Sc 215 Social Theory
Dr. Paul S. Gray
Tue. Th 12 - 1:15 p.m.., F '13.
Campion 328
My office is 429 McGuinn, phone ext. 24140. e-mail: gray@bc.edu
Office Hours: Tue, 3-4 p.m.; Thurs. 10-11 a.m., or by appt.
T.A., Ms. Maheen Haider, Room 410D McGuinn, email: haider@bc.edu
Office Hour: Wednesday 3-4 p.m.
BOOKS:
Wallace & Wolf, CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
C. Wright Mills, THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
James Farganis, READINGS IN SOCIAL THEORY, 7th 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.
n.b.,
If
you
are
a
student
with
a
documented
disability
seeking
reasonable
accommodations in this course, please contact Kathy Duggan, (617) 552-8093,
dugganka@bc.edu,
at
the
Connors
Family
Learning
Center
regarding
learning
disabilities and ADHD, or Paulette Durrett, (617) 552-3470, paulette.durrett@bc.edu,
in the Disability Services Office regarding all other types of disabilities, including
temporary disabilities. Advance notice and appropriate documentation are required
for accommodations.
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
9/3 Introduction
9/5 What Is Theory?
9/10 The Sociological Tradition
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 1
Mills, ch. 1
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
9/12
9/17
9/19
9/24
Thu
Tue
9/26 Conflict Theory
10/1 Max Weber
Emile Durkheim
Grand Theory
Functionalism
Functionalism
Merton, Middle Range Theory
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 16-24; Farganis, Ch. 2
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 25-44; Mills, ch. 2
Farganis, Ch. 6 – Parsons; Davis & Moore
Wallace & Wolf pp. 168-169
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 2, pp. 45-57; Farganis, Ch. 6 - Merton
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 67-101
Mills, ch. 5; Farganis Ch. 3
Thu
10/3 Max Weber
PAPER #1 IS DUE
Tue
10/8 Karl Marx
Farganis, Ch. 1
day
date topic/activity
assignment
Thu
Tue
Thu
Tue
10/10 Karl Marx
10/15 Critical Theory
10/17 Critical Theory
10/22 Neo-Marxism
Thu
10/24 Functions of Social Conflict
Neo-Functionalism
Tue
10/29 Exchange Theory
PAPER #2 IS DUE
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 7; Farganis, Ch. 8
Thu
10/31 Interaction
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 5, pp. 197-247
HAND OUT TAKE HOME MID TERM
Tue
11/5 Interaction
Farganis, Chs. 5 & 10
Thu
11/7 Self and Society
Farganis, Ch. 4
TAKE HOME MID TERM IS DUE
Tue
11/12 Phenomenology
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 6, pp. 261-267; 285-292;
Farganis, Ch. 9 – Berger; Peter Berger Handout
Thu
11/14 Ethnomethodology
Wallace & Wolf, ch. 6, pp. 267-284;
Farganis, Ch. 9 – Garfinkel
Tue
11/19 Feminist Theory
Thu
11/21 Post-Modern Theory
Farganis, Ch 13
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 247-260; 292-301
Wallace & Wolf, ch.9, pp. 415-426; Farganis, Ch. 12
PAPER #3 IS DUE
Tue
11/26 Theory Construction
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 162-165
Mills, chs. 9 and 10
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 101-120; 174-186; Farganis, Ch. 11
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 120-130; 138-157; 165-168
Farganis, Ch. 7
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 130-138
Wallace & Wolf, pp. 57-66;
Mills, ch. 3 and Appendix; Wallace & Wolf, pp. 186-195
VACATION
Tue
12/3 Theory and Method
Wallace & Wolf, ch 9, pp. 426-437; Mills, ch. 6
Thu
12/5 Theory and Policy
Mills, ch. 4; Wallace & Wolf, ch. 8
Tue
12/10 Conclusions
PAPER #4 IS DUE
HAND OUT TAKE HOME FINAL EXAMINATION
FINAL EXAMINATION IS DUE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th, 12:30 p.m.
IN MY MAILBOX, 426 McGUINN