Last day to change to pass/fail
Feb. 6
Feb. 16
Last day to add an audit course or to change credit to audit
Last day to drop a course without record (course withdrawals after this date are recorded
on student’s transcript and students are assessed a $5 withdrawal fee)
President’s Day – CLASS HOLIDAY (university offices will remain open)
Mar. 4
Mid-term grade submission ends (i.e., mid-term grades will be available before this date)
Mar. 6
Deadline to apply for an undergraduate or professional degree without late fee of $75
Mar. 16
Spring vacation begins
Mar. 20
Spring vacation ends
Apr. 13
Priority registration begins for fall & summer 2015
Apr. 17
Last day for undergraduate and professional students to withdraw from a course
May 1
Spring 2015 instruction ends
Feb. 10
Last day to change from pass/fail to letter graded
May 4
Final examinations begin
May 8
Final examinations end
May 9
University commencement
Final grade submission ends (for instructors)
Final spring 2015 grades available. Students may select the “Check Grades” link under
Student Links via zzusis. Students may also order an official transcript at
www.transcripts.wsu.edu.
**Note: More important dates can be found at: http://catalog.wsu.edu/General/AcademicCalendar/
(select “Spring 2015” and “Pullman” from the drop down menus).
May 12
10