Introduction to Social Analysis: Contemporary Social Theory
| Module title | Introduction to Social Analysis: Contemporary Social Theory |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC1038 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Michael Schillmeier (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 60 |
|---|
Module description
Stuart Scrase will be the lecturer for this module.
In this module you will be introduced to some of the key issues, debates, schools of thought and methods of investigation which have made their way into sociology and cognate social science disciplines since the end of the Second World War. A fairly wide range of forms of social analysis will be covered – such as functionalism, critical theory, social constructionism, race critical theory, feminism – and discussed in light of some of the key socio-historical developments since the 1940s. The central questions to be pursued are: is contemporary social reality best understood in terms of consensus or super-imposed discipline? to what extent do social structures constrain our actions? what does it mean to say that reality is socially constructed? what characterises contemporary forms of inequality and how can one best make sense of them?
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will be encouraged to develop both your own understanding of contemporary forms of social analysis and your capacity to engage critically with them, in such a way as to assess the relative relevance and usefulness of the various schools of thought for an analysis of some of key contemporary social issues and phenomena such as social order, inequalities, agency etc.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. explain and illustrate different modes of social analysis and their concomitant theoretical / conceptual frameworks;
- 2. exhibit awareness of the historical, social and political developments influencing social analysis;
- 3. think about social, psychological and personal issues in a specifically sociological manner;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. reason and construct written arguments in a sociological manner;
- 5. use evidence, analysis and argument in a sociological manner;
- 6. read classic and contemporary textual material both in terms of historical situatedness and wider significance to the discipline;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. formulate and discuss core theoretical ideas and apply them to various social issues; and
- 8. challenge 'commonsense' assumptions about individual and social reality.
Syllabus plan
Topic I: Functionalism
Topic II: Critical theory
Topic III: The Interactionist Turn
Topic IV: Structures and Agents
Topic V: Gender, Race and Social Analysis
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | 11 x two hours weekly lectures. Lectures provide students with a broad overview of types and ways of social analysis; they cover more ground than is possible in tutorials, and are designed to establish a context in which to think about the issues discussed in tutorials. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 5 | 5 x fortnightly 1 hour tutorials. A specific reading is assigned, and students are provided with a list of key issues to identify and discuss for each tutorial. Texts are carefully chosen as classic exemplars of the core course themes. |
| Guided Independent study | 33 | Course readings |
| Guided Independent study | 45 | Preparation for essays, library, research |
| Guided Independent study | 45 | Exam revisions. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in tutorial discussions | Weekly | 1-3, 4-5,7-8 | Verbal feedback |
| Essay | 2000 words | 1-8 | Written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 100 | 2 hours | 1-8 | Exam mark + comments on request |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 2 hour examination | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
General texts on contemporary social analysis:
P. Jones (2003) Introducing Social Theory
C. Calhoun et.al. (2002) Contemporary Sociological Theory
Harrington, A. (2005) Modern Social Theory
Some texts by key social theorists covered in the module:Parsons, T. (1968) The Structure of Social Action
Adorno, T.W. and Horkheimer, M. (1997) Dialectic of Enlightenment
Berger, P.L. and Luckmann, T. (1966) The Social Construction of Reality
Garfinkel, H. (1967) Studies in Ethnomethodology
Goffman, E. (1959) The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life
Foucault, M. (1977) Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison
Millett, Kate (1971) Sexual Politics
Fanon, Frantz (1986) Black Skins, White Masks
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 31/01/13 |
