教學大綱 Syllabus

Week of

Readings for Discussion

Activity & Lecture

Due Sunday Before Class

1. Sept 9

7 Kinds of Theory

Classical Theory

Contemporary Theory

Discussion: What is theory?

Activity: Introductions

Lecture: Syllabus & Prelude to research articles

Module 1: Elements of Social Theory

2. Sept 16

7 Kinds of Theory

Classical Theory

Contemporary Theory

Two research articles – to contrast

Discussion: “What is theory?” in these two research articles?

Activity: Introduce research interests. Situate yourself within the world of theory.

Lecture: Conceptualization (Argument on Three Levels)

3. Sept 23

Theory article: Conceptualization, umbrella concepts

Research article

Discussion: Conceptualization. Apply to articles we have read.

Activity: Map out argument on three levels, focusing on vertical (conceptualization)

Lecture: Inference, causality

Due Sun Sept 22 (5 pts):

Reference List & Clusters

4. Sept 30

Theory article: Inference, causality

Research article

Discussion: Inference & causality. Apply to articles we have read.

Activity: Map out argument on three levels, focusing on horizontal (inference; compare arguments & evidence in two research papers)

Lecture: Causal imagery

5. Oct 7

Theory article: causal imagery. Abbot. Stinchcombe.

Research article: research with non-linear imagery

Discussion: Causal imagery. Apply to articles we have read.

Activity: Map out argument on three levels. Map argument with interaction effect. Map non-linear arguments.

Lecture: Meta-theoretical frameworks, sociology of knowledge production. Applying this to your lit review

Due Sun Oct 6:

Draft 1 of Lit Review & Gap

6. Oct 14

Theory article: Meta-theoretical frameworks, sociology of knowledge production

Read Draft 1 literature reviews. Map out two arguments. Clarify meta-theoretical framing.

Discussion: Meta-theoretical frameworks, sociology of knowledge production. Applying this to research articles

Activity: Choose a few lit reviews or prior articles. Map out two arguments on three levels. Focus on framing, meta-theoretical.

Lecture: What’s interesting? Novelty, conventionality. Apply to your own lit review & gap.

7. Oct 21

Theory article: What’s interesting? Davis 1971. Novelty & Conventionality. Uzzi 2013.

Research article:

Discussion: What’s interesting? Novelty, conventionality. Apply to research articles. What’s interesting about your own literature reviews?

Activity: Rate novelty & conventionality of articles we have read and plot them on a 2-dim Cartesian coordinates.

Lecture: Structure of an argument. RQ, MA, propositions, hypotheses. Reference groups, control groups and falsifiability.

Module 2: Constructing Your Own Theory

8. Oct 28

Theory article:

Sutton, R. I., & Staw, B. M. (1995). What theory is not. Administrative science quarterly, 371-384.

Van Maanen, J., Sørensen, J. B., & Mitchell, T. R. (2007). The interplay between theory and method. Academy of management review, 32(4), 1145-1154.

Casanave, C. P., & Li, Y. (2015). Novices’ struggles with conceptual and theoretical framing in writing dissertations and papers for publication. Publications, 3(2), 104-119.

Weick, K. E. (1995). What theory is not, theorizing is. Administrative science quarterly, 40(3), 385-390.

DiMaggio, P. J. (1995). Comments on" What theory is not". Administrative science quarterly, 40(3), 391-397.

Research article:

Discussion: Structure of an argument. RQ, MA, propositions, hypotheses. Reference groups, control groups and falsifiability.

Activity: Differentiate topic, RQ, MA, propositions, hypotheses

Lecture: Considering Scope. Scope conditions. Mid-range theory. Historical theory. Universal theory.

Due Sun Oct 27 (20 pts):

Draft 2 of Lit Review & Gap

9. Nov 4

Theory article: Merton 1968. Sociological Theories of the Middle Range

Research article: two articles contrasting universal, particular and middle-range theorizing

Discussion: Considering Scope. Scope conditions. Mid-range theory. Historical theory. Universal theory.

Activity: Reframe a universal or historical theory as a middle-range theory

Lecture: Considering concepts. Re-conceputalization. How to write and organize this.

10. Nov 11

Theory article: re-conceputalization

Research article: which demonstrate reconceputalization

Discussion: Considering concepts. Re-conceputalization.

Activity: Re-conceputalize some concepts from prior research articles.

Lecture: Considering inferential, causal relationship. Social mechanisms and relational theories. How to write and organize this.

Due Sun Nov 10:

Draft 1 of Novel Argument

11. Nov 18

Theory article: Svedberg. Social Mechanisms. Relational sociology: Emirbayer or Mische.

Research article: two articles comparing variable-centered & relational theory

Discussion: Considering inferential, causal relationship. Social mechanisms and relational theories.

Activity: Reframe a variable-centered theory in terms of social mechanisms, in terms of relationships.

Lecture: Engaging in meta-theoretical arguments. Reframe the argument on a meta-theoretical level.

12. Nov 25

Theory article: Engaging in meta-theoretical arguments. Reframe the argument on a meta-theoretical level.

Read two Draft 1 of Novel Argument. Critique arguments in terms of logic, scope, mechanism and meta-theoretical framework.

Discussion: Engaging in meta-theoretical arguments. Reframe the argument on a meta-theoretical level. Discuss in relation to earlier articles.

Activity: Workshop each others Draft 1 of Novel Arguments. Critique arguments in terms of logic, scope, mechanism and meta-theoretical framework.

Lecture: Types of academic writing. Variation in organization and style. Compare styles, including popular academic writing.

Module 3: Academic Writing

13. Dec 2

Theory article: Types of academic writing. Variation in organization and style. Compare styles

Research article: writings on the same topic, different format, different time period.

Discussion: Types of academic writing. Variation in organization and style. Compare styles, including popular academic writing.

Activity: Compare organization and style of academic writing over different time periods.

Lecture: Writing for an audience. Who is your audience? Framing.

Due Sun Dec 1 (20 pts):

Draft 2 of Novel Argument

14. Dec 9

Theory article:

Kroll, B. M. (1984). Writing for readers: Three perspectives on audience. College composition and communication, 35(2), 172-185.

Research article

Discussion: Writing for an audience. Who is your audience? Framing.

Activity: Who is the audience for your research? Re-work arguments and framings for different audiences.

Lecture: Rhetoric and persuasion. Rhetorical strategies. Apply to our own writing.

15. Dec 16

No class

No class

16. Dec 23

Theory article: Rhetoric and persuasion. Rhetorical strategies. Apply to our own writing

Research article

Discussion: Rhetoric and persuasion. Rhetorical strategies. Apply to our own writing

Activity: Rework rhetorical strategies for prior articles.

Lecture: Style & writing tips

Due Sun Dec 22:

Draft 1 of Full Essay

17. Dec 30

Theory article: 2-3 articles on writing style

Read each other’s full essay. Focus on introductions. Critique in terms of audience, rhetorical strategy, writing style.

Discussion: Style & writing tips

Activity: Edit Introductions. Critique in terms of audience, rhetorical strategy, writing style.

Activity: Evaluate course. Self-refections. Next steps.

18. Jan 6

No class

Due Mon Jan 6 (30 pts):

Draft 2 of Full Essay

Deadline for Submitting Grades: Monday February 3