Rhodes University Department of Sociology

Sociology 1 Handout Number 3

Lecturer: Michael Drewett

IntroductiontoSociology
Term12013

Welcome to the Sociology Department!

This first term course is an introduction to sociology. As such it will cover a number of
crucial areas, providing you with a firm grounding in sociology, including what sociology is,
how it arose and what it means to think sociologically. It will also introduce you to the ways
in which sociologists explain different phenomena within society.
You will discover that sociology is the study of society and that our central focus is on
how society operates, how it affects the way individuals think and behave, and how our
lifestyle and life chances are more a product of society than something of our own choosing.
It will also become clear that sociology is not simply a discipline concerned with social
phenomena, but that it is a way of thinking about the world which challenges our commonly
accepted beliefs and assumptions. In short, sociology is a form of consciousness which will
change the way you think about yourself, your social networks and your world. Ultimately it
should provide you with an important framework within which to situate your life and
surroundings.
Course structure
The course is divided into a number of areas which are all crucial to gaining an understanding
of what sociology is and what it entails. The sub-sections of the course are as follows:

Introduction to sociology as the study of society; the relation between the individual
and society.
Society, control and resistance.
The origins of sociology as a discipline and the central theoretical divides within
sociology.

How to prepare for this course

A lecture structure is provided below. Each lecture has a title and accompanying reading. It is
in your interests to read the relevant reading prior to each lecture so that you come to the
lecture prepared and with some idea as to what the lecture will be about. It is useful to make a
note of any questions you would like to have answered, and ask these at the lecture, or
alternatively, to look out for answers during the lecture. After each lecture you might want to
go over the reading again to clarify any remaining areas of confusion. A list of additional
readings is provided at the end of this course outline; you could consult these for further
information or if a particular topic especially interests you. There are also many general
sociology library books relevant to the course. You are encouraged to browse the shelves and
dip into books when necessary.
Not only is reading prior to a lecture an important means of preparation, but it also allows
you to concentrate more on what the lecturer has to say, and less on taking notes. If you read
prior to the lecture you will realise that a lot of the things covered in the lectures are not new
to you, so you wont have to write everything down. Rather, you will be able to jot down
important points, the structure of the lecture, examples and so on. Lectures are not to be used
entirely for taking down notes. Try to participate in the lecture as much as possible - not only
through asking questions, but by thinking about what is being said and jotting down areas
which interest and confuse you. You can then do further reading around these sections of the
work.
Given that lectures are based on a wide variety of readings, no single reading is able to
capture a lecture in its entirety: recommended readings do not mirror lectures. Sometimes the
recommended readings will include a lot of the lecture material, other times not. On occasion
additional readings will be referred to in lectures, while some general readings are included
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later in this course outline. You are advised to consult these when necessary.
SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
LECTURE
1
2
3
4

TOPIC

READING

Introduction to the course

No reading

Sociology as the study of

society
Sociology as a debunking
discipline
Sociology as a form of
consciousness: Berger and
Mills

Giddens, A. 2006. Sociology (5th ed.) (p.

4-7; 26-27). Cambridge: Polity.
Berger, P. 1963. Invitation to sociology.
(Ch. 2). London: Penguin.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p.xxv). London: Collins.

SECTION TWO: THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY

5

Socialization and culture

Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.

Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p.vi-xi). London: Collins.

Culture and cultural relativity Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.

Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p.vi-xi). London: Collins.

Socialization

8
9
10
11
12

Berger, P. 1976. Sociology: A

biographical approach. (Ch. 3).
Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Transcript available at:
Socialization: Video Secrets
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcript
of the wild child
s/2112gchild.html
Berger, P. 1976. Sociology: A
Socialization
biographical approach. (Ch. 3).
Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Sex and gender; Gender
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
socialisation
(6th ed.) (p. 92-102). London: Collins.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Gender socialisation and
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
sexism
(6th ed.) (pp. 92-102). London: Collins.
Transcript available at:
Gender socialisation: video
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcript
Sex: unknown
s/2813gender.html
SECTION THREE: SOCIETY, CONTROL AND RESISTANCE

13
14

Foucault: The docile body

Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
(The body as cultural text and Sociology: themes and perspectives.
locus of social control)
(6th ed.)(p.581-585). London: Collins.
Van Zoonen, L. 1994. Spectatorship
Surveillance society
and the gaze in Feminist Media
Studies. London: Sage.

15

Cultural assimilation and

cultural struggle

16

Cultural assimilation and

cultural struggle (in Africa)

Kammeyer, K. et al. 1994. Sociology:

experiencing changing societies. (6th
ed.) (Ch. 3). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Cabral, A. 1972. Culture, colonization,
and national liberation in de Bragana,
A. and Wallerstein, I. (eds.) The African
liberation reader 1. London: Zed Press.

SECTION 4: THE ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL THEORY

17

18

19

20

21

The
rise
capitalism

of

industrial

Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2000.

Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p.6-9). London: Collins

Giddens, A. 2006. Sociology (5th ed.) (p.

8-25). Cambridge: Polity.
The emergence of sociology Open University. 1971. The sociological
perspective. (Unit 2).
Bletchley: Open University Press.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
Functionalism: Durkheim
(6th ed.)(p.xiv-xv; 934-939). London:
Collins.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Interactionism: Weber andSociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p. xviii-xx; 953-958). London:
Mead
Collins.
Interactionism: Mead

22

Historical materialism: Marx

23

Historical materialism: Marx

Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.

Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.)(p. 961-963). London: Collins.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.) .)(p.xvi- xviii; 944-950).
London: Collins.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004.
Sociology: themes and perspectives.
(6th ed.) .)(p.xvi- xviii; 944-950).
London: Collins.

Course evaluation
During the course you will be expected to complete one assignment which will contribute
towards your overall year mark. You MUST complete this as part of your DP requirements
for Sociology I. It constitutes 7, 5% of your overall Sociology 1 mark (25% of your year
mark), so must be taken seriously.
Assignment: Test
A 45-minute test will be written at 19h00 on Tuesday March 12 in the two Barratt Lecture
Theatres (Students with surnames A-M in Lectures Theatre 1 and N-Z in Lecture Theatre 2).
You must be seated ten minutes before the test begins (at 18h50). You will need to write one
essay during this time (out of a choice of three questions). All work covered in the course up
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to and including Lecture Topic 16 must to be included in your test preparation.

Your June examination will include at least two 45-minute essay answers in the same
format as this test. This test will thus provide you with a clear indication as to how well you
cope with an examination-type situation. Put a lot of effort into preparing for the test so that
you can learn as much as possible from the experience.
Tutorials
There will be three tutorials this term. These are compulsory. For each tutorial you need to
read a prescribed reading, write a 300 word tutorial assignment in response to a set question
and attend the tutorial meeting. You need to ensure that you are allocated to a tutorial group
and must always attend the tutorial meeting (venue and time) assigned to you. The tutorials
take place on a Thursday or a Friday. A list of tutorial groups, venues and times will be placed
on the Sociology I notice board at the beginning of the second week of term. The first tutorial
meeting will take place in the week of the 18th February. At least one of the tutorial questions
will appear in the June examination, so it is in your interest to take each tutorial seriously:
read the reading carefully, think about the central issue(s) and write a structured response to
the question. Actively take part in the tutorial discussions and jot down points made by
others. When you get your assignment back take note of your tutors comments and ensure
that you know how to improve your answer. Make an effort to rewrite your answer,
introducing changes based on your tutors comments, your tutorial notes and additional
reading. This is an excellent means of preparing for the June examination.
Tutorial assignment requirements: For all tutorials you are required to type a 300 word
assignment in response to the tutorial question. Your assignment must be properly referenced
(see Handout Number 1 for instructions on how to reference). You need to submit this to your
tutor at the beginning of your tutorial. If you fail to comply with this requirement your tutor
has been instructed to ask you to leave the tutorial and to mark you as absent.

Tutorial No 1: 21 & 22 February

Topic: Introducing sociology
Questions: What is sociological thinking? Use sociological reasoning to explain why we
mostly behave in conventional ways rather than behaving very differently to everyone else.
Reading: Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. 2004. Sociology: themes and perspectives. (6th
ed.)(p.xxv). London: Collins.

Tutorial No 2: 28 February & 1 March

Topic: Feral children and socialization
Question: What are feral and isolated children and why are they important to sociologists?
Reading: Explore cases of feral children on the internet. Below are two helpful sites to begin
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with, but you can also find information in many introductory sociology text books and
elsewhere on the internet.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Nature-Vs-Nurture---A-Sociological-Approach-to-Feral,-Isolated,and-Institutionalized-Children&id=2405260
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mskinner/Sociology/Socialization/feral_children.htm

Tutorial No 3: 7 & 8 March

Topic: Gender socialization
Questions: What is the difference between sex and gender in the process of gender
socialization? What are the most important lessons that sociologists can learn from the case
of Bruce (who became Brenda)?
Reading: Watch the film Sex: Unknown (in lectures) and read the transcript at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2813gender.html. You can also do additional
research and reading in introductory sociology books in the library and articles on the
internet.

Course outcomes
By the end of the course you need to:
1. Know what sociology is;
2. Distinguish between common sense understandings of the social world and those
based on sociological explanations;
3. Realize that sociological explanations require an approach which goes beyond surface
appearances and explores deeper dynamics involved in social processes;
4. Have a critical understanding of the relationship between the individual and society;
5. Understand that individuals are shaped by society but that they are not powerless in
determining their behaviour;
6. Have a general understanding of the origins of Sociology as a discipline;
7. Understand what social theory is and how (in general) sociologists attempt to explain
human society.
Strongly recommended readings
Haralambos. M. and Holborn, M. 2004. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. (6th edition).
London: Collins.
Supplementary textbooks
Bilton, 1987. Introductory sociology. (2nd ed) London: Macmillan.
Giddens, A. 2006. Sociology (5th ed.). Cambridge: Polity.
Henslin, J.H. 1993. Down to earth sociology. (Seventh edition) New York: The Free Press.
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References for additional reading

Sociology as the study of society/the effect of society on the individual/culture.
Abrahamson, M. 1981. Sociological theory: an introduction to concepts, issues and
research. (Chapter 1) London: Prentice-Hall.
Berger, P.L. and Berger, B. 1976. Sociology: a biographical approach. (Chapters 1-3)
Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Cabral, A. 1972. Culture, colonization, and national liberation in de Bragana, A. and
Wallerstein, I. (eds) The African liberation reader Volume 1. London: Zed Press.
Fanon, F. 1970. Toward the African revolution. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Hansen, D. 1976. An invitation to critical sociology. (Chapters 2-4) New York: Free Press.
Mills, C.W. 1959. The sociological imagination. (Chapter 1) Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Odetola, T. and Ademola, A. 1985. Sociology: an introductory African text. (Chapters 1, 4
& 5). London: Macmillan.
Open University Press. 1971. The sociological perspective. (Chapter 1) Bletchley: Open
University Press.
Surveillance society
Bordo, S. 1997. The body and the reproduction of femininity in Conboy, K. et. al. (Eds.)
Writing on the body. New York: Columbia University Press.
Gill, R. 2007. Gender and the Media. Chapter 8. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Van Zoonen, L. 1994. Spectatorship and the gaze in Feminist Media Studies. London:
Sage.
The origins of sociology
Hunt, E.K. 1978. Property and prophets. (Chapters 1-4) New York: Harper and Row.
Sherman, H. and Wood, J. 1989. Sociology: traditional and radical perspectives. (Chapter
21) New York: Harper and Row.
Theory
Open University Press. 1971. The sociological perspective.(Chapter 3) Bletchley: Open
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University Press.

Works of fiction/biography
Given that sociology is interested in society and the way in which society influences
individuals, works of fiction and biographical accounts of people's lives can be of interest and
benefit to you as a sociology student. Listed below are some books from which you might
like to select a few to read if you have the time. You can use these as examples to illustrate
points you make in the test and June exam. If you are a student for whom English is a second
or third language it is a good idea to read as much as possible as a means to improving your
fluency in English.
Camus, A. 1983. The outsider. London: Penguin.
Capote, T. 1976. In cold blood. London: Penguin.
Head, B. 1987. When rain clouds gather. Oxford: Heinemann.
Malan, R. 1990. My traitor's heart. London: Vintage.
McEwan, I. 1978. The cement garden. London: Picador.
Modisane, B. 1986. Blame me on history. Parklands: A.D. Donker.
Orwell, G. 1966. Down and out in Paris and London. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Orwell, G. 1962. The road to Wigan Pier. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Walker, A. 1982. You cant keep a good woman down. London: Womens Press.