SOCI 4087 – Modern Social Theory
Tuesday/Thursday 2:15-3:35
Rogers-Stout 425
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Baker
Office: Rogers-Stout 223F
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30; otherwise by appointment
E-mail: bakerjo@etsu.edu
Website: https://faculty.etsu.edu/bakerjo/
Phone: 439-6648
Teaching Assistant: Adria McLaughlin (mclaughlina@goldmail.etsu.edu)
Objectives:
Become familiar with foundational thinkers in the field of sociology
Understand the basic concepts used in classical (and often contemporary) sociology
Discuss where and how classical theories of society get things correct or incorrect empirically
Think about how and why social groups and organizations shape both history and everyday life
Facilitate the discovery and application of the sociological imagination; in other words, to improve the
ability to think critically and objectively about social life
Expectations:
Read thoroughly before class
Be engaged in the material – take notes, ponder, assess. Ask questions!
Maintain mutual respect for all involved in the class – learning is collaborative
Be prepared during class time
Listen
Be willing to talk
Do assignments on time
*NOTE* Electronic devices are not allowed in the classroom unless authorized by the instructor. This
includes but is not limited to cell phones, laptop computers, PDAs, segways, spectrometers, small
hadron colliders, or whatever new technology is “hip” at the moment.
The Pledge (raise your right hand, place your left on your phone): I hereby swear that understand that if
I use my phone during Baker’s class he can ask me to leave and I will lose any points earned for the day.
So help me [insert preferred deity].
Required Texts: Classical Sociological Theory, 3rd edition, edited by Craig Calhoun et al., Wiley-Blackwell.
Classical Sociological Theory, 4th edition, by George Ritzer and Douglas J. Goodman, McGraw-Hill.
Grading
A = 920-1000; A- = 900-919; B+ = 880-899; B = 820-879; B- = 800-819; C+=780-799; C = 720-779; C- =
700-719; D=600-699; F=599 and under
There are 1000 total points available in the course. The distribution of points by assignment is:
Exams: 40% (400 points)
Quizzes: 20% (200 points)
Social Theory Paper 1: 15% (150 points)
Social Theory Paper 2: 25% (250 points)
Exams: There will be two exams, a mid-term and a final. Exams will be a combination of multiple choice,
fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay. The final exam will be cumulative. Exams must be taken with
a No. 2 pencil. The exams will each be worth up to 200 points each (20% of final grade). If you have you
have extenuating circumstance and have to miss an exam, you need to contact me before the exam is
given.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes given over readings, or occasionally on lecture, discussion, and videos.
Each quiz will be worth a maximum of 25 points. These will be short answer or multiple choice. Your
highest eight quiz grades will count (the remaining lowest scores will be dropped). Quizzes are given at
the beginning of class and there will be no make-up opportunities. Be here, and be here time!
Theory Papers: There will be two theory papers assigned during the semester. For the first you will
write a 5-6 page essay on a concept or theorist we have covered in class during the first half of the
semester. This essay will be graded and returned with suggestions for corrections and additions, and
will also include a suggestion to add another theorist or concept from the second half of the semester.
You are expected to compare and contrast the multiple concepts or theorists. The final 8-10 page essay
will then be turned in to be graded. The first paper is worth up to 150 points (15% of final grade) and
the second paper is worth up to 250 points (25% of the final grade). Both essays will be submitted
through the course dropbox on D2L.
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit available in this class.
Late Work Policy: Work turned in past the due date will be penalized 10% off the overall points
available for the assignment per each day it is late.
Disabilities: If you have disabilities or other special circumstances, you should contact disabilities
services office first (326 in the D.P. Culp student center; 423-439-8346), then speak with me to make
accommodations.
Academic Integrity
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. This includes—but is not limited to—using notes during
exams or quizzes, copying off other students during exams or quizzes, and plagiarizing material.
Cheating will result in failure for the course.
Attendance
Students missing more than 25% of class periods will fail the course. Lectures are not posted online and
there are no make-up quizzes (since the lowest grades are dropped). Test material will heavily rely on
class discussions, activities, and lectures. Reading, coming to class, and paying attention are the keys to
making a good grade.
Schedule
The schedule given is tentative and can be altered at any point. You will be informed in class and online
if changes to the schedule need to be made. You are expected to have read the relevant material by the
date listed (i.e. Chapter 1 of the theory text must be read by the time we meet for class Thursday).
Schedule
Week 1
8/26
Topic: Introduction; syllabus
Reading: None
8/28
Topic: Basics of modern social theory
Reading: Chapter 1 “Historical Sketch of Sociological Theory: The Early Years” in theory text
Week2
9/2
Topic: Auguste Comte
Reading: Comte Chapter in theory text
9/4
Topic: Frances Wright
Reading: “Frances Wright: First Female Civic Rhetor in America” by Robert J. Connors, College English
62:1 (1999): 30-57 (D2L)
Week 3
9/9
Topic: Herbert Spencer
Reading: Spencer Chapter in theory text
9/11
Topic: Alienation and Capitalism
Reading: “The German Ideology” and “Economic Philosophic Manuscripts” by Karl Marx 142-155 in
reader
Week 4
9/16
Topic: Political Economy
Reading: “Manifesto of the Communist Party” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, pages 156-171 in
reader
9/18
Topic: Exploitation and Social Class
Reading: “Wage-Labour and Capital” and “Classes” by Karl Marx, pages 182-192 in reader
Week 5
9/23
Topic: Karl Marx
Reading: Marx Chapter in theory text; and “Introduction to Part III,”
9/25
Topic: Karl Marx
Reading: Pages 135-141 in reader
Week 6
9/30
Topic: Lester F. Ward
Reading: “The Place of Sociology among the Sciences” (D2L)
10/2
Topic: Early Feminism
Reading: Women Sociologists Chapter in theory text
Week 7
10/7
Topic: Mid-term review
10/9
Assignment: Mid-Term Exam
Week 8
10/14 – NO CLASS Fall Break
10/16
Topic: Cognitive Sociology
Reading: Excerpt from Human Nature and the Social Order by Charles H. Cooley (D2L)
Week 9
10/21
Topic: Cultural Sociology
Readings: “The Stranger” and “The Dyad and Triad” by Georg Simmel, pages 361-365 and 382-395
10/23
Topic: Georg Simmel
Reading: Simmel Chapter in theory text
Week 10
10/28
Topic: Sociology of religion
Reading: “Elementary Forms of the Religious Life” by Emile Durkheim, pages 243-254 in reader
10/30
Topic: Anomie
Reading: “Suicide” by Emile Durkheim, pages 255-264 in reader
Week 11
11/4
Topic: Emile Durkheim
Reading: Durkheim Chapter in theory text; “Introduction to Part IV,” pages 195-200 in reader
11/6
Topic: Color Line(s)
Readings: Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois, pages 404-409; Excerpts from The Philadelphia Negro by
W.E.B. Du Bois (D2L)
Week 12
11/11
Topic: Darkwater
Reading: “Credo,” “The Damnation of Women,” and “The Souls of White Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois (D2L)
11/13
Topic: W.E.B. Du Bois
Reading: Du Bois Chapter in theory text
Assignment: Social Theory Paper #1 due
Week 13
11/18
Topic: Methods of Sociology
Reading: “’Objectivity” in Social Science” and “Basic Sociological Terms” by Max Weber, pages 268-290
in reader
11/20
Topic: Power
Reading: “Class, Status, and Party” and “Types of Legitimate Domination” by Max Weber, pages 310-327
in reader
Week 14
11/25 Topic: Max Weber
Reading: Weber Chapter in theory text; “Introduction to Part V,” pages 267-272 in reader
11/27 NO CLASS – Thanksgiving
Week 15
12/2
Topic: Symbolic Interaction
Reading: “The Self” by George H. Mead, pages 339-360 in reader; and “Regulation of the Wishes” by
W.I. Thomas, pages 410-418 in reader
12/4
Topic: Final Exam Review
Assignment: Social Theory Paper #2 due
Week 16
Final Exam is Tuesday, December 9th from 10:30-12:30