CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SOCIOLOGY - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module introduces the student to the basics of sociological thinking, analysing and writing. The student will be introduced to some of the fundamental approaches in sociology such as positivism, functionalism, constructivism, post-modernism. The focus of the module is to engage the student in critical thinking about these approaches and whether and how they can help understand society and solve current societal problems.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

ELSENBROICH Corinna (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 3

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• History of Sociology


• Understanding or explaining society?


• Holism and Individualsm


• Positivism and constructivism


• Social dynamics


• Social dimensions of differentiation


• Methods in Sociology

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they have (a) learnt critical engagement with sociological thinking and writings and (b) can apply the gained knowledge in a critical way in an essay.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• one 1000 word annotated bibliography in which the students can show their engagement with sociological literature. Each reference entry should contain a note on the content and its relationship to other approaches.


• one 1500 word essay in which the student can use the knowledge from the annotated bibliography and demonstrate that they can construct a critical argument from a sociological frame of mind.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will be asked to work in small groups in most sessions and then present and discuss ideas based on the topics covered for that week. Formal verbal feedback will be given at the end of the session.

Module aims

• Introduce the main approaches in sociology
• Develop critical thinking and writing skills
• Develop understanding of how different approaches relate to understanding social phenomena
• Understand how to approach current social problems from different sociological perspectives

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Encourage students to think critically about sociological approaches and to identify how sociology can be used to approach social problems

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Eleven 2 hour seminars based around lectures, group work and open discussions;

Students are expected to critically engage with weekly topics and will be asked to contribute to group presentations throughout the module.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOC0001

Other information

N/A

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 2020/1 academic year.