William Paterson University
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
Department of sociology
SOC-318 Classical & Contemporary Sociological Theory
Fall 2007
T & TH 4:00-5:15PM
Professor:
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Office Hours:
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Required Text:
Allan, Kenneth. 2005. Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory. Pine Forge Press.
Allan, Kenneth. 2006. Contemporary Social and Sociological Theory. Pine Forge Press.
Recommended Texts:
Dahrendorf, Ralf. 1969. Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society. Stanford University Press.
Goffman, Erving. 1959. The Presenting of Self in Everyday Life. Anchor Books.
Merton, Robert H. 1968. Social Theory and Social Structure. Free Press.
Mills, Wright C. 2000. The Power Elite. Oxford University Press.
Parsons, Talcott. 1967. Sociological Theory and Modern Society. Free Press.
Additional readings will be assigned and handed out by the instructor during the semester.
Course Description:
The course will examine major works of classical and contemporary sociological theorists. We will begin with a review of the forefathers of sociological theory such as Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. We will also examine major sociological contributions by contemporary theorists such as George H. Mead, Erving Goffman, Peter Blau, Talcott Parsons, Robert H. Merton, C. Wright Mills, Ralf Dahrendorf, and others. Some major themes will include Social Interaction, Social Structure, Inequality, Change, Modernity, etc.
Course Objectives:
Basically there is one major objective in this course: to understand the various theoretical perspectives and use them as tools of critical analysis. Additional goals include:
-To acquaint students with contemporary sociological theorists and their work.
-To provide a historical context within which sociological theory/ideas have developed.
-To develop critical thinking and evaluation of sociological theory.
-To discuss the complexity of social systems.
-To teach students how to interpret and use social science data.
-To analyze contemporary society and social issues through the application of sociological perspectives.
In order to accomplish these goals students should carefully read the assigned material before each class, attend class regularly, take notes, and complete assignments.
Grades:
Grades will be based on a midterm and final exam (2 x 35% = 70%), a paper (25%), and class participation (5%). Grades (for tests and/or the final semester grade) will NOT be given out by email request under any circumstance.
Grade Key:
A = 93-100
A- = 90-92
B+ = 86-89
B = 83-85
B- = 80-82
C+ = 76-79
C = 73-75
C- = 70-72
D+ = 66-69
D = 60-65
F = 0-59
Tests:
A total of two exams will be given. These may contain multiple choice, true or false, term identification, and essay questions. Make-ups will NOT be given except for serious reasons within one week of the original test date, after notifying me, and presenting documentation i.e. a doctor’s note (which will be verified).
Attendance / Participation:
Attendance is important and required. You must be in class on time for the full duration of the lecture. For every absence your final semester grade will be reduced by 3 points. Five absences will result in automatic failure regardless of your grade.
Lateness:
Very simply put: if you intend to be late then this course is not for you. Each lateness will count as an absence. Time is kept according to the instructor’s watch based on accurate EST – not your own watch! No excuses, no exceptions.
Paper:
A detailed handout describing the assignment will be distributed within the first few days of the semester. Deadline:
Policy on Cheating & Plagiarism:
With documented evidence, a student who cheats on an exam or paper for the first time will fail the course, and the record of the student's cheating will be sent to the Department Chair and the appropriate Dean. When a student cheats on an exam or a paper for the second time, the student will fail the course and be expelled from the sociology major. For those non-sociology major students who cheat for the second time, they will be banned from the sociology major and their cheating will be reported to the appropriate Dean.
Food & Drink:
No eating or drinking will be permitted in class.
Should you need some help during the semester do not hesitate to ask me. Additionally, I will be available to schedule appointments if further assistance is needed. Finally, please remember that deadlines are made to be kept and that all work must be completed to receive a grade.
Reading Assignments/Topics:
Please note that the following are subject to change!
Week 1. Introduction.
Week 2. Handout A. Auguste Comte: The beginnings of Sociology.
Allan 2005, chapter 2. Herbert Spencer: Organic Evolution.
Week 3. Allan 2005, chapter 4. Emile Durkheim: Cultural Consensus.
Week 4. Allan 2005, chapter 3. Karl Marx: Engines of Change.
Week 5. Allan 2005, chapter 5. Max Weber: Authority and Rationality.
Week 6. Allan 2005, chapter 6. Georg Simmel: Society and the Individual.
Week 7. Allan 2005, chapter 7. George Herbert Mead: Self-Consciousness.
Week 8. Midterm Exam
Week 9. Allan 2006, chapter 6. Peter M. Blau: Social and Population Structures.
Allan 2006, chapter 8. Pierre Bourdieu: The Replication of Class.
Week 10. Allan 2006, chapter 4. Erving Goffman: Performing the Self.
Allan 2006, chapter 5. Randall Collins: Emotion and Interaction Ritual Chains.
Week 11. Allan 2005, chapter 10. Talcott Parsons: The Social System.
Week 12. Handout B. C. Wright Mills and Ralf Dahrendorf: The Power Elite / Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society.
Week 13. Allan 2006, chapter 9. Immanuel Wallerstein: Global Capitalism and the Decline of American Hegemony.
Week 14. Allan 2006, chapter 11. Jurgen Habermas: Modernity and Reason.
Final Exam
1