Statement of Acknowledgement: I wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land. [https://indigenous.utoronto.ca/about/land-acknowledgement/]

In sociology, we aim to develop a sociological imagination: seeing the connections between our personal lives and broader social structures. When you read this land acknowledgement, how can you exercise your sociological imagination to understand your relationship to the land you live on? Under what historical or contemporary conditions did you, your family, or your ancestors come to live or study in Toronto? How can we honour the spirit of the Dish With One Spoon treaty and more equitably share the resources of this land among diverse communities?

Curious to learn more? Start with the University of Toronto’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and learn about U ofT’s Indigenous initiatives.

Course Description: What does it mean to study society rather than individuals? How do we apply a sociological lens to everyday life? This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts, theories, and methods of sociology. The course will provide a broad survey of the major areas of sociological study, such as class inequality, culture, gender, crime, race, immigration, health, and social movements, along with current theory and research related to these topics. Students will also gain skills in academic writing, critical reading, and interpreting scientific outcomes.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1.   Identify and define key sociological concepts and theories.

2.   Understand the core areas of sociological study.

3.   Apply sociological concepts and theories to the everyday social world.

4.   Develop academic reading and writing skills.

Through tutorials, students will develop their ability to:

1.   Discuss sociological topics in a group environment.

2.   Collaborate with peers in completing assignments.

Quercus FAQs: There will be FAQ sheets posted to Quercus regarding topics such as Tutorials, Midterm, Sociology in Everyday Life Assignment, Final Exam, and General Questions. Please make sure to check these before emailing the teaching team.

Quercus Discussion Board: The Quercus discussion board is a place to ask any general questions about the course or specific comments about course content. Please post your question there before emailing the teaching team. You may find that that your question has already been answered!

Textbook: The textbook for this course is called Seasonal Sociology (2nd edition), available through the U ofT Bookstore. There are purchase and rental options with e-books and paperback copies. You may be able to find used copies of the first edition of the textbook; you can use this with caution but be aware that six of the chapters are completely different, and all other chapters have been updated.

TAs: Each student has signed up on ACORN for a tutorial, which means that you have your own TA. Your Teaching Assistant will help you all semester as your resource for help with the course materials.

Course Coordinator: The Course Coordinators, TBD, do not have their own tutorial students.

Instead, they will assist the other TAs in their tasks and be an additional resource for all students in the course. They will be the TAs behind the course email address, [email protected], if you want to reach out with a question or issue you prefer not posting on Quercus or asking your TA in-person. The Course Coordinators are also responsible for all administrative matters related to grading, tests and exams, submission issues, all grade reviews, special accommodations, missing grades, deadlines, etc. You should feel free to contact them by e- mail if you have any questions or concerns about any of these matters.

Professor Tanaka: As the instructor, Professor Tanaka is ultimately responsible for every aspect of the course. You are encouraged to connect with me via office hours, email, or after class to talk about anything related to the course. I will be holding office hours online on Wednesdays 11-12 and Fridays 1-2 - please find the Zoom link on Quercus.