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Transcript
SY203OC Wilfrid Laurier University Sociological Theory Instructor: Dr Michael Manley May, 2009 Welcome to Sociology 203OC! This is an online course offered using webct. The course is designed to promote your understanding of society by providing you with the intellectual tools that are needed to analyze social interaction. We need to recognize that different theoretical perspectives can be used in the study of society and this course will familiarize you with the consensus, conflict, and interactionist approaches. We pay attention to the changing social conditions that motivated early sociologists to study society and how the theories of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber responded to the social concerns associated with modernization. We consider how the early modern theories of Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton, George Herbert Mead, and Erving Goffman advance the early concerns. The nature and purpose of sociological theory is at issue and we seek to clarify the form and the content of the theories that help us to interpret society. The course is organized into 24 sections. Since this term has twelve weeks, it is appropriate that you cover at least two sections per week. However, I strongly urge you to cover the lessons at a faster pace since there is a significant amount of reading material towards the end of the course. Good luck to you all! Communication Policy: My policy is to respond to emails and bulletin board messages on a daily basis. That is, if you email or post a message one day, at some point no later than the evening of the next day, I will provide a response. The exception to this is for obvious holidays. If, for some reason, you are having trouble accessing the webct site for this course, you should contact the Online Office: www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=329 However, if you cannot access the course and if you are also in particular need of a response from me concerning an academic issue, email me at: [email protected] Normally, I would prefer that all course-related issues be discussed using the webct site. SY203OC May, 2009 Textbook: Marx Durkheim Weber by Ken Morrison, second edition Course Package of Readings: Talcott Parsons: On Institutions and Social Evolution edited by Leon Mayhew pages 93-114, 157-172, 296-326 “Manifest and Latent Functions” Robert Merton On Theoretical Sociology pages 73-138 Mind, Self and Society George Herbert Mead pages pp. 68-82, 117-125, 152-164, 173-178, 192-200, 253-260 “Goffman’s Social Theory” Ann Branaman The Goffman Reader edited by Charles Lemert and Ann Branaman pages xlv to lxxxii Course Objectives: 1. Introduce students to the tradition of sociological theory through the works of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber. 2. Introduce students to the early modern tradition of sociological theory through the works of Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton, George Herbert Mead, and Erving Goffman. 3. Promote the development of analytic skills in students by familiarizing them with the three explanatory perspectives used by sociologists to understand society. 4. Develop an understanding of the system of ideas which shaped modern society. 5. Familiarize students with key historical events leading to the formation of modern Western societies and to elucidate the social and political consequences leading to the development of these societies. 6. Increase student’s awareness of the role society plays in shaping human experience. SY203OC May, 2009 Course Description This course examines the central themes of classical and contemporary sociological theory through the works of Durkheim, Marx and Weber. The aim of the course is to examine the conditions leading to the growth of modern industrial societies and the corresponding changes taking place in social, economic and political life as a whole. The course goes on to explore the major schools of sociological thought by examining the dominant theoretical perspectives related to the understanding of society and the individual. These include the consensus, conflict and interactionist theoretical perspectives. Discussion will focus on the development of sociology as a discipline, the role of concepts in understanding society, and the nature and scope of explanation in sociological theory. The course has its mandate in the study of society through theory issues. The approach taken in the course is historical and conceptual, focusing on the main social questions of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the dramatic rise in poverty, the increasing reliance on science as a means of social and moral problem solving, and the dominance of economic individualism. The first half of the course will focus on the development of modern society and the theories traditionally used to explain the social and political consequences of these changes. Generally, there are four key developments to be discussed: revolution, industrialization, capitalism, and modernism. In addition, we will explore the emergence of sociology as a distinct discipline, discuss its role as the ‘science’ of society, and explore the nature of its subject matter. Subsequent to this, the theoretical views of Durkheim, Marx and Weber will be examined in some detail. Their theories will be place in the context of developments in Western social thought and in the overall history of ideas. The second half of the course focuses upon the broad areas of social theory. First, it will concentrate on themes related to the late classical and early modern sociological theory, such as the rise of the modern state, the nature of power, and the development of a theory of social action. Second, it will focus on developments in modern consensus theory, principally those proposed by Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton. Third, it will examine the origins of the perspective in sociological theory to as micro theory. Some of the key theorists examined in this section of the course include George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman. SY203OC May, 2009 Course Outline Part A 1. The Historical Context of Sociological Theory Read: Lesson 1 & Morrison, pp. 1-8 2. The Development of Modern Society and Sociological Theory Read: Lesson 2 & Morrison, pp. 8-34 3. Emile Durkheim: Consensus Theory Read: Lesson 3 & Morrison, pp. 148-185 4. Emile Durkheim: Society and the Individual Read: Lesson 4 & Morrison, pp. 185-199 5. Emile Durkheim: The Sociological Study of Suicide Read: Lesson 5 & Morrison, pp. 199-231 6. Durkheim and Anomie Read: Lesson 11 & Morrison, pp. 224-231 Part B 7. Karl Marx: Conflict Theory Read: Lesson 6 & Morrison, pp. 35-61 8. Karl Marx: Capitalism and Capitalist Development Read: Lesson 7 & Morrison, pp. 76-116 9. Marx and Alienation Read: Lesson 12 & Morrison, pp. 116-127 10. Theories of The State Read: Lesson 15 & Morrison, pp. 127-147 11. The Sociology of Knowledge: Durkheim and Marx Read: Lesson 18 & Morrison, pp. 231-272; pp. 61-76 SY203OC May, 2009 Part C 12. The Sociology of Max Weber, Part I Read: Lesson 8 & Morrison, pp. 273-295 13. The Sociology of Max Weber, Part II Read: Lesson 9 & Morrison, pp. 295-313 14. Max Weber's Theory of Capitalism Read: Lesson 10 & Morrison, pp. 313-329 15. Max Weber's Political Sociology Read: Lesson 14 & Morrison, pp. 361-374 16. Main Themes of the 20th Century Read: Lesson 13 17. Max Weber's Study of Bureaucracy Read: Lesson 16 & Morrison, pp. 374-386 18. Max Weber's Theory of Social Action Read: Lesson 17 & Morrison, pp. 348-361 Part D 19. The American School of Sociological Thought: Talcott Parsons Read: Lesson 19 & Parsons (course package) 20. Social Structure and Anomie: Robert Merton Read: Lesson 20 & Merton (course package) 21. Introduction to Micro Social Theory Read: Lesson 21 & Mead, pp. 68-82 (course package) 22. American School of Social Interaction Read: Lesson 22 23. Mead's Theory of Mind and Society Read: Lesson 23 & Mead, pp. 117-125, 152-164, 173-178, 192-200, 253-260 (course package) 24. Dramaturgical Approach to Social Interaction Read: Lesson 24 & Branaman (course package) SY203OC May, 2009 Grades Midterm #1 Midterm #2 Midterm #3 Final Exam Assignment Part Part Part Part A B C D 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% Monday, May 25 Wednesday, June 17 Tuesday, July 7 official exam period: July 31-August 12 Monday, July 13 Each midterm test and the final exam is worth 20% of the grade for this course. The first midterm is based on Part A; the second on Part B; the third on Part C; and the final exam on Part D. Each is 2 hours long and you will answer four questions out of six. The midterms and the final exam are not done online. They are written at a specific location. The date and location of each of the three midterms can be found at: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=329&p=11868 Students must confirm the date and location of the midterms at this webpage before they write each midterm. The final exam will be held during the official exam period. The questions on the midterms and the final examination are of a general nature permitting you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the material. The questions are essay-type questions and you are expected to write essay answers. That is, discuss the material using sentences and paragraphs organized into an essay. Do not provide an answer that consists of a list of points. Webct has had technical difficulties in recent years and at times has not been accessible. Students are expected to download all relevant course material to their own computers early in the course. Any failure of webct to function properly will not be a basis for a deferred midterm or final exam, and will not be the basis for a extension for the assignment. SY203OC May, 2009 Assignment Select a portion of text written by Karl Marx or Emile Durkheim. The text you refer to should be about 30 to 40 pages long. The text you choose must be actually written by Marx or Durkheim, translated into English, and not by someone commenting about their work. You are expected: -to -to -to -to summarize the theory presented in the text you have chosen, show how it relates to the overall theoretical framework of the author, provide a critique of the theory discussed in the text you have chosen, and show how this critique is relevant to the overall theoretical framework of the author. Your assignment should focus on theoretical issues (and not the life of the theorist nor on the empirical substance of the text). The text you choose should provide a particular insight into the author’s theories that is not adequately discussed in this course, and should not simply repeat the core ideas of the theory as presented in the textbook or the lessons. The assignment should be about 12 typed pages long (about 3,000 words). It is worth 20% of the final grade for this course. The assignment is due on Monday noon July 13. It must be emailed to the Online Office by that time. A late assignment, without a legitimate reason, will be penalized 5 marks. An assignment will not be accepted if it is over one week late. That is, the assignment must absolutely be emailed to the Online Office by Monday noon July 20. Do not mail it; do not fax it; do not deliver it in person. The only exceptions will be for a legitimate reason: a medical reason or a death in the family. Students should consult the Online Learning webpage for information about assignments: www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=329 Students are required to retain a print copy and an electronic copy of their assignment and to submit their assignment to: www.turnitin.com using this information: class: class id: password: SY203DE 2712679 theory The class id is the important number. If the assignment is not submitted to turnitin, it will receive a mark of zero. The extended turnitin due date is only for those who have been granted an extension. SY203OC May, 2009 Notices 1. Student Awareness of the Accessible Learning Centre: Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Centre for information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information regarding all services available on campus. Guidelines regarding the consideration of such students can be obtained by contacting the Accessible Learning Centre, ext. 3086: www.mylaurier.ca/accessible.htm 2. For Evening Classes: “After class call 886-FOOT for a walk or drive home - No Walk is Too Short or Too Long!!!” 3. Academic and Research Misconduct: Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by students working on a team project, which may result in a false evaluation of the students(s), or which represents a deliberate attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage. Academic misconduct includes: please refer to web site: www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=158&p=8383&pv=1 Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism. 4. Examination Deferrals: The academic date section of the 2008/2009 calendar: www.wlu.ca/calendars/section.php?cal=1&s=268&sp=800&ss=1142&y=33#Deferred_Examination_Policy clearly states the examination date period for each semester. Students must note that they are required to reserve this time in their personal calendars for the examinations. Students who are considering registering to write MCAT, LSAT or GMAT or a similar examination, should select a time for those examinations that occurs outside the University examination period. For additional information that describes the special circumstances for examination deferment, consult web site of the 2008/2009 University on-line calendar: www.wlu.ca/calendars/section.php?cal=1&s=268&sp=800&ss=1142&y=33#Special_Examinations The World Wide Web version is the up-to-date, official Academic Calendar: www.wlu.ca