Contemporary Issues in Sociology has two key objectives. The first is to provide the theoretical grounding necessary to becoming a sociologist. It introduces students to some of sociology's key thinkers and tracks the historical development of sociological theory from ‘classical' to 'contemporary'. It presents a critical account of theory and by the end of the module students will have a repertoire of theory available to them. The second objective is to make theory ‘useful' by offering the professional tools necessary to apply it to a range of fresh, contemporary social issues.
Students are expected to demonstrate their full engagement with the module by keeping a regular, up to date personal research diary. This diary will be used to produce research notes relevant to everyday experiences and students will be expected to reflect on these experiences within the context of the theoretical discussions in the lectures. Students will be expected to discuss their diary entries in seminars.
The module teaches theory and its application and provides an appropriate theoretical and skills grounding for Levels 5 and 6.
On successful completion of the module student will be able to:
This module is taught through integrated workshops that combine the features of lectures and seminars. The workshops will provide a discussion of different contemporary issues and will relate them to social theory. This will ground and orientate students in sociological perspectives and their application. There will also be space for students to discuss their reading in core texts and relate their reading to the issues raised through the discussion.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Workshops 3 hours x 22 | 66 |
Guided independent study | Reading, journalling, group work and assessment | 234 |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
There are three summative assessments for this module: a 500 word critical analysis, a 15 minute group presentation and a seen exam. You will be asked to write a critical reflection on a piece of reading that you will be able to select from the first part of the course. You will then work in groups to produce a poster presentation applying social theory to an aspect of your everyday lives, showing the relevance of social theory for understanding the world around us. Finally, the seen exam will give you the chance to demonstrate your knowledge of several different aspects of the course. You will receive the questions for this in advance and will have support and advice from staff when preparing your answers.
Critical Reflection: 500 words (15%)
Group Poster Presentation (20%)
Seen Exam (65%)
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
Select appropriate theories for the understanding of a range of contemporary social issues and to provide justification for these choices | Group Poster Presentation Critical Reflection Seen Exam |
Understand and discuss the limitations and criticisms of a range of sociological theories | Critical Reflection Group Poster Presentation Seen Exam |
Apply with confidence sociological theory to contemporary issues | Critical Reflection Group Poster Presentation Seen Exam |
To develop competency in academic skills | Critical Reflection Group Poster Presentation Seen Exam |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
CWK | Critical Reflection | 15 |
CWK | Poster Presentation | 20 |
EXWR | 2 hour seen exam | 65 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Kivisto, P (2011) Illuminating Social Life: Classical and Contemporary Theory Revisited. Sage: London
Allan, K (2005) Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory, CA: Pine Forge Press
Northedge, A (2005) The Good Study Guide, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Wright Mills, C (1959) The Sociological Imagination, NY: Free Press.