Instructor
Dr. Steve Sapp
320 East Hall
294-1403
ssapp@iastate.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Textbooks:
- Delaney, Tim. 2004. Classical Social Theory: Investigation and Application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
- Delaney, Tim. 2004. Contemporary Social Theory: Investigation and Application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Class Website
http://www.soc.iastate.edu/sapp/soc401.html
Guiding Principles of this Course
The course has been designed with the following principles in mind:
- Learning is iterative. It occurs in steps and is facilitated by mistakes, i.e. corrected mistakes.
- Learning is an active process. Some class material will be presented in lecture format. But class participation, group projects, discussions, exercises, and writing will accompany the lectures to encourage your active involvement in the material.
- The skill central to all advanced learning is critical thinking. Understanding and using sociological research methods is certainly no exception. The course exercises, papers, and exams are designed to challenge you to think critically. Critical thinking consists of four levels of mental engagement with reality.
- The ability to describe phenomena.
- The ability to compare, contrast, and link.
- The ability to critique presentations of science.
- The ability to innovate, suggest new combinations, pose new questions, and
construct new explanations, conceptual frameworks, or theories.
Course Format
- Frequent use of class discussion and review of materials presented to date.
- Lectures interspersed with class exercises, small group discussions, and other forms of class participation.
- Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask questions. There are no dumb questions!
- Any student who needs an accommodation based on a disability should contact Dr. Sapp privately to discuss your specific needs. Also, please contact the Disability Resources Office (Room 1076, Student Services Building, 515-294-6624, awaoniyib@iastate.edu) to coordinate disability certification and accommodation.
- This course is conducted in accordance with the Department of Sociology Code of Ethics.
Assignments and Evaluation
Exams, assignments, and class participation will facilitate your understanding of the course material and provide a mechanism to evaluate your understanding
of it. The course includes 390 points assigned to these evaluations. Final grades will be based upon a standard grading scale of 90% or higher = A; 80% - 89% = B; and so forth, with consideration of + and - grades at the extremes of each grade level.
Exams: The course includes six short-answer essay exams, worth 45 points each. Descriptions of the exams are posted on the class website. A review session will be held on the evening prior to each exam. Total points = 270.
Group Presentations: Students are asked to become engaged in the learning experience by completing one group presentation. This presentation will describe the background and works of a selected sociologist or group of sociologists who have made important contributions to social thought. Instructions for the group presentations are posted on the class web site. Total points = 40.
Critical Postion Papers: Students will supplement the classroom presentations by writing two position papers, wherein each paper describes and compares two theories. Each paper is worth 20 points. Instructions for the position papers, including instructions for preparing your paper, are posted on the class web site. Total points = 40.
Term Paper: Students will write a term paper that describes their sociological perspective. Instructions for the term paper, including instructions for preparing your paper, are posted on the class web site. Points = 40.
Class Participation: Because participation is important, attendance will be taken daily. Four points will be deducted from your total points for each unexcused absence.
Part One: Primers in Theory
January 9 to February 1.
Readings
Key Questions
What is science?
Why is sociology conducted as a science?
What are the key philosophical terms used in social thought?
What is classical economic theory?
Exam #1 Wednesday, February 1.
Part Two: Social Order
February 3 to February 17.
Key Questions
How is social order possible?
What are the primary structures and functions of society?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
- Classical Social Theory: Chapters 2, 3, 5, 12
- Contemporary Social Theory: Chapter 3
- Group Presentations
- Class Notes
Exam #2 Friday, February 17.
Part Three: Conflict and Critique
February 20 to March 5.
Key Questions
How does power affect the functioning of society?
How are inequalities produced and maintained?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
- Classical Social Theory: Chapters 4, 6
- Contemporary Social Theory: Chapters 4, 10
- Group Presentations
- Class Notes
Exam #3 Monday, March 5.
Part Four: Human Agency
March 7 to March 28.
Key Questions
How does society create itself?
How do individuals interact with one another?
How do individuals develop social bonds and exchange relationships?
How do individuals understand one another in their interactions?
How do individuals construct their everyday lives?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
Exam #4 Wednesday, March 28.
Part Five: Social Exchange
March 30 to April 13.
Readings
- Classical Social Theory: Chapter 13
- Contemporary Social Theory: Chapters 5-8
- Group Presentations
- Class Notes
Key Questions
How is understanding possible?
Where do social facts come from?
What is the basic unit of analysis for sociology?
Exam #5 Friday, April 13
Part Six: Contemporary Theory
April 16 to April 27.
Readings
- Classical Social Theory: Chapter 14
- Contemporary Social Theory: Chapters 2, 9, 11, 12
- Group Presentations
- Class Notes
Key Questions
What is the nature of rationality?
What is the nature of modern society?
How are gender inequalities created and maintained?
Exam #6 TBA: Finals Week.
