SOC101Y Introduction to Sociology Professor Robert Brym Lecture #1 15 Sep 10 DOWNLOAD WEEKLY LECTURE SLIDES AT

According to Durkheim:  a group’s level of social solidarity is determined by the frequency with which its members interact and the degree to which they share beliefs, values and morals;  suicide rates are lowest at intermediate levels of social solidarity and highest at low and high levels of social solidarity.

Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide Social solidarity High Low Suicide rate Low High egoistic and anomic suicide altruistic suicide Intermediate

Sociology is the systematic study of human action in social context. It is based on the idea that our relations with other people create opportunities for us to think and act but also set limits on our thoughts and action.

Three revolutions had to take place before the sociological imagination could crystallize:  The scientific revolution (16 th c.) encouraged the use of evidence to substantiate theories.  The democratic revolution (18 th c.) encouraged the view that human action can change society.  The industrial revolution (19 th c.) gave sociologists their subject matter.

Welcome to Day One!  Matt Scattergood, Regional Sales Manager  Quick review of your course materials  URLs for additional free resources

New Society 6/e* Society in Question 6/e custom edition* Sociology as a Life or Death Issue How to Ace College and University available as a package in the bookstore now  Course: SOC101  Professor: Robert Brym  ISBN: *MUST BE 6/E

Society in Question Custom Publication  How custom publishing works  Added value  Benefits the student  Reduces cost

Required Course Materials You will need these texts for:  Tests and Quizzes  Homework  Reading assignments  Achieving your best possible grade!

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Tutorials  Preparation for tests and final exam.  Held the week before each test and in the final week of classes.  Led by TAs (MA and PhD students in sociology).  Review, analysis and debate of material covered in readings and lectures.  Sign up through the U of T Portal: set.jsp. set.jsp  Spaces available for all students.

Study Groups  Instruction on how to listen to lectures, take notes on lectures and readings, and study for tests and the final exam.  Three sessions per semester (repeated next semester).  Led by top SOC101 students from last year.  Sign up through the U of T Portal: eset.jsp. eset.jsp  Spaces available for 540 students per semester (first come, first serve).

Office Hours and Web Chat  Individual consultation on any aspect of the course, face-to-face or via MSN Messenger.  Available weekdays during classes and in the weeks before the final exam.  Led by TAs (MA and PhD students in sociology).  Make office hours appointments through “Contacts” page on course website:  Chat times and addresses TBA.  Available for all students.

Course Results*  Students: 1,299  Dropouts: 9%  Average: 67%  Minimum: 37%  Maximum: 99%  As: 15%  Bs: 29%  Cs: 36%  Ds: 14%  Fs: 5% * Excludes 50 students who wrote the deferred exam in August.

CLICKER TEST What make of car do you think Professor Brym drives? A Ford Fiesta B Toyota Camry Hybrid C Volvo D Hummer E none of the above

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