1 Classical Sociological Theory Sociology 475 Fall 2010 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 2:25 – 3:15 PM 6240 Sewell Social Sciences Building Gregory T. Kordsmeier Office: 3449 Sewell Social Sciences Building Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00-2:00 PM or by appointment. Course Description and Goals This course is designed to introduce you to some of the main works of thinkers who are now considered classical sociological theorists: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), Karl Marx (1818-1883), Max Weber (1864-1920), Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), and Georg Simmel (1858-1918). So, what do five dead white guys writing about life in Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century America and Europe have to do with you? There are a number of reasons to study these works, but in this class we will focus on two of them. First, these authors were writing at the beginning of the modern world and they wrote in response to the rapid changes that were taking place. Throughout the course, the readings will focus on many of the same aspects of modernity that intrigue and puzzle us today. Second, and even more importantly, these are some of the first thinkers to really struggle with just what it means to think about and try to explain the nature of society in a scientific way. Understanding their theoretical frameworks will allow you to better analyze the arguments that others make about society today. There are three major goals that I have for you in this course. First, I want you to understand these writers on their own terms, reading them critically and analyzing just how useful their arguments seem. Second, I want you to understand the methods that these authors use to construct their arguments, again reading them critically. Third, I want you to develop your critical thinking skills, particularly by being able to apply the theoretical ideas and arguments to other contexts and situations, including contemporary social issues. Course Requirements In order to succeed in this class, there are three things that you must do: 1) Attend class regularly. 2) Do all assigned readings before the day that they are listed on the syllabus. AND 3) Complete all assignments on time.2 Texts and Materials The required texts for this course are: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America Laura Desfor Edles and Scott Appelrouth, editors, Sociological Theory in the Classical Era, Edition 2 These books are available at the University Book Store. There is also a short reader available at the Social Science Copy Center. You will also need paper or note cards in the 3x5 size. This is the smallest size note card, and is also a standard size note pad. You will need about 45 of these for the course (one for each day of class). You may also make them yourself, or reuse cards that have been written on one side. Requirements and Grading 10% Attendance and Daily Reactions 10% Weekly Questions/Comments 15% First Exam 20% Second Exam 20% Thirds Exam 25% Final Paper Attendance and Daily Reactions Attendance will be recorded every day. You will do so by filling out an index card to be turned in at the end of class with any questions and/or comments you have on the day‟s lecture. For grading purposes, you are allowed two absences. Any subsequent absences will affect your grade. Please note that these two absences include things such as minor illnesses and job interviews, so use your absences wisely. If you are absent, remember that it is your responsibility to make sure that you have the relevant notes and handouts. At the end of each class, submit on a 3x5 card your name, the date, and at least one sentence of reaction to that day's class, indicating what you learned, or something you liked or did not like, found interesting or controversial, found clear or too simplistic, or found confusing and in need of further (or better) explanation; you may also submit comments on the course in general. You can submit a reaction only if you were actually in class. You cannot make up a reaction, but tell me (in writing) if you are forced to miss several classes due to illness or another problem, and I will make an appropriate adjustment. Reactions are counted but not graded; if you do it you get credit. If you do 93% or more of the cards, you will receive an A for that portion of your grade; if you do 59% or less, you will receive an F; totals between these extremes will receive intermediate grades. I read these after each class, but do not normally return them or comment on them.3 Weekly Questions/Comments Each week, you will be responsible for engaging in the readings critically by answering a question or making a comment that is substantively relevant to the readings on the course website on Learn@UW. They are intended to stimulate critical thinking and discussion both online and in the classroom. They will be ungraded; you either get credit for doing it, or you don‟t (nevertheless, I retain the right to judge comments and questions as being not substantively relevant to the readings, and therefore not deserving of credit). Each question or comment should be based on something from the readings, and in response to some other post in the forum. There will be three to five topics/questions used to stimulate your thinking, including “Connections” – an opportunity to write about connections you see between the readings and something from your personal experiences and/or current events. A question or comment will be required for 9 of the 13 weeks before the third exam. You do NOT have to turn in comments this week (Week 1), Weeks 5 or 9 when you have exams, and you get one additional free week of your choice. The question or comment should be posted online by the Thursday of that week (due by midnight). This will give me time to read them over before class on Friday. Here‟s how to post your questions/comments: 1. Go to https://learnuw.wisc.edu/ 2. Log in with your UW net ID and password. 3. Click on the link to the “soc475” class under the “Fall „10” heading. 4. Click on “Discussion” in the top left corner. 5.