2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SLSP1020 Sociological Thinking

20 creditsClass Size: 315

Module manager: Dr Richard Kilminster
Email: r.c.j.kilminster@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Do you want to reorientate your thinking about human life? Do you want to do this in a way different from psychology, biology or philosophy? Do you want a module which gets to the core of our lives together? SLSP1020 does just that by initiating you into the sociological way of seeing the world. You already know a lot about society, but here we provide the perspective and the concepts you need to sharpen that understanding into a powerful tool. It will enable you to see the social patterns that lie beneath the political rhetoric and the noise of the media in our society. And perhaps even to solve the age-old mystery of what exactly is 'society'. The module also introduces the exciting proposition that sociology can tackle in a different way some of the 'big questions' traditionally posed by philosophers. What are the social roots of moral conduct? How do I know what I know? Who am I? What is freedom? Students without A level Sociology are at no disadvantage. Contact: Richard Kilminster r.c.j.kilminster@leeds.ac.uk or undergradsociologysocialpolicy@leeds.ac.uk

Objectives

To introduce (a) the main concepts used in sociology; (b) important sociological problems; (c) basics of the central traditions in the discipline; and (d) the sociological way of looking at social life and human societies. On successful completion of this module, students should have acquired an outline knowledge of these four areas; an understanding of the unique character of social regularities which sociology explains in a non-individualistic way; and an appreciation of the importance of a long-term perspective in sociology.

Skills outcomes
Written skills, presentational skillsWritten skills, presentational skills

Syllabus

Concepts: culture, norms, values, self, socialisation, social control, identity, gender, interaction, interdependence, power, civilizing processes and stratification. Problems: sociology as a science; social integration; individual and society; sources of social power; inequality; urbanism; and ideologies. Traditions: Comtean positivism, Marxism, Weberianism, Durkheimism, and interactionism. 'Thinking sociologically' about everyday life.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			179.00
Total Contact hours			21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

179 hours: 100 hours for essay and exam, 40 hours preparation for tutorials, 39 hours reading for lectures.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance at tutorials.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/01/2010

Disclaimer

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