Self-study
P1
In explaining the foundations of the discipline known as historical sociology—the examination of history using the methods of sociology—historical sociologist Philip Abrams argues that, while people are made by society as much as society is made by people, sociologists' approach to the subject is usually to focus on only one of these forms of influence to the exclusion of the other. ██████ ███████ ██ ███ █████████ ███ ████████████ ██ ████ ██████ █████ █████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ ███████ ██ ██ ██████ ███████████ ██ ███████████ ███ ███ ██ ███ ████ ████ ███████████ ██ █████ ████████ ██████ ██████ ██ ████ ██████████ ███████ ██ ██████████████
Abrams' perspective ·
Structuring
Sociologists should view society as made by individuals who are also made by society -- this process is called structuring. Typically sociologists take a one-sided approach -- they focus exclusively on either the individuals' impact on society, or on society's impact on individuals.
P2
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Expansion of structuring ·
There's also historical structuring
People make history, but this making is informed by historical conditions from the past, and by our own identities and abilities. These conditions, identities, and abilities are called "contingencies."
P3
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Abrams' view of proper historical sociology ·
Must analyze and interpret important events in history
During these events, individuals take actions but also show us how social conditions allowed their actions to come about.
Elaborating on Abrams' view ·
Four-part structure of historical sociology
First, describe event. Second, discuss social context. Third, summarize life of individual agents in event. Fourth, analyze consequences on history and on the individuals.
Passage Style
Single position
19.
The primary function of the █████ █████████ ██ ███ ███████ ██ ██
a
outline the merits ██ ████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ █████████
Outlining the “merits” means outlining what is good/bad about Abrams’ approach. The author doesn’t express any opinion about Abrams approach in P1.
b
convey the details ██ ████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ █████████
We don’t get the details of Abrams’ approach in P1. This comes in P2 and P3.
c
anticipate challenges to ████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ █████████
P1 doesn’t anticipate any challenges to Abrams’ approach. It describes how Abrams is reacting to a traditional approach, but this isn’t the same as anticipating a challenge to his approach.
d
examine the roles ██ ███ █████ ████ ██ ████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ █████████
The purpose of P1 isn’t to examine key terms; it’s to introduce Abrams and his approach. Although we do get the term “structuring” in P1, the author doesn’t mention the term to explore its role; she mentions the term to give a name to Abrams’ approach.
e
identify the basis ██ ████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ █████████
This best captures the purpose of P1. Abrams is reacting to the traditional, one-sided approach of sociologists. This is part of the basis of his conception of historical sociology. In addition, Abrams thinks people are made by society as much as society is made by people. This is another part of the basis of his conception.