Sociology 357: Modern Sociological Theory
Professor William Gibson
Office: Psychology 136
jwgibson@csulb.edu
Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:00 p.m., 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Spring, 2009
Phone: 985-4606
Modern Sociological Theory provides students introductions to
important topics in European and American social theory from WW II to
the present. The course will concentrate on understanding five books as
examples of modern theory. Through these readings students will be
introduced to functionalism, conflict theory and neo-Marxism, modern
Weberian theory, post-structuralism, feminist social theory, and a theory
of reflexive modernization. By concentrating on several thinkers rather
than the entire spectrum of contemporary thought, students will have
opportunities to better understand how theorists build their arguments
and tie their ideas to empirical evidence.
Course Requirements
Attendance:
You are required to attend class regularly and participate by
asking and answering questions. Roll will be taken each class session. . You
are responsible for getting notes on the class lecture and discussion questions
from another student. I actually expect you to attend class. Simply emailing
me and notifying me that you will not be attending does not serve as a
substitute for participating in class.
Class Format: I will begin each class with a lecture, providing historical
backgrounds to the theoretical readings and help in framing the important
issues. We will then take a break. After the break we will have a seminar
format discussion of the week’s reading assignment. Students who leave after
the break will be counted as absent, even if roll already has been called.
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Reading Assignments: You are required to read from 40 to 100 pages each
week. You should read the assignment before the class meets to discuss it.
These are not easy books; be prepared to read the material more than once.
We have class discussions to increase our understanding of what we have
already read--not replace reading with listening. You should take notes on
each chapter and the class discussion to clarify your understanding. If you get
more than one week behind in completing the reading assignments it will be
difficult to catch up.
Class Presentations: Each week one to three students will have the
responsibility of leading class discussions of the reading assignment. This
means that the students will meet before class and create questions about the
theories we are studying that evening. For a short 20- page chapter, four
questions might well be enough, while for a longer 40- page chapter more
questions would be appropriate. Ideally, the leaders will type up their
questions and make copies for the class. The discussion leaders are expected
to ask broad questions addressing major themes in each chapter. Discussion
leaders are also advised to come with questions that help students compare
different theoretical approaches. The discussion leaders are expected to ask
the class questions--not answer them. The objective is to stimulate discussion.
Discussion leaders, if they so choose, can decide to have the class divide into
small groups. Each small group would then be responsible for answering
several discussion questions.
Leading a class discussion and participating regularly in class discussions
counts as part of your grade. If you fail to lead a class discussion, you can
lose a full letter off your final grade. Conversely, good work in leading class
discussions and regular participation in discussions can lead to significant
extra credit for your final grade. If you do a satisfactory job on your
discussion questions, but don’t talk much in class, then you will receive a
neutral grade, meaning your participation neither helps nor hurts your grade.
I can tell the difference between groups who have met and discussed the
chapter thoroughly before developing their questions and those groups who
simply meet five minutes before class. Good groups have discussed all the
readings for that night and created questions that help people gain a critical
perspective. On the other hand, poorly prepared groups divide up the readings
and ask narrow, boring questions such as “What does the author say on page
x?”
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It is possible to fail this assignment. Your sister and fellow students deserve to
have good discussion leaders to help them understand the ideas in the books.
In return, students are expected to play the game and do their best to answer
the questions or ask their own questions.
Three midterm essay examinations: There will be three examinations. The
first two will be take-home essay exams, requiring you to write about six
typed pages for each exam. Your papers should have one-inch margins, be
double-spaced, typed in a 12-14 font, and have page numbers. You are
required to write grammatically correct sentences and organize your thoughts
into coherent, focused paragraphs.
The first exam will cover the first two books and associated lectures. The
second exam will cover the third and fourth books and associated lectures.
The third exam, an in-class essay, will cover the fifth book and associated
lectures. Each exam will ask two or three major questions, with each major
question having several smaller components.
You are required to remember the names of the theorists and the main
arguments in each reading assignment and each lecture. Each exam is worth
one-third of your final grade.
I reserve the right to revise this grading format and include pop quizzes on the
reading assignments worth from10 to 20 percent of your final grade if it
appears that many students are not doing the reading assignments before class.
Make-up exams are given only to students who are sick or have serious family
problems. Please notify your employer of your exam schedule early in the
semester.
Calendar for Reading Assignments, Class Presentations, and Exams
Please note the due dates for take-home exams on your personal calendar
so that you do not inadvertently schedule business or personal trips on
those dates. The reading assignment listed each week is due that evening.
Week 1
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W, January 28
Introduction to the course
The Enlightenment, Industrial Capitalism and the
Development of Classical Theory
Readings for next week: Robert K. Merton, On Theoretical Sociology, pp.
39-72
Week 2
W, February 4 The influences of 19th Century Biology and
Colonialism on the Development of Functionalist
Theory in Anthropology.
Discussion:
Gibson will lead the class discussion
Week 3
W, February 11 The influence of World War II on Social Theory
Readings: Merton, pp. 73-91, pp. 114-136.
Discussion leaders: #1
#2
#3
Discussion leaders: #4
#5
#6
Week 4
W, February 18 C. Wright Mills and The Power Elite as Critique
of American Society, Functionalism, and Pluralist
Theory
Reading: G. William Domhoff, Who Rules America? (6th Edition) Chapters 13.
Discussion leaders #7
#8
#9
Week 5
W, February 25
Protest Movements of the 1960s-1970s and the
Rise of Conflict Theories
Reading: Domhoff, Chapters 4-5
Discussion leaders: #10
#11
#12
RECEIVE FIRST TAKE-HOME EXAMINATION
W, March 4
Week 6
Introduction to Weber’s Theory of Rationalization
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FIRST TAKE HOME EXAMINATION DUE
Week 7
W, March 11
Advertising, consumer culture, and rationalization
Readings: Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation. Chapters 1-4
Discussion leaders: #13
#14
#15
Week 8
W, March 18
Critical theory and alternatives to consumer culture
Readings: Schlosser, Chapters 5-9.
Discussion leaders: #16
#17
#18
Week 9
W, March 25
Introduction to Foucault and his work
Readings: Foucault, Discipline and Punish “Part I, Torture,” pp. 1-72
Discussion leaders: #19
#20
#21
Week 10
W, April 8 Foucault and the Rationalization of Punishment
Readings: Foucault, “Part III, Docile bodies and the means of correct
training, pp. 135-194.”
Discussion leaders: #22
#23
#24
Review of Schlosser and Foucault
RECEIVE SECOND TAKE-HOME EXAM
Week 11
W, April 15
Introduction to Environmental Social Theory
SECOND TAKE HOME EXAMINATION DUE
W, April 22
Week 12
Film on the Environmental Movement
Discussion of Its Relevance to Social Theory
Week 13
W, April 29
Introduction to Beck and his theory of reflexive
modernization
Readings: Ulrich Beck, Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity, pp.19-50.
Discussion leaders: #25
#26
#27
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Week 14
W, May 6
Beck’s critique of science’s relationship with
Industry and government.
Readings: Beck, pp. 51-84.
Discussion leaders: #28
#29
#30
Week 15
W, May 13
Review of Beck
The third exam will be in held in class during finals week.
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