gw1

Thursday, 12-14, 6.85

(1) REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Anthony Giddens: Sociology, 3rd edn (Cambridge, Polity Press, 1997)
2. Anthony Giddens (ed):
Sociology: Introductory Readings, 2nd edn (Cambridge, Polity Press, 1997)
3. A few other texts (marked by an asterisk) is available online on my homepage.

(2) COURSE OBJECTIVES
Sociology cultivates several perspectives of society in which nothing is taken for granted or assumed as “natural”. All aspects of social life, even the most mundane activities and experiences, are subjected to detached critical analysis.The purpose of this course is to introduce you to theoretical approaches of sociology and to develop your sociological imagination.
There are three learning goals for this course:

1. The study of sociology should help you comprehend the social and cultural aspects of our behavior and institutions.
2. The use of the sociological perspective makes you conscious of the fact that your culture and society is but one of several possibilities. You can understand your own culture and practices better by studying other cultures and societies with different practices.

3. Sociological knowledge can make you aware of the change and development that we are witnessing today.


(3) CLASS POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Throughout the semester, you will take part in a weekly discussion group. Though your participation in class will have little direct bearing on your course grade, you are expected to participate fully in all class activities. Ask questions and share your ideas and observations. Remember this is your class.
You are expected to attend regularly. In case of absence you are responsible for material covered, announcements made concerning any changes in course outline, schedule, etc. Disruptive behavior (personal conversation, newspaper reading, arriving late, leaving early, use of cell phones, etc.) distracts the instructor and other students and will not be tolerated. Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable.



(4) REQUIRED READING, WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND FINAL EXAMS
Asking good questions and presenting good explanations is what science is all about. Before each class, you must read carefully the assigned text, think about it and then
choose one of the following writing tasks: A) say something interesting about the text and try to persuade me that what you say is true; or B) ask a good question about the text and explain me why your question is important and interesting. Write it down (in fact, you may find it easier to think while you are writing), and if it sounds good, send me as a half page Word attachment the day before the class.
You have to write ten such thesis or question during the semester. I will use them in the class discussions and in computing your final grade: they add up to 50 % of your final grade.
The other 50 % comes from the 30 minutes final exam, written at the end of the semester, when you have to write 3 mini-essays. Each mini-essay is a short abstract of a subchapter of the textbook or of a reading.

(5) Topics andf Readings:
First semester
Second semester