Sociology 531: Community OrganizationHogan, Fall 2015Office Hours: TTH 10:30 a.m.-Noon in Stone 307phone: 49-44668 (leave messages)e-mail: hoganr@purdue.edu ; website: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~hoganr

Community Studies

Community studies represent one of the oldest traditions in sociology in the U.S., usually associated with the Chicago School and the Middletown Studies, in the early twentieth century. Here we will begin a little earlier, with what might be considered the original community study, published by DuBois in 1899. From there we will trace the history in lecture/discussion and in selected readings that cover what might be considered the best of the genre.

Required Readings (available for purchase at Vons)

W.E.B. DuBois, The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study (University Pennsylvania, 1999 [1899]: a classic, which could/should be the new canon).

Robert S. and Helen Merrell Lynd, Middletown: A Study in American Culture (Harcourt Brace, 1929: the canonical community study).

William Foote Whyte, Street Corner Society: The Social Structure of an Italian Slum (University of Chicago, 1981 [1943]: the canonical participant observation study).

Aldon Morris, The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement: Black Communities Organizing for Change (Free Press, 1984: a wonderful example of where community studies, social movements, political sociology, and stratification come together again, just as they did in DuBois).

John Walton, Storied Land: Community and Memory in Monterey (University California, 2001: the gold standard for taking the cultural turn without losing history in a fit of postmodern whimsy).

What every Student Needs to Know

This is a small class facing a huge topic. My intention is to avoid formal lectures and try to generate a discussion about community and community studies. You will be asked to read and write on a weekly basis and to come to class every TTH prepared to talk about your reading and writing and the material that we have covered in class. Most probably, I will need to do some lecturing early in the semester to provide background information, but the goal is to get students engaged in attempts to answer the following two questions: (1) What are communities? (2) What are community studies?

We will attempt to answer these questions in class, and the readings are offered as data—each represents a community

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study and a study of a community. There is no text. There is no right or wrong answer—only answers that you can or cannot defend or sustain in writing or in discussion. By the end of the semester you will be expected to answer these questions and will also be expected to consider two additional questions: (1) How are communities created and transformed? (2) How and why are communities important?

Along with the schedule of weekly readings, there are weekly writing assignments that are intended to get you into the process of thinking about communities and community studies. We will work on developing the thinking and writing skills that will be required to produce an analytical essay (roughly 25 double-spaced pages or somewhere around 6,000 words) that deals with the five books, the class lectures/discussion, and the four questions referenced above.

This paper will require some research, aside from the required readings and class lectures/discussions. Probably, most of you will find it useful to do some research on a community that you are interested in learning more about—you could study the Purdue community or your home town or Oaxaca, Mexico, but that is not necessarily required. Generally, you will find that it is helpful to take advantage of your outside experience, in other classes and outside of class. Most often, students are most successful when they talk about and write about: (1) things that they already know something about (available facts can be used for background and descriptive writing and also to support arguments) and (2) things that they feel strongly about (familiarity might breed contempt, but that is still better than apathy).

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The analytical essay is due on the last day of class. At the same time you will turn in all of the writing that you have done in the course of the semester, at minimum, each of the 14 weekly assignments—the original copy with my comments. These materials will be used to determine your final grade—roughly 50% for the final essay and 50% for the weekly writings, although there will be a substantial fudge factor in grading the 14 essays, which will be used in combination with my judgment on your participation and your progress through the process of developing your analysis and your analytical abilities.

Please ask me if you are unable to decide how you are doing on your weekly assignments. Your weekly writing will be returned with comments but not grades. The weekly assignments should help to guide your writing, particularly in the first few weeks. Eventually, your weekly writings and our readings and class meetings should converge with your research, as it begins to take on a life of its own.

Using and Abusing Sources

We will have the opportunity to discuss plagiarism: presenting the words or ideas of others as your own. Plagiarism is grounds for failure in the course and disciplinary action, including expulsion from the university. If you have any questions about how to use or cite sources, ask me in class. Alternatively, you can access my website and look at my SOC 402 instructions on writing assignments.

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Schedule of Topics, Reading, and Writing Assignments

1. Introduction and Overview (first week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?- read introduction (pp. ix-xxxvi) by Elijah Anderson and first eight chapters (pp. 1-96) of DuBois

- write a short essay (~250 words typed/printed) on one (only one) of the following

- Describe- Anderson on Dubois- DuBois on Philadelphia- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- DuBois- Philadelphia- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

2. Introduction and Overview (second week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?

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- read next four chapters (pp. 97-234) of DuBois - write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Choose one that you did not write on in week one. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan on Dubois- Anderson on DuBois- DuBois on Philadelphia- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Hogan- DuBois- Philadelphia- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

3. Introduction and Overview (third week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?- read the rest (pp. 234-397) of DuBois (be sure to scan the appendices—lots of god stuff, pp.400-509)

- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Choose one that you did not write on in weeks one and

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two. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan on DuBois- Anderson on Dubois- DuBois on Philadelphia- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Hogan- DuBois- Philadelphia- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

4. Introduction and Overview (fourth week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?- read foreward, preface and first ten chapters (pp. v-152)

of Middletown- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan and/critics on Lynds- Lynds on Middletown

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- what you know about a different community (just the facts)

- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Lynds- Middletown- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

5. Introduction and Overview (fifth week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?- read chapters 12-19 (pp. 153-314) of Middletown- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Lynds- Lynds on Middletown- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Lynds- Middletown

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- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds as you might imagine

them analyzing- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies

6. Introduction and Overview (sixth week)- what is a community?- what are community studies?- read chapters 20-29 (pp. 315-502) of Middletown (be sure to scan appendix and tables, pp. 505-534)

- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Lynds- Lynds on Middletown- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Lynds

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- Middletown- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies

7. Stepping out of the Mold (seventh week)- what is a community?- is Cornerville a community?- what are community studies?- is participant observation a reasonable methodology?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- read preface, intro, Part I of Street Corner Society (pp. vii-108)

- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Whyte- Whyte on Cornerville- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)

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- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Whyte- Cornerville- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte as you might

imagine them analyzing- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies

8. Stepping out of the Mold (eighth week)- what is a community?- is Cornerville a community?- what are community studies?- is participant observation a reasonable methodology?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- read Part II. of Street Corner Society (pp. 111-252) - write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe

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- Hogan/other critics on Whyte- Whyte on Cornerville- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Whyte- Cornerville- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte as you might

imagine them analyzing- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies

9. Stepping out of the Mold (ninth week)- what is a community?- is Cornerville a community?- what are community studies?- is participant observation a reasonable methodology?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- read Part III. And appendices of Street Corner Society (pp. 255-380)

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- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Whyte- Whyte on Cornerville

- what you know about a different community (just the facts)

- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Whyte- Cornerville- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte as you might

imagine them analyzing- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community studies

10. Communities, Organizations, and Power (tenth week)- what is a community?- is the NAACP a community?- what are community studies?

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- Is Morris (1984) a community study?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read preface, introduction, chapters 1-4 (pp. v-99)- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Morris- Morris on Southern black communities- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Morris- Southern black communities- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte/Morris as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies

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-Analyze- a community- a community study- communities- community studies

11. Communities, Organizations, and Power (eleventh week)- what is a community?- is the NAACP a community?- what are community studies?- Is Morris (1984) a community study?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read chapters 5-9 (pp. 100-228)- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Morris- Morris on Southern black communities- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Morris- Southern black communities- a different community

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- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte/Morris as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies-Analyze

- a community- a community study- communities- community studies

12. Communities, Organizations, and Power (twelfth week)- what is a community?- is the NAACP a community?- what are community studies?- Is Morris (1984) a community study?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read chapters 10-11, notes and appendices (pp.229-338)- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Morris

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- Morris on Southern black communities- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Morris- Southern black communities- a different community- the idea of community or community studies (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte/Morris as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies-Analyze

- a community- a community study- communities- community studies

13. Community studies and local history (thirteenth week)- what is a community?- is a Spanish Mission community?- what are community studies?- what is local history?

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- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read preface, chapters 1-3 (pp. xiii-106)- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Walton- Walton on early Monterey- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies or local history (as described in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about- Walton- Monterey/Spanish Alto

California//Revolutionary California- a different community- the idea of community or community studies or local history(your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte/Morris/Walton as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community

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- the idea of community or community studies-Analyze

- a community- a community study- communities- community studies

14. Community studies and local history (fourteenth week)- what is a community?- which community is Monterey?- what are community studies?- what is local history?- how are communities created?- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read chapters 4-5 (pp. 107-233)- write a short essay (~250 words typed or word processed) that deals with one (and only one) of the following. Use comments on last paper to guide you on selection and preparation of this paper.

- Describe- Hogan/other critics on Walton- Walton on early Monterey- what you know about a different community

(just the facts)- the idea of community or community studies or local history (as expressed in class or otherwise documented—your opinions are not welcome here)

- Express your feelings/opinions about

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- Walton- Monterey/Spanish Alto

California//Revolutionary California- a different community- the idea of community or community studies or local history (your opinions are welcome here)

- Explore- Hogan/DuBois/Lynds/Whyte/Morris/Walton as you might imagine them analyzing

- each other- each other's communities- some other community- the idea of community or community

studies-Analyze

- a community- a community study- a local history- communities- community studies- local histories

15. Community studies and local history and public history (fifteenth week)

- what is a community?- what are community studies?- what is local history?- what is public history?- what is academic history?- which stories should we privilege?- how are communities created?

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- how do communities change?- why does it matter?- read chapters 6-7 (pp. 234-303)

Final analytical paper (and all weekly writings, with my comments) due on last day of class

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