Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC1037: Introduction to Social Analysis: Classical Social Theory

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

1. Introduction: Modernity: The age of revolution and Enlightenment.

2-4. Durkheim: The reality of social facts; The origin & development of modern society; Theory of Suicide and anomie.

5-7. Marx: Dialectic, ideology, and science; Historical materialism; Alienation and exploitation.

8-10. Weber: Science, value and meaning; The spirit of capitalism and rationality; Ideal types, value-neutrality and Verstehen.

11. Marx, Weber and Durkheim: The theoretical legacy.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
271230

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 2211 x two hours weekly lectures. Lectures provide students with a broad overview of types and ways of social analysis; they cover more ground than is possible in tutorials, and are designed to establish a context in which to think about the issues discussed in tutorials.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 55 x fortnightly 1 hour tutorials. A specific reading is assigned, and students are provided with a list of key issues to identify and discuss for each tutorial. Texts are carefully chosen as classic exemplars of the core course themes.
Guided Independent study33Course readings
Guided Independent study45Preparation for essays, library, research
Guided Independent study45Exam revisions

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).