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