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Soc 4013: Independent Study: Sociological Theory |
Unit 1: Domestic and International Capitalism
Exam #1
Unit 2: Division of Labor and Anomie
Exam #2
Unit 3: Bureaucracy and Rationalization
Exam #3
Unit 4: Population, Production, and Evolution
Exam #4
Other Theorists of Note:
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Solicit the main points of the readings and presentations,
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Focus your attention on what is valuable and relevant in the perspectives of each of the theorists,
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Draw comparisons to other readings,
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Elicit your evaluations of the material.
Contact Information:
Dr. Frank Elwell
Office Hours: Daily 8:00 to 11:00
email: felwell@rsu.edu
Office: 202-B Prep Hall
Phone: 918.343.7851
Required Texts:
Elwell, Frank W. 2006. Macrosociology: Four Modern Theorists. Colorado:
Paradigm Publishing.*
Elwell, Frank W. 2009. Macrosociology: The Study of Sociocultural Systems. The Edwin Mellen Press.
Recommended:
Great Social Theorists. This link will take you to the main page of a site devoted to all of the classical social theorists (and more) covered in this class. Areas on these web pages contain short biographies, recommended readings, reviews, and notes on many of their major works, and other materials you may find useful in mastering the material in this course.
In the Classical Tradition: Modern Social Theorists, Critics & Prophets. This link will take you to the main page of a site devoted to contemporary social theorists. Areas on these web pages contain links to short biographies, recommended reading, reviews, and notes on many of their major works.
Important Notice:
E-mail communications with students will only be through the RSU student
e-mail system. Students are responsible for checking their RSU student
accounts on a regular basis. To set up your account click on the following
link:
RSU Student E-Mail Account.
All Students are required to read, sign, and return the following student contract.
Catalog Description:
A study of the great classical tradition
in sociological theory and the expression of this tradition in contemporary
theory. The course will include (but not be limited to) such theorists
as Weber, Marx, Durkheim, and Spencer. Prerequisites: twelve hours of social
science credit. This course is a requirement in the Sociology
Option of the Bachelor of Science in Social Science, as well as a required
course for a
Sociology Minor. The course can also be used elective credit in any of the
BSSS Social Science Options, the BALA Liberal Arts Electives Option taken in
lieu of a minor, or for
straight elective credit in any program.
Course Outline:
We
will study the theorists named in the column on the left. Each name is a link to a Study Guide on
that theorist which connects to study questions, required and recommended
readings, links to websites, presentations on selected theorists, and other
material useful in mastering the material.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Rogers State University is committed to providing students
with disabilities equal access to educational programs and services.
Any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require
some form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such
need during or immediately following the first class attended. Before
any educational accommodation can be provided, it is the responsibility
of each student to prove eligibility for assistance by registering for
services through Student Affairs.
Students needing more information about Student Disability Services should contact the Office of Student Development at 343-7707.
Course Organization:
The course is organized
around the macro theory of four classical theorists: Karl Marx,
Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and T. Robert Malthus--each of whom represents a distinct classical
tradition.
We will first examine the ideas of a classical theorist in some
detail, we will then turn to the theory of two or three modern theorists writing
within that tradition. By taking
this approach the course
is intended to
provide students with a comprehensive treatment of a range of classical theories as well
as the usefulness of these theories in understanding the contemporary world.
The written questions on each theorist are questions that are designed to do the following:
The questions are to help you prepare for the examinations. Please note: the exam questions will be drawn from the Study Guides. You will do well to answer the questions fully and completely as each of the theorists are covered and save your answers in your notes. The tests will therefore be a cross between a take-home and an in class exam. Each test will consist of a sampling of essay questions off the study guides. The best grades will go to those who have fully prepared before the day of the exam.
Course Objectives:
|
Course Goals |
Program Goals Supported in B.S. in Social Science |
How Evaluated |
| Familiarity with classical social theory perspectives relating the various parts of the sociocultural system to one another and to the whole. | To develop a level of competence in the core disciplines of the social sciences to allow for further inquiry and study. | Essay exams, and class discussions. |
| The ability to apply sociocultural theory in understanding and explaining sociocultural system stability and change, in both historical and contemporary society. | To prepare students to function successfully in a society that is heading toward globalization and becoming more culturally diverse | Essay exams, and class discussions. |
| An understanding of the historical/comparative method as the basis of sociological/anthropological science. | To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences. | Essay exams, and class discussions. |
| Demonstrate the ability for inductive and deductive reasoning, that is reasoning from the specific to a general perspective as well as from a general perspective to a specific case. | To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences. | Essay exams, and class discussions. |
Course Calendar:
| Units: | Exam: | Class Day: |
| Introduction, Marx, Braverman, Wallerstein\Foster | Exam #1 | Wednesday, September 23rd |
| Durkheim, Merton, Nisbet\Postman | Exam #2 | Wednesday, October 14th |
| Weber, Mills, Ritzer\Elias | Exam #3 | Wednesday, November 4th |
| Malthus, Harris, Lenski\Sanderson | Exam #4 | Wednesday, December 2nd |
| Comprehensive Final Exam | Exam #5 | Wednesday, December 9th |
Students should have the indicated units completed by the examination dates. Completion of the unit means doing all required reading and fully answering the study questions. When completed fully, these study questions will provide you with an excellent study guide for the exams. Extra credit units are in red; students wishing to earn up to 8 points on their final grade should be prepared to answer bonus questions from these units. Study guides for the extra credit units appear in the left hand column of your screen, at the very bottom of that column.
For their examination, students will be given one random study question (essay format) from each unit covered. To do well students must prepare their answers to all the study questions beforehand and be prepared to answer a sample of these questions for their exam. Do not be complacent about preparing for the exams. The better grades will go to those who fully prepare.
Exams will be given at 5:15 on the days indicated in Prep 202 A (Dean's Conference Room) unless other arrangements have been made. Make-up exams will only be given with a valid and documented excuse, and then only during Finals Week.
Grading:
There will be five examinations in this
class, four unit exams and one comprehensive final, each worth 100 points. The first unit test will consist of a sample
of essays (one from each theorist) and cover the first unit (see
theorists listed on the left). The second unit exam will cover the next group, and so forth.
The comprehensive final will be of the same format, selecting one essay
question per unit. All exams are a cross between a take-home and an in-class essay exam and
will be graded accordingly. You must do more than simply answer the
questions, you must demonstrate to me that you have actively read and
mastered the material..
All exams and written assignments are graded in accordance with the standards explained on the Grading Page.
Attendance Policy:
It is important that you attend both physically
and mentally. Studying the texts and
the lecture/ presentations are key. Inappropriate classroom behavior will cause
you to be dismissed from the class.
Make-up exams will be administered immediately after the scheduled final exam.
Academic Integrity:
By signing your name to a
test or paper you are indicating that the work is yours and yours alone. Any
academic cheating will result in failure of the course. "Plagiarism is the
representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own, including:
direct quotation without both attribution and indication that the material
is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without
attribution; paraphrase with or without attribution where the wording of the
original remains substantially intact and is represented as the author’s
own; expression in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas,
arguments, lines of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the
intellect where such material is learned from the work of another and is not
part of the general fund of common knowledge" (Office of Academic Affairs,
Rogers State University).
Features | Syllabus | Theorists
Updated Continuously
İFrank Elwell Send comments to felwell at rsu.edu
* Any royalties earned from the sale of this book at
the Rogers State University Bookstore will be donated to
the RSU Foundation to be used to strengthen the Liberal Arts.