Reading Texts in Social Theory

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

Students enrolling in this subject must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed to provide students with a detailed familiarity with the works of at least one of the major classical social theorists. Students who complete this subject should be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of at least one significant social theorist or theoretical tradition, have developed the READING and analytical skills for such comprehension and understanding which can be readily used for other texts and subject matter, and have established a basis for postgraduate research if desired.

Students who have completed this subject will:

• have knowledge of the major ideas and theories of one major tradition of social theory;
• have background in one major tradition of social theory on which to base further research and study in the area;
• have experience of thinking systematically about difficult intellectual problems of an abstract nature;
• have practice conducting research, speaking articulately, writing clearly and reading with attention to detail;
• have experience with methods of critical analysis and argument employed in one major tradition of social theory, leading to improved general reasoning and analytical skills;
• be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of at least one significant social theorist or theoretical tradition;
• gain an awareness of the selected philosophical and theoretical tradition, through which this debate has been generated;
• establish a basis for postgraduate research if desired.

A class paper of 1000 words (45%) due a fortnight after the class paper is presented in the seminar, and an essay of 4000 words (55%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

• The Grundrisse. (K. Marx)
• The Philosophy of Money. (G. Simmel)
• The Gift. (M. Mauss)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• develop skills in written and oral communication;
• conduct independent research;
• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;
• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.