CRITICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING - 2017/8

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

EVERGETI V Dr (Sociology)

Number of Credits

15

Module cap (Maximum number of students)

N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module overview

This module builds upon the knowledge that students have developed at level 1, and focuses on some key issues within the critical side of sociological thinking. It examines differences between forms of critical sociological explanation discussed within their socio-historical context and in relation to such broad issues as the nature of social organisation, the workings of power, and modes of everyday behaviour, and such more specific issues as inequality, capitalism, the culture, social change and environmental degradation. It also considers the value of each past and contemporary critical sociological perspective and of the more general critical sociological enterprise. 

Module aims

Cover some key paradigms within sociological theory

Consider the relevance today of these paradigms

Compare and evaluate critical and descriptive forms of sociological thinking 

Learning outcomes

Module content

Indicative content includes:


The critical traditions of Marxism and Western Marxism

The critical tradition of feminism

Race critical theory

Environmentalist critiques

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Introduce students to different forms of sociological thinking and encourage them to assess their respective applicability to the world around them.

The learning and teaching methods include:


11 lectures and 11 seminars OR student-centred learning (weekly 2-hour bloc) depending on student numbers
Weekly reading and seminar preparation
Seminar discussions
Summative commentary to encourage students to apply forms of sociological thinking to the world around them

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

knowledge of the differences and similarities between different forms of critical sociological thinking and a capacity to apply them to their own experiences as social actors

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


 A commentary giving students the opportunity to apply concepts and ideas covered on the module to a current social phenomenon (week 6)
 A seen exam including a question for each of the perspectives covered on the module (week 13-14)


Formative assessment and feedback

Verbal feedback in tutorials

Reading list

Reading list for CRITICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING : http://aspire.surrey.ac.uk/modules/soc2071

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2017/8 academic year.