Department
of Sociology
Fall
2006
Seminar
in Modern Sociological Theory
SOCY 5011-001
Tuesday 3:30-6:20
HUMN 190
Leslie Irvine
Office: Ketchum 223
Office Hours: Tuesday 2-2:45; Thursday 12:30-1
Aim of the course
The modern period in sociological theory comprises
works produced between the turn of the 20th century and (roughly)
the 1960s. In this seminar, we will examine a selection of modern theory under
the guiding theme of “continuities and connections.” This theme manifests
itself in two ways. One is by challenging the illusory distinction between
“theory” and “methods” in favor of continuity across the acts of selecting
topics, framing research questions, and making methodological decisions. The
second manner in which this theme appears is through an emphasis on the
connections between the conversations begun in modern theory and those engaged
in by theorists today. The course does not attempt to cover all theories and
theorists of the period. We will omit a great deal that you must read on your
own in preparation for a career in sociology as well as for the comprehensive
exam.
Students have the opportunity to choose
theoretical areas of study for the last two weeks of class.
Course Materials
Books to obtain
Blumer, Herbert. 1969. Symbolic Interactionism.
Du Bois, W.E.B. [1903] 1996. The Souls of
Black Folk.
Gay, Peter (ed.). 1995. The Freud
Reader.
Mead, George Herbert (Charles Morris, ed.) 1934. Mind, Self & Society from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist
(Works of Mead, vol. 1).
Mills, C.Wright.
[1959] 2000. The Sociological Imagination.
Sears, Alan. 2005.
A Good Book, In Theory: A Guide to
Theoretical Thinking.
Additional
required readings available on WebCT:
Blau, Peter.
“A Formal Theory of Differentiation;” “A
Macrosociological Theory of Social Structure”
Blumer, Herbert. “Sociological Theory in Industrial Relations”
Cooper, Anna Julia. “The Colored Woman’s Office”
Coser, Lewis.
“Georg Simmel’s Style of Work: A Contribution to the Sociology of the
Sociologist;” “Sociological
Theory from Chicago Dominance to 1965”
Fanon,
Frantz. “Decolonizing, National Culture, and the Negro Intellectual”
Frazier, E.
Franklin. “Sociological Theory and Race Relations”
Garfinkel,
Harold. “Ethnomethodology’s Program;” “Reflexive
Properties of Practical Sociology”
Gilman,
Charlotte Perkins. Excerpt from “Women and Economics”
Goffman,
Erving. “Alienation from Interaction;” “Embarrassment
and Social Organization;” “Felicity’s
Condition;” “Interaction
Order”
Homans,
George. “Social Behavior as Exchange”
James,
William. “The Self and Its Selves”
Merton,
Robert. “Manifest and Latent Functions;” “Social
Structure and Anomie;” “Sociological
Theory;” “The
Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action”
Parsons,
Talcott. “Sex Roles in the American Kinship System;” “The
Prospects of Sociological Theory;” “The Position
of Sociological Theory;” “The Role of
Theory;” “The Sick
Role and the Role of the Physician Reconsidered;” “Action
Systems and Social Systems” (from The
System of Modern Societies)
Simmel,
George. “A Contribution to the Sociology of Religion;” “The
Metropolis and Mental Life;” “Money in
Modern Culture”
Course
requirements
You must attend class regularly, complete all assignments, and keep up
with the reading. If you miss two classes, your grade will drop by one letter.
If you miss a third class, you must withdraw from the course. I will not offer
any Incompletes in this class except for the most extenuating circumstances,
such as serious illness or injury, or a death in the family.
If you miss a class, you must arrange to see
any films shown during your absence. All films will be available at Norlin
Library’s
In this seminar, your participation is
valuable. You are expected to take an active role in the discussion. The
seminar format does not work if you do not participate. Plan to come to the
seminar each week prepared with at least one question in mind. Quietly taking
notes not only dilutes your experience of the seminar, it also deprives other
seminar members of your insights. If you have difficulty participating for any
reason (e.g., your own shyness, the brashness of others), please arrange to
meet with me so that we can discuss strategies for correcting such situations.
Grading
I will base grades on three requirements: seminar leadership (40%), an
essay (20%), and a final paper (40%). If your grade is on the cusp, a history
of informed class participation can raise you into the higher grade.
Seminar Leadership
You and a partner of your choice will take responsibility for leading
the second half of the seminar on a given day. I will circulate a sign-up sheet
early in the semester. You have creative freedom to conduct the seminar in any
way that meets your educational goals (except by dismissing it). You will work
with a partner, but you will receive individual grades. Your grade will be
based on the following criteria:
Effectiveness: How well
does the seminar advance students’ knowledge?
Organization: How well
organized is the discussion/presentation?
Originality How
original or creative is the mode of seminar leadership?
Guidelines for
essays
Essays are due by 1:00 p.m. on 9/21. Put hard copies in my hand or in my
mailbox. In no more than two pages
(12 point font, double-spaced, one-inch margins all around), answer the
question “what is sociological theory?” Take a position, develop it, and offer
a rational defense. Follow the classic format of the essay and provide an
introduction, which introduces your thesis. Then, in the body of the essay,
develop your argument. Offer counterarguments and provide evidence for and
against them. Finally, restate (by rephrasing) your thesis and draw the essay to
a close in the conclusion. If you need to brush up on the elements of
essay-writing, see Thinking on Paper,
by V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton(1986, New York: Quill/William Morrow).
Put your name in the upper right-hand corner
of the first page. Staple both pages together. Do not make a cover page or use a plastic binder.
Guidelines for
final papers
All members of the seminar must write a final paper that uses one or
more of the works of modern theory to examine an aspect of his or her
individual research topic. You must limit yourself to the theorists considered
in this course, but you are not limited to the works we read. In other words,
you may choose to examine Du Bois’s work, The
Philadelphia Negro, rather than The
Souls of Black Folk. Alternatively, you may wish to examine the full
versions of excerpts we read in class. I strongly encourage students to meet
with me at least once during the semester to discuss paper topics.
The following steps
should be completed toward the final paper:
·
Proposal: explain your topic in one or two
paragraphs (due 10/5)*
·
Bibliography: prepare a list of relevant references
(due 10/26)*
·
Outline: create an overview of your argument (due
11/16)*
·
Final paper (due 12/15)
Papers should be no more than 15 double-spaced pages in length (12 point
font, one inch margins), including references and any tables or illustrations.
Use ASA citation style. Final papers are due 12/15 by 4:30 p.m. No extensions.
Put hard copies in my mailbox. *First three steps of the assignment can be
submitted via email attachment or hard copy.
Tentative Schedule
(Subject to
change. I will announce any changes in class and post them online.)
8/29 Introduction to the course
What is Theory?
9/5 Coser (“Sociological Theory”); Parsons (“Prospects of Sociological
Theory”); Merton (“Sociological theory”); Sears (Intro and Chapter One)
What is theory?
9/12 Finish Sears; Read Mills; Parsons “The Role of Theory”
9/19 Read Blumer
9/21 Essays due
The individual and
society
9/26 Read Freud (selections given in class)
10/3 Read James; Mead (selections given in class)
10/5 Paper proposals due
10/10 Read Goffman
10/17 Read Coser (“Georg Simmel’s Style…”); Simmel
Macro- and
Microsociology
10/24 Read Blau; Homans; Garfinkel
10/26 Bibliographies due
Functional
analysis
10/31 Read Parsons (all except “Prospects” and “The Role of Theory”)
11/7 Read Merton (all except “Sociological Theory”)
Race and Gender
11/14 Read Blumer (“Sociological Theory in Industrial Relations”); Frazier;
DuBois
11/16 Paper outlines due
11/21 No class today
11/28 Fanon; Cooper; Gilman
Students’ Choice (topics to be
decided by 11/7)
12/5
12/12
12/15 Final papers due
Relevant
Policies
Disability Accommodations
Students with documented disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as
chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit
hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities should see me during the
first two weeks of class to discuss possible reasonable accommodations. For
more information, consult The Office of Disability Services, Willard 322
(303-492-8671) www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Classroom Behavior
Students and faculty each have responsibility
for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to
adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty
members have the professional responsibility to treat all students with
understanding, dignity, and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set
reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students express
opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with
respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture,
religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities.
Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I
will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun.
Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make
appropriate changes to my records. See polices at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html
and
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Academic Integrity
All students of the
Discrimination and Harassment
The