Professor Dustin Kidd
Office: Gladfelter 762 (7th Floor)
Office Phone: (215) 204-6850
Home Phone: (347) 563-6174
Email: dkidd@temple.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30; or by appointment
Course Website: Available on Blackboard
Course Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 4:40-7:10 pm
Course Meeting Location: TBA
Course Purpose: The primary purpose of this course is to instill a sense of the significance of sociology and the urgency of completing sociological research, and to survey the breadth of recent and on-going developments in sociological theory. Theory is one of the three foundations of sociology, along with empirical research and social significance (doing something that matters). Theory guides the research that we conduct and it provides a frame for interpreting our findings. Some theories aspire to be value-free while others are expressly loaded with normative assumptions. In this class, our goals are to survey a variety of theoretical approaches to social science, produce useable information about those approaches, and gain some level of comfort in working within a particular theoretical frame. Your goal, as students, should be to find one or more theoretical approaches that suit the sociological questions that you plan to ask in your own research.
I take what I call a conversational approach to theory. Each week, our readings will comprise a theoretical discussion about a specific issue of concern to contemporary theorists. In some cases, they will literally be speaking to one another. In others, they will appear to be talking past each other, but our goal is to put them in conversation. I have tried, as best as possible, to make these conversations build upon one another.
Finally, you will notice that these readings constitute a broad range of types of theory. I will not be giving you a definition of "social theory," nor will I offer a strict typology. Rather, I am simply presenting you with the broad and diverse range of folks who are recognized as theorists and whose work provides theoretical underpinnings to sociological research in one way or another.
Readings
The reading load for this course is quite large. I expect you to read all assignments,
come to all classes, and participate in all discussions. We will have 4 reading
assignments each week.
BOOKS
" Ideas for Action, Cynthia Kaufman.
" The Social Theory of WEB DuBois, edited by Phil Zuckerman
All additional readings will be posted on the blackboard site.
Graded components:
Discussion Facilitation: 20%
Participation: 25%
Annotated Bibliography or Powerpoint Presentation: 20%
Paper: 35%
Discussion Facilitation: Each student will lead one class discussion. Working
from the assigned readings, you will formulate a set of discussion questions.
These questions should help us to:
" Understand the research question of each theorist
" Make sense of the various components of the theories
" Place the various readings in discussion with each other
" Apply the theories to new situations
The presenter is really a facilitator. Every student is responsible for reading each week's assignment. If the presenter asks a good question and there is no response, participation grades will suffer (not the facilitation grade). We will assign these at the first meeting. I will lead the remaining sessions. The key to good discussion leading is to be creative!
Graded as follows:
Expectation Weight
Facilitation is consistent with the goals of the readings themselves 20%
Designs a creative discussion and activities 20%
Avoids lecturing 20%
Takes full responsibility for the assignment 40%
(preparations, initiating meetings with the professor as needed, provides leadership
throughout the discussion, calls on professor as needed, attentive to student
comments and questions, careful attention to time, makes appropriate copies,
arranges for special needs)
Participation: Our classroom discussions are the best approximation for how
you will engage theory in your day-to-day lives as sociologists. You will likely
teach theory yourself one day, or your will teach about the theories of a particular
field. You will find yourself discussing theory informally at sociology conferences,
and in discussions with your colleagues. Recognizing that, it is then important
to engage in discussion of social theory within our classroom. I recognize that
some students are shy, but that should not be a barrier to discussion in your
chosen career field with a group of colleagues. Discussions with me outside
of the classroom will be recognized, but classroom discussion is privileged
for this component of the course.
Graded as Follows:
Expectation Weight
Participation is consistent (frequency) 20%
Participation moves the conversation forward (substance) 20%
Participation demonstrates careful attention to the reading 20%
Contributes applications and examples, or ideas from other sources 20%
Asks Questions 20%
When students are not participating in large-group discussion, I will look
to your participation in small groups (although those occasions may be rare),
your use of the in-class journals (Blue Books) as a way of putting the material
to work, and your visits to my office hours. Together, these secondary forms
of participation can bring your discussion grade as high as a B-, but they can
never fully stand in for participation in large group discussions (because of
its foundational role in the intellectual community of the classroom).
Annotated Bibliography: For the bibliography, you will choose a field you wish
to focus on, preferably not one of the topics from class. Survey the theoretical
literature and divide it into sub-fields or approaches. In a few paragraphs,
introduce each of these categories and then provide a list of works with full
bibliographic information. You should also provide an introduction to the field
and a closing statement that summarizes the major questions that still need
to be addressed by the field. In your introduction to each category, include
references to some of the works you are listing. 8-10 pages. Submit a hard copy
or email it to me. You will find these papers helpful as you continue research
in this field (if you choose to do so) as well as for teaching purposes.
Graded as Follows:
Bibliography
Expectation Weight
Clearly articulated question as the foundation for the paper 15%
Introduction to the paper is compelling and fits the material 15%
Section introductions show a thorough understanding of the discussion 15%
Bibliographic lists are thorough 15%
Conclusion clearly points to an important 'big picture issue' 10%
Logical division into conversations 10%
Clarity in Writing 10%
Correct presentation: Proofed, spell-checked, ASA style 10%
Course paper: The goal of this assignment is to produce a rough draft of a paper that can be submitted to journals that publish theoretical work (Sociological Theory, Theory and Society, etc.). Determination of what that paper will look like is up to you, although I am very available to discuss this with you. It might involve taking a theory and applying it to a new empirical field, critiquing a theory, or even constructing a new theory. If you already have an empirical project under way-in another course, for masters or doctoral projects, or as part of a research project with another professor-you may use this as a chance to develop a theoretical frame for that work. Or you might want to develop a research proposal that allows you to test an existing theory (such proposals are handy for funding applications). Please note that the use of these papers in preparation for the Candidacy Research Paper in the Sociology Department has been particularly effective. In that case, I would suggest using the paper to write the literature review, the theoretical frame, and the method (demonstrating that your method is theoretically grounded). I would encourage you to submit these papers in December to the ASAs, to present next summer. After you receive my comments on the papers, you should enter a process of revising them, having other students read them, and sharing them with other professors. Soon after the ASA meetings, if not before them, I hope that you will submit them for publication. Approximately 20 pages.
Graded as Follows:
Expectation Weight
Demonstrates creativity and originality in the design or approach 20%
Clearly articulated argument with evidence 20%
Firmly established foundation in existing literature, especially theory 20%
Has a clear end product in mind (article, conference, thesis, diss, etc) 10%
Has a clear research question 10%
Organization of the paper is logical and consistent 10%
Clarity in Writing (Fluid sentences, good transitions) 5%
Correct presentation: Proofed, spell-checked, ASA style 5%
Policies
Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes.
Books: Obtaining the books is solely the responsibility of the student. If you order the assigned books from sources other than the bookstore, you are responsible for ensuring that the books arrive on time or getting another copy in the meantime.
Communication: I may occasionally contact you by email for class purposes. You may communicate with me by email, telephone, in office hours, in informal meetings on campus, and in class. You must include your name in your email! Extra Credit: No extra credit will be given in this course.
Food: Eating and drinking is allowed and (if it helps you concentrate) encouraged.
Grades: An 'A' for an assignment in this class requires consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements plus a substantial demonstration of creativity and originality. A 'B' for an assignment in this class requires consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements and some indication of creativity and originality. A 'C' for an assignment in this class would either 1) have consistent and satisfactory attention to all requirements, but no creativity and originality, or 2) have some creativity and originality but an inconsistent attention to the details. A 'D' for an assignment would lack creativity and originality and miss several of the requirements. An 'F' for an assignment would fall short on all points.
If you wish to request a re-grade, you must do so by the end class the following week and you must have a clear reason of what should be reconsidered and why. After the end of the next class period, I will not reconsider the grade.
Honor Policy: I expect you to uphold the University's Code of Conduct at all times (http://www.temple.edu/assistance/udc/coc.htm). For any form of cheating, including plagiarism on a paper, you will immediately fail the course and be referred to a disciplinary committee (yes, I know it's all very Foucaultian, but this is a major offense). Regarding specific assignments:
Papers: You are encouraged to workshop your papers with other students, in and out of class. That means that you may have another person read the paper and discuss its strengths and weaknesses with you. They should not provide the actual ideas of the paper. You must cite any facts or ideas you receive from other sources, even if they are not in the form of quotes. Use quotation marks for any phrase over three words long that appears in another source. Shorter phrases should be given citations if they are unique to a particular scholar (such as, Bryson's concept of "multicultural capital"). The paper you hand in must be your ideas in your words, except where you are citing or quoting.
Discussion: Cheating in discussions is hard to do, but it is possible. I would consider it cheating if you presented the ideas of another student as if they were your own. For instance, if you were to have a conversation with another student outside of class, and then come to the next discussion and share the ideas of that student as if they were your own.
Presentations/Facilitations: Accepting full credit for a presentation ideas and format when in fact some or all of them have been taken from others would constitute cheating. However, acknowledging useful sources as you develop your own presentation style is acceptable.
Late Papers: No late papers will be accepted for any assignment.
Learning Needs and Disabilities: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible (by week three). Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Paper Guidelines: Papers should conform to ASA Manuscript Guidelines.
Prerequisites: Classical theory is expected. Please see me if you have no experience with classical sociological theory.
COURSE SCHEDULE: Readings by Kaufman are in Ideas for Action. Readings by DuBois are in The Social Theory of WEB DuBois. All other readings will be available on the course blackboard site as .pdf files or Web links.
August 29: The Background and Basics
Jonathan Turner "The Past, Present, and Future of Theory in American Sociology."
Norbert Wiley "The History and Politics of Recent Sociological Theory."
Kaufman ch. 1
WEB DuBois, Introduction.
September 5: Politics
WEB DuBois, "On International Relations."
Kaufman ch. 9.
Seymour Martin Lipset, "Fascism Left, Right and Center."
Theda Skocpol, "Explaining Social Revolutions: Alternatives to Existing
Theories."
September 12: Structure & Agency
William Sewell "Ideologies and Social Revolutions: Reflections on the French
Case"
Theda Skocpol "Cultural Idioms and Political Ideologies in the Revolutionary
Reconstruction of State Power: A Rejoinder to Sewell"
William Sewell "A Theory of Structure: Duality, Agency, and Transformation"
Sharon Hays "Structure and Agency and the Sticky Problem of Culture"
September 19: Power
Michael Mann, "Societies as Organized Power Networks."
Steven Lukes, "Power: A Radical View."
Antonio Gramsci "The Intellectuals."
Kaufman ch. 8.
September 26: Race Theory
WEB Dubois, "On the Meaning of Race."
Michael Omi and Howard Winant "Racial Formations."
Patricia Hill Collins "Epistemology of Black Feminist Thought."
Kaufman ch. 5.
October 3: Cultures
Adorno and Horkheimer "The Culture Industry."
Dick Hebdidge, "From Culture to Hegemony."
Wendy Griswold, "Culture and the Cultural Diamond."
Ann Swidler "Culture in Action"
October 10: Terror
Charles Tilly, "Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists"
Donald Black "The Geometry of Terrorism"
Randall Collins "Rituals of Solidarity and Security in the Wake of Terrorist
Attack"
Giroux, Ch. 5
October 17: Education
WEB DuBois, "On Education."
Randall Collins "Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification"
Pierre Bourdieu, "Cultural Reproduction and Social Reproduction."
Robert Putnam, "Education and Children's Welfare."
October 24: Inequality Theory
WEB DuBois, "On Labor, Economics, and Politics."
Jay McLeod, "Social Reproduction in Theoretical Perspective."
Hays, Sharon, "Pyramids of Inequality."
Kaufman ch. 3
October 31: Feminist Theory
Betty Friedan, "The Problem that has No Name."
bell hooks, "Black Women, Shaping Feminist Theory."
WEB DuBois, "On Women."
Kaufman ch. 6
November 7: Queer Theory
Michel Foucault. "Sexual Discourse and Power."
Steven Epstein "A Queer Encounter: Sociology and the Study of Sexuality."
Judith Butler "Imitation and Gender Insubordination."
Cathy J. Cohen, "Contested Membership: Black Gay Identities and the Politics
of AIDS."
November 14: Postmodernism
Douglas Kellner "The Postmodern Turn"
Seyla Benhabib "Feminism and the Question of Postmodernism"
Jean Baudrillard "The Precession of Simulacra"
bell hooks "Postmodern Blackness"
November 28: Medicine and the Body
Bryan S. Turner "The End(s) of Humanity"
Margaret E. Mohrmann "Human Frailty and the Burden of Medicine"
Carol Thomas "How is disability understood? An examination of sociological
approaches"
Mark Sherry "Overlaps and contradictions between queer theory and disability
studies"
December 5: Media
Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky "A Propaganda Model."
Robert McChesney "US Media at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century."
Todd Gitlin "Under the Sign of Mickey Mouse & Co."
Douglas Rushkof "Alternative Media."
Paper Due December 12th
Submitting Your Papers to Conferences
1. American Sociological Association: www.asanet.org. Call for papers and submission
guidelines/deadline will be posted in the fall. Deadline is usually mid-January
and requires a complete paper. Visit the awards section of their website for
a number of graduate student awards in the ASA and its individual sections.
2. Eastern Sociological Society: www.essnet.org. Call for papers and submission
guidelines/deadline will be posted in early fall. Deadline is usually late October
and requires an abstract. Also see their graduate student paper awards at www.essnet.org/awardinfo.htm.
3. Association of Black Sociologists: www.blacksociologists.org. Call for papers
will be posted in the spring. Deadline is usually May and requires an abstract.
Visit their website for information about the student paper award.