Tips for Studying Social Theory

David A. Sonnenfeld

Reading social theory can be slow, grueling, and frustrating. If you are patient, take the time, and make the effort, however, doing so will reward you with powerful insights into fundamental social institutions and processes. Some suggestions to facilitate the process:

1. First time around, skim lightly, before you get lost in the text. Get an overview of the structure of the chapter, article, or section you are reading. Read the introductory and concluding sections or paragraphs. Take note of the section structure & headings.
2. Second time around, go back and read the whole piece. Focus on the author's main points and/or what you want to get out of it.
3. Take notes. In text margins, keep a running dialog with yourself and/or the author. In a notebook, record the author's main ideas, as well as your reactions and responses.
4. Ask yourself: What is the author's main point? Try summarizing those main points -- in writing, orally with a fellow student, etc.
5. If necessary, outline the author's argument. (Caution: Don't get overly detailed; stay at "tree-top" level.)
6. Read as many times as you have to -- 2, 3, or more -- until you at least get the gist of the author's main points and have a feeling for the structure & components of the author's argument.
7. Make full use of other students in the class. Study together. Compare notes.
8. If you don't understand a term, look it up in one or more dictionaries. Start with a comprehensive collegiate dictionary. Also, look in a good disciplinary-specific dictionary.
9. If you're still stumped, or feel you are not grasping basic concepts, consult an introductory text. If all else fails, ask your instructor to explain the concept to you -- in class or during office hours.
10. Construct your own course dictionary using the above.