Module 1: The Sociological Spark
August 18 - August 31, 2025
Module Overview
This module explores the "Civilizational Bargain" through our core theme: social systems as a double-edged sword. We will trace the story of human emergence and social change to build a foundational toolkit for seeing the world through a new sociological lens.
Content Focus:
Custom Materials on Cooperation & Language + Chapter 1 (Sociology) & Chapter 16 (Social Change)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Week 1 Tasks
Apply & Analyze
Week 2 Plan
Create
Main Video
Evaluate
Peer/Self Assessment
Week 1: Foundations & First Impressions (Aug 18 - 24)
1. Plan & Prepare
Complete Workbook Part 1 to plan your intro and process core concepts for both videos.
2. Submit Intro Video
Record and submit your "Getting to Know You" video (Asn 1.1) for attendance.
3. Submit Warm-Up Video
Submit your "Warm-Up" video overview (Asn 1.2).
Week 2: Synthesis & Production (Aug 25 - 31)
1. Plan Your Main Video
Synthesize the module content and create a detailed production plan for your main video project.
2. Finalize & Submit
Produce your main video, provide a peer assessment to a classmate, and submit your completed workbook.
Module 2: The Social Human
September 1 - September 14, 2025
Module Overview
Now that we have the sociological toolkit, how do we apply it to the individual's journey? This module explores how we study people (Methods), how people become social (Socialization), and the macro context of how many people there are (Population).
Content Focus:
Chapter 2 (Research Methods), Chapter 4 (Socialization), & Chapter 15 (Population)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 2.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 2.2
Create
Assignment 2.3
Evaluate
Assignment 2.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 3: The Rules of the Game
September 15 - September 28, 2025
Module Overview
After understanding the individual's journey, we now look at the social structures they enter. This module explores the "software" of society (Culture) and the "hardware" of our social lives (Groups).
Content Focus:
Chapter 3 (Culture) & Chapter 5 (Groups)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 3.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 3.2
Create
Assignment 3.3
Evaluate
Assignment 3.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 4: The Engines of Modern Life
September 29 - October 12, 2025
Module Overview
This module examines two of the most fundamental systems that shape our life chances: how we sustain ourselves (Economy/Work) and our physical well-being (Health). The goal is to establish the crucial link between economic status and health outcomes.
Content Focus:
Chapter 11 (Economy & Work) & Chapter 14 (Health)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 4.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 4.2
Create
Assignment 4.3
Evaluate
Assignment 4.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 5: The Architecture of Inequality
October 13 - October 26, 2025
Module Overview
This module tackles stratification head-on. We will explore how Social Class and Gender are key axes of inequality, and examine how these dynamics play out in the core institution of the Family.
Content Focus:
Chapter 7 (Social Class), Chapter 9 (Gender/Sexuality), & Chapter 12 (Family)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 5.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 5.2
Create
Assignment 5.3
Evaluate
Assignment 5.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 6: Difference and Deviance
October 27 - November 9, 2025
Module Overview
This module analyzes how Race is socially constructed, how society defines certain behaviors as Deviant, and the critical role the Media plays in creating and reinforcing these categories and narratives.
Content Focus:
Chapter 8 (Race/Ethnicity), Chapter 6 (Deviance), & Chapter 13 (Media)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 6.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 6.2
Create
Assignment 6.3
Evaluate
Assignment 6.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 7: The Power of Institutions
November 10 - November 23, 2025
Module Overview
A focused look at how the major institutions of Politics, Education, and Religion function to maintain social order and control, providing a capstone for the institutional analysis part of the course.
Content Focus:
Chapter 10 (Politics, Education, Religion)
Cognitive Scaffolding
Remember & Understand
Assignment 7.1
Apply & Analyze
Assignment 7.2
Create
Assignment 7.3
Evaluate
Assignment 7.4
1. Foundation & Inquiry
Engage with core materials and submit your initial audio overview.
2. Synthesis & Plan
Synthesize sources and create your detailed video production plan.
3. Create & Synthesize
Produce and submit your final video artifact and concept map.
4. Evaluate & Reflect
Provide peer feedback and complete your self-assessment.
Module 8: The Assembled Imagination
November 24 - FINALS WEEK
Capstone Project Overview
This final module is the culmination of your semester's work. You will transition from collector to curator, assembling the evidence from your workbooks into a cohesive multimedia portfolio that tells the story of your developing sociological imagination.
Content Focus:
Synthesis of all previous modules and concepts.
1. Curate & Plan
Select one key artifact from each of the seven module workbooks and write your "Curator's Notes" for each.
2. Assemble & Create
Build your e-portfolio website and produce your final capstone reflection (essay or video).
3. Finalize & Submit
Submit the URL to your completed Sociological Imagination Portfolio.