PO0SOC-Sociology

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:F
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Dawn Clarke
Email: d.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key theories, methods and topics within sociology. To critically appraise the development of key institutions within society, and provide a sociological perspective to social problems within society.

Aims:

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key theories, methods and topics within sociology. To critically appraise the development of key institutions within society, and apply a sociological perspective to social processes, social relationships and social problems within society.

As well as campus delivery of the module, online delivery will include screencasts, narrated PowerPoint, live sessions and discussion boards.  Students can successfully complete the module on campus or remotely online.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the completion of the module the student will be expected to:

a. Be able to identify common themes within sociology such as culture, identity, social class, gender and ethnicity, structure and action, the nature of a social group, and to be able to apply these to module topics such as the Family, Crime and Deviance, etc.

b. Be able to identify the differences between a sociological explanation and psychological and biological explanations.

c. Critically appraise sociological theories including Functionalism, Marxism and Symbolic Interactionism;

d. Understand what is meant by the scientific method, the nature of hypothesis testing, causality and correlation, be able to distinguish between Positivism and Interpretivism,

e. Understand sociological research techniques including primary research methods such as questionnaires, interviews and observational methods. They should also be able to distinguish between these methods and secondary methods such as content analysis, official statistics, etc.

f. Demonstrate the skills of evaluation, analysis and synthesis and show an ability to present a critical argument with relevance, clarity and coherence.

g. Successfully engage with the University online teaching resources (eg. Online live teaching, live group classes, assessment delivery, assessment submissions and performance monitoring).  

Additional outcomes:
a. Critically understand historical and contemporary social problems;
b. Apply sociological thinking to every aspect of social life.

Outline content:

Content is indicative and may be subject to minor changes: The module is designed to introduce students to the different ways that sociologists think about the social world and the research strategies that they have developed in order to investigate social issues and social problems. They will be shown how to apply this knowledge to a number of selected sociological topics. In the first term, students are introduced to core concepts such as culture, identity, socialisation, and social roles. A number of research techniques will be learned by way of practical classes, and these will include questionnaires, interviews and observation techniques. In addition, students will be introduced to other core topics within sociology, such as the family.. In the second term, students will learn about key sociological perspectives such as Functionalism, Marxism, Symbolic Interactionism and Postmodernism and they will be shown the links between positivism and the scientific method and Interpretivi sm and qualitative research. They will also study mass media and crime and deviance. The third term will comprise crime and deviance and practical workshops on theory and method.

Group work and workshops will either be run in the classroom or for students studying online they will learn how to effectively use technology in collaborative workshop sessions, including the use of break-out rooms to simulate a classroom experience.

Seminar presentations will be delivered in a classroom setting or for the students working remotely, they will learn how to deliver presentations remotely to an online audience. The aim will be for a shared experience and topics chosen can be from any area of the module including popular topics like media and the role of social media, also crime and deviance, culture and identity and the family.

Global context:
Students will be encouraged to make links to their own and other countries.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will involve three weekly lectures to be followed by a mixture of:

a. Weekly seminar/tutorials;

b. Research practicals.

Teaching will be delivered in the classroom and for students studying remotely online lectures are pre-recorded and delivered online for students to access in their own time.  Tutorials are live interactive sessions delivered in the classroom for students on campus and through the online teaching pla tform Blackboard through Blackboard Collaborate for students studying remotely.  Virtual breakout rooms allow students studying remotely to participate in smaller group work activities.  Face-to-face and online surgery sessions allow students to get extra live support and feedback from their tutor.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	44	44	20
Seminars	11	11	5
Tutorials	11	11	5
Guided independent study:	98	98	42
Total hours by term	164	164	72
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	40
Class test administered by School	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Two three-hour examinations in June. These will either be taken on campus or as online examinations.  

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Two pieces of coursework and two in-house end of term tests in December and March. Coursework submitted onto Blackboard for both students on campus and those studying remotely online.  The end of term tests will either be in a classroom or taken online.

Formative assessment methods:

Exercises, seminar presentations and quizzes either done in the classroom or remotely online.  

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:
By written examination only in August / September (two three-hour examination papers).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding: There may be optional costs associated with photocopying or printing sources listed on the reading list relating to this module. Please note that the Library charges approximately 5p per photocopy.
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2021