Successful students question how and why things happen in society, reaching far beyond the expectations and explanations if casual observers of the human condition. Successful students are prepared to understand the nuances, underpinnings, and possible causes of social phenomena, seeing how one event may tie to the bigger picture of society. To achieve these successes, students cannot simply regurgitate the lectures, readings and class discussions that compose this course. Successful students organize ideas systematically, ask questions of themselves and the professor, and challenge all of us here to use sociological tools for intellectual development. The classroom portion of this course consists of both lectures and classroom discussions.
Lectures can be tedious, but they are necessary evils for some classroom material.
Classroom discussions shape the course's direction because I gauge your comprehension of concepts, the development of your sociological knowledge, and your ability to manipulate and mold ideas through them. Successful students demonstrate their progresses by participating in these discussions. Some of our subject matter is controversial. It is important that everyone, the professor included, remains open-minded. This allows ideas, thoughts, and impressions to be exchanged freely.