Sociology 5053 (Looking for
Sociology 4053?)
Sociological Theory
Fall 2002
Instructor: Dr. Laurel Holland T/T:
2:00-3:15
E-Mail:
lholland@westga.edu CRN: 80755
Office:
Pafford 232 Classroom: Pafford
105
Office Hours: M/W: 11:00-2:00;
T/R:11:00-12:00;
4:00-5:00; Other times by
appointment.
Phone: 770-836-4586
E-Mail: lholland@westga.edu
Required Texts:
Adams, Bert N. & Sydie,
R.A. Sociological Theory.
Kivisto, Peter. Illuminating
Social Life: Classical and Contemporary Theory Revisited. (2nd ed.).
Farganis, James. Readings
in Social Theory. (3rd ed.).
Course Description: This course examines the
contributions of major classical and contemporary sociological theorists and
theoretical perspectives. Special emphasis is given to applying their ideas to
the analysis of current social issues and encouraging students to develop their
own theoretical position. Course focuses on selected classical and contemporary
thinkers but introduces current perspectives and developments.
Learning Outcomes
1. To
acquire an in-depth understanding of the major classical and contemporary
sociological theories and theorists.
2. To be
able to communicate the theory/methodology relationship.
3. To further develop the ability to apply
sociological theories to everyday life occurrences.
4. To
develop the ability to critically analyze the various sociological theory
perspectives and construct you own social theory.
Course Requirements
Exams
There will be two exams throughout the semester, a
mid-term and a final. Exams will cover readings, lecture material, and
classroom discussion. The exam format will be short answer and essay. Graduate
students will be required to answer one additional discussion question. Each
exam will be worth 100 possible points. The average exam scores will account
for 40% of your overall grade. Bring a large blue book to class on exam
days. Note: Make-up exams will only be given in the case of a verifiable
emergency.
In-Class Discussions
Each undergraduate student will be assigned to a group for
class discussion of the Kivisto “Illuminating Social Life”
readings. Individual members of the group will receive a separate grade based
on participation and preparedness. Presentation times and details of
expectations will be discussed in class. As graduate students you will be
expected to guide the groups in understanding the reading and organizing the
presentations. Your participation and effectiveness in leading the in-class
discussions will account for 20% of your overall grade.
Timed Writings
Throughout the semester there will be unannounced timed writings.
Graduate students should be prepared to discuss the Farganis
readings during this exercise. Each writing will be
worth 100 possible points and the average of the writings will account for 15%
of your overall grade.
Papers/Class Presentations
Each graduate student is required to read two original
works which can be compared and contrasted and produce a 10-15 page
report which is due on the last day of class (Thursday, Dec. 4th).
The report should be typed in 12 pt. Times, double-spaced, with 1" margins.
The report should include a biography of the author, a review of the
theoretical perspective that frames the writing, and the major axioms of the
writing. During the last week of the semester each student will present their
report to the class. Presentations should be approximately 10 minutes. Papers
will account for 25% of your overall grade. The report of the paper will
account for 5% of your overall grade. *Note: Papers that are one
day late will be deducted one letter grade. Papers that are
more than one day late will not be accepted.
Overall Class Evaluation
Exams
(average of 2 exams) = 40%
In-Class
Discussions = 20%
Timed
Writings = 15%
Papers = 20%
Oral
Report =
5%
TOTAL 100%
Attendance: Students are expected to attend class
regularly and be on time.
Academic Alert: Academic dishonesty will not be
tolerated.
Tentative Schedule
Date
Topic
Week One Introduction/What is
Sociological Theory?
(Aug. 19 & 21) The Theory-Research Relationship.
The Political,
Social, and Philosophical Backdrop of Classical Theory.
Readings:
Adams. Chapter One: “The
European Roots of Sociological Theory” (Pps.1-29).
Farganis. “Introduction: The Classical Tradition to Post-Modernism: An
Overview.” (Pps. 1-14).
Week Two Comte
and Spencer
(Aug. 26 & 28)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Two:
“Theorizing After the Revolution: Saint-Simon, Comte” (Pps.32-46).
Adams. Chapter Three:
“Evolutionism and Functionalism: Spencer” (Pps. 61-81).
Week Three Marx
(Sept.
2 & 4) lIn-Class Discussion #1 (Kivisto,
Chapter 1)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Five:
“Radical Theory: Marx and Engels” (Pps.121-143).
Kivisto. Reading
# 4: “Working Longer, Living Less: Understanding Marx Through
the Workplace Today.” (Pps. 107-140).
Farganis. Chapter
Four: “Karl Marx: Alienation, Class Struggle, and Class Consciousness.” (Pps. 27-57).
Week Four Durkheim
(Sept.
9 & 11) lIn-Class Discussion #2 (Kivisto,
Chapter 3)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Four:
“Society as Sui Generis: Durkheim” (Pps.90-117).
Kivisto. Reading # 3:
“Surfing the Net for Community: A Durkheimian
Analysis of Electronic Gatherings.” (Pps. 63-103).
Farganis. Chapter
Two: “Emile Durkheim: Anomie and Social Integration.”
(Pps. 58-90).
Week Five Weber
(Sept. 16 & 18) lIn-Class
Discussion #3 (Kivisto, Chapter 2)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Seven: “Social Action and Social
Complexity: The Webers” (Pps.169-195).
Kivisto. Reading # 2: “The Weberian
Theory of Rationalization and the McDonaldization of
Contemporary Society.” (Pps. 37-59).
Farganis. Chapter Four: “Max Weber: The Iron Cage.” (Pps. 102-145).
Week Six Simmel
(Sept. 23 & 25) lIn-Class
Discussion #4 (Kivisto, Chapter 4)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Eight: “The Sociology of Form and
Content: Simmel” (Pps.197-220).
Kivisto. Reading # 1: “Alcohol-Related Windows on Simmel’s Social World.” (pp. 7-32).
Farganis. Chapter Five: “Georg Simmel: Dialectic of Individual and Society.” (p. 146-157).
Week Seven Other
Voices in the Development of Sociology
(Sept.
30) (Martineau, Perkins Gilman, Addams, DuBois)
(Oct.
2) Mid-Term
Readings
Adams. Chapter Two: “Theorizing After the Revolution:
Martineau.” (Pps.46-56).
Adams. Chapter Eleven: “Other Voices in Sociological
Theory: Gilman.” (Pps.267-278).
Adams. Chapter Twelve: “Sociological Theory and Race:
DuBois.” (Pps.291-307).
Week Eight Introduction
to Contemporary Theory.
(Oct.
7 & 9) Functionalism
(Parsons, Merton, Neofunctionalism)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Fourteen: “Twentieth-Century
Functionalism: Parsons, Merton.” (Pps.345-366).
Farganis. Chapter Nine: “Functionalism.” (p. 225-262).
Week
Nine Conflict &
Critical Theory (Mills, Habermas)
(Oct.
14 & 16) lIn-Class Discussion
#5 (Kivisto, Chapter 7)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Nineteen: “Transitions and Challenges:
Mills.” (Pps.477-490).
Adams. Chapter Sixteen: “Criticism, Marxism, and
Change: Critical Theory.” (Pps.395-423).
Kivisto. Reading # 5: “Critical Theory, Legitimation
Crisis, and the Deindustrialization of Flint, Michigan.” (pp. 151-174).
Farganis. Chapter Ten: “Conflict Theory.” (p. 263-293).
Week
Ten Symbolic Interactionism (Cooley, Mead, Blumer,
Goffman)
(Oct.
21 & 23) lIn-Class Discussion
#6 (Kivisto, Chapter 10)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Thirteen: “Society, Self, and Mind:
Cooley, Mead.” (Pps.310-329).
Adams. Chapter Twenty: “Symbolic Interactionism:
Blumer, Goffman.” (Pps.502-517).
Kivisto. Reading # 8: “Goffman’s
Dramaturgical Sociology: Personal Sales and Service in a Commodified
World.” (pp. 235-258).
Farganis. Chapter Thirteen: “Symbolic Interaction.” (p. 349-368).
Week
Eleven Phenomenology & Ethnomethodolgy
(Oct. 28 & 30)
Readings
Farganis. Chapter Twelve: “Phenomenolgoical
Sociology.” (p. 311-348).
Week
Twelve Developments Since
the 1960s
(Nov.
4 & 6) Post-Structuralism
& Postmodernism (Focault, Derrida, Baudrillard)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Twenty-three: “Knowledge, Truth, and
Power: Foucault.” (Pps.574-597).
Kivisto. Reading # 9: “The ‘New’ Means of Consumption: A Postmodern
Analysis.” (pp. 261-282).
Farganis. Chapter Sixteen: “Post-Modernism.” (p. 407-441).
Week Thirteen Feminist
Theory
(Nov. 11 & 13)
Readings
Adams. Chapter Twenty-two: “Feminist Sociological
Theory: Smith, Collins.” (Pps.544-571).
Kivisto. Reading # 6:
“The Socially Constructed Body: Insights From Feminist
Theory.” (pp. 183-203).
Week Fourteen
(Nov.
18) lIn-Class
Discussion #7 (Kivisto, Chapter 6)
(Nov.
20) Undergraduate
Presentations
Week
Fifteen
(Nov.
25) Undergraduate
Presentations
(Nov.
27) No Class
(Thanksgiving Break)
Week Sixteen
(Dec. 2) Undergraduate
Presentations
(Dec.
4) Graduate
Presentations
Final
Exam Tuesday, Dec. 10th,
2:00-4:00
POST SCRIPT: The instructor reserves the right to
deviate from the syllabus.
