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SOC 221: Classical Sociological Theory
Hunter College
Spring, 2014
M/W 5:35-6:50
Hunter West 404
Linda Catalano, Ph.D., Instructor
lc720@hunter.cuny.edu
Course Description
This undergraduate course introduces students to core works in classical and modern
sociological theory. Beginning with sociology’s “Big Three,” Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, it
traces the intellectual history of sociology as a discipline and examines the central concepts and
analytic frameworks that sociologists have developed to understand and explain the social
world. As we review a range of approaches to fundamental sociological concerns such as power,
inequality, authority and identity, we assess how well the Western founders of sociology
illuminate contemporary social problems in a global context.
This course demands active engagement with abstract concepts and requires in-depth and
careful reading of original texts – typically, multiple texts per class. It is therefore imperative that
you complete assigned readings in advance of class. Doing so will vastly increase your
comprehension of lectures and enable you to make sense of the ideas presented.
Course Objectives

To gain competence in the technical vocabulary of sociological theory

To analyze the major classical and modern theoretical traditions – to uncover their basic
assumptions, key concepts, and main arguments

To apply key concepts and frameworks to everyday life and current and past social
problems

To gain an understanding of theory as the basis of sociological inquiry
Course Materials
The following required and recommended texts are available at Shakespeare & Co. on
Lexington & 68th:
Required

Robert C. Tucker, Editor, The Marx-Engels Reader, Second Edition. W.W. Norton 1978.

Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (P. Baehr & G. Wells, Eds.),
Penguin Books 2002.

Emile Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society (Intro. by Lewis Coser), Free Press 1984.

Emile Durkheim, Suicide (G. Simpson, Ed.), Free Press 1951.

W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, Tribeca Books.
Recommended

Emile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, Free Press.
Any course content not included in the required texts will be available for download through
Blackboard. Please obtain the correct editions of the books if you’re purchasing them
independently. It will save you much grief!
A further note about the readings: They were all written by political and social theorists in the
mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Most are translations. This means that, although the selections
from them that we’ll be reading are fairly short, they are dense and written in a style that will
seem foreign to you. They will therefore require some effort to make sense of, especially at first.
Please be patient and give them enough time to get through. We will discuss strategies for
making your reading time more productive, which, if dutifully applied, will help.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that these texts are meant to be grappled with. None of the
authors is telling a straightforward truth about the way things are. They highlight some things
and gloss over others. They proceed on the basis of assumptions and preconceptions about
what holds societies together, the nature of human-kind, and the causes of social change
(among others). As with literary “classics,” these texts are read again and again, even by
accomplished scholars. Therefore:

Don’t expect to understand everything the first time around

Read actively – take notes, highlight key passages, and identify central arguments
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
Keep in mind when something was written, and when and where the author lived and
worked, and what his or her purpose for writing the text was
Course Website
Please familiarize yourselves with the course website, which is on Blackboard. It is where you
will find weekly assignments, the reading schedule, select readings, this syllabus, and
supplementary materials. I will also post announcements and grades there.
Course Requirements
Assignments
This course is relatively structured. This is to keep you moving through the material at a steady
pace. The theories build on each other in different ways so it will be critical that you complete
the readings as they are assigned. To support you in this, and to assist your comprehension of
the readings, I have created a series of reading guides. These take the form of worksheets that
focus on key concepts and main arguments. They are to be completed in advance of class. They
will be available through Blackboard (Bb) and must be submitted through Blackboard. There will
be approximately 13 guides in all, or approximately one per class session or group of readings,
of which you are to complete 10. They are worth 5 points each for a total of 50 points.
The reading guides are complemented by a series of reading responses that are to be
completed and submitted through Bb within 48 hours after class. This assignment is less
structured than the reading guides: I may provide you with a broad question to answer, or I
may leave the content entirely up to you. The idea is to practice using theory, so the
requirement is to apply what you have learned in class to an empirical (real-life) case. Therefore,
you may respond to any of the readings covered that week in class, but only to those readings.
Responses to earlier readings will not be accepted. Reading responses are worth 5 points each
for a total 50 points.
There will also be an online participation component to the course, consisting of 3 longer
reading responses posted to a discussion board, and 3 replies to your classmates’ posts. I will
provide you with guidelines and a schedule of due dates for these.
All due dates and times are firm. There are enough reading guide and reading response
assignments for you to miss a few without falling behind. Use this wiggle room judiciously for
times when it really is impossible or extremely difficult for you to get the assignment done.
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Requests for extensions or make-up work will not be granted. You are responsible for keeping
track of the number of assignments you have completed toward the requirement (though I will
provide you with a running total as I have it on Bb).
Exams
There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. Both exams will consist in concept identification
and short essays. The concept identification component of the final exam is not cumulative but
the essay component is. Make-up exams will only be given to students with documented
health- or family-related emergencies.
Class Participation and Classroom Etiquette
Students are expected to arrive to class on-time and to stay for the entire class. If you have to
leave class early for any reason, you must inform me of this prior to the start of class. If you
miss more than half of any given class you will be marked absent. You are allowed 3 absences.
Absences in excess of 3 will negatively affect your grade. I appreciate being informed of
anticipated absences at least two hours prior to class and unanticipated absences within 24
hours after class. You are responsible for all class content missed on account of being absent.
In-class work (quizzes, exercises) cannot be made up.
attendance |əˈtendəns|
noun
the action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event : my
attendance at class was very consistent.
• the number of people present at a particular event, function, or meeting : reports
placed the attendance at 500,000.
PHRASES
in attendance present at a function or a place. • accompanying a member of royalty or
the aristocracy in the capacity of an assistant or servant.
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French, from atendre ‘give one's attention to’
(see attend ).
A further note on attendance: It means more than just showing up. It means being present and
engaged by listening attentively to lectures, contributing to class discussion*, and asking
*
Here’s a tip for you shy folks: Make yourself talk in class on the first or second day. This is what I used
to do. It works!
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questions if you need more information or don’t understand. To do this you must TURN OFF
CELL PHONES (or set them to vibrate), and PUT LAPTOPS, TABLETS, AND OTHER SUCH DEVICES
AWAY DURING CLASS. No exceptions. Seriously.
Communication
You must provide me with a valid email address through Blackboard, and either consistently
check your QC email if that’s the one you provide, or set your QC email to forward messages to
your primary email address so that I can get in touch with you when I need to, which I will at
points throughout the semester. I will not accept the excuse that you did not receive my
message.
You can reach me by email at lc720(at)hunter.cuny.edu. When emailing, please include the
course number in the subject line. I make every effort to respond to emails within 24 hours of
receiving them. If you don’t receive a reply from me within that time frame, do email me again.
My office hours are [TBD] or by appointment. I’m also happy to speak with you after class.
If at any time during the semester you experience difficulty in meeting the requirements of this
course, please contact me right away. I do not want your performance in this class to be
adversely affected by whatever challenges you may be facing. I’m here to help you succeed but
I can only do so if I’m aware of your situation.
Grading

Midterm exam - 20%

Final exam - 30%

Class participation - 10%

Theory-application posts and replies to others’ posts - 15%

Reading guides and short reading responses - 25%
CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity
Students are bound by the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity. The CUNY Policy on Academic
Integrity ( http://www.cuny.edu/about/info/policies/academic-integrity.pdf), as adopted by the
Board, is available to all students. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in the City University of
New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.
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Definitions and Examples of Academic Dishonesty:
1.1. Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study
aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Examples of cheating include:

Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your
work.

Unauthorized collaboration on a take home assignment or examination.

Using notes during a closed book examination.

Taking an examination for another student, or asking or allowing another student to
take an examination for you.

Changing a graded exam and returning it for more credit.

Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to more than one course without
consulting with each instructor.

Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination.

Allowing others to research and write assigned papers or do assigned projects, including
using commercial term paper services.

Giving assistance to acts of academic misconduct/ dishonesty.

Fabricating data (in whole or in part).

Falsifying data (in whole or in part).

Submitting someone else’s work as your own.

Unauthorized use during an examination of any electronic devices such as cell phones,
computers or other technologies to retrieve or send information.
1.2. Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own.
Examples of plagiarism include:

Copying another person’s actual words or images without the use of quotation marks
and footnotes attributing the words to their source.

Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging
the source.

Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.

Internet plagiarism, including submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term
papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source,
or “cutting & pasting” from various sources without proper attribution.
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1.3. Obtaining Unfair Advantage is any action taken by a student that gives the student an
unfair advantage in academic work over another student, or an action taken by a student
through which a student attempts to gain an unfair advantage in academic work over another
student. Examples of obtaining unfair advantage include:

Stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining advance access to examination
materials.

Depriving other students of access to library materials by stealing, destroying, defacing,
or concealing them.

Retaining, using or circulating examination materials which clearly indicate that they
should be returned at the end of the exam.

Intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s work.
The full policy may be found at CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity.
Use of Student Work
All programs in New York State undergo periodic reviews by accreditation agencies. For these
purposes, samples of student work are occasionally made available to those professionals
conducting the review. Anonymity is assured under these circumstances. If you do not wish to
have your work made available for these purposes, please let the professor know before the
start of the second class. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
In compliance with the ADA and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Hunter College is
committed to ensuring educational access and accommodations for all its registered students.
Hunter College’s students with disabilities and medical conditions are encouraged to register
with the Office of AccessABILITY for assistance and accommodation. For information and
appointment contact the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1214 or call (212) 772-4857
/or TTY (212) 650-3230.
Course Schedule
Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Please refer to the online version frequently
for updates.
7
Mon.
1/27
Intro to course
 Review syllabus
 Intro to sociological theory
 Lesson on close reading
MARX (& ENGELS)
Wed.
The German Ideology (1845-46) PAGE NUMBERS REFER TO MARX-ENGELS READER
1/29
A. Ideology in General, German Ideology in Particular,
o
pp. 149 (start at “The premises”)-155 (stop at 1. History)
Mon.
o
pp. 155 (start at 1. History)-165 (stop at “In the whole conception”)
2/3
o
pp. 172 (start at “The ideas of the ruling class”)-174 (stop at “Once the ruling
ideas”)
 B. The Real Basis of Ideology
o
pp. 178 (start at “In the towns”)-182 (stop at “The intercourse of nations”)
o
pp. 184 (start at “The concentration of trade”)-186 (stop at 2. The Relation…)
o
pp. 192 (start at “Finally”)-193
 C. Communism. The Production of the Form of Intercourse Itself
o
Wed.
197 (start at “It follows)-200
The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844
2/5
 Estranged Labour, pp. 70-81
Mon.
 The Power of Money in Bourgeois Society, pp. 101-105
2/10
Wage Labor and Capital (1847), pp. 203-217
Wed.
Lincoln’s birthday – college is closed
2/12
Mon.
President’s day – college is closed
2/17
THU.*
The Manifesto of the Communist Party (1848), pp. 473-491
2/20
Capital, Vol. 1 (1867)
*
Classes follow Monday schedule
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 Ch. I: Commodities
o Section 1. The Two Factors of a Commodity, pp. 302-314
o Section 4. The Fetishism of Commodities and the Secret Thereof, pp. 319-329
DURKHEIM
Mon.
2/24
Wed.
2/26
Mon.
3/3
The Rules of Sociological Method (1895)
 Ch. 15 in Calhoun et al., pp. 201-219 [PDF] {excerpts}
The Division of Labor in Society (1893)
 Mechanical Solidarity, or Solidarity by Similarities
o
pp. 31-44
o
pp. 60-64
 Solidarity Arising from the Division of Labor, or Organic Solidarity
o
pp. 68-72
o
pp. 72-87
Suicide (1897)
 Ch. 2: Egoistic Suicide, pp. 152-170
Wed.
 Ch. 5: Anomic Suicide
3/5
o
pp. 241-254
Mon.
o
pp. 254-276
3/10
Wed.
3/12
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1912)
 Ch. 1: Definition of Religious Phenomena and of Religion, pp. 51-63
 [Ch. 7: Origins of these Beliefs, pp. 235-245]
Midterm Review
Mon.
3/17
Midterm Exam
WEBER
Wed.
3/19
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
 Part I: The Problem
9
Mon.
o
pp. 1-17
o
pp. 17-36
3/24
Wed.
 Part II: The Idea of the Calling in Ascetic Protestantism
3/26
o
pp. 67-87 (stop at “[Pietism]”)
Mon.
o
pp. 87-122
3/31
Simmel
Wed.
Conflict [PDF]
4/2
Mon.
Sociability [PDF]
4/7
The Stranger [PDF]
{The Poor [PDF]}
Wed.
Fashion [PDF]
4/9
4/144/21
Wed.
Spring break
The Metropolis and Mental Life [PDF]
4/23
Du Bois
Mon.
The Souls of Black Folk, pp. 1-34
4/28
Wed.
The Souls of Black Folk, pp. 34-61
4/30
Mon.
The Souls of Black Folk, pp. 61-114
5/5
Wed.
The Souls of Black Folk, pp. 114-146
10
5/7
Final exam date TBD
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