Lodging - Text

Professor Linda Markowitz
Office: 650-2451, Peck Hall 1220
Office Hours: 2-3:30 T/Th
lmarkow@siue.edu

The objective of the internship class is twofold: First, we provide you the tools need to get an internship, and eventually a job. Thus, we will be practicing how to write a resume, how to participate in interviews, how to find a job. Second, we prepare you how to apply the sociological perspective to your internship experience. In the culmination of the internship, you must provide us with a written analysis about your experiences. Your grade will be contingent on how well you understand the concepts from classes (338 and 431 in particular) and how well you apply these concepts to your internship.

The most important fact to remember is that you are entering the internship not only as a prospective employee, but also as a sociologist. As such, you need to take a step back from your environment. The following are questions you should be asking yourself: What structure does the organization have? Why is it structured this way? How does the structure affect the employees, the managers, the clients and the relationship between the three. Sociological analysis DOES NOT involve morally evaluating people or the organization. Thus, if you work in a service organization and the clients are angry, your job is to find out why, using a sociological explanation (rather than a psychological explanation, ie they have low self-esteem; or a biological explanation, ie. they were born this way).

FURTHER: REMEMBER YOU ARE ANALYZING THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. NOT SIMPLY YOUR POSITION WITHIN IT!

A) There are 11 assignments that you must hand-in during the semester. A description of the assignments are found in the weeks they are due (15 % of your grade)
B) Everyone graduating with an employment relations specialty must orally present their paper to the class. The requirements of the oral presentation are found in your Manual (10% of your grade). You are evaluated on your ability to present the data clearly from your analysis in the time frame you are given.

For the Oral Presentation, each student must bring a powerpoint presentation for the audience so that we can better follow your discussion.

C) At the end of the semester you will also hand-in the final copy of your paper (50% of your grade), as well as your journal (10% of your grade). A very detailed description of the paper and the journal is found in the Manual. You MUST get a C or better on the paper to pass the course. For that reason it is imperative that you complete the assignments on time.

The paper MUST include:
* 14- 20 page analysis (regardless of what manual says)
* a coherent and well-organized paper
* an application of concepts from BOTH 338 (3 concepts) and 431 (three concepts) to your internship
* convincing evidence of this application.

Remember, to take the journal seriously. The journal will help you write your paper. Given that you are, essentially, completing an ethnography, each time you attend your internship site, you should analyze the organization. Ask yourself, “At the internship, I observed that....”

D) Professionalism (5% of your grade) (see grade sheet on handout page of my website)
E) Evaluation from site-supervisor (10% of your grade)

Dates:

1) Week of Jan 14th: Introduction –

The internship and the employment relations program
How to find an internship and how to view it.
Defining an internship that's good for you
Basic Requirements: weekly sessions, 120 hours on-site, journal, paper, readings
Professionalism

2) Week of Jan 21st: The Journal --- What is Participant Observation?
(READ ARTICLE POSTED ON BLACKBOARD)

A) Assignment 1: Bring in TYPED goals that you wish to accomplish in your internship

Journal: The role of an intern
Intern as participant observer
an action-research approach
Field observation and note taking
ethical issues in doing field research Writing a Resume

3) Week of Jan 28nd: How to write a RESUME
Assignment 2:
A) Bring in example of a journal entry.

4) Week of Feb 4th: How to find a job surfing the net and Interviewing for the Internship

Assignment 3: A) Draft of a resume
What questions should you ask.
Establishing a positive on-site relationship

5) Week of Feb 11: The Paper: What is EVIDENCE?

Paper: Background/History
Internship role, tasks, projects
applying course material/identifying concepts
identifying problems/issues

Assignment 4:
A) BRING IN AN EXAMPLE OF JOURNAL

6) Week of Feb 18th : How to apply the sociological perspective: Analyzing vs. Moralizing

Applying course material
Identifying relevant concepts
Identifying problems and issues.

Assignment 5: Bring in your first application of a concept: define the concept, apply it to your experience, use evidence to back up your claim and BRING IN the evidence you are applying.

7) Week of Feb 25th: How to apply the sociological perspective:

Assignment 6: Bring in typed copy of your background section
Bring in revised examples from assignment 5

Assignment 7: Bring in two more concepts: define the concepts, apply them to your experience, use evidence to back up your claim.

Assignment 8: Bring in revised examples from assignment 7
Bring in Journal Entry

10) Week of March 24th: Recommendations for Change.
Assignment 9: Bring in last three concepts; define the concepts, apply them to your experience, use evidence to back up your claim.

11) Week of March 31st: Completing your paper and Learning how to use sociology for the future: job/career connections.

Assignment 11: Bring in Hard Copy of Power Point Presentation for Oral Presentation