TEACHSOC: Re: Theory and Methods

[Del Thomas Ph. D.]

Would this also be true of evolution or only some theories.  One wonders how we ever tested Boyles law in high school Del Michael Klausner wrote: Greetings: Interestingly, I find my self as the "deviant" regarding the best time to teach the Theory course. I contend that it is best taught when students are juniors or seniors. Here's why. By definition theories are abstract, couched at a relatively high level of generality. Many traditional age students are in their late teens and have not reached the stage of "formal operations" to use Piaget's terminology. They have difficulty thinking at high levels of abstraction and generality. True, I and I'm sure many others use many *concrete* examples to illustrate theoretical concepts/theories but still, it is difficult for many students. Students are exposed to theory in *every* course including the Intro. But in those courses the theory is used to account for some substantive empirical phenomenon (delinquency, poverty, war, and prejudice/discrimination. Thus by their junior sophomore year they have been selectively exposed to theory and are better prepared to deal with a "pure" theory course. Good topic for discussion. Michael Klausner -----Original Message----- From: teachsoc@googlegroups.com [mailto:teachsoc@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kelly Besecke Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 4:03 PM To: Anne Eisenberg Cc: teachsoc@googlegroups.com Subject: TEACHSOC: Re: Theory and Methods Anne, Would you share which monographs you typically use for your contemporary theory class? Thanks! Kelly Besecke Quoting Anne Eisenberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: Second, our department requires a 200-level classical theory class and a 300-level contemporary theory class. I use Kivisto's reader, a reader by Craig Calhoun of contemporary theories, and then 3-4 monographs for the contemporary theory class. Kelly Besecke ______________________________________________________________ Assistant Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology * Palme House 105 * Kenyon College * Gambier OH 43022 tel: 740-427-5854 * fax: 740-427-5815 * email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]