Sociology 304 (Sociological Theory)

Course Syllabus

Course: Sociology 304-001 (Sociological Theory)

Spring 2018

8:00-9:20 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday

Grise Hall 138

Instructor: Dr. Steve Groce

Office: 131 Grise Hall

Phone: 745-2253

E-mail: steve.groce@wku.edu

Web Page: http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Home.htm

Text: Sociological Theory (ninth edition) by George Ritzer and Jeffrey Stepnisky

Course Objective:

In this course we will investigate the development and refinement of sociological theory. We will blend an understanding of the early masters of sociological

thinking, the classical theorists such as Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, with an exploration of the ideas advanced by such contemporary thinkers as Goffman and Garfinkel. It is my hope that students will come away from this class with a deep appreciation for theory as the very underpinning of sociology, that which allows us to meaningfully interpret the patterned behaviors of individuals that ceaselessly produce and reproduce what we come to experience as "society."

Attendance:

I have no set attendance policy. I do, however, expect to see you in class each time because much of our effort will be devoted to material not included in your

textbook. You will be responsible for all material we cover on the exams.

Grade Determination:

I assign grades based on: 1) three in-class exams; 2) four out-of-class projects (to be discussed in class); and 3) a number of unannounced in-class quizzes.

I expect you to take exams and turn in projects on the days designated in this syllabus. I accept only legitimate, documented excuses. In all other cases I will deduct one letter grade for each day an assignment is late. You MUST turn in hard copies of projects. I will NOT accept projects emailed to me (the Sociology Department does not have sufficient resources to act as your personal printing service—which it would, in effect, become if I had to print out your projects in my office).

I grade on the standard ten-point scale (90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc.). You will have four major grades this semester, all of which carry the same weight--the three exams, plus the average of your four project grades. You will have one minor grade--the overall grade on pop quizzes. The four major grades count two and one-half times more than the minor grade in the determination of your final grade.

Office Hours:

My office in 131 Grise Hall. My office hours are 7:00-8:00 a.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. If these times are not convenient for you, just call me at the office or e-mail me and we'll schedule an appointment.

Students With Disabilities:

In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in DUC A-200 of the Student Success Center in Downing University Center. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

The Learning Center (TLC) (located in the Academic Advising and Retention Center,

DUC-A330)
Should you require academic assistance with this, or any other, course, there are several places that can provide you with help. TLC tutors in most major undergraduate subjects and course levels throughout the week . To make an appointment, or to request a tutor for a specific class, call 745-6254 or stop by DUC A330. Log on to TLC’s website at www.wku.edu/tlc <http://www.wku.edu/tlc> to find out more. TLC hours: M-Thur. 8am-9pm, Fri. 8am-4pm, Sat.-Closed, and Sundays 4pm-9pm.

Please Note: You are NOT required to visit the links listed below for various theories/theorists. They are there ONLY if you’d like additional information not found in the text book or our lecture notes, or if you’d just like to see other people’s takes on the thinkers and ideas we’re talking about in class.

Tentative Schedule

Jan. 23 Introduction; Historical and Intellectual Development of Sociological

Theory (Ritzer, pp. 1-11)

Jan. 25 Early Functionalism: Auguste Comte (Ritzer, pp. 11-19)

Jan. 30 Herbert Spencer (Ritzer, pp. 32-39)

Feb. 1 Emile Durkheim (Ritzer, pp. 19-21; 76-111)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim

http://www.bolenderinitiatives.com/sociology/emile-durkheim-1858-1917

Feb. 6 Early Functionalism: Continue Durkheim; Begin Modern Functionalism:

Talcott Parsons (Ritzer, pp. 207-210; 237-261)

http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/Theorists/Merton/

Feb. 8 Continue Talcott Parsons; Robert Merton, Herbert Gans, Davis and Moore;

Assign project #1

Feb. 13 Project #1 due; In-Class Project

Feb. 15 Early Conflict Theory: Karl Marx (Ritzer, pp. 21-26; 43-75)

Feb. 20 Continue Karl Marx

Feb. 22 Max Weber, Georg Simmel (Ritzer, pp. 26-32; 112-157; 158-187)

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Max_Weber

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Georg_Simmel

http://socio.ch/sim/index_sim.htm#e

Feb. 27 Modern Conflict Theory: Mills, Dahrendorf, Collins

(Ritzer, pp. 212-216; 266-275); Frankfurt School, Neo-Marxism

(Ritzer, pp. 278-331)

http://www.marxists.org/archive/gramsci/index.htm

http://www.marxists.org/archive/lukacs/index.htm

Mar. 1 Continue Frankfurt School; Review for exam

Mar. 6 Exam #1

Mar. 8 Early Symbolic Interactionism: Georg Simmel and Max

Weber (Ritzer, pp. 112-127; 158-171); Return Exams

See also:

http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/simmel.htm

Mar. 12-16 No Class (Spring Break)

Mar. 20 Early Symbolic Interactionism: The Pragmatist Philosophers,

W.I. Thomas (Ritzer, pp. 199-205; 332-376)

Mar. 22 Early Symbolic Interactionism: Charles Horton Cooley,

George Herbert Mead (Ritzer, pp. 199-205; 332-376)

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/George_Herbert_Mead

Begin Modern Symbolic Interactionism: Blumer, Becker, Chicago and Iowa

Schools of SI (Ritzer, pp. 348-354)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Blumer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_S._Becker

http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/

Mar. 27 Continue Modern Symbolic Interactionism; Begin Social Exchange Theory

(Ritzer, pp. 211-212; 216-218; 402-439)

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/george_homans.htm

Mar. 29 Social Exchange Theory; assign project #2

Apr. 3 Dramaturgy (Ritzer, pp. 218-219; 355-364)

Project #2 due

Apr. 5 Dramaturgy; assign project #3

Apr. 10 Project #3 due; discussion

Apr. 12 Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology (Ritzer, pp.

219-220; 377-401);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnomethodology

Apr. 17 Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology; preparation for project #4

Apr. 19 Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology; assign project #4

Apr. 24 Project #4 due; review for exam

Apr. 26 Exam #2

May 1 Return exams; discussion; Feminist Theory (Ritzer, pp. 205-206; 221-222; 440-

485)

http://www.culturalstudies.net/woman.html

May 3 The Micro-Macro Connection (Ritzer, pp. 223-228; 487-536; 602-641);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bourdieu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Giddens

http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/f300.htm

Review for Exam

Final Exam: Thursday, May 10, 8:00-10:00 a.m.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at steve.groce@wku.edu