Many of us became scared
to read social theories. They tend to reflect their perception as- social
theories are too complicated to learn and understand. The fact is that we
always seek for a 'readymade' and 'simplified' form of the theoretical
versions. This attempt prejudices an 'oversimplified' canvas of the theories
that take us far from the 'texts' and 'contexts' of the theories we want to
learn. First of all there are no shortcuts to understand social theories. We
have to love it and live it.
During teaching, for the
convenience of understanding of the theories to the students, we have to
simplify it and taking our classes from our 'own' understanding through
different teaching-learning methods. I apologize to say that we are just
translating the statements what the theoreticians articulated in their theories
to make a very oversimplified ‘meaning’ just to be succeed in your
examinations. We provide different 'handouts' to our students from different
secondary sources-journal, books, and encyclopedias. I know that in an academic
class we have a pressure of time constrain to complete the syllabi within the
stipulated time frame, but, as the time goes our memories fades out and we
posit ourselves to the margin of our understanding of so called 'informative'
type of theoretical understanding.
The main task is to
develop 'CONCEPTS' on theories we want to learn. I am trying to present five
steps to understand social theories. But mind it- there is no shortcut. The
steps are-
1.
Be steady and relax to open a text on a theory you want to
learn. Motivate yourself that you can understand the meaning of the concerned
theory. Yes you can. It would better that you try first to read any theory of
your choice before attaining any class on it.
Any theoretician prefers to
reflect their own understanding of reality and its relation to the other
components of the society and cultures to write any statements that is
contextualized by their research and then it became a theory. The influences of
other theories, time, and the life and living of a particular theoretician will
be obvious to their theories. So we have to learn their biography and
influences of other theories and theoreticians to understand the conditions of ‘production’
of a theory. This process will introduce
us with multiple theories, vocabularies, and diversified styles and art of
writing about issues of societies and cultures, and, at the same time motivate
us to go ‘in-depth’ to the series of interrelated concepts to unearth the ‘meaning’
and ‘essence’ of a particular theory. We
have to practice it multiple times of our choice and interests and you will
feel good that you now know too many ‘terms’, name of many theories related to
your particular search, and you find that, in every time the meaning of same
statements are changing. This is what- actually you have to start to play with
the theories rather to burden it. Write every time what you read about a theory
and try to link the ideas you have gain from your reading of the
theory/theories with your everyday living experiences. Do not think too much;
rather focus on your conscious mind of writings and linking process. Make this
practice to your habits and gradually you will love it like puzzle solving. Since you practice this process one thing you
have to keep in mind- Not to judge yourself and anyone’s statements as good or
bad, right or wrong; because all these are products of reality and time. All you
learn by this practice will make you strong, confidant and determinant to opine
about the theories and to begin interactions on that with others to enrich
further.
2.
Make a team with your friends and/or seniors (if possible) to
exchange ideas about a theory. This would be great for you. If all of the team
members are going the step-1, I have mentioned, then fixed a date at least once
a week to discuss about a particular theory. All the members should have prepared
for the dates and interaction. It is not a one-way process. Make yourself free
to discuss the theory you choose. Keep away all the shyness from you, just feel
free to converse. This will make you mature in presenting yourself with a
picture of a theory to the others; as well as you will feel that many of your
doubts are clear up through this process of interaction.
3.
Try to record (if permissible) a class when the teacher is
teaching upon a theory. This practice will make a trio among you, your teacher,
and the recorder. To record a class, please take the consent of your teacher
and tell her/him freely why you are recording the class. The recorded version
will help you at home while practice and, you will feel your teacher is always
with you. Now if your teacher gives you the permission to record her/his
discussion in the class and beyond, just click your reorder on and concentrate
on the class. Take running notes, look at carefully what and how your teacher
is making a theoretical discussion. Raise questions till you are not satisfied
of your quarries. Follow the instructions of your teachers to better understand
the theory she/he is teaching. Follow every reference your teacher cited to you
to understand better. Keep your interactions ‘on’ to the teachers who are the
best guide to you, because she/he knows your impulses and sensitivity very
well.
4.
Ensure the practice to go through the ‘original’ writings of
a theoretician rather than any text books. Text books obviously help you to
understand a theory in a simplified manner, but maintaining habits to read the ‘original’
content makes you healthy to not be too oversimplified into scientific discussions.
5.
Take the opportunity to listen online classes or speeches by
other notable figures of the field that are easily available in the virtual daises.
This will be another version to help you to understand the theory you targeted
for.
This content will help
you to learn social theories steadily. So, why to wait? Start now, and delete all
the fears and phobia from your mental inbox.
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