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Sociology 755 – General Sociology
Mgr. Benjamin Vail, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Autumn 2010
Credits: 15
Lecture time: Monday 10.00-11.30
Classroom: 117
Office hours: Tuesday 14.00-16.00 in room 3.59
E-mail: vail@fss.muni.cz
Course Description and Requirements
This course introduces students to the wide range of social theory that has developed in the discipline of
Sociology, providing exposure to classical, modern, and contemporary theories. The first half of the course
focuses on this survey of the development of sociological thought, while the second half of the semester
features in-depth study of three books representative of important themes in the field that continue to shape
sociological thinking today. The book The Social Construction of Reality, by Berger and Luckmann,
provides an introduction to a comprehensive conceptual scheme and research program in Sociology.
Bourdieu’s book, Practical Reason, theorizes the link between social structure and social action. Giddens’
book, The Consequences of Modernity, discusses the institutional structures of modernity. These three
books, as well as the two general textbooks, are on the required reading list for the final state exam for
students to earn the Masters degree in Sociology. By the end of the semester, students will be fluent in the
history of the development of the field of sociology, understand contemporary themes in sociological
theory and research, and be prepared to use sociological theory in their Master’s thesis work.
Evaluation
Success in this course depends on the careful reading of several textbooks and other literature, which serve
as the basic material covered in the exams. Students are expected to attend every lecture and are
encouraged to ask questions and offer comments in class. There is one mid-term exam covering
information presented in class and the required readings up to that point; a comprehensive final exam at the
end of the semester will test all information presented during the semester. You will receive a final letter
grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components:
Final grade components Final grade scale
40% – Mid-term exam
60% – Final exam
A = 90 – 100%
B = 80 – 90%
C = 70 – 80%
D = 60 – 70%
E = 50 – 60%
F = <50%
E-mail Policy
Students may contact the instructor at any time by e-mail with questions about the course. I will strive to
reply to your questions within 48 hours of receipt of your e-mail. I usually do not read or respond to e-mail
on weekends or holidays.
Academic Honesty
The Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain academic
honesty by refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism means that one
presents other peoples’ ideas as one’s own and does not credit the author. Plagiarism is one of the most
serious breaches of ethical standards in the academic environment, for it denies the mission of the
university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective, plagiarism is the stealing of intellectual
property. The official FSS policy on academic honesty is available in the course’s interactive syllabus in IS
in English and Czech. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any circumstances at FSS. The
minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is expulsion from the course, a grade of F for the semester, and
referral to the Faculty disciplinary committee.
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Weekly schedule
(See the online Interactive Syllabus for specific reading assignments.)
Week
Date Lecture topic Required reading
1 September 20
Introduction to Sociology and
Social Theory
Syllabus
Giddens ch. 1, 3, 4
2 September 27 Marx and Weber
Ritzer ch. 1, 2, 4
Giddens ch. 9, 16, 18
3 October 4 Durkheim and Simmel
Ritzer ch. 3, 5
Giddens ch.10, 14, 21
4 October 11 Structural Functionalism Ritzer ch. 6, 7
5 October 18 Critical Theory
Ritzer ch. 8, 9
Giddens ch. 15, 20
6 October 25
* NO LECTURE *
Interactionism, Rational Choice,
and Feminist Theories
Ritzer ch. 10, 11, 12, 13
Giddens ch. 5, 12
7 November 1
* NO LECTURE *
Reading Week
Giddens ch. 8
8 November 8
* NO LECTURE *
Mid-term Exam
9 November 15
Micro-Macro, Structure-Agency
Integration
Ritzer ch. 14, 15
Giddens ch. 13, 19
10 November 22 Modernity and Postmodernity
Ritzer ch. 16, 17
Giddens ch. 22
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11 November 29 Social Construction of Reality
Berger & Luckmann
Giddens ch. 6
12 December 6 Practical Reason
Bourdieu
Giddens ch. 7, 17
13 December 13 The Consequences of Modernity
Giddens
Giddens ch. 2, 11
Literature
No. of
pages
Berger, P. L. and Luckmann, T. 1966. The Social Construction of Reality. London: Penguin 250
Bourdieu, Pierre. 1998. Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action. Stanford: Stanford
University Press
153
Giddens, Anthony. 2006. Sociology. 5th edition, Cambridge: Polity Press. 960
Giddens, Anthony. 1990. The Consequences of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press. 186
Ritzer, G. 2000. Sociological Theory. London. McGraw-Hill Education. 621