SOC 305: Introduction to Sociological Theory
University of Michigan
Spring 2006
Instructor:
E-mail:
Office:
Sadia Saeed
sadia@umich.edu
GSI offices
500 S. State Street
LSA Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382
Office Hours:
Wednesdays & Thursdays,
2-3 p.m. or by appointment
Class timings: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., 1401 MH
Course Description
Modern sociology was born in the 19th c. as a way to make sense of the major transformations that
were taking place in Western Europe at the time, such as the advance of capitalism, new forms of
colonialism, changing gender relations and so forth. Classical sociological theorists such as Karl
Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim were interested in developing concepts and methods that
would uncover the complexities of this new age. They studied how these new social forces impacted
and shaped individual behavior, and the theories thus arrived at continue to provide answers to the
social problems faced in contemporary societies. This course examines the theoretical contributions
of the classical sociologists who contributed to the founding and development of modern sociology.
Each one of these thinkers developed theories about the transition to ‘modern capitalism’ from
earlier social systems and predicted how society would fare with the development of this new
system. The second half delves into more contemporary sociology and examines how contemporary
theorists have approaches several core concepts in sociology. These include sociology of race, class
and gender inequality, culture, relationship between individual and society, and the global system we
live in today.
Course Requirements
The requirements for this course include: (i) two response papers, 3 double-spaced pages each, on
any two topics of interest, one before and one after the mid-semester (i.e. May 24); (ii) a group
presentation that raises 2-3 critical discussion questions/points for that class’s readings; (iii) class
attendance and participation; (iv) six surprise quizzes during the course of the semester on the
previous 2 classes and the readings for that class; and (v) two take home tests.
Class participation may include additional reading and other assignments, depending upon the
progress being made in class. I will be happy to accommodate any ideas you may have in
bringing about more productive discussions!
The grade breakdown is as follows:
2 response papers: 20% (10% each)
2 tests: 40% (20% each)
1 class discussion: 10%
Class attendance and participation: 15%
Six surprise quizzes: 15% (3% each. The lowest scoring quiz will be dropped.)
The primary text for the class is Readings in Social Theory: the Classical Tradition to Postmodernism, edited
by James Farganis. The remainder of the readings will be in a course pack. Below, TB=text book
and CP=course pack. The text book is available at Shamun Drum on State Street and the course
pack is available at Dollar Bill on Church Street.
As the course proceeds, I may modify the readings depending on students’ specific interests. In
that instance, I will provide the new readings to the students two weeks before the class for which
readings were modified.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1
May 2: Introduction
No reading
May 3: What is Sociology?
C.W. Mills. “The Promise of Sociology.” [CP] Peter L.
Burger. “Invitation to Sociology.” [CP]
Peter L. Burger and Thomas Luckmann. “The Social Construction of Reality.” [CP]
May 4: August Comte: Founding Father
Auguste Comte. “View of the Nature an Importance of the Positive Philosophy.” [CP] Auguste
Comte. “Social Dynamics; or Theory of the Natural Progress of Humanity.” [CP]
WEEK 2
May 9: Karl Marx: Political Economy & Historical Materialism
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. “The Manifesto of the Communist Party.” [TB] Karl
Marx. “Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844.” [TB]
May 10: Karl Marx: Political Economy & Historical Materialism (contd.)
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. “The German Ideology.” [TB]
Karl Marx, “The Fetishism of Commodities and the Secret Thereof.” [TB]
May 11: Max Weber: Spirit of Capitalism, Culture, and Bureaucracy
Max Weber. “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.” [TB] Max
Weber. “Bureaucracy.” [TB]
WEEK 3
May 16: Max Weber: Spirit of Capitalism, Culture, and Bureaucracy (contd.)
Max Weber. “Objectivity in Social Science and Social Policy.” [TB]
Max Weber. “Class, Status, and Party.” [TB]
May 17 : Emile Durkheim: Religious Life, Division of Labor, and Suicide Emile Durkheim.
“Egoistic Suicide and Anomic Suicide.” [TB]
Emile Durkheim. “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life.” [TB]
May 18: George Simmel: Individual and Society
Georg Simmel. “The Metropolis and Mental Life.” [CP]
Georg Simmel. “The Stranger.” [CP]
WEEK 4
May 23: Functionalism
Davis and Moore, “Some Principles of Stratification.” [TB]
T. Parsons, “Age and Sex in the Social Structure of the United States.” [TB]
Robert Merton, “Manifest and Latent Functions.” [TB]
May 24: Conflict Theory
Tumin, M. “Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis.” [CP]
Davis, Kingsley. “Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis: Reply.” [CP] Ralf
Dahrendorf, “Social Structure, Group Interests, and Conflict Groups.” [TB]
C. Wright Mills, “The Structure of Power in America.” [TB]
May 25: Test 1
Readings: None
There will be a review session in class.
WEEK 5
May 30: Social Interaction
Herbert Blumer. Symbolic Interactionism [CP]
Erving Goffman. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. [CP]
May 31: Individual and Society: Agency and Structure
Dennis H. Wrong. “The Over socialized Conception of Man in Modern Sociology.” [CP] William
H. Sewell, Jr. “A Theory of Structure: Duality, Agency, and Transformation”. [CP]
June 1: Cultural Sociology
Ann Swidler. “Culture in Action”. [CP]
Jeffrey C. Alexander and Philip Smith. “The Discourse of American Civil Society: A new
Proposal for Cultural Studies”. [CP]
WEEK 6
June 6: W.E.B.Du Bois & The Sociology of Race
W.E.B. Du Bois. “The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study.” [TB]
W.E.B. Du Bois. “The Souls of Black Folk.” [TB]
Michael Omi and Howard Winant. “Racial Formation in the United States.” [CP]
Read any three of the following five (all in CP):
Robert Jensen. “White Privilege Shapes the U.S.”
Mary C. Waters. “Optional Ethnicities: For Whites Only?”
Ellis Cose. “A Dozen Demons.”
Kathryn M. Neckerman and Joleen Kirschenman. “ ‘We’d Love to Hire Them but…’: The Meaning
of Race for Employers”
Mary Crow Dog and Richard Erdoes. “Civilize Them with a Stick.”
June 7: Class & Inequality
Bourdieu, Pierre. “What Makes a Social Class? On the Theoretical and Practical Existence of
Groups.” [CP]
Read any three of the following five (all in CP):
Annie Downey. “I am Your Welfare Reform.”
Barbara Ehrenreich. “Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America.”
Alejandro Reuss. “Cause of Death: Inequality.”
Gregory Mantsios. “Media Magic: Making Class Invisible.”
Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele. “Corporate Welfare.”
June 8: Gender and Feminist Theory
Dorothy Smith. Women’s Experience as a Radical Critique of Sociology.” [TB]
Read any three of the following five (all in CP):
Myra Sadker & David Sadker. “Missing in Interaction.”
Boswell, A. Ayres & Joan Z. Spade. “Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why are Some
Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women?”
Ann Fausto-Sterling. “The Five-Sexes: Why Male and Female Are Not Enough.”
Carmen Vazquez. “Appearances.”
S. Pharr. “Homophobia as a Weapon of Sexism.”
WEEK 7
June 13: World-Systems Theory & Global Inequality
Wallerstein, Immanuel. “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System: Concepts for
Comparative Analysis”. [CP]
Frank, A. G. “The Development of Underdevelopment”. [CP]
June 14: Postmodernism & Postcolonialism
Michel Foucault, “The Carceral.” [TB]
Said, Edward. Orientalism. [CP]
June 15: Test 2 & Conclusions
Readings: None
There will be a review session in class.