SOCIAL AND CULTURAL THEORY

Tarascan Occupational and Social Groups (16th Century)

SOC 301 - ANT 301
FR. BUCKO, S.J.
ADMIN BLDG 337
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
FALL SEMESTER 2000
TU TH 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course explores sociological and anthropological theory by studying a number of classical thinkers in the disciplines. We will strive to understand the theories presented by various authors, the historical and social contexts of these theories, and the relevance of these theories for social science today. The student is expected to gain a competence in both the historical development of social theory and an ability to 'theorize' about social phenomena. The course will be divided into lectures and discussion of basic concepts and issues covered both in class and in the readings.

A 5-10 page paper anaylzing a film based on the ideas one of the theorists whom we study is required.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Through using two core text books and a research/application paper, this course seeks to fulfill these goals:

• Students will gain a knowledge of the historical context, personal biography and core theoretical beliefs of classical European sociologist and British anthropologists.
• Students will be able to comprehend the implications of the intellectual orientations of the theorists studied in the course.
• Students will be able to apply the theories of these social scientists to contemporary social phenomena.
• Students will understand how both personal history and intellectual context are important in the development of the thought of social theorists.
• Students will begin developing their own theoretical stance by critically evaluating the theories which are covered in this class.

  COURSE TEXTS:

  These required texts can be obtained through the bookstore:

  Kuper, Adam, Anthropology and Anthropologists (revised edition)
  Coser, Lewis, Masters of Sociological Thought (second edition)

  COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Consistent attendance at class: Students may not miss more than three classes or they will be dropped from the class and receive a failing grade.
  2. Active class participation: This will require you to read the texts and answer pertinent questions BEFORE each class.
  3. Regular electronic communications: You are expected to read your e-mail at least three times a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday). You are also expected to participate in our list discussion. I will take care of signing you up for the list. To write a message to the list use the address: SOC301@CREIGHTON.EDU
  4. A Term Paper: Each student will write a theoretical analysis of a film. Please select a film you would like to analyze according to the sociological or anthropological theory of ONE scholar we have studied this semester. The theory must be appropriate to the film. Each student must analyze a different film. Submit a dated request with the film you wish to analyze. These films will be approved on a first come first serve basis. If the film you select has already been chosen by another student you will be asked to choose another film. You will write the paper as if you were the theorist you have chosen. You will first explain "your own theory" (the theory of the theorist you have chosen) and then review the film using your social theory. You must review the social action in the film and not its aesthetic quality. A good way to think of the paper is to ask yourself: "If I were Bronislaw Malinowski (or any other theoriest) which part of my social theory would I use to analyze the action of the film and how would I explain what goes on in the film according to my theory?" You may submit rough drafts of your paper for comment by the professor up to November 14th. The actual paper is due November 21th. You may not change your theorist or movie after November 14th. Your paper should be between 5 and 10 pages. I have written a Paper Grading Guide to assist you in formulating the paper. This papers is subject to audit according to the audit policy.
  5. Examinations: Quizzes (six with the lowest dropped), a midterm and final examination are required. There are no makeups for quizzes. Please do not ask for an exception. Your lowest quiz grade is dropped to compensate for unfortunate circumstances.

PAPER SUBMISSION:

For your final paper you are required to submit both a hard copy of the paper and a digital copy on a 3.5 inch disk. I do this for two reasons: 1) I link examples of outstanding papers to the course page provided I have the permission of the authors; 2) I maintain a digital database of previous papers to ensure that there is no plagiarism in this assignment either among classmates or from year to year. You are required to have a clean new label on your disk with the following information: Your Name, Course Number (SOC 301), and File Type (Microstoft Word 2000, Word Perfect 5.1 etc.). All disks must be submitted in IBM format such that they can be read using MS Word 2000 or lower. You must also check your disk for viruses before submitting the disk. Infected disks will be returned for cleansing. Papers will not be read until a clean disk copy is on file. If you are not technologically inclined I am most willing to help you provided you come for office hours well in advance of the due date for the paper.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

It is required that students exercise academic integrity as outlined in the Creighton University Student Handbook. Students are expected to interact with each other in a way which will enhance the learning experience of all and which is never destructive of other pesons. Because of the importance of acknowledged collaboration, students are required to cite all assistance, including that gained from peers. Students must never plagiarize. The professor maintains an audit policy for this course to both reward extraordinary performance and to guard against misuse of sources. Infringements of academic will be delt with according to Creighton University norms.

GRADING:

Grades will be determined in the following manner:

Participation	20%
Quizzes	10%
Exams	40%
Term paper	30%

A half letter grade will be deducted for each day an assignment is late (including the paper proposal).

ABSENCES:

If you are unable to attend a class for a good reason please notify me before the class and then give me a note explaining the circumstances. I will not deduct points for absolutely unavoidable absences. The expectation is, however, that you will attend all the classes.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

If you have any special learning needs or are in circumstances which necessitate special consideration, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me within the first week of class or as soon as possible.

USEFUL SITES:

StudentAdvantage provides a free "Guide to the Disciplines" on their web site. This site includes a guide to Sociology. One of the topic folders is Social Theory. The best way to use this site is to "surf the folders" rather than use the search engine. This site also provides guides to other disciplines.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Office: Admin Bldg 433

Office Hours:
Tu: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Wed: 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Th: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
and by appointment

Phone:
OFFICE EX 3587
HOME EX 3115 (do not call after 9:00 PM)

E-mail Address: bucko@creighton.edu
Mail for Fr. Bucko

STUDENT INFORMATION:

Student Survey: If you are registered for this course for the FALL SEMESTER of 2000 please take the time to fill out this survey. This information will be kept confidential by the professor and will be used only for contacting you in an emergency and in gearing the course to your specific needs and interests. Simply fill in each box and then press the submit button and the survey will be mailed to your professor.

North Carolina Algonkian Socio-Spatial Arrangements (De Bry 1619)

COURSE LECTURES AND READINGS:

August 24 (Thursday) Class #1
Introduction
Schola Brevis
Please fill out our Student Survey if you have not done so already! Contact your instructor if you have any difficulty with this assignment.

August 29 (Tuesday) Class #2
Discussion: A Christmas Carol. Read this text looking for social facts as well as theory (the why of the social facts). Consider your own theory for this novel of social change. We will spend the class discussing the notion of theory as it applies to this work by Charles Dickens.

Auguest 31 (Thursday) Class #3
Auguste Comte 1795-1857
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 3-19

September 5 (Tuesday) Class #4
Auguste Comte 1795-1857
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 20-42
READING QUIZ 1

September 7 (Thursday) Class #5
Karl Marx 1818-1883
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 43-67

September 12 (Tuesday) Class #6
Karl Marx 1818-1883
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 68-88

September 14 (Thursday) Class #7
Mass of the Holy Spirit

September 19 (Tuesday) Class #8
Herbert Spencer 1820-1903
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 89-106

September 21 (Thursday) Class #9
Herbert Spencer 1820-1903
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 107-128
READING QUIZ 2

September 26 (Tuesday) Class #10
Emile Durkheim 1858-1917
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 129-148

September 28 (Thursday) Class #11
Emile Durkheim 1858-1917
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 149-176

October 3 (Tuesday) Class #12
Functionalism I - Malinowski
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 1-34

DUE: Title and synopsis of film you will use for your final paper: you may also propose a theoretical framework at this point.

October 5 (Thursday) Class #13

Functionalism II - Radcliffe-Brown
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 35-65
READING QUIZ 3

October 10 (Tuesday) Class #14
Review for Exam
Midterm Review Sheet (revised)

Midterm self-evaluation: Please fill out this self-evaluation form for your class participation grade.

October 12 (Thursday) Class #15
MIDTERM EXAMINATION

Early Paper Submissions: I will accept early versions of your papers for critique from today until noon on November 14th. To the best of my ability I will return your paper on the next scheduled class day (unless you submit the paper less than 24 hours before that particular class). These versions may be in any format: full text, outline, or synopsis. I also encourage you to discuss your papers on the workspace. I will comment where appropriate but prefer that you formulate approaches among yourselves. I have written a Paper Grading Guide to assist you in formulating the paper.

October 24 (Tuesday) Class #16
The Shift to Structuralism
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 66-93

Course Evaluation: Please fill out this form to help me improve the class.

October 26 (Thursday) Class #17
Anthropology and Colonialims
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 94-114
Cyber-class (the professor will be in New York City this day)

• Assess the role of anthropology in nineteenth and twentieth century colonialism based on your reading of Kuper and the information you find on the web. You may also use library resources if you are so inclined. You are required to make an initial statement on the listserv (soc301@creighton.edu) of at least two paragraphs basing your opinions on your readings. You are then required to respond to at least one of the comments made by your colleagues.
• Add to the workspace (BSCW) at least 8 URLs relevant either to our investigation of the relationship of anthropology to colonialism and/or to the specific theoriest you will utilize for your paper. I have constructed folders for these materials. You are welcome to add sub-folders if it will help organize your findings.
• All discussion and URL additions are to be completed by 8:00 AM, Saturday, October 28. Naturally you may continue adding information to the workspace as part of your participation grade.

October 28 (Tuesday) Class #18
George Simmel 1858-1918
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 177-199

November 2 (Thursday) Class #19
George Simmel 1858-1918
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 200-216

November 7 (Tuesday) Class #20
Max Weber 1864-1920
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 217-242
READING QUIZ 4

November 9 (Thursday) Class#21
Max Weber 1864-1920
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 243-262

November 14 (Tuesday) Class #22
Thorstein Veblen 1857-1929
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 263-288

November 16 (Thursday) Class #23
Thorstein Veblen 1857-1929
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 289-304
READING QUIZ 5

November 21 (Tuesday) Class #24
From Charism to Routinization
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 115-134
Paper Due-- must be handed in at the beginning of class (late papers will be penalized)
I have written a Paper Grading Guide to assist you in formulating the paper.

November 28 (Tuesday) Class #25
Charles Horton Cooley 1864-1929
Part I Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 305-332

Course Evaluation: Please fill out this form to help me improve the class.

November 30 (Thursday) Class #26
Charles Horton Cooley 1864-1929
Part II Masters of Sociological Thought pp. 305-332

December 5 (Tuesday) Class #27
Leach, Gluckman and Levi-Strauss
Anthropology and Anthropologists pp. 135-175

READING QUIZ 6

December 7 (Thursday) Class #28
Review for Final Exam
Today's class meets in Ignatius House, the Jesuit residence behind the Church and on the west side of the Jesuit Gardens. Enter and walk straight ahead into the large meeting room behind the glass doors. Lunch will be served!
FInal Exam Review Sheet

End of semester self-evaluation: Please fill out this self-evaluation form to suggest your class participation grade.

This form is due by HIGH NOON today (December 7) but may be filled out at any time before that within the final week of class (December 4 to 7).

December 12 (Tuesday)
1:00 - 2:40 PM Final Exam

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This page is managed by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Creighton University. E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu Page Last Updated: November 29, 2000

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