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Socialization - It not just what shapes us, it is us.
What Socializes you? What has control over you and what do you control? Is it possible to control?
What is your "Role"?
Assignment: Explain a Socializing Event/Experience in your life or one that you have observed. 200 Words.
Song Lyrics as a Reflection of Society
I want you to find a song that you feel either reflects your society, or reflects any given society. Although, it is not necessary for there to be lyrics to reflect society, I want you to simply bring a copy of the song lyrics and a short (150 word) synopsis explaining how this song is significant.
Welcome to Sociology. Hmm... What exactly is this anyways? A study of society, looking at social groups, uhh, social stuff...
I'm looking forward to a great marking period with you all. We will be looking at one of the most powerful forces in society, the youth, YOU! quite a bit. And soon, we'll be starting a large project where you will look at you... confused? good!
Social Class - What Makes Us, Us... and why we want to be... Them.
Read this excerpt from Paul Fussell's, Class: A Guide Through the American Status System. Write a 250 Word Reaction to it. What do you think of what Fussell is saying? Do you agree with him? Is he right on target or off base? Where do you fit in?
Savage Inequalities
We will be reading part of the book Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. It is an amazing look at the state of public schools, particularly in urban America. We will be writing a reaction to this reading. For more on Jonathan Kozol and Savage Inequalities, see this website.
***JUST A REMINDER... YOU ARE TO COMPARE THE ST. LOUIS SCHOOL IN THE ARTICLE TO MHS***
Write a reaction to the reading, answering the following questions
1. How do the conditions described affect the
learning environment of each school? Be specific.
2. Why is this piece entitled, “Savage Inequalities”?
3. Comment on the bigger picture,
a. Discuss how this reflects on the entire education system?
b. What effect on American society does this so-called “inequality” in
schools have?
4. What is your reaction to this reading?
5. Finally, compare each to what your perception of American education is,
or should be.
Social Class Writing
Assume some of the theorists are correct, when they claim that the United States consists of basically three social classes: Lower, Middle and Upper. Explain what each look like. Give examples of symbols of each. Ask yourself, what makes someone lower, middle, or upper class?
What
went wrong?
or did it just do what it was supposed to do?
Check out the NY TIMES Special Section on Class. Very Interesting.
We will be delving into the wonderful and wild world of Sociology! Expect to question everything about the society that you are a part of and the society that YOU have created. Hey, don't worry, I created it too! We're all to blame!
Here are some of the themes that we will be discussing.
- Socialization
- Societal Trends
- The Puff-Daddification of Hip Hop (and now Jay-Z-ification)
- Hip Hop is Dead
- Societal Taboos
- Construction of a society
- Destruction... oooohhhh
- Race Relations
- Cool Hunting
- Cliques and Social Groups
- more goodies
Sociology Project
This project will be a culmination of all you have learned in this class. You are asked to take a look at a group and study its behavior. Ask a question about that group. Why do they act a certain way? Why do others act a certain way towards that group? What are the reasons that they perform that way? Who are the people that tend to join that group? These are the kinds of questions that a sociologist would ask, and try to answer. But, it is important that your questions be testable.
First, you should work on a proposal so that we can see if your idea is a feasible one. Then you must choose how you are going to test your hypothesis or question. Then you should perform the study. Be sure to run it past me first, so that we can get permission (if necessary). When you have your results, you have to make sense of them. You must interpret your results to fit with your original question. Finally, you must conclude with what you have found out about your group. Did you prove your theory? Were you shocked with your results? Did your results prove nothing?
I want you to also think about how you will present your study to the class (or a larger group). You may want to consider a PowerPoint presentation, posters, video, handouts, booklet, or any other way you can think of. Feel free to be creative.
Aside from your presentation, you must as a group hand in a final write-up of your project. The sections of this write up should be:
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1. Hypothesis
-
2. Methods
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3. Results
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4. Interpretation of Results
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5. Conclusion
You should divide each section into these 5 groups and explain in as much detail as possible. Basically, I want to know each step that you go through and how you came to your conclusions.
I am really looking forward to seeing what you all find out. Good Luck.
Sociology Project Proposal Form
People Like Us: Social Class in America is a two-hour TV special examining American life through the prism of our country's unique class structure. It was conceived and created by Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker, the Peabody-Award-winning creators of such films as Vote for Me— Politics in America and American Tongues, who tell this important story with their patented mix of humor and seriousness, style, and accessibility.
People Like Us shows how social class plays a role in the lives of all Americans, whether they live in Park Avenue penthouses, Appalachian trailer parks, bayou houseboats or suburban gated communities. The documentary travels across the country presenting stories that will resonate with viewers regardless of where they see themselves on the social spectrum — stories of family traditions, class mobility, and different lifestyle choices. An exciting cast of characters and commentators help make the connections between daily life and the larger issues of class in America.
Coming Soon!
"The paradox of "cool
hunting" is that it kills what it finds."
-Douglas Rushkoff
Do these people buy and sell you and your culture?
Soon you will be asked to write a short paper discussing this very topic. And you will be asked to look at it through the eyes of a sociologist.
Given what we have seen in the film Merchants of Cool, and what we have read about social trends and socialization, do you think that these powers over you and of your society really exist? And if so, what effect do these powers have on your culture? How does this make you feel?
We will discuss in class when this will be due.
Giant List of Sociological Subjects
Source: SocioSite
Sociology Project Proposal Form
Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Reading
"Savage Inequalities" Writing Assignment
