SOCIOLOGICAL LABORATORY I

This course offers an itroduction to application of sociology and to sociological thinking. It is a fundamental course of the program Science of society and Social work as it contributes to a number of key educational aims of the program.
With respect to knowledge and understanding, the course supports the aquisition of:
- application of terminology and key concepts of sociological theory;
- application of the main theoriceal perspectives within sociology, also in relation to the other social sciences.

Concerning the use of knowledge and understanding, the course develops the skills of:
- critically analyzing problems and situations with respect to findamental dimensions of inequality, cohesion, interdependence and social interaction;
- recognizing and practice paradigms and theoreical approaches in political/policy discourses;
- reflecting on the imporntance of one own's values and postions in social relations within the analysis of a problem or issue.

At the end of the course the students:

1. will practice:
- sociological key terms and concepts.
- the main theoretical perspectives in sociology

2. will know:
- an appropriate sociological terminology
- illustrate a situation, a problem, a policy proposal from a specific theoretical perspective
- recognize a theoretical perspective within a political or policy discourse.
- compare different theoretical perspectives looking at the same social, politicl or policy problem.

3. Will be able to critically analyse:
- how social, political or policy problems are being defined
- how social, political or policy problems are being faced

4. Will be able to:
- summarize in writing the content of the most important sociological concepts and theories and refer to their applications to daily life and to the analysis of social and political phenomena, as well as of professional experiences.
- summarize and present orally, in a critical and respectuful manner, one own's observations and ideas with respect to discussion topics and questioninng proposed in class.
- summarize and present orally the results of groups discussions.


5. will be able to
- consult, study and critically summarize the contents of the course bibliography:
- connect the discussion topics proposed during the course (as well as daily life experience, readings etc.) with the course conceptual contents

No specific previous knowledge required

What is society and what makes it possible? What are social inequalities and where do the come from? What is the role of conflict in social life? What kind of meaning do daily social interactions have? What is cutlure, what are social institutions? How does society change? How the domain devices are repdoduced?
The course introduces the students to these and other key questions and issues that are at teh core of the sociological way of thinking, as well as to the central concepts and theoretical perspective that sociologists have developed to address those very questions.
The aim of the course is to provide the students with a terminology and a conceptual toolkit for the analysis of social life, in relation also to individual experiences.
The introductiona and discussion of the contribution of both classical and more contemporary thinkers will highlight both what it means to "think sociologically" and how varied the field of sociology is.
Theorical and conceptual discussions will go along with the analysis of relevant social phenomena within contemporary societies.

1) Jedlowski P. (2009). "Il mondo in questione. Introduzione alla storia del pensiero sociologico". Rome, Carocci.

2) A book of choice:
- De Narsi, S., Petrillo, A. e Simone, A. (2023). Sociologia di posizione Prospettive teoriche e metodologiche. Milan: Meltemi.
- Plummer, L. (2023). "Il primo libro di sociologia". Turin: Einaudi.

3) Alietti, A. e Padovan, D. (2024) Le grammatiche del razzismo. Venice: Edizioni Ca' Foscari
downloadable for free at the following link: https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/it/edizioni4/libri/978-88-6969-745-6/

4) A READING of choice:
- Eribon, D (2017). Ritorno a Reims. Florence: Bompiani.
- Eribon, D. (2024). Vita, vecchiaia e morte di una donna del popolo. Rome: L'orma.
- Segalla, S. (2024). In montagna. Turin: Rosenberg & Sellier.

5) Excerpts of original texts (list will follow on Moodle)

- 50% Written exam with open questions aimed at assessing knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to recognize and apply concepts and theories and to critically analyze issues and problems
- 50% Preparation of the exercises that will be assigned from time to time during the lessons.


The final grade is given by the sum of the scores obtained in the Sociology Laboratory 1 and Sociology Laboratory 2 exams.
The two exams do not have a pre-established order, therefore students can choose to take the learning assessment of Laboratory 1 or 2 completely freely and the results of the tests have no expiry date.

Regarding the grading scale for the oral exam:

A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:
- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:
- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:
- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics and, especially, fully developed critical thinking.

The course consists of lectures and group meetings.
During groups meetings the teacher will propose exercices, discussion topics, questionings that are expected to be prepared at home (individually or in groups). The students will report on these during class. Attendance and active partcipation are highly recommended.

Italian

The course materials (course organization; literature, exercises and discussion topics, powerpoint presentations) are available on Moodle.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development