For regular University Duisburg-Essen students, this is a non-credit course. The main purpose is for students to practice reading, speaking and writing English using Sociological themes. You can receive a certificate of completion if you regularly attend and participate in class.
For Erasmus students and other exchange students, it is possible to get 2 credits if you regularly attend and participate in class, and give a short presentation on a sociological theme.
Grammar/Language tasks: We will have instruction in grammar, vocabulary, writing and presenting. Students will have the opportunity to do writing and presenting assignments.
Reading/Video Material: The following is a rough plan of what we will be reading/watching in class. I left some room for student presentations and flexibility.
1.“How Not to be Ignorant About the World” – Ted Talk, Hans Rosling
2. “The Sociological Imagination” – Anthony Giddens
3. “How Language Shapes the Way We Think” -- Lera Boroditsky
4. “The Matthew Effect” – Malcom Gladwell
5. “How Texas Teaches History” – N.Y. Times, Ellen Bresler Rockmore
6. “Black by Choice” – The Nation, Melissa Harris Perry
7. “Diversity Makes You Brighter” – N.Y.Times, Sheen S. Levine and David Stark
8. “Race, Ethnicity and Migration” – Anthony Giddens
9. “We are all a Little bit Racist” – N.Y. Times, Nicholas Kristof
10. “Big Data” – Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, Kenneth Cukier
|
