SEM 1, 2022-23

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
SOCI 1005 Invitation to Sociology

LECTURER
Dr. Day K. M. Wong Office: AAB 1052
Tel No.: 3411-7147 Email: daywong@hkbu.edu.hk

TEACHING ASSISTANT
Ms. Elizabeth Odoi Office: AAB 1041
Email: 19481543@life.hkbu.edu.hk

TIME MON 3:30 – 6:20PM VENUE AAB205

COURSE DESC RIP TION

This course introduces some basic sociological concepts, theories, and methods to explain,
appreciate and evaluate social phenomena in the contemporary world. It aims to show the
relevance of sociology for understanding everyday life or experiential contexts. Major
themes in sociological thinking include the interplay between the individual and society,
the changing forms and functions of social institutions, the causes and consequences
of social inequality, and the social construction of human life. Through a sociological
lens, students will develop a critical awareness of the social structures and processes that
shape the diverse forms of human life.

AIMS AND OB JECTIVES

1. To introduce students to the concepts and characteristics of sociological inquiry;
2. To make students aware of the nature of social worlds as perceived and studied by
sociologists; and
3. To prepare students for advanced study in sociology.

LEARNIN G OU TCOMES
1. After studying this course, students should be able to:
2. Identify and explain basic sociological concepts;
3. Apply the sociological concepts and theories to the analysis of social issues and
everyday life situations;
4. Develop analytical and critical thinking skills; and
5. Recognize the diversity of cultures and social systems in the world.

COURSE ASSESS MENT

Group Work & Participation in VE 30%
Reflective Report & Class Participation 30%
Final Examination 40%
1
Group Work & Participation (30%) -- VIRTUAL EXCHANGE (VE)
In this section of SOCI 1101, you will take a global perspective on self and society by
incorporating a virtual exchange with introductory sociology students from Georgia State
University (GSU) in the US. The VE component of the class will involve working online
in small groups of GSU and HKBU students to better understand some important
sociological concepts and develop your global/intercultural communication skills that are
rapidly becoming critical for career success in our increasingly globally connected world.

Reflective Report and Class Participation (30%)

Students are required to take part in the in-class activities including discussions and quizzes.
Active and informed participation is highly encouraged.

Each student will be responsible for facilitating a small group discussion by studying the
topic before coming to class. After the discussion, the facilitators are required to submit a
report (800-1000 words) that summarizes the discussion and their own reflections on the
subject within 3 days. Students should be able to apply the course concepts when they
formulate their ideas. Facilitators are also responsible for recording and assessing the
participation of the group members.

Final Examination (40%)

This will be a comprehensive examination that covers materials from both lectures and
assigned readings.

READING

Textbooks
1. Macionis, John J. 2017. Sociology, Global Edition. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education
Limited (HKBU library online access)
2. Introduction to Sociology, 3rd Edition (2021) available at:
https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-3e

Other readings
3. Johnson, Allan G. 1997. The Forest and the Trees: Sociology as Life, Practice,
Promise. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

2
Teaching Schedule

Date Topic Readings

Sep 5 1. Introduction: Culture 1: Ch. 3; 2: Ch. 3
Sep 12 Public holiday
Sep 19 2. The Sociological Perspectives 1: Ch. 1; 2: Ch. 1
Sep 26 3. Socialization 1: Ch. 5; 2: Ch. 5
Oct 3 4. Social Interaction in Everyday Life 1: Ch. 6; 2: Ch. 4
Oct 10 5. Media & Society 1: Ch. 4; 2: Ch..8
Oct 17 6. Deviance 1: Ch. 9; 2: Ch. 7
Oct 24 7. Population, Urbanization & 1: Ch. 22; 2: Ch. 20
Environment
Oct 31 8. Social Stratification 1: Ch. 10; 2: Ch 9 &10
Nov 7 9. Gender Stratification 1: Ch. 13
Nov 14 10. Families 1: Ch. 18; 2: Ch. 14
Nov 21 11. Sexuality and Society 1: Ch. 8; 2: Ch. 12
Nov 28 12. Groups and Organizations 1: Ch. 7; 2: Ch. 6

3
Sociology Virtual Exchange (VE) Project - Fall 2022
Professors Wong and Wright
Learning objectives:
1. to develop a photo essay on the youth culture or an urban problem in Hong Kong and
Atlanta; and
2. apply sociological concepts to analyze the common and unique social structural and cultural
forces that are shaping the youth culture or common urban problem in each of these global
cities.

Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of society, social interaction, groups, and
social structure. To extend the walls of our class and help you practice applying what you
are learning, the major class project this semester consists of a “virtual exchange” that will
challenge you to think more deeply about core sociological concepts and give you the
opportunity to meet sociology students living in a different society.

Every student in our class will be assigned to a small group comprised of introductory
sociology students from Georgia State University (GSU) and students from Hong Kong
Baptist University (HKBU). You will work with this group to complete each of the activities
and project described below. Because there is a 12-hour time difference between the two
cities, most of your interactions will be asynchronous via the internet. We will utilize HKBU’s
online learning management system: Moodle. It is an easy-to-use tool that includes the
capacity to have online asynchronous discussions/chats, synchronous video chats, and
share documents among the people in your assigned group. More detailed instructions and
your group assignments will be distributed shortly before we begin the first virtual exchange
activity.

You will work in your assigned small groups to complete the virtual exchange activities
described below across the remaining weeks of the semester. At the end of the semester,
you will complete a peer review. In the peer review, we will ask you to reflect and grade
both your own participation in the virtual exchange as well as your fellow group members’
contributions to your work over the course of the semester. Professors Wong and Wright
will give you an individual participation grade based on the information provided through the
peer review. Here is an overview how your participation in the virtual exchange will be
assessed and your final virtual exchange participation will be graded:

1 Pre-Virtual Exchange Survey 5%

2. Participation in Virtual Exchange Discussions 30%
3. Photo Essay Project: Youth Culture / Urban Problem 60%
4. Post-Virtual Exchange Reflection Survey 5%

Each component will be assessed using a standardized rubric. All students will
automatically receive full credit (10 points) for completing the pre- and post-virtual exchange
surveys. These surveys are designed to assess your experience and learning in the virtual
exchange. Participation in the virtual exchange discussions will be assessed at the
individual level at the mid-point and at the end of the virtual exchange period using a
standardized rubric. Your final photo essay will be graded based on your collective group
product using a standardized rubric Your final virtual exchange grade will be based on
summing and weighting the points you earn across all these activities.

4
Step 1: Let’s Get Started!
Dates: 19 September – 16 October

Overview: The first few weeks of the virtual exchange will focus on getting to know the
other members of your group, so you will want to introduce yourself first, learn more about
each other, and finally identify the major social issues the members of your group is
interested in Hong Kong and Atlanta. The dates below are suggestions.

Weeks 1-2 (19 September – 2 October): In your online group discussion, post a written or
video introduction of yourself. In your introduction, you should share some of the following:

 A short personal biography (i.e., where you grew up; family life; school experiences).
 Why are you taking this class? What do you hope to learn?
 What are your current educational and career goals?
 Do you think socialization in the family, school, peer groups, and mass media shape
your educational and career goals? How?

Week 3 (3 October – 9 October): In your online group discussion, share your thoughts
regarding the following questions:

 For this assignment, your group will need to select one of two general topics to
research in both Atlanta and Hong Kong: youth culture or an urban social problem.
Which of these topics interests you most? Why?
 What concepts are you learning about in your sociology class that you think will be
helpful for understanding?
 Listed below are some sociological concepts from our textbooks that you may want
to consider. Keep in mind that you are not required to use these concepts, and
there are others in our course that may be even more helpful in your thinking.

Youth Culture Urban Social Problems

 Mainstream culture, subculture,  Urbanization; Metropolis;
counterculture Megalopolis
 High culture, popular culture  Social Problem
 Multiculturalism  Gentrification
 Ethnocentrism  Demography; Population Growth,
 Deviance Composition, Pyramid
 Attention economy  Housing; homelessness
 Technological inequality  Climate Change; Pollution
 Homogenization, Fragmentation  Environmental Racism/Classism
 Social Media

Step 2: Develop Your Photo Essay

Dates: 10 October – 20 November

Week 4 (10 October – 16 October): As a group, select the topic that will be the focus of
your photo essay and identify at least 5 (five) sociological concepts from your text that you
will incorporate into the analysis of your social issue you discuss in your photo essay.

5
Overview: Your group’s assignment is to develop a photo essay on 1) the youth culture or
2) an urban social problem in both Hong Kong and Atlanta. The essay should: 1) describe
in photos, words, and other scholarly sources the social issue common in both cities, and 2)
analyze your topic using 5 (five) sociological concepts that help to explain the common
and/or unique social structural and cultural forces that are shaping the youth culture/urban
social problem in these two global cities.

Weeks 5-6 (17 October - 30 October): Use this time get off campus and use your phones
to take pictures of the social issue that your group selected. When taking photos, please be
respectful of people’s privacy and avoid showing individuals’ faces without their consent.
You may also want to collect information (e.g., government reports, research studies,
statistical data) on the issue you are examining. Share and discuss your pictures and any
other resources you find with your group in your online chat. Here are some questions to
consider as you discuss the photos and other information you team finds:

 How well do the photos capture the social problem or some aspect of the problem?
 What similarities and differences are visible in the photos taken of the same problem
in Atlanta and Hong Kong?
 What are the major themes/patterns observed in the photos? How well do the
photos taken illustrate patterns or trends documented in social scientific studies of
the issue?

As you review the photos and materials posted, discuss in your group what the “story” or
“narrative” you wish to tell in your photo essay as well as which sociological concepts you
believe clarify pattern in your visual “data.” Just as you would in a written essay, your group
should decide on your photo essay’s main thesis as well as what supporting arguments you
can make using the photos and evidence you have assembled. Once you have identified
your main thesis, you will need to select the photos and information you wish to use to
construct your essay. You may include headings, bullets, short text, captions, and data to
help tell your story, but your primary focus should be to use photos to convey your thesis
and your main arguments.

Weeks 7-9 (31 October - 20 November): Use Google Presentation or Microsoft PowerPoint
to prepare a slide show that presents your thesis, your main points of your argument, your
photographic evidence, and your overall conclusion about the urban issue in Atlanta and
Hong Kong. Also, be sure to incorporate at least 5 (five) sociological concepts from our
textbooks in your essay. Feel free to be creative, and you are welcome to incorporate
narration, music, or other elements to make your presentation engaging. Your group’s slide
show should be between 20 and 30 slides (excluding your title and reference/citation
slides). Be sure to highlight the course concepts you use in your analysis, and clearly
reference your sources using APA style guide. Everyone in the group must approve the
final document before you submit the final version by the deadline.

Final Photo Essay Due 20 November Before Midnight Atlanta Time or Eastern
Standard Time): One member of your group will need to be responsible for uploading your
final photo essay by the deadline in iCollege (GSU’s Learning Management System).