SOCI 1102/UGEC 1823

Sociology & Modern Society

First Term 2017-2018
Tue 14:30 - 17:15, YIA LT3
Professor Tony Tam
Office Hours: By appointment CA: GAO Haiyan (gaohaiyan@link.cuhk.edu.hk)
Room: Sino Bldg 416 Phone: 3943-1186 Email: tony.tam@cuhk.edu.hk

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the significance of sociological perspectives in understanding modern
society. Attention will be given to the application of sociological concepts and mechanisms to
understanding social phenomena. The course is designed particularly to develop intellectual skills,
as part of a student's general education, for a better understanding of the nature of modern society.

However, the course is not an in-depth study of modernity or a comprehensive introduction to

sociology. Instead, it is a form of liberal arts education through examining a sample of
sociological analyses on some of the key features of modern society. We will illustrate the
sociological perspective by examining not only classical sociological concerns but also some of
the most pressing social currents confronting Hong Kong society to date. The prerequisite for
success in the course is to personally engage in the intellectual journey of every class and express
your understanding verbally and in writing. Readings, slides, and test questions are in English but
the language of instruction and discussion in class is Cantonese (though Putonghua and English
are also permissible).

REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

True to the mission of a general education course, strong student performance will be mainly
defined by a demonstration of timely mastery of the issues covered in class. Thus assessments
will be mainly based on short tests (50% of the final grade). Spot tests consist of short questions
designed to monitor how well one follows the lecture materials and discussions in class. Thus
these tests are never prescheduled. There will only be one long test (20% of the final grade): a
midterm in-class exam. All tests are closed book; access to all electronic devices are prohibited.
Answers must be in Chinese (except for specialized terms). Test scores may be normalized if
adjustment is necessary to comply with departmental grading norms.

Success in the tests does not depend on the memorization of extensive facts or specific segments
of a reading but does hinge on (a) the timely understanding of the substantive topics, lectures, and
class discussions, and (b) the ability to express the ideas using ones own words. The goal is to
encourage a focus on constant and timely learning and minimize the impact of any single
assessment exercise. In line with the learning objective, most test questions require short essay
answers. The tests will usually cover materials within the most recent one to two weeks. Absence
from any test will result in a zero score for the test. For the semester, the lowest test score of a
students test record will be exempt from the final grade. This exemption does not include zero
score unless if it is the result of a students approved absencesuch as a pre-test application for
medical leave, later confirmed by an official proof.

Participation in class discussion matters (30% of the final grade). Class participation sometimes
takes the form of group-generated answers. When a group makes a score, the score is equal for all
members present. There will be up to 5% extra bonus points for very active and constructive
individual contributors to class discussion.

1
 Course Outline
Tentative
Schedule Topics

Week 1-2 Introduction : What is Sociology?

Sociology as a social science discipline

Suggested Readings: (1) Stanley Lieberson, 1992. Einstein, Renoir, and Greeley: Some
Thoughts about Evidence in Sociology. American Sociological Review 57:1-15. (2) Stanley
Lieberson, and Freda Lynn, 2002. Barking up the Wrong Branch: Scientific Alternatives to the
Current Model of Sociological Science. Annual Review of Sociology 28:1-19.

Week 3 The rise of modern society

Suggested Reading: (1) Krishan Kumar, 1988. The Rise of Modern Society. Oxford: Basil
Blackwell, pp. 3-35. (2) James S. Coleman, 1993. The Rational Reconstruction of Society.
American Sociological Review 58(1):1-15.

Week 4 Master trends : The rise of internet society and globalization

Suggested Readings: (1) Globalization in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization). (2)
Mark Granovetter, 1973. The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology
78:136080. (3) Paul DiMaggio, et al., 2001. Social Implications of the Internet. Annual
Review of Sociology 27:307-336. (4) Duncan Watts, 1999. Networks, Dynamics, and the
Small-World Phenomenon. American Journal of Sociology 105:493527.

Week 5 Master trends : Mass production, the rise of consumer society, & financialization
Suggested Readings: (1) Fordism in Wikipedia. (2) George Ritzer, 2001. Explorations in the
Sociology of Consumption. London: Sage, pp.108-144.

Week 6 Institutional analysis : School and education

Suggested Readings: (1) James S. Coleman, 1968. The Concept of Equality of Educational
Opportunity. Harvard Educational Review, pp. 7-22. (2) Douglas Downey, Paul T. von Hipple,
and Beckett A. Broh, 2004, Are Schools the Great Equalizer? Cognitive Inequality during the
Summer Months and the School Year. American Sociological Review 69(5):613-635.

Week 7 Institutional analysis : Marriage and the family

Suggested Readings: (1) David Popenoe, 2005. War Over the Family. New Brunswick:
Transaction Publishers, pp. 3-14. (2) Linda Waite, and Maggie Gallagher, 2000. The Case for
Marriage. New York: Doubleday. [Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9.] (3) Sara McLanahan, and Dona
Schwartz, 2002. Life Without Father: What Happens to the Children? Contexts 1(1):35-44.
(4) Alexandra Burt et al. 2010. Does Marriage Inhibit Antisocial Behavior? An Examination
of Selection vs Causation via a Longitudinal Twin Design. Archives of General Psychiatry
67(12):1309-1315. (5) Donohue, John J., and Steven D. Levitt. 2001. The Impact of Legalized
Abortion on Crime. Quarterly Journal of Economics 116: 379-420.

Week 8: Review and midterm test

Week 9-10 Institutional analysis : The political order

Suggested Readings: (1) Selected media reports as background readings before class. (2)
Francis Fukuyama. 2014. Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution
to the Globalization of Democracy. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSh6XmGmZak )

Week 11-13 Institutional analysis : The capitalist economy, corporations, and inequality
Suggested Readings: (1) Eduardo Porter. How Superstars Pay Stifles Everyone Else. New
York Times, December 25, 2010. (2) DiPrete, T., Eirich, G., and Pittinsky, M., 2010.
Compensation Benchmarking, Leapfrogs, and the Surge in Executive Pay. American Journal
of Sociology 115(6):1671-1712. [Especially review of literature and the conclusion.] (3)
Grusky, David. (ed.) 2008. Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological
Perspective, 3rd ed. Boulder, CO: Westview. [Chapters 89 and 90.]