THEORIES OF DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL FALL 2014 Lectures: MON 1:00 & WED 11:30 - HUMPHY AUD Instructor: Vincent F. Sacco Office: Macintosh-Corry Hall, Rm. D525 Phone: (613) 533-6000 ext. 74492 e-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Wenesday 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Thursday 11:00 am – noon or by appointment CALENDAR DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on the theoretical foundation examining the process by which activities are defined as deviant: such activities as ‘sexual deviance’, ‘mental illness’, and ‘political deviance’. The major etiological approaches to the study of deviants are also considered. PREREQUISITE : A grade of C- in SOCY 122/6.0. EXCLUSION: No more than 6.0 units from SOCY 274/6.0; SOCY 275/3.0; SOCY 276/3.0 COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, we focus on deviance theories. Each topic is organized around a particular theoretical question which is intended to organize our thoughts and our approach to the readings. Admittedly, in many cases, our answers to these questions are quite tentative. While it makes a great deal of practical and pedagogic sense to approach the course material in this way, the student needs to keep in mind that knowledge rarely conforms to the organizational categories we attempt to impose upon it. You will see at many points in the course that some issues and themes emerge under more than one topic heading. As well, you will see that while our expressed purpose is the study of deviance, we end up talking about crime a great deal. This is because the two fields cannot be separated easily – especially at the theoretical level. Indeed the field of criminology predates the field of deviance studies by several decades. GOALS OF THE COURSE: This course is intended to introduce students to the sociological study of deviance. The more specific objectives of the course are as follows: 1. to encourage the student to think critically about the taken-for-granted character of deviance, crime, law and social control 2. to overview the range of questions in which sociologists of deviance are interested 3. to describe the theoretical diversity that characterizes the contemporary sociological study of deviance 4. to encourage the application of sociological perspectives on deviance to an understanding of everyday life. 5. to provide students with opportunities to improve their writing and analytical skills. REQUIRED READING: Traub, S.H. and C.B. Little. 1999, (eds.) Theories of Deviance. Vander Ven, T. Getting Wasted: Why College Students Drink So Much and Party so Hard. New York: NYU Press. These books are available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore and for loan at the Reserve Desk at Stauffer library. The Traub and Little book is the text for the course. The final examination will include material relating to Getting Wasted. Please be advised that the literature on the sociology of deviance is vast and students are encouraged to read widely. I will be happy to recommend addition al readings to you relevant to specific interests which you might devel op in the class. With respect to the readings, you should note that before the course is over you will have read almost all of both of these books. You should also note that at some points you might sense disagreement or inconsistencies in terminology from one reading to another or between the readings and the lectures. This is not a reason to be alarmed. It is normal and natural and to some degree reflects the dynamic character of deviance studies and rapidity of the field's growth. The course uses Moodle to share Powerpoint slides from lectures, as well as posting of: the course outline, tutorial assignments, and teaching assistants’ office hours. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION: The final grade for the course will be based upon the following: a) Test 1 written in class (October 29) -25 percent of final grade b) Written assignment due (November 14) – 40 percent of final grade c) Take Home exam. Handed out at the end of the term and worth 35% of the final grade. The Take-home will be based on the entire term’s required readings and classroom material. Tips for Success: This is a challenging course and students will need to apply themselves. Be responsible for your learning: attend classes, take detailed lecture notes, complete assigned readings, and develop good study habits. Do not undermine your learning by multi-tasking during class. Failure to follow this sound advice will negatively impact grades. You should take some comfort in the fact that the instructor and the teaching assistants will make every effort to help you succeed in the course. We ask that you do likewise. PLEASE NOTE ALL COURSE ASSIGNMENTS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR MASTERY OF COURSE MATERIAL AS DISCUSSED IN GLASS AND IN READINGS. PAPERS, EXAM ANSWERS ETC. WHICH DO NOT DEMONSTRATE THIS MASTERY WILL NOT BE REGARDED AS HIGHLY AS THOSE THAT DO. CLASS POLICIES AND INFORMATION: Class Etiquette: Cell phones, pagers, Blackberries, internet surfing, watching videos, playing computer games, checking e-mail, text messaging, and listening to music are disruptive to other students in class. This behavior is also disrespectful toward the professor. Please be courteous to your classmates and professor and turn off all such devices before the class starts. Notebook computers are to be used exclusively for the purposes of taking notes during class and other electronic devices may be used only if you have permission from the professor. Academic Accommodation: Students with a disability, who require academic accommodation, need to register with the Counseling and Disability Resource Centre. Academic accommodation letters need to be provided to course instructors no later than fourteen (14) days after the first day of class. It is a student’s responsibility to register with the Counseling and Disability Resource Centre and to request academic accommodation, if required. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation disallows the practice of having students retrieve assignments and exams from a public place (e.g., outside a professor’s office, the department office, etc.) or posting grades on office doors or on-line. Examination results must be returned to students individually, during class or during the professor’s office hours. Useful websites: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/advising/index.html -hcds.org/ www.asus.queensu.ca/acsfacts DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE T&R = Traub and Little. The numbers refer to chapter numbers Topic 1 – Introduction to the Field: What is Deviance? T&R – Introduction, 34 Topic 2 - Early Deviance Theory Lombroso, Cesare. Criminal Man (read Chapter 1 – “The Born Criminal”) http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29895/29895-h/29895-h.htm Topic 3 – Functionalism T&R – 1, 3, 4, 5 Topic 4 – Social Disorganization T&R – 6, 8, 9, 10 Topic 5 – Anomie T&R – 11, 12, 13, 14 Topic 6 – Differential Association and Neutralization T&R – 16, 17, 18, 20 Topic 7 – Control Theory T&R – 22, 23, 24, 25 Topic 8 – Labeling and Deviance T&R – 26, 27, 29, 30 Topic 9 – Politics and Class in the Study of Deviance T&R – 32, 35, 36 Topic 10 – New Directions in Deviance Theory T&R – 38, 39, 43 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT LENGTH: NOT TO EXCEED 10 DOUBLE-SPACED TYPEWRTTEN PAGES (exclusive of cover page, but including references). DUE: November 14th, 2014 With respect to the completion of this paper, please note: • The paper has a clearly specified due date. Late papers will incur a 10 percent penalty. After a one week (7 days) period, papers will not be accepted. This rule about late papers will only be waived for medical or compassionate reasons and it will be essential in all cases to supply documentation. You should be aware that the penalty cannot be waived because other assignments are due or because of what traffic analysts call "volume delays". Rather than asking for an extension of "a couple of days", it would be more sensible to start work on the project a couple of days earlier. • Style, citations and references must be consistent with departmental requirement as described on our homepage: http://www.queensu.ca/sociology/?q=programs/undergraduate/style • Feel free to consult me or your teaching assistant regarding this project. Students should not be surprised or alarmed if the instructor or teaching assistants request a meeting to discuss the paper. CONTENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT: By this point in the course you should have acquired an understanding of the sociological bases of deviant behaviour. The paper gives you an opportunity to demonstrate this understanding. Please keep in mind that this assignment, like all course assignments is intended to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of course material. An essay which does not do this – no matter how interesting or how creative – must be judged an unsuccessful effort. Essay Topics Essays must be written on one of the topics set out below as no outside topics will be permitted for this essay. TOPICS Exotic dancers Deviance in the military Drug user/addicts Alcoholics Homeless people Young offenders Prostitution White-collar criminals Artists (musicians, painters etc.) Biker gangs School cheaters A specific for of deviant sexual behavior Mental illness Organized crime Terrorists Child abuse Spousal Abuse/family violence Police deviance ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS In the introduction to your paper, please explain why the topic is important and worth further investigation. The paper should also include a conclusion which summarizes your argument and offers any additional commentary. When writing your paper consider the following questions relating to the sociology of deviance. Please note that Questions 1-4 should help you focus your essay to ensure that you cover all of the relevant areas. However the primary task of this paper is to apply one or more of the theoretical perspectives (see question 5) on deviance (as discussed in class lectures and in your textbook) to one of the above essay topics. 1) Describe why the behaviour is considered deviant. (This might appear more obvious in some cases than in others). 2) How do these deviants view their own behaviour? For example, do they regard their deviance as a one-time aberration or see it as a deviant career? Justify your answer. 3) In your view, what impacts (both positive and negative) does the deviant behaviour have on society? 4) In what ways has society responded or reacted to the deviance? 5) Provide an analysis of the deviant behaviour from the perspective of ONE OR MORE of the sociological theories on deviance set out in the text and discussed in lectures. Remember Question #5 above is the most important as you must apply one or more theoretical perspectives to the topic you have chosen. Your comparison should involve explanations associated with different categories of theory and not two theories selected from within the same category. It is essential that you use empirical sources (books, journal articles, etc.) to support your thesis. In other words, what do the key academic scholars in the area have to say about the topic? To what extent do they agree? This essay is worth 40% of your final grade. If you have difficulty choosing a topic or organizing your essay please make an appointment to see the Instructor well in advance of the due date. A grading rubric will be made available shortly. Please note: 1. It is acceptable to use the pronoun “I” if you deem it necessary. 2. Sub-headings provide a useful way of organizing your paper and transitioning from topic to topic 3. Please observe university regulations regarding academic integrity. 4. Be careful to appropriately cite any material use 5. Feel free to consult us if you have any questions. EXAMINATIONS There are two tests in the course. The first one will be written in class on October 29th and the second will be a take-home. The first test will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. For examination purposes, students are responsible for assigned reading and classroom material (including films, guest speakers etc.). CLASS POLICIES AND INFORMATION: Exam and Term Paper Policies: With respect to these course requirements, please note: 1. Students will not be allowed to replace or supplement these assignments with alternative or additional work. 2. It is assumed that students have read and are familiar with the University policy on academic integrity. 3. Students must complete ALL of the course work in order to complete the course. All components of this course will receive numerical percentage marks. The final grade you receive for the course will be derived by converting your numerical course average to a letter grade according to Queen’s Official Grade Conversion Scale: QUEEN’S OFFICIAL GRADE CONVERSION SCALE Grade Numerical Course Average (Range) A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF 90-100 85-89 80-84 77-79 73-76 70-72 67-69 63-66 60-62 57-59 53-56 50-52 49 and below
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