Please note that this syllabus should be regarded as only a general guide to the course. The instructor may have changed
specific course content and requirements subsequent to posting this syllabus. Last Modified: 12:37:21 09/04/2011
Sc 215 Social Theory
Dr. Paul S. Gray
Tue. Th 10:30-11:45 a.m.., F '11.
Gasson 210
My office is 429 McGuinn, phone ext. 24140. e-mail: gray@bc.edu
Office Hours: Tue, Thurs. 1:30-2:30, or by appt.
BOOKS:
Wallace & Wolf, CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY, 6th ed.
C. Wright Mills, THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
James Farganis, READINGS IN SOCIAL THEORY, 6th 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
assignment
Tue
Thu
Tue
9/6 Introduction
9/8 What Is Theory?
9/13 The Sociological Tradition
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 1
Mills, ch. 1
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
9/15
9/20
9/22
9/27
Thu
Tue
Thu
9/29 Conflict Theory
10/4 Max Weber
10/6 Max Weber
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 67-101
Mills, ch. 5; Farganis Ch. 3
PAPER #1 IS DUE
Tue
Thu
Tue
Thu
10/11
10/13
10/18
10/20
Farganis, Ch. 1
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 162-165
Mills, chs. 9 and 10
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 101-120; 174-186; Farganis, Ch. 12
Emile Durkheim
Grand Theory
Functionalism
Functionalism
Merton, Middle Range Theory
Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Critical Theory
Critical Theory
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 16-24; Farganis, Ch. 2
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 25-44; Mills, ch. 2
Farganis, Ch. 7
Wallace & Wolf pp. 168-169
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 45-57
SC 215 SOCIAL THEORY
-2-
day
date topic/activity
assignment
Tue
10/25 Neo-Marxism
Thu
10/27 Functions of Social Conflict
Neo-Functionalism
Tue
11/1 Exchange Theory
PAPER #2 IS DUE
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 7; Farganis, Ch. 9
Thu
Tue
11/3 Interaction
11/8 Interaction
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 5, pp. 197-247; Farganis, Chs. 5 & 11
HAND OUT TAKE HOME MID TERM
Thu
11/10 Self and Society
Farganis, Ch. 4
TAKE HOME MID TERM IS DUE
Tue
11/15 Phenomenology
Thu
11/17 Feminist Theory
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 6, pp. 261-267; 285-292;
Farganis, pp. 257-287
Farganis, pp. 385-428
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 247-260; 292-301
Tue
11/22 Post-Modern Theory
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 120-130; 138-157; 165-168
Farganis, Ch. 8
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 130-138
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 57-66;
Wallace & Wolf, ch.9, pp. 415-426; Farganis, Ch. 13
PAPER #3 IS DUE
VACATION
Tue
11/29 Theory Construction
Mills, ch. 3 and Appendix; Wallace & Wolf, pp. 186-195
Thu
12/1 Theory and Method
Wallace & Wolf, ch 9, pp. 426-437; Mills, ch. 6
Tue
Thu
12/6 Theory and Policy
12/8 Conclusions
Mills, ch. 4; Wallace & Wolf, ch. 8
PAPER #4 IS DUE
HAND OUT TAKE HOME FINAL EXAMINATION
FINAL EXAMINATION IS DUE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th, 12:30 p.m.
IN MY MAILBOX, 426 McGUINN.