136-532 Reading Texts in Social Theory

Formerly available as 136-079. Students who have completed 136-079 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year combined honours in social theory, or a masters program and permission of the subject coordinator.

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.

• 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.

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 on the final day of semester).