Introduction to Sociology (SILS) 2021

As for the newest schedule, please check Waseda Moodle's "Announcement."

1. About this course

This course is an introduction to contemporary sociology for beginners. In this course, the instructor will explain the basic concepts in sociology. The knowledge of the basic concepts in sociology will enable students to study more advanced topics in sociology.

2. Textbook

Anthony Giddens and Philip Sutton, 2017, Essential Concepts in Sociology, second edition, Polity Press
ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-1667-4 (pb)

The textbook is necessary. This book is available at the university coop bookstore or other stores.
If you do not have the textbook, you should not take this course. Please read the textbook carefully before you watch the video on the Waseda Moodle.
This course is an on-demand one, and so there is no fixed class time. Students can see the video of the lecture at any time of the week.
The presentation video by the instructor will be posted to the Waseda Moodle by Monday. For example, the video that covers “Thinking Sociologically” will be available on April 12.
The PDF file of the same contents (without narration) will be posted to the same page of the Moodle. Please study these materials carefully.


3. Schedule

As for the newest schedule, please see 'announcement' of Waseda Moodle.
Below is an old version.

4/05-11 Orientation
4/12-18 1. Thinking Sociologically
Discourse, globalization, modernity, postmodernity, rationalization, society, structure/agency.
4/19-25 2. Doing Sociology
Ideal type, qualitative/quantitative methods, realism, reflexivity, science., social constructionism.
4/26-5/02 3. Environment and Urbanism
Alienation, environment, industrialization, migration, risk, sustainable development, urbanism.
5/10-16 4. Structures of Society
Bureaucracy, capitalism, consumerism, division of labor, education, organization.
5/17-23 5. Unequal Life Chances
Religion, class, gender, intersectionality, patriarchy, poverty.
5/24-30 6. Relationship and the Life Course
'Race' and ethnicity, social mobility, status, community, family, life course
5/31-6/06 7. Interaction and Communication
Network, sexuality, socialization, culture, identity, ideology.
6/07-13 8. Health, Illness and the Body
Interaction, mass media, public sphere, biomedicine, medicalization, sick role.
6/14-20 9. Crime and Social Control
Social model of disability, social self, stigma, anomie, deviance, labeling.
6/21-27 10. Poiltical Sociology
Moral panic, restorative justice, social control, authority, citizenship, civil society.
6/28-7/04
7/05-11 Political Sociology Continued
Conflict, democracy, nation-state, power, social movement
7/12-18 Supplement

Each lesson covers about six concepts. Each session does not necessarily cover one chapter.


4. Grading

Final essay 100 %
Please submit your essay by July 20. Pick up some topic or topics explained in the course and do your own research about them in about 1,000 words.

As has already been written, the grading of this class will be based on the final paper you will submit by July 20.
Choose one or more topics from concepts and ideas explained in the textbook, and write an essay about it (them) in more than 1,000 words. Notes: This course is an introduction to sociology. In university courses, the ability for critical thinking is essential. However, because this course is to offer the foundation for critical thinking, critical thinking is not a criterion of grading of this course. The criterion of grading is that students have learned the textbook concepts and use them in correct ways.
?? First of all, use as many concepts you learned as possible in your essay.
Important points are
1. How many concepts you use in your essay.
2. You understand the meaning of each concept correctly.
Please write sociological concepts in boldface. For example,

“Religion is still a very influential phenomenon. It is related with power and the sense of alienation".


5. Other Information

When you want to send me a mail, do not use Waseda Moodle's mailing system.
To reply to the mail sent from Moodle, I have to log in to it each time. It is very troublesome, so please send your mail directly to ab@sakurai.jp.