SOC30330 Currents in Contemporary Theory

Academic Year 2020/2021

Building on SOC20100, Sociological Theory Level 2, this module provides students with a detailed examination of some of the major currents in contemporary social theory. The module is organised into distinct independently assessed sections, each focussed on one major current within social theory. Each section examines the organising concepts, ideas and claims of that tradition through the empirical studies generated by, and associated with, the theories in question. For 2020-212 those sections are: Foucault; Latour and Actor-Network-Theory; Sociology of Nature.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Students successfully completing the module will:
1. Acquire detailed familiarity with major currents in contemporary sociological research and theory;
2. Deepen their understanding of the close ties between theory, research, and substantive empirical enquiry;
3. Learn how to critically assess and evaluate the claims of competing theories, research traditions and rival empirical studies;
4. Sharpen and refine their analytic skills;
5. Enhance their capacity to formulate and present complex ideas in written form;
6. Improve their capacity to assess evidence, argument, and major social theoretical claims.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Autonomous Student Learning

125
Total

145
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; In-class task-based seminars; In-class small group discussions; Collective word clouds and surveys in Mentimeter; Videos; In-class debates; Q&A sessions; Discussion forums in BrightSpace. For 2020-21 these activities will be provided in an online format. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students will be expected to have completed SOC10010 Foundations in Sociology and SOC20100 Sociological Theory 2 before entry to the module.

Learning Recommendations:

Elective and international students are expected to have completed at least one social theory module before embarking on this course.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
SOC10010 - Foundations of Sociology, SOC20100 - Sociological Theory Level 2

Incompatibles:
SOC30140 - Sociological Theory Level 3


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: I. Foucault Assignment Week 4 n/a Graded No

35
Assignment: III. Eco/Nature Assignment Week 11 n/a Graded No

32
Assignment: II. Latour Assignment Week 8 n/a Graded No

33

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Each of the three assessed items will have individual grades and feedback sheets. Group feedback commenting on patterns of grades and quality of work will also be provided in class and on BrightSpace.