Foundations in Social and Anthropological Theory

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically discuss key theoretical ideas with their peers and teachers
• Outline the theoretical ideas, questions and concepts of these theorists.
• Identify key social theorists or groups of theorists and describe the historical context in which they were/are writing
• Critically assess these ideas, questions and concepts and their application and relevance to issues in the contemporary social world.
• Write clear and well-structured essays that critically assess theoretical ideas, questions and concepts.
• Read and evaluate social theory texts on the module reading list

The module introduces you to key thinkers and their contributions to social and anthropological theory. Different theories are introduced in their historical context highlighting the particular issues their proponents initially sought to grapple with and explain at the time they were writing. The module follows the chronological development of social theory over the course of 150 years. It begins with the classical theories of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim in the late 19th and early 20th century and traces a course through the modern theorists Talcott Parsons, Erving Goffman and Michel Foucault writing in the mid-20th century, to the contemporary social theory of Edward Said, Sylvia Walby and Anthony Giddens. In the process we consider the broad conceptual questions these theories address; questions of power, socialisation, knowledge, identity, and the relationship between structure and agency. We highlight the relevance of theory to the world we inhabit today. The ideas you will get to hear about on this module form the foundations of many of the topics you will study over the course of your degree. Finally, as a core first year module for a number of programmes in SSPC we aim to help you develop skills that you will make use of in your time at university and beyond. On this module that means reading and understanding social theory in books and articles, being able to discuss and talk about theoretical ideas and being able to write about social theory in a clear and critical way. These objectives define the module aims and learning outcomes.

Teaching and learning methods

This module is based around 11 lectures and 9 seminars for each seminar group.

Assessment strategy

The module is assessed by a mid-term reading comprehension test (30%) and a 2000 word essay (60%) and seminar participation and discussion activities (10%).

Summative

Summative assessment description

Referral

Referral assessment description

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External