Module Descriptors
APPROACHES AND PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY I
XXXX46882
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 4
20 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 136
Total Learning Hours: 160
Assessment
- COURSEWORK - REVIEW weighted at 50%
- COURSEWORK -ESSAY weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
1 x critical review of a piece of academic writing (1,000 words) 50%
1 x essay (2,000 words) 50%
1 x essay (2,000 words) 50%
Module Indicative Content
- The nature of the sociological perspective - personal troubles and social problems.
- 18th and 19th century social transformations and the origins of sociology.
- The influence of the Enlightenment, of positivism and of political and industrial revolutions on the development of Sociology.
- Classical and 'grand' theory in Sociology - the work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim on the analysis of modernity.
- The concepts of social structure and social action/agency and their inter-relation.
Module Assessment
A COURSEWORK - REVIEW length 1000 WORDS weighted at 50%. A COURSEWORK -ESSAY length 2000 WORDS weighted at 50%.
Module Texts
Giddens, A. (1997) 'Sociology: Introductory Readings', Polity.
Gubbay, J., Middleton, C. & Ballard, C. (eds) (1997) 'The Student's Companion to Sociology', Blackwell.
Macionis, J. & Plummer, J. (1998) 'Sociology: A Global Introduction', Prentice Hall.
Marsh, I. (ed) (2000, 2nd ed) 'Sociology: Making Sense of Society', Pearson Education.
Module Resources
1 The Library.
2 PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to e-mail, the Internet, word processing, etc.
3 Rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work.
4 Video playback facilities.
2 PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to e-mail, the Internet, word processing, etc.
3 Rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work.
4 Video playback facilities.
Module Learning Strategies
Weekly whole group formal lecture, supported by weekly part-group seminars. Seminars will support students' learning through giving guidance on the use of independent study time, through supporting the development of study and other key skills, through encouraging students to engage with the major ideas and themes introduced in lectures via discussions guided by questions on central issues and through preparing students for their assessment. In addition, students are encouraged to seek individual tutorial guidance relating to their progress and performance.
Module Learning Outcome
1 Students will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of:-
- The nature of the sociological imagination.
- The origins of sociology and its connection with the emergence of modernity.
- The nature of 'classical' or 'grand theory' in sociology, with reference to the work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim.
- The difference between 'structural' and 'action' approaches.
- one particular topic area in more depth chosen from the module handbook as well as a more specialised area of inquiry relating to the subject matter chosen for their review of a piece of academic writing.
2 Students will also have opportunities to begin to develop:-
- The skills required for the effective presentation of written arguments in essay and review format.
- A variety of personal skills for life-long learning (such as self-discipline and perseverance, self-motivation and initiative, and flexibility and adaptability).
3 In addition, although not formally assessed, the teaching and learning strategy provides students with opportunities to begin to develop:-
- Oral communication skills (such as asking and responding to questions and listening to others).
- The nature of the sociological imagination.
- The origins of sociology and its connection with the emergence of modernity.
- The nature of 'classical' or 'grand theory' in sociology, with reference to the work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim.
- The difference between 'structural' and 'action' approaches.
- one particular topic area in more depth chosen from the module handbook as well as a more specialised area of inquiry relating to the subject matter chosen for their review of a piece of academic writing.
2 Students will also have opportunities to begin to develop:-
- The skills required for the effective presentation of written arguments in essay and review format.
- A variety of personal skills for life-long learning (such as self-discipline and perseverance, self-motivation and initiative, and flexibility and adaptability).
3 In addition, although not formally assessed, the teaching and learning strategy provides students with opportunities to begin to develop:-
- Oral communication skills (such as asking and responding to questions and listening to others).