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.
- Kauzlarich, David. 2004. Sociological Classics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Recommended Text
- Reynolds, Paul Davidson. 1971. A Primer in Theory Construction. New York, NY: MacMillan.
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 650 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 four short-answer essay exams, worth 100 points each. Instructions for the exams are posted on the class website. A review session will be held on the evening prior to each exam. Total points = 400.
Group Presentations: Students are asked to become engaged in the learning experience by completing two group presentations worth 50 points each. These presentations will describe the backgrounds and works of the sociologists included in our textbooks. Instructions for the group presentations are posted on the class web site. Total points = 100.
Group Responses: Students will supplement the presentations of other groups by responding to their presentations and discussing classical essays related to the work of the sociologists included in our textbooks. Each response is worth 25 points. Instructions for the group responses are posted on the class web site. Total points = 50.
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 = 100.
Class Participation: Because participation is important, attendance will be taken daily. Five points will be deducted from your total points for each unexcused absence.
Part One: Philosophy and Science
January 15 to February 7.
Readings
Key Questions
What is science?
Why is sociology conducted as a science?
What are the key philosophical terms used in social thought?
Exam #1 Thursday, February 7.
Part Two: Economists, Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Weber.
February 12 to February 28.
Key Questions
How is social order possible?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
Group Presentations and Responses
February 14: Auguste Comte.
Group 1: Presentation
Group 2: Response
February 19: Herbert Spencer.
Group 2: Presentation
Group 3: Response
February 21: Emile Durkheim.
Group 3: Presentation
Group 4: Response
February 26: Max Weber.
Group 4: Presentation
Group 5: Response
Exam #2 Thursday, February 28.
Part Three: Functionalism, Conflict, Symbolic Interactionism, Rational Choice.
March 4 to April 3.
Key Questions
What are the primary structures and functions of society?
How does power affect the functioning of society?
How are inequalities produced and maintained?
How does society create itself?
How do individuals interact with one another?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
Group Presentations and Responses
March 4: Functionalism.
Group 5: Presentation
Group 6: Response
March 6: Karl Marx.
Group 6: Presentation
Group 7: Response
March 11: Conflict Theory.
Group 7: Presentation
Group 8: Response
March 13: Symbolic Interactionism.
Group 8: Presentation
Group 1: Response
March 25: Social Constructionism.
Group 1: Presentation
Group 2: Response
March 27: Rational Choice.
Group 2: Presentation
Group 3: Response
Exam #3 Thursday, April 3.
Part Four: Ethnomethodology, Feminist Theory, Critical Theory, Postmodernism.
April 8 to May 1.
Key Questions
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?
How are gender inequalities created and maintained?
What is the nature of rationality?
What is the nature of modern society?
What are the responsibilities of citizens in a society?
Readings
Group Presentations and Responses
April 8: Ethnomethodology.
Group 3: Presentation
Group 4: Response
April 10: Phenomenology.
Group 4: Presentation
Group 5: Response
April 15: Feminist Theory.
Group 5: Presentation
Group 6: Response
April 17: Critical Theory.
Group 6: Presentation
Group 7: Response
April 22: Postmoderism.
Group 7: Presentation
Group 8: Response
April 24: Women Sociologists.
Group 8: Presentation
Group 1: Response
Exam #4 Thursday, May 8 (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
