CSUN -- SOC 368&368S: SPRING 2010 (Ticket #s: 12195 and 12196/12197)

Saturday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM SH 203

INSTRUCTOR: STAVROS N. KARAGEORGIS

OFFICE: SN 107: OFFICE HOURS: MW 3:00 – 4:30 PM and by appointment.

PHONE: (818) 677-3591 (leave a message)

Instructor E-mail: stavros.karageorgis@csun.edu

(Available online: http://www.csun.edu/~snk1966/368SYLS0.htm )

 

                      CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

 

 

The substantive goal of this course (Lecture and Seminar) is to familiarize you with the works of the founders of the major theoretical perspectives used by contemporary sociologists, to alert you to the enabling and constraining effects of theory(ies) to research and practice, to make you a 'shrewd and informed consumer' of (lay and professional) sociological theoretical and empirical work, and a self-conscious user of theory for research and practice.

 

This course will also allow you to develop and demonstrate your analytical reading and writing skills.

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

 

1. Class attendance and constructive class participation

2. Careful study of the assigned readings.

3. Timely completion of written assignments 

 

 

Required Text:

 

Laura Desford Eddles and Scott Applerouth, Sociological Theory in the Classical Era: Text and Readings, Edition 2, Pine Forge Press, Thousand Oaks CA: 2010 ISBN: 9781412975643 (hereafter: STCE) available at the Matador College Bookstore AND ON 2 HOUR RESERVE AT THE OVIATT LIBRARY.

 

IMPORTANT DATES

 

 

Feb 6                         : LAST DAY TO DROP CLASS

Feb 20                      : Exam 1 DUE; CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 1 Assignment

Mar 6                         : Exam 2 DUE; CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 2 Assignment

Apr 3                         : Exam 3 DUE; CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 3 Assignment

May 15                      : Exam 4 DUE  CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 4 Assignment


EVALUATION:

 

Grading will follow the scheme:

 

Class Participation              :           up to 200 points

Exam 1          (3-5 pages)  :           up to 200 points

Exam 2          (3-5 pages)  :           up to 200 points

Exam 3          (3-5 pages)  :           up to 200 points

Exam 4          (3-5 pages)  :           up to 200 points

_______________________________________________

Total                                      :           up to 1000 points

 

 

I will assign final letter grades according to the following scheme:

 

925 to 1000  = A

895 to 924     = A-

875 to 894     = B+

825 to 874     = B

795 to 824     = B-

775 to 794     = C+

725 to 774     = C

695 to 724     = C-

675 to 694     = D+

625 to 674     = D

595 to 624     = D-

0     to 594    = F

 

Late papers/exams will only be accepted provided you have received prior permission at least 24 hours BEFORE the due date. NOTE: In the interest of equity, late papers/exams will be penalized.

 

GENERAL REMARKS:

 

You should treat the exams as essay assignments, as they will be evaluated as such. Thus, pay attention to argument structure and flow, proper 'use of English', substantiation of points or claims made and proper attribution/references.

 

The class participation component of your grade will depend on the quantity and quality of your contribution to class discussion and possible ad hoc in-class assignments.

 

NOTE: I will NOT tolerate academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarizing, etc). The minimum penalty for confirmed academic dishonesty will be a grade of ZERO for the assignment in question. Egregious or repeated offenses may result in a grade of F for the class and University disciplinary action referral.


COURSE OUTLINE (Dates and assignments subject to revision; definitive assignments available weekly IN CLASS; consult the online syllabus often)

 

Jan 23 - Jan 30 (meet at 9:45 am in SH 203)

 

Modernity, Social Theory and Sociology

 

1. STCE, Chapter 1 (Introduction)

2. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/ENLCONT.HTM

(Begin here and read through items as necessary to familiarize yourself with the intellectual/cultural, social and economic background of classical social/sociological theory and sociology)

 

Feb 6 - Feb 13 (meet at 9:45 am in SH 203)

 

K. Marx and F. Engels

 

1. STCE, Chapter 2 (Karl Marx)

2. ONLINE: Karl Marx: Preface to 'A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy'

 

Additional online resources:

2. http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/index.htm (online source for Marx and Engels’ writings)

3. http://www.marxists.org/archive/index.htm (searchable library of Marx and Marxist writers)

 

***** Exam 1 DUE FEB 20 CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 1 Assignment *****

 

Feb 20- Feb 27

 

E. Durkheim

 

1. STCE: Chapter 3 (Emile Durkheim)

 

***** Exam 2 DUE MAR 6 CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 2 Assignment *****

 

Mar 6 – Mar 13

 

M. Weber

 

1. STCE: Chapter 4 (Max Weber)

Additional Online Resources:

2. http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/Theorists/Weber/Whome.htm

 


Mar 20 – Mar 27

 

G. Simmel

 

1. STCE: Chapter 6 (Georg Simmel)

***** Exam 3 DUE APR 3 CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 3 Assignment *****

Apr 3

 

C. Perkins Gilman

 

1. STCE: Chapter 5 (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)

 

***** APR 5 – 10 SPRING RECESS *******

 

Apr 17 – Apr 24

 

G.H. Mead

 

1. STCE: Chapter 8 (George Herbert Mead)

 

 

May 1 – May 8

 

W.E.B. Du Bois

 

1. STCE: Chapter 7 (W.E.B. Du Bois)

 

***** Exam 4 DUE MAY 15 CLICK HERE FOR: Exam 4 Assignment *****