Unit information: Thinking Sociologically in 2018/19

Unit name	Thinking Sociologically
Unit code	SOCI10004
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Sealy
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will introduce students to what it means to view the world from a sociological perspective. Through a series of contemporary case studies, the unit will discuss the relationship between sociology and the modern world. It will provide an overview of sociology's central debates (culture and nature, individual and society) and discuss its more recent developments (such as postmodernism and the cultural turn). The aim of the unit is to encourage the development of students' own 'sociological imagination'.

Aims:

• To introduce students to the discipline of Sociology

• To discuss what makes sociological knowledge distinctive

• To familiarise students with key debates within the discipline

• To develop students’ capacity for sociological analysis

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate awareness of the historical emergence of sociology (1)

• Contrast sociological work with other forms of discourse (2)

• Critically engage with sociological writing (3)

Teaching Information

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour seminar.

Assessment Information

1500 word essay for formative development:

Summative assessment: 2000 word essay (assessing LOs 1, 2 and 3)

Reading and References

• Z Bauman and T May, 2001, Thinking Sociologically, Oxford: Blackwell.

• R Jenkins, 2002, Foundations of Sociology, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

• N Abercrombie, 2004, Sociology, Cambridge: Polity.