Sociology 3210: Sociological Theory
SP 2012
Assignments, Readings, and Course Schedule

Test Information

All students are expected to attend both the Monday and Wednesday class sessions. Students may attend class face-to-face (live in the classroom), live via the Wimba Live Classroom internet connection, or by reviewing the archived Wimba class sessions each week. See "Attendance" in the syllabus for more information.

Read the assigned text material as early as you can. Review the associated online lecture notes (prior to coming to class--section 001, or attending a Wimba session (section 001). These notes work best when viewed online. They are web documents with links you can explore for additional information, and to seek further clarification, on selected topics. Develop critical analyses and questions for discussion both in class and via the online discussion forums. There are a variety of resources in the class MyGateway site's "Course Documents" and "External Links" folders to assist you with your self-study.

Readings listed as "Ritzer" are in the main text book, George Ritzer's, "Contemporary Sociological Theory and its Classical Roots." Readings listed as "Readings in Sociological Theory" are in the James Readings in Sociological Theory reader, "Readings in Social Theory." These readings and more are available online.

  • Times and Attendance: Monday and Wednesday 12:30-1:45 PM in 449 SSB. "Internet-Only" students are expected to review both the Monday day AND the Wednesday day archive each week for full attendance credit, course content, and course information. Internet-only students are always welcome to attend the live class--face-to-face or via Wimba.
  • Don't forget your 2, weekly "sign of life (SOL)" postings--part of the participation requirement.
Academic Week
Day
Dates
Times
Topic
Wimba

Assign. Due
Assignments and Readings Due
(readings should be completed prior to class on day listed)
1
Mon
Jan 17
No Class
ML King Holiday
n
.. ... ........ . ...
NO CLASS: Reverend Doctor King Birthday Holiday
Wed
Jan 18
see above
Introduction and Overview
y
  .  .. 
 Introduction and class overview. Read syllabus and review the class MyGateway site.
2
Mon
Jan 23
see above
What is Theory?
y
Introduction due by 12:00 Noon
 What is Theory? Ritzer chapter 1 ; Readings in Sociological Theory (Introduction) pages 1-26
Wed
Jan 25
see above
Emile Durkheim: Social Solidarity
y
Wiki Lab
Fri
Jan 27
5:00 PM
Syllabus quiz
n
Syllabus quiz due
Complete syllabus quiz introduction in the general class discussion forum. (or do it early and enjoy Labor Day weekend)
3
Mon 
Jan 30
see above
Emile Durkheim: Social Solidarity
y
SOL and Wiki Lab
Wed
Feb 1
see above
Karl Marx: Alienation and Capitalism
y
Personal wiki page due
  • Ritzer chapter 2; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 27-50. Personal wiki page due beginning of class 12:30 PM.
  • Be sure to complete the "Email Feedback Consent." You can find the email feedback consent "test" in the "Assignments" area of MyGateway. Until you give consent, you will have to visit Prof. Keel or a TA to receive full feedback on your wiki work.
4
Mon
Feb 6
see above
Max Weber and the Rationalization of Society
y

SOL

 Ritzer chapter 2; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 73-110
Wed
Feb 8
see above
Review
y
.  ..

Ritzer chapters 1-2; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 1-110.
5
Mon
Feb 13
see above
Simmel: Space, Form, and Distance and Last day to withdraw without receiving a grade
y
1st Wiki Contribution Due and SOL
Wed
Feb 15
see above

Veblen: Conspicuous Consumption
.y
Wiki Lab
 Ritzer chapter 3; We'll also spend time working on the Sociological Theory Wiki Project.
6
Mon
Feb 20
see above
Mead: Mind, Self, and Society
y
Comments on 1st wiki due and SOL
 Ritzer chapter 3; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 127-138.
Wed
Feb 22
see above
Structural-Functionalism
y
.  ..
 Ritzer chapter 4; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 157-192.
7
Mon
Feb 27
see above 
Conflict Theory and General Systems Theory
y
SOL
 Ritzer chapter 4; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 193-230.
Wed
Feb 29
see above
Neo-Marxism
y
.. ... ........ . 
 Ritzer chapter 5; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 331-356;
8
Mon
Mar 5
see above
Elias, Habermas, and Giddens
y
SOL
 Ritzer chapter 5; Readings in Sociological Theory
Wed
Mar 7
see above
Review
y
2nd Wiki Contribution Due and Mid-Term Exam opens
  • Wiki contribution due by the beginning of class (12:30 PM).
  • The Mid-Term Exam covers Ritzer chapters 1-5, Readings in Sociological Theory pages 1-230, 331-356.
9
Mon
Mar 12
see above
Theories of Everday Life
y
SOL...
 Ritzer chapter 6; Readings in Sociological Theory page 297-328
Tue
Mar 13
11:59 PM
Mid-Term Exam Due
n
Mid-Term Exam Due
 Mid-Term Exam Due, end of day.
Wed
Mar 14
see above
Dramaturgy and Ethnomethodology
y
Comments on 2nd wiki due
 Ritzer chapter 6; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 257-328.
10
 
Mon
Mar 19
see above
Ethnomethodology and RCT
y
Wiki Lab and SOL
Wed
Mar 21
see above
Exchange Theory, and Integrated Exchange Theory
y
.  ..
 Ritzer chapters 6 and 7; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 231-256.
Spring Break: Saturday, March 24-Sunday, April 1 Enjoy!
11
Mon
Apr 2
see above
Structuration, Habitus and Field
y
SOL
Ritzer chapter 7. Readings in Sociological Theory
Wed
Apr 4
see above
Feminist Theories
y
Wiki Lab
Sat
Apr 7
  .  ..
Last Day to Withdraw
n
  .  ..
 Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a course
12
Mon
Apr 9
see above
Feminist Theories
y
SOL
 Ritzer chapter 8; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 383-438.
Wed
Apr 11
see above
Review
y
 3rd Wiki Contribution Due
 Wiki contribution due by the beginning of class (12:30 PM).
13
Mon
Apr 16
see above
Post-Modern Society? and Last Day to Withdraw
y
SOL
Wed
Apr 18
see above
Post-Modernism
y
Comments on 3rd wiki due
 Ritzer chapter 9; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 357-382.
14
Mon
Apr 23
see above
Consumer Society
y
SOL
 Ritzer chapter 9; Readings in Sociological Theory pages 439-455.
Wed
Apr 25
see above
Consumer Society and Globalization Theory
y

  .  ..

 Ritzer chapters 9 and 10. Readings in Sociological Theory and pages 439-455.
15
Mon
Apr 30
see above
Globalization Theory and Wiki Work
y
Wiki Labd SOL
 Ritzer chapter 10. Readings in Sociological Theory. We'll be working on the Sociological Theory Wiki Project.
Wed
May 2
see above
Review
y

4th Wiki Contribution Due.and Final Exam opens

 Ritzer chapters 1-10. Readings in Sociological Theory (all). Wiki contribution due by the beginning of class (12:30 PM).
16
Sun
May 6
11:59 PM
Discussion Forums Close--all attendance must be finalized. Comments on other students' fourth wiki contribution due, too
   .  ..
SOL and Comments on 4th wiki due
 Discussion Forums Close for the semester. Archive viewing (for credit) for week 15 must be completed. And, your comments on other students' 4th wiki contributions are also due--all by end of the day.
Thur
May 10
11:59 PM
Final Exam Due
  .  ..
Final Exam closes
Last day to take the Final Exam--due end of the day. The Final Exam covers chapters 6-10, as well as the key concepts and theories focused on throughout the semester.

*Each week your SOLs must be posted in the week's SOL thread by 12:00 Noon on the Monday of that week (week 2's SOL must be posted by 12:00 Noon on Monday of Week 2). See, the Weekly SOL section of the syllabus for more information

Wiki lab: We'll be spending the majority of time working on the Sociological Theory Wiki Project. Online (live) students are welcome to join in the sessions (any student is always welcome to attend the live sessions--online or in-class. For the labs, we will be using the computer stations in the classroom: 005 CCB. Those viewing the archives should review at least the first few minutes of the archive--I'll give instructions for their individual contributions.

End of day: Unless otherwise posted, assignments are due by the end of the day listed: 11:59 PM (23:59). Students who submit work past a due date are subject to penalties, point deductions, or not having their work accepted for grading.

Wimba: Wimba Live Classroom is an online, synchronous learning tool we will be using this semester. Wimba allows students to "attend" a live class via the Internet, and it also allows me to record class sessions so that students can access and review the recordings (archives). A brief explanation for using Wimba is included in the course syllabus and at http://www.wimba.com/services/support/. You can contact Horizon Wimba Technical Support by phone (toll-free): 866.350.4978 or email: technicalsupport@wimba.com. You'll find a link to Wimba on the navigation menu of our course MyGateway site. To attend a live course session, you will need a computer with Internet access, as well as speakers and a microphone (a headset works best). Be sure to run the "Set Up Wizard" to insure your computer is properly configured for the Wimba Live Classroom interface. To review archived class sessions, you'll just need speakers. Any student is invited to participate via the live interface (Wimba session classes are noted on the "Assignments, Readings, and Course Schedule" found in the Assignments area). All students (especially those in the Internet-only section) are encouraged to use the archived sessions in their studies for the course. Learn more about how Wimba is used in this class.


URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/3210/3210assignments.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel rok@umsl.edu
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 15:33

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