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FOUNDATIONS IN SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING Sociology 2P00 Winter 2017 Brock University, Department of Sociology Instructor: Murray Knuttila Class: Tuesday 12:00-14:00 Office: AS 423 Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 - 9:45, 2:00-3:00 and Wednesday 9:00-10:30 or by appointment Email: [email protected] Phone: 905-688-5550 Ex 4468 Calendar Description Foundational ideas in social theory, from its classical roots to contemporary branches. Critical thinking and expression. Course Objectives Since Calendar descriptions tend to be brief, the following is my summary of this version of the course. Most fields of study or inquiry are marked by distinctive foci and ways of understanding the phenomena they study and seek to understand. Sociology is no different. While there are numerous sub-fields or areas of specialization within the discipline, the sociological approach is marked by its efforts to develop both a holistic and comprehensive understanding of social structures and by studying people as individual social agents. Sociology is differentiated from the other social sciences by its insistence that we must understand the ‘larger picture’ of how human beings are shaped and moulded by society and how humans simultaneously create society. The very word theory can be intimidating and off-putting because it is misunderstood and misconstrued, as something that is abstract, not connected to reality and even of little use; however such is not the case. The Dictionary of Sociology defines theory as: “A set of interrelated principles and definitions that serves conceptually to organize selected aspects of the empirical world in a systematic way. The essence of theory is that is attempts to explain a wide variety of empirical phenomena in a parsimonious way. "(Theodorson and Theodorson, 1969: 436-437) Deconstructing this definition we understand that theories are nothing more than sets of ideas, concepts, and propositions that attempt to explain some event, process, or phenomena. Social theories are those sets of ideas, propositions, definitions, and concepts that attempt to explain phenomenon relating to dynamics and processes of human society. 2 The project of developing and using social theory rests on an important basic assumption - that human social behaviours and actions are not typically random, chaotic, arbitrary, haphazard or without purpose and intent. Quite to the contrary, sociologists maintain that the structured, regularized, organized, patterned and routine nature of most of our actions and behaviours is the very basis and substance of human society. Delivery Modes The course material and content is presented in a number of distinct, related yet somewhat independent formats: Lectures Required weekly reading Seminar discussions Seminar presentations (yours and those of your peers) The lectures are not drawn directly from the readings, making the readings an important independent source of information that I simply assume students will master each week. Students are expected to come to class and the seminars well prepared and ready to discuss the readings and the topics being covered, and prepared to articulate their critical assessment of the material. While lecture attendance is not strictly required, attendance will be regularly taken and students who miss more than three (3) classes without advising the instructor of their situation may be subject to a mark loss of between 5 and 10 per cent. The course has a Sakai site on which some of the Power Point slides and other materials will be presented including the mini-essay assignment questions. It is imperative that students regularly check the site regularly for announcements, assignments and supplementary material. Course Objectives Learning Objectives The course should facilitate your capacity to: Understand the necessary role that social theory plays in social analysis and the development of one’s sociological imagination. Comprehend the relationship between historical, social, political, and economic developments and social theory. Appreciate the fundamental differences between and among the theoretical approaches of the so-called founding figures in social theory. Critically evaluate the capacity of several important streams of contemporary theory to address a number of important social issues. Produce clear and succinct critical verbal and written analyses of core issues in the field. 3 Required Reading Anthony Thomson The Making of Social Theory (2nd Edition) Course Evaluation Grades will be calculated on the basis of the following work: Seminar participation Seminar presentation Two (2) Mini-essays (2x15) Mid-Term Quiz (In Class) Take home final exam *Seminar Grading Criteria Regular attendance with minimal participation and interest in material: Regular attendance with engagement that is not particularly related to course materials and readings Regular participation and enthusiastic engagement with readings and lecture material 10 marks * 10 marks** 30 marks** 20 marks 30 marks 1 to 3 marks 4 or 5 marks 6 to 10 marks 1 mark will be deducted for each seminar that is missed. Students who miss 4 or more seminars will receive a 0 marks for seminar participation. ** Seminar Presentations: In order to guide your readings and focus your attention on the key points, four questions relating to each chapter will be posted on Sakai and made available in class. Student seminar presentations will be based on answers to these questions. Seminar presentations will typically be about 8 to 10 minutes and be both instructive to the other students and include questions that will stimulate other students to respond and participate. A written copy of the presentation must be provided to the seminar leader. *** The mini-essays are one or two pages in length on topics to be posted on Sakai and made available in class. The ability to organize your thoughts and communicate in a clear, succinct and logical manner is among the most important skills you will develop at university. Long-winded unorganized prose is easy to produce, but is much less effective than short pithy carefully crafted, organized and logically presented focused arguments. This exercise will hone your thinking, organizational and communication skills Accessibility Concerns Any student with accessibility concerns must contact the instructor. For more information please For more information, please go to: http://www.brocku.ca/accessibility. 4 Important dates and Lecture Topics (Subject to Revision) Date January 10 Topic Introduction to 2P00 What is theory and why it is important? Themes, theorists and theoretical schools or streams Reading Introduction & Chapter 1 January 17 Background to sociological thought Ontological basis of Classical Liberalism and Possessive Individualism. Chapters 2 & 3 January 24 Seminars begin week of January 23 Post Mini Essay 1 Conservative reaction and Romanticism Comte and the emergence of sociology Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Chapter 4 January 31 Karl Marx Chapter 5 February 7 Social order and stability Mini-Essay 1 Emile Durkheim due on Sakai February 7 Chapter 7 February 14 Post Mini Essay 2 From macro to micro Max Weber’s sociology Note – This is an On-Line Week. No Lecture. Required course material including video links posted on Sakai. Chapter 8 February 21 Reading Week Ironically – no assigned reading! February 28 Mini-Essay 1 due on Sakai February 28 Freud Simmel George Herbert Mead Symbolic Interactionism Chapter 10 Chapter 9 (279-305) March 7 Mid-Term Quiz 5 Mid-Term Quiz Committing sociology – using theory Explaining Social inequality Structural functionalism and NeoMarxism Material on Sakai site. March 21 Feminism emerges (again). Feminisms beyond liberal feminism. Chapter 6 (175-187) Material on Sakai March 28 Theorizing agency and structure in advanced capitalism. Giddens, Bourdieu, Foucault and beyond. Summary and wrap. Getting ready to so and commit sociology. Material on Sakai site. March 14 Mini Essay 2 due April 4 Intellectual Property Notice All slides, presentations, handouts, tests, exams, and other course materials created by the instructor in this course are the intellectual property of the instructor. A student who publicly posts or sells an instructor’s work, without the instructor’s express consent, may be charged with misconduct under Brock’s Academic Integrity Policy and/or Code of Conduct, and may also face adverse legal consequences for infringement of intellectual property rights. Academic Conduct The instructor and teaching assistants may use plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin.com. The general University policies and regulations regarding academic conduct are provided in the General Calendar found on line at: http://www.brocku.ca/webcal/2010/undergrad/areg.html#sec18 All members of the Brock community must ensure compliance with the Copyright Act of Canada that prevents making more than one copy of copyrighted material without permission of the copyright holder. March 10, 2017 is the last date for withdrawal without an academic penalty. The first mini-essays will be graded by October 8 to ensure that all students receive notification of their performance on at least 15% of their final grade before the deadline. Late Assignment penalty: For mini-essays, 5 % each day. No assignments will be accepted more than 5 days after due date. No take-home final examinations will be accepted after due date without medical or other documentation explaining an exceptional 6 circumstance. Grading Grades are based on Brock University criteria as stated below As of May 2010, the following grades are awarded for undergraduate courses: A - 90 to 100 Reserved for students where work is of outstanding quality that provides clear evidence of a rare talent for the subject and of an original and/or incisive mind. A - 80 to 89 Awarded for excellent, accurate work in which evidence of a certain flair for and comprehension of the subject is clearly perceptible. B - 70 to 79 Indicates competent work that shows a sound grasp of the course goals without being distinguished. C - 60 to 69 Represents work of adequate quality which suffers from incompleteness or inaccuracy. D - 50 to 59 Given where the minimum requirements of a course are barely satisfied. F - 49 or lower Means that minimum requirements have not been met and no credit has been given for the course.