Sociology 361: Social Theory

Instructor	Douglas E. Cowan 204C Haag Hall (816) 235-1492 cowande@umkc.edu http://c.faculty.umkc.edu/cowande
Office Hours	11:00-12:30 Tuesday and Thursday or by appointment
Class Location	Haag Hall 201
Class Time	Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30-1:45
Required Reading	Peter Kivisto, ed., Illuminating Social Life: Classical and Contemporary Theory Revisited (3rd ed).

class schedule | coursework and evaluation | important note

Class Schedule

Jan. 11-13	Introduction to the course

Jan. 18-20	Walsh and Zacharias-Walsh, "Working Longer, Living Less: Understanding Marx through the Workplace Today." (Kivisto, pp.5-37)

Jan. 25-27	Ritzer, "The Weberian Theory of Rationalization and the McDonaldization of Contemporary Society." (Kivisto, pp.38-58)

Feb. 1-3	Hornsby, "Surfing the Net for Community: A Durkheimian Analysis of Electronic Gatherings." (Kivisto, pp.59-91)

Feb. 8-10	Staudenmeier, "Alcohol-Related Windows on Simmel's Social World." (Kivisto, pp.92-118)

February 15	Quiz #1 / Theory Journal Due

Feb. 17-22	Prendergast, "Why Do African Americans Pay More For New Cars? A Structuralist Explanation." (Kivisto, pp.160-186)

Feb. 24-Mar. 1	Dandenau, "Critical Theory, Legitimation Crisis, and the Deindustrialization of Flint, Michigan." (Kivisto, pp.187-214)

Mar. 3	Catch-up day

Mar. 8-10	Winter Break

Mar. 15-17	Lorber and Martin, "The Socially Constructed Body: Insights from Feminist Theory." (Kivisto, pp.215-236)

Mar. 22-24	Fine and Sandstrom, "Wild Thoughts: An Interactionist Analysis of Ideology, Emotion, and Nature." (Kivisto, pp.237-258)

Mar. 29	Quiz #2 / Theory Journal Due

Mar. 31- Apr. 5	Kivisto and Pittman, "Goffmann's Dramaturgical Sociology: Personal Sales and Service in a Commodified World." (Kivisto, pp.259-279)

Apr. 7-12	Denzin, "The Cinematic Society, the Interview, and the Postmodern Self." (Kivisto, pp.299-318)

Apr. 14-19	Swatos, "Globalization Theory and Religious Fundamentalism." (Kivisto, pp.319-339)

Mar. 3	Catch-up Day

Apr. 26	Quiz #3 / Theory Journal Due

Coursework and Evaluation

1) Three in-class quizzes (45% total)

Quizzes will take place on the days noted in the syllabus. Students late to class on those days will not be permitted to take the quiz.

2) Theory Journal (55% total [15+20+20])

What I am calling your "theory journal" is a chance for you to engage the concepts we will be discussing in class in a much more concentrated fashion. Very conveniently, each chapter in Kivisto, Illuminating Social Life, concludes with three study/discussion questions. Each week, you will choose one of the questions related to the chapter for that week, and answer it in an essay of no less than 600 words. I will collect and evaluate your theory journals three times during the semester on the dates indicated below. Your answers must be typed and double-spaced, and collected together in a small, three-ring binder, clearly marked with your name.

Nota bene: I am entirely serious about the word-minimum for this assignment for a couple of reasons: (a) I believe students are capable of much more sustained and sophisticated thought than they often give themselves credit for; unless you try to do more than you think you can, you will never learn what you really can do. (b) These theory journals also provide an excellent means to study for the quizzes.

Theory journals are due at the beginning of class on February 15 ; March 29; and April 26 .