August 3, 2006

Dear Sociology Students,

	According to the Guidance Office, you have enrolled in the GCC Sociology 101 course which we are offering this fall at Keshequa.   Although we have several weeks of summer left, there are a few things we need to do to prepare for our course work.
	First, since this is a college elective, students are responsible for obtaining their own textbooks. We will be using the same title as the Soc 101 course offered at the college.  This is James M Henslins, “Sociology, a Down to Earth Approach”. GCC will be using the newest 8th edition of the work, which sells from $85 to $110!  I have examined this edition and found that it contains only minor additions and updates from the earlier editions.  Because of this, I recommend you purchase a 5th (2004) or 6th edition of Henslin’s book.  These can be found on the internet for $1 to $20 dollars. ( You may want to try a site called www.abebooks.com which always carries a number of copies.  Read the description carefully to make sure you are getting the right title! )  You may also be able to purchase one from last year’s students. If you need help in ordering your text, please contact me. I would like you to have your text for the first day of class, along with a notebook and perhaps a pocket folder.
	I also ask you to do the following:
a.  Read the following sections of Chapter one of the Henslin text – “The Sociological Perspective”, “The Origins of Sociology” , Sexism in Early Sociology”, and “Sociology in North America”.  (this will only be about ten pages) and then in your notebook respond to the following questions in a paragraph –
1) What is sociology?  What is the “sociological perspective”?
	2)  How and why did Sociology develop?
b.  Bring to class a photograph (you can clip it out of a magazine, newspaper, or print from the internet) which you think illustrates the idea of “social location”.
	I will be handing out course guidelines and other materials the first day of class.  If you want to get an early look at them, you can go to my docushare folder.  Look in the High School collection for “Mr. Cook”, and then go to the folder marked Sociology 101.  I have place the course outline in that folder.  Please remember that this is a COLLEGE course and requires a higher level of work than some other courses!
	Again, if you have any questions or concerns you may either email at home: tscook@rochester.rr.com or school tcook@keshequa.org  or phone me. (468-5991). I look forward to working with you this fall!

Sincerely Yours

Mr. Thomas Cook
Instructor, GCC Sociology 101