Sociology Department

Sociology 436 Course Description

Sociology 436: Investigative Sociology

Instructor: Peter Phillips

Class Hours: Fri 9-12:40

Location: Salazar 2021

Required Textbooks:

Social Science Research Methods Reader

Grassroots Journalism, Eesha Williams, The Apex Press, 2000

North Bay Progressive Newspaper (Semester subscription free)

Course Objectives :

1. The class will focus on the use of sociological research for the development of news stories for popular press publication.

2. Students will develop an in depth understanding of the techniques of interviewing for information.

3. The ability to take detailed observational field notes will be fully developed.

4. Students will learn to code and analyze data for a qualitative understanding of real life situations.

5. Students will learn to ground their qualitative data in comparative historical references.

6. Class participants will learn to conduct detailed library research on national media coverage of important national news stories.

7. The impacts of media concentration on First Amendment rights will be a central topic in the course, and students will be able to publicly articulate these important issues.

8. Student will learn to do historical context research for development of background information on selected research topics.

Class Assignments:

Several in-class-working activities will be required to develop and sharpen sociological research skills

Three publishable news stories

Three short news story (500-1000 words) based on sociological research for popular press publication or news are due using any combination of the following methods: observation, historical research, action research, or interviews.

Final 1,200-2000 word news story based on combination of sociological research methods.

Over a period of several weeks students will write and rewrite their 1200-2000-word news story for publication. The first draft of the full news story will be due in April and the final rewrite of the story must be in a print ready Microsoft Word format by the end of the class.

Class Grading:

This is a highly participatory course, and students are required to attend class every week. Roll will be taken and unexcused absences may result in a lowering of the final grade.

All written work must be completed in order to earn a grade for the course. Students will turn in copies of all field notes with each assignment.

Grading:

Three News Stories 45%

1 Full Story Synopsis 35%

In-class Participation/Attendance 20%

Daily Class Activities TBA