Introduction to Sociological Theory- Undergraduate Class Syllabus

SOCIOLOGY 385 Introduction to Sociological Theory Spring 2017 Class Information: Lecture’s Time: M&W, 10:00-10:50 Lecture’s Location: Room 2BSB 4105 Discussions Info: Section DIS BD1 on Friday from 10:00 -10:50 in 2BSB 4105 and DIS BD3 on Friday from 11:00-11:50 in 2TH 321 with Sarah Moberg. DIS BD2 on Friday from 10:00 -10:50 in 2BSB 4102 and DIS BD4 on Friday from 9:00 – 9:50 in 2BSB 4102with Luca Delbello. Instructor: Atef Said Office: 4146A BSB Email: [email protected] Phone: (312) 4133-761 Office Hours: Monday, 11:30-1:00pm and by appointment. TAs and Sections’ Discussion Leaders: Sarah Moberg ([email protected]) and Luca Delbello ([email protected]). “Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.” Immanuel Kant* “If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.” Albert Einstein “If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.” Mao Zedong “...Can one resist the temptation of talking about concepts instead of making them work?” (Rogers Brubaker, paraphrasing Pierre Bourdieu)† COURSE OBJECTIVES: Introduction to Sociological Theory is a required course in sociology. The word “theory” may seem intimidating. It is often perceived to refer to big words, jargon or academic terminology only elite people or people disconnected from economic and social reality use. Theory is often understood to be inaccessible. In this course we will prove this assumption wrong. I aim to show that sociological theory not only accessible, but also useful and valuable for understanding our complex contemporary lives and the world around us. This course has two main objectives: 1) To offer a basic review of “classical” sociological theory and relevant 
contemporary and critical sociological theory. Note that we use terms such as classical and contemporary with caution, because these very terms are constructed and often exaggerated. 
 2) To assist and offer guidance to students in applying these theories to contemporary U.S. social problems. 
 In addition to these main goals, we have another ambitious goal. I hope that each of you can befriend one of these theorists. This means you should be able to easily grapple with their theory; to know their theory well, to critique their theory, and extend or amend it to apply it to our current society. Think of yourself as a sociological theorist. Please share with the instructor and the rest of the class, how far you think we were able to meet these goals by the end of the semester. This does not mean that theory is not challenging. Yes, it is challenging for so many reasons. But this course aims to illustrate that dealing with theory is manageable. And it will not only be useful, but also fun. COURSE APPROACH: In most sociology departments in the nation, there are courses offered in what is called classical sociological theory and others on what is often called contemporary sociological theory. Because we have only one course at UIC, we try to cover these in one course. Covering all of this in one course can be difficult and requires sacrificing some important theories while focusing on those most central to the field. It is worth devoting an entire class or more to each theorist’s writings. I tried to select each theorist’s most fundamental text. Also, it is useful to know that the binary (opposition) between what is classical and contemporary is not as rigid as it may seem. After all, many classical theories have “contemporary” concerns. Capitalism for example, has been an important focus of both classical and contemporary theory. 
 Our approach to studying a specific theorist entails discussing their life briefly, then their method(s), before delving into their writing. Our goal always is to try to make the theory not only accessible but also relevant. A great deal of this will be covered only in the lecture. Hence, it is absolutely important not to miss lectures. There are other reasons, such as the need for consistent attendance and active course participation. 
 COURSE STRUCTURE: The course is divided into three sections and a conclusion. In the first section, we will cover basic texts about the birth of sociology and sociological theory. This will help us become acquainted with the historical and political contexts out of which the foundational theories of sociology developed. We are devoting one class to studying additional founders of sociology. In the second section, we will cover the works of three theorists whose works are considered the cannon of classical sociological theory: Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. In addition, we are devoting a session to discuss some of the work of Sigmund Freud, an important figure whose work is foundational in sociological psychoanalysis. In the third section, we will cover the works of theorists whose work has been foundational to sociology and relevant critical theories. Theorists included are Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu and Irving Goffman. And the theories we include are race/racial formation, gender and post-colonial theory. After this, we will end the course with a very short concluding section. In this, we will put some of our course theorists in conversation with one another and we will discuss how the practice of sociology can be more engaged with society. This does not mean that we will not do so throughout the semester, but at the end of the semester, our main goal will be applying these theories to and relevant settings. LECTURES AND SECTIONS: The course is divided into two lectures and one section per week. The main purpose of this organization is to assist students in their writing and have more time to discuss in details the “difficult” materials of the course. Because this organization meant to assist you and do well in the course, it is mandatory that students take both lectures and discussion sections very seriously. Also, please note the following: 1) The name “lecture” does not mean that students will be passive recipients while the instructor talks. There will be room for discussions, and students are very encouraged to ask questions in lectures. 
 2) Sarah and Luca will construct section syllabi. In additions to regular discussions, students in the sections will be working with their TA in their papers and they will follow up with them in their work. Discussions sections are organized for the students’ own benefit so that they receive regular feedback from their TA. 
 3) Students cannot switch from a discussion section to another. If your name is listed in one section, then you cannot change it. 
 COURSE MATERIALS: (1) The course has three textbooks available to you in UIC bookstore under the course number. The books are: 1) Thompson, Kenneth, ed. Readings from Emile Durkheim. Routledge, 2004.
 2) Weber, Max.(Translated and edited by Talcott Parsons). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Routledge Classics). 2001. 3) Tucker, Robert C., ed."The Marx-Engels Reader."W.Norton & Company; 2nd Revised & enlarged edition (1978). (2) We will also use many other selected readings that will be available to you in Blackboard. (3) A few readings are online: Please note the following codes when you look at the readings in class schedule. (TB) Text Book
 (BB) Blackboard
 (Online) Available online, with link provided in the syllabus. You may notice that there are some classes where we have two readings and others have only one reading. Do not be intimidated. Read and take notes and come prepared to discuss your questions. The instructor will help you make these accessible with the lecture. Not reading is a huge mistake. You will get behind and will not be able to comprehend what we are discussing. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING The distribution of the grades is as follows. Attendance and Participation in the Lectures: 10 % Attendance and Participation in Sections 10 %
 Writing Exercises in Sections 20 %
 Three Short Papers (5-7 Pages), worth 20 % each = 60 % Attendance and participation: Please note that this policy will work for both the lecture and the section. Due to the difficulty and the nature of course materials, attendance is crucial. We cover
not only the readings but also many other relevant materials and we will hold important discussions about the readings during class. Hence, students who will miss class put themselves at disadvantage. I understand that sometimes we will have unexpected circumstances. Therefore, students will have ONE excused absence. This means you do not need to inform me the first time you miss and do not need to provide written documentation. After the first absence, absences will be considered excused ONLY with written documentation from your health care provider. For each unexcused absence, students will lose 5% of your participation grade. Students should notify me ahead of time for absences for religious observation, which are excused. Students are expected to have read the materials before class, and come ready for discussions. You are all encouraged to participate and bring in questions in class. Reading before coming to class is not only required and useful for its own sake, but you will also be more attentive and engaged with the lectures. If you miss class, either excused or unexcused, it is your responsibility to keep up with what is going on in class. Papers: Students are required to write three 5-7-page papers. We arranged the papers’ deadlines to make sure you have about two weeks to work on them, and that you will have at least one section to work on the papers with the TAs. Each paper is worth 20% of the overall grade. The exact dates of giving the paper topics and the due dates are as follows: 2/15 First Paper Announced. 3/1 First Paper Due 3/8 Second Paper Announced 3/29 Second Paper Due 4/10 Final Paper Announced 5/5 Final Paper Due Late Papers: The papers must be submitted on Blackboard and as a hard copy in your TA’s mailbox by 5pm on the due date. From 5:01pm that day, papers will be deducted one full letter grade for every day they are late. The assignments will vary in topic, but in general, the best papers will: 1) Explain the theorist’s ideas well first. 
2) Illustrate your ability to make connections between theorists. 
3) And provide an analysis of the theory’s contemporary relevance. Overall, the papers will require you to be extremely well organized and concise. 
They should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins with 12-point font. REMEMBER: You will be submitting them online, through the SafeAssignment system AND you will also be required to submit a hard copy of the paper to my mailbox by the time and date indicated on the syllabus. SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS The following are my advice for succeeding in this class. All the work in the class is connected. Readings, attending lectures and 
sections, and class assignments all complement one another and cannot replace 
the other. Your good effort in one area will help you doing well in the others areas. 
 Do not delay the work in any area. Stay up to date. If you miss something, do 
your best to catch up before it is too late. 
 Especially with regards to the papers, talk to me and your TAs about it. And we designed the course and discussion sections to assist you to work early right away in the papers. There will be writing exercises and specific activities
in the sections to assist you in writing the papers in parts, while you receive feedback. These parts will not only be graded, but also they are meant to help you finish each paper in the best way possible. I encourage you to seek help from the writing center. Peer tutoring on writing is a very useful tool for developing good writing skills, especially for difficult assignments like these. I encourage you to use the services available to you: UIC Writing Center
 105 Grant Hall
312-413-2206 http://www.uic.edu/depts/engl/writing/tutored.html Remember, we are here to assist and help you. But you should help yourself first. Make learning and success in the course a priority. And we will do all our best effort to help you on this. KEEPING ME IN THE LOOP: SPECIAL NEEDS, EMERGENCIES, ETC. Students with special needs should contact me as early as possible in the semester, and provide documentation. Students who have unexpected family problems, or issues that can affect their focus and work should let me as soon as possible. There are so many resources in campus that can help you free of charge. Do not wait to the last minute to tell me about these issues. THE CLASSROOM AS A COMMUNITY: As an advanced level class, this class is aimed to encourage students’ critical thinking about the materials. We may engage in some heated debates. It is our shared responsibility as instructor and students to make sure that the class is a safe space for every student. Everyone has the right to express their opinion in a respectful and productive manner without being interrupted or distracted. Cell phones, iPads, and laptops are only to be used for class purposes (taking notes, and/or looking at readings). Students will be alerted only one time if they were using these devices outside the class purposes. After one warning, the continuation of this behavior will result in a deduction of 5 % of your participation points. CLASS SCHEDULE Section 1: Introduction and the Birth of Sociology Monday 1/9/2017 Introduction (Syllabus distribution-No readings) Wednesday 1/11/2017 Why Sociological Theory? Readings: Jeffery Alexander. 1987. “Lecture One: What is Theory?” in Twenty Lectures: Sociological Theory Since World War II. New York. Columbia University Press, 1987, Pp 1-21. (BB) Martin Hollis.1994.“Introduction: Problems of Structure and Action, “in The Philosophy of Social Science: An Introduction. New York: Cambridge UniversityPress.Pp.1-22. (BB) Optional:
 Gabriel Abend. "The meaning of ‘Theory’." Sociological Theory 26, no. 2 (2008): 173-199. (BB) C. Wright Mills, “The Promise [of Sociology]” Excerpt from The Sociological Imagination (originally published in 1959), Available online in this link: http://sociology.morrisville.edu/readings/SOCI101/Mills-The_Promise_of_Sociology-Chp1.pdf Monday 1/16/2017 – MLK Day, NO Class Wednesday 1/18/2017- The Birth of Sociology? Readings:
 Craig Calhoun, et al. 2012. Classical Sociological Theory. Edited by Craig Calhoun, et al. Wiley- Blackwell; 3 edition. Introduction. Pp 1-19 (BB) Optional:
Georg Simmel, 1903. “The Metropolis and Mental Life” in Gary Bridge and Sophie Watson, eds. The Blackwell City Reader. Oxford and Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2002. (BB) Monday 1/23/2017 “Other Founders” of Sociology Readings: Patricia Madoo Lengermann and Gillian Niebrugge. 2006. “Present at the Creation-
Women in the History of Sociology and Social Theory,” in The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory1830–1930, A Text/Reader, by Patricia Madoo Lengermann and Gillian Niebrugge. Waveland Press. IL. 2006. Pp 1-22 Syed Farid Alatas. 2006. "Ibn Khaldun and contemporary sociology." International sociology 21, no. 6 (2006): 782. Section 2: “Classical” Sociological Theory Wednesday 1/25/2017- Emile Durkheim: Methodology and General Approach to Sociology Readings: 
Emile Durkheim. “Sociology and the Social Sciences.” In Readings from Emile Durkheim, edited by Kenneth Thompson. Routledge; 2 edition. 2004. Pp 11-17 (TB)
Emile Durkheim. “The Rules of Sociological Method.” In Readings from Emile Durkheim, edited by Kenneth Thompson. Routledge; 2 edition. 2004. Pp 53-80 (TB) Monday 1/30/2017 The Positivist Durkheim Studies Society Readings: 
 Emile Durkheim. “The Division of Labor in Society,” In Readings from Emile Durkheim, edited by Kenneth Thompson. Routledge; 2 edition. 2004. Pp 23-47 (TB) Emile Durkheim. “Suicide,” In Readings from Emile Durkheim, edited by Kenneth Thompson.
Routledge; 2 edition. 2004. Pp 81-106 (TB) Wednesday 2/1/2017 The Historical and Cultural Sociologist Durkheim studies Society Readings: Emile Durkheim. “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life,” and “Primitive Classifications, In Readings from Emile Durkheim, edited by Kenneth Thompson. Routledge; 2 edition. 2004. Pp 107- 128 (TB) Monday 2/6/2017 Karl Marx : Methods, social change and history Readings: Robert Tucker. The Marx-Engels Reader. "The Manifesto of the Communist Party. Pp 473-500 (TB) Robert Tucker. The Marx-Engels Reader. "Theses on Feurerbach.Pp143-145 (TB) Wednesday 2/8/2017 Karl Marx: On Capitalism and Class Relations Readings: Robert Tucker. The Marx-Engels Reader. "Selections: Commodities: Use-Value and Exchange- Value (Pp 302-308), the Fetishism of Commodities and the Secret Thereof (Pp 319-329), The Buying and Selling of Labour Power (Pp 336-344), The Production of Absolute Surplus Value (Pp 344-361),The General Law of Capitalist Accumulation, Primitive Accumulation, and the Historical Tendency of Capitalist Accumulation: (Pp 419- 431) (TB) Monday 2/13/2017 Karl Marx: On Alienation Readings: Robert Tucker. The Marx-Engels Reader. "Estranged Labor, in Marx, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844, Pp 70-81(TB) Wednesday 2/15/2017 Karl Marx: On Ideas and Ideology (First Paper Announced) Reading: Robert Tucker. The Marx-Engels Reader." Marx, The German Ideology, Pp 146-175, 186- 200 (TB) Monday 2/20/2017 Max Weber: Methodology and Approach to Sociology Readings: Max Weber.2012.“Science as a profession and vocation,” in Max Weber: Collected Methodological Writings, edited by Hans Henrik Bruun. Routledge.1stEdition. Pp335- 354 (BB) Max Weber. 2012.“On some categories of interpretive sociology.” in Max Weber: Collected Methodological Writings, edited by Hans Henrik Bruun.Routledge.1stEdition. Pp 273-301 (BB) Wednesday 2/22/2017 Max Weber: The Emergence of Capitalism Reading: Max Weber. “The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism, “translated and edited by Talcott Parsons. Routledge, 2nd Edition. 2001. Chapters 1-3 (Pp 3-50) and chapter 5 (102- 125)(TB) Monday 2/27/2017 Max Weber’s Theory on state and stratification Readings: Max Weber. “Class, Status and Party.” In From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, translated and edited by Hans H. Gerth and C Wright Mills. Oxford University Press.1958. Pp 180- 195 (BB)
Max Weber. “Politics as a Vocation.” In From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology,
translated and edited by Hans H.Gerth and C Wright Mills. Oxford University
Press.1958. Pp 77-128 (BB) Optional: Wright, Erik Olin. "The shadow of exploitation in Weber's class analysis." American Sociological Review (2002): 832-853(BB) Wednesday 3/1/2017 Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalytic sociology (First paper Due) Reading: Sigmund Freud .Civilization and Its Discontents. Selected Parts. From Craig Calhoun, et al. 2012. Classical Sociological Theory. Edited by Craig Calhoun, et al. Wiley- Blackwell; 3 edition. Pp 396-403 (BB) Section 3: “Contemporary” and “Critical” Sociological Theory Monday 3/6/2017 Michel Foucault: Power and Knowledge Reading: Michel Foucault. 1980. “Turth and Power. “in Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings,1972-1977, by Michel Foucault, edited by Colin Gordon.Vintage.1st American edition. Pp 109-133 (BB) Optional:
Craig Calhoun, et al. 2012. Contemporary Sociological Theory. Wiley-Blackwell; 3 edition. Introduction. Pp 1-17 (BB) Wednesday 3/8/2017 Michel Foucault: the Disciplinary Society (Second paper announced) Reading: 
 Michel Foucault. [1975] 1995. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York: Vintage. Selections: Panopticism (195-228).(BB) Monday 3/13/2017 Pierre Bourdieu: Introduction, Habitus and Field Readings: Bourdieu, Pierre. 1985. “The Genesis of the Concepts of Habitus and Field.” Sociocriticism 2 (2): 11–24. (BB) Bourdieu, Pierre. [1977]1999. Outline of a Theory of Practice .Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Selection: Chapter2: “Structures and the Habitus”(72-95) Optional: 
Bourdieu, Pierre. 1993. “Some Properties of Fields.” Pp. 72-77 in Sociology in Question. London: Sage Wednesday 3/15/2017 Pierre Bourdieu: Capital, Class and Distinction Readings: Bourdieu, Pierre. 1986. “The Forms of Capital.” Pp. 241-58 in Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, edited by J.G. Richardson. New Y ork: Greenwood Press.(BB) Bourdieu, Pierre. 1984. “Classes and Classifications: Conclusion,” in Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. Pierre Bourdieu. Harvard University Press. Pp 466-484. The entire book is available online in this link: http://monoskop.org/images/e/e0/Pierre_Bourdieu_Distinction_A_Social_Critique_of_the_J udgement_of_Taste_1984.pdf Optional: Mathieu Hikaru Desan. 2013. "Bourdieu, Marx, and Capital A Critique of the Extension Model." Sociological Theory 31, no.4 (2013): 318-342.(BB) Monday 3/20/2017 SPRING BREAK- NO CLASS Wednesday 3/22/2017 SPRING BREAK- NO CLASS Monday 3/27/2017 (No Readings) Watching Movie “People Like Us (Social Class in America)” (PBS video) Wednesday 3/29/2017 Erving Goffman and Micro-Sociology (Performance) (Second Paper Due) Reading: Erving Goffman. Selected Parts from the Presentation of Self in Every Day Life. From Craig Calhoun, et al. 2012. Contemporary Sociological Theory. Wiley-Blackwell; 3 edition. Pp 51-65 Monday 4/3/2017 Gender Readings: Candace Westand Don Zimmerman.1987. “Doing Gender.” Gender and Society 1,2 (June): 125-151. (BB) Risman, Barbara. 2004.“Gender as a Social Structure: Theory Wrestling with Activism.” Gender and Society 18, 4 (August): 429- 450. (BB) Wednesday 4/5/2017 Race Readings: 
DuBois, W.E.B. 1994. The Souls of Black Folk. New York: Gramercy Books. Selections: Introduction (vii-xi); Chapter 1: Of Our Spiritual Strivings (3-11); Chapter 9: Of the Sons of Master and Man (125-144). Omi, Michael and Howard Winant. 1994. Racial Formation in the United States: From the 1960s to the 1990s (Critical Social Thought). New York: Routledge. Selections: “Racial Formation” (53-76). Monday 4/10/2017 Post Colonial Theory (Topic of final paper announced) Readings: Edward Said.1978.“Introduction.” Pp.1-28 in Orientalism. New York: Vintage Books. (BB) Chandra Talpade Mohanty.1991.“Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses.” Pp. 51-80 in Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism edited by Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Ann Russo, and Lourdes Torres. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. (BB) Section 4: Sociological Theory is Relevant and Conclusion Wednesday 4/12/2017 Durkheim is Relevant Reading: Alexander, Jeffrey C. "Culture and political crisis: “Watergate” and Durkheimian sociology."
Durkheimian sociology: Cultural studies (1988): 187-224.(BB) Optional: Mustafa Emirbayer.1996."Useful Durkheim. “Sociological Theory 14(1996):109-130. (BB) Monday 4/17/ 2017 Marx is Relevant Reading:
 Thomas Piketty (Arthur Goldhammer, trans.). 2014. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Belknap Press. Introduction. Pp 1-38 (BB) Optional: 
 Erik Olin Wright. 2014. Stay Classy, Piketty. Public Books. Available in this link: http://www.publicbooks.org/nonfiction/the-piketty-effect-part-1 (Online) Neil Fligstein. 2014 "The Sociology of Picketty’s [sic] Capital." Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 43, no. 6 (2014): 791-794. (BB) Wednesday 4/19/2017 Max Weber is Relevant Reading: 
George Ritzer. "The “McDonaldization” of society." Journal of American culture 6, no. 1 (1983): 100-107. (BB) Optional: 
Constance Lever-Tracy, "Global warming and sociology." Current Sociology 56, no. 3 (2008): 445-466. Monday 4/24/2017 Public Sociology Reading: Michael Burawoy. "For public sociology. “American sociological review 70, no.1 (2005): 4-28.(BB)
 Optional:
 Pierre Bourdieu. 2003. For A Scholarship with Commitment, in Pierre
Bourdieu. Firing back: Against the tyranny of the market 2. Verso, 2003. Pp 17- 25 Wednesday 4/26/2017 Sociological Theory Today (Last Lecture) Reading: Turner, Jonathan H. 2001."Sociological Theory Today." In Handbook of sociological theory, pp. 1-17. Springer US, 2001. (BB) Tuesday 5/5/2017 at 12:30 PM Final Paper Due 16