Lecture outline and readings for Topic 2

Content: What is sociology about?

Basic concepts in study society
Major theoretical perspectives:
Functionalist perspective
Conflict perspective
Maris! and Fe!inis!
"ocial action perspective
#ost!odernist perspective
Which perspective is $right%?
&bjectives:
Explain so!e basic concepts in the study of society
&utline so!e of the !ajor perspectives in sociology and their respective
focuses in understanding society'
Discuss ho( the !ajor perspectives can help us understand different aspects
of society)
Major *eadings:
Tetboo+ Chapter , and for those (ho (ant to read further about !odern sociological
thin+ing- please refer to Chapter 2, of .iddens
/arala!bos M) and /olborn- M) 021123 Sociology: Themes and Perspectives 0seventh
edition3- Collins- 4ntroduction: "ociological #erspectives 0pp) 56,73
Colo!y- #aul 0211,3 $Three "ociological #erspectives%- in 8dler- #atricia 9 8dler-
#eter 0eds)3 Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Sociology. Bel!ont-
C8: Wads(orth:Tho!son Learning) pp) 2; < 72)
8bbot- #) Wallace- C) and Tyler M) 0211=3 7
rd
edition 8n 4ntroduction to "ociology:
Fe!inist #erspectives- pp) 7, < 72)
"upple!entary *eading: *eading 5, in Introductory Readings y !iddens
*eference:
.iddens- 8) 0(ith the assistance of >aren Birdsall3 0211,3) Sociology. =
th
edition- Ca!bridge: #olity #ress)
.iddens- 8) 0editor3 0211,3) Sociology: Introductory Readings) *evised edition-
Ca!bridge: #olity #ress)
.iddens- 8) 0,?2@3) Sociology: " rie# ut critical introduction 02
nd
ed)3 London:
Mac!illan Aducation)
.ubbay- B) 9 Middleton C) 0British editors3- Ballard- C) 08!erican editor3
0,??53) The Student$s Companion to Sociology% London: Blac+(ell #ublishing)
/arala!bos- M) 9 /olborn- M) 0211;3) Sociology: themes and perspectives 0@
th

ed)3- London: /arperCollins)
La(son- T) and .arrod- B) 021173) Complete "&' Sociology (andoo) 07
rd
ed)3)
London: /odder 9 "toughton)
Macionis- Bohn B) 9 #lu!!er >en 0211=3 Sociology: " !loal Introduction 07
rd
ed)3 #earson:#rentice /all)
Mc4ntyre- L) 021123) The Practical S)eptic: Core Concepts in Sociology. 2
nd
edition- Boston: Mc.ra( /ill)
*itCer- .) 0,??@3) Sociological Theory 0;
th
ed)3 "ingapore: Mc.ra(6/ill
Bau!an- D) and May- T) 0211,3 Thin)ing Sociologically 02
nd
ed)3) Corn(all:
Blac+(ell)
"cott- Bohn 0,??=3 Sociological Theory: Contemporary Deates Cheltenha!:
Ad(ard Algar)
Taylor- ") 0ed)3 0,???3) Sociology: Issues and Deates. London: Mac!illan)