Sc 215 Social Theory
Dr. Paul S. Gray
MWF, 1-1:50 p.m., Fall '08.
Carney 303
My office is 507 McGuinn, phone ext. 24140. e-mail: gray@bc.edu
Office Hours, Mon. 11-12 and Wed 2-3, or by appt.
BOOKS:
Wallace & Wolf, CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY, 6th ed.
C. Wright Mills, THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Kurt Finsterbusch. SOURCES: NOTABLE SELECTIONS IN SOCIOLOGY, 4th Ed.
(Additional readings may be handed out in class from time to time.)
GRADES will be based on four short papers (50%), mid-term (25%), final exam (25%).
Please consult the College Bulletin for general grading standards.
CALENDAR
Have assigned readings and papers ready on dates shown. I reserve the right to make changes in
assignments, with due notice.
day
date
topic/activity
Wed
Fri
Mon
9/3 Introduction
9/5 What Is Theory?
9/8 The Sociological Tradition
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
9/10
9/12
9/15
9/17
9/19
9/22
9/24
Emile Durkheim
Emile Durkheim
Grand Theory
Functionalism
NO CLASS
Functionalism
Merton, Middle Range Theory
Wallace & Wolf pp. 168-169
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 45-57
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
9/26
9/29
10/1
10/3
Conflict Theory
Max Weber
Max Weber
Max Weber
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 67-101
Mills, ch. 5
Sources, 3, 16, 32 and 43
PAPER #1 IS DUE
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
10/6
10/8
10/10
10/13
Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Marx
VACATION
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 162-165
Sources, 21 and 22
Sources, 25 and 26
Wed 10/15 Critical Theory
SC 215 SOCIAL THEORY
assignment
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 1
Mills, ch. 1; Sources, 1
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 16-24
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 25-44; Mills, ch. 2
Sources, 13 and 14
Mills, chs. 9 and 10;
-2-
day
date topic/activity
Fri
10/17 Critical Theory
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 101-120; 174-186; Sources, 9
Mon
10/20
Wed
Fri
10/22 Functions of Social Conflict
10/24 Neo-Functionalism
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 120-130; 138-157; 165-168
Sources, 20, 23, 27, 30 and 35
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 130-138
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 57-66; Sources, 17, 24, 41, 42 and 45
PAPER #2 IS DUE
Mon
Wed
10/27 Exchange Theory
10/29 Exchange Theory
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 7
Fri
Mon
10/31 Interaction
11/3 Interaction
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 5, pp. 197-247; Sources, 2, 5, 11
Sources, 12
HAND OUT TAKE HOME MID TERM
Wed
Fri
11/5 Self and Society
11/7 Self and Society
Mon
11/10 Phenomenology
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 6, pp. 261-267; 285-292;
Berger and Kellner Reading (handout)
Wed
11/12 Feminist Theory
Sources, 7, 8, 28 and 36
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 247-260; 292-301
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
11/14
11/17
11/19
11/21
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 6, pp. 267-284; Sources, 6
Wallace & Wolf, ch.9, pp. 415-426
PAPER #3 IS DUE
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 186-195
Neo-Marxism
Ethnomethodology
Post-Modern Theory
Post-Modern Theory
Structuration Theory
Mon 11/24 Theory Construction
VACATION
Mon
12/1 Theory Construction
Wed 12/3 Theory and Method
Fri
12/5 Theory and Policy
Mon 12/8 Theory and Policy
assignment
TAKE HOME MID TERM IS DUE
Mills, ch. 3
Mills, Appendix
Wallace & Wolf, ch 9, pp. 426-437; Mills, ch. 6
Mills, ch. 4
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 8
PAPER #4 IS DUE
HAND OUT TAKE HOME FINAL EXAMINATION
FINAL EXAMINATION IS DUE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 15th, 12:00 p.m.
IN MY MAILBOX, 426 McGUINN.