Thursday, January 29, 2015

Agenda for 1/29

1. In notability: create a new folder, title it "Sociology," and then create a new note.

2. Developing the Sociological Imagination:

"SEEING THE GENERAL IN THE PARTICULAR"

Disney Ad Analysis

In your notability note answer the following questions as best as you can (write down whatever some to mind :

A. What aspects of American culture/values are evident in this Disney ad? What ideas does it support? How does it reflect they way Americans think about life? Think about sex and gender, masculinity and femininity, body image, race, socioeconomic class, childhood.

B. Think about which group in society this ad is meant to target? Do you have any concerns about companies designing ads to target this group?

C. Add one of your observations to this padlet


"SEEING THE STRANGE IN THE FAMILIAR"

3. The effect of categories (and expectations). 
  • Listen to Pt. 1: 0-6:40 (and you should definitely listen to the rest because it's AWESOME!)
4. Connecting the Sociological Imagination to your life!
  • "This is Water" by David Foster Wallace
  • How do the ideas in this excerpt connect to the concept of the "Sociological Imagination." Think about the iceberg and the waterline of visibility.

HW:

Assignment #1 - Due: 2/3
What is the main point of Wallace's "This is Water" speech? What is the connection between his words and the "Sociological Imagination?" Respond a 1/2 page paragraph (typed).
  • Below are excerpts from the speech to help you think about the question.

"The only thing that's capital 'T' True is that you get to decide how you're going to try to see it. This, I submit, is the freedom of real education, of how to be well-adjusted. You get to decide what has meaning and what doesn't. That is real freedom. That is being educated and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness."
“Learning how to think" really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot or will not exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed.”

Agenda for 1/29

1. Intro to Mr. Parise

2. Intro to YOU!

3. Values of the class. Rules for the class.

4. Introduction to Sociology - keynote

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Agenda for 1/26 - Maroon

1. Intro to Mr. Parise

2. Intro to YOU!

3. Values of the class. Rules for the class.

4. Introduction to Sociology - keynote

HW - Assignment #1

Assignment #1 - Due: 1/28

What is the main point of Wallace's "This is Water" speech? What is the connection between his words and the "Sociological Imagination?" Respond a .5 - 1 page paragraph (typed).
  • Below are excerpts from "This is Water" speech by David Foster Wallace.
"The only thing that's capital 'T' True is that you get to decide how you're going to try to see it. This, I submit, is the freedom of real education, of how to be well-adjusted. You get to decide what has meaning and what doesn't. That is real freedom. That is being educated and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness."

“Learning how to think" really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think.
It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot or will not exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed.”

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Agenda for 1/22

1. Sociology Survey

2. Go here: http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php

3. Follow the directions in class to compare the "Demographic Overviews" and "Population Pyramids" for Guatemala and the United States.

4. What differences do you see in the "Demographic Overviews"?

5. What differences do you see in the "Population Pyramids"

6. Poverty in Guatemala

7. Living on One Dollar

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Agenda for 1/14

1. Work on Sociology Final Essay (eBackpack)

2. Final essay due Tuesday 1/20 (no late essays accepted unless under EXTRAORDINARY circumstances)

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Agenda for 1/13

1. Discuss experiences while completing the "White Privilege" assignment.

Your shopping list now lists the following items:
  • Bandages
  • Silk stockings
  • Blemish cover/Make-up
  • Book and toy for 6 year old daughter
  • Fashion magazine for fashion and beauty tips
  • Romance novel for entertainment in case the date doesn't work out
  • Birthday card for your best friend (an African American woman who'll turn 40 in a few days)
*After completing this assignment, how do you feel as an African American women shopping in Southern Maine?

2. A segregated prom? An interview with one of the students who organized the town's first integrated prom.

3. Racial (and economic) disparities in education?

4. Blacks are not the only race still experiencing prejudice and discrimination:
Which one is real? Any different from the other two?
5. Native American Mascot - Cartoon Analysis (Assignment #19 - eBackpack)

6. What about the Washington Redskins? Bob Costas' opinion on Sunday Night Footbal. The reaction to Costas' editorial.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Agenda for 1/12

1. Discuss experiences while completing the "White Privilege" assignment

2. A segregated prom? An interview with one of the students who organized the town's first integrated prom.

3. Racial (and economic) disparities in education?

4. Blacks are not the only race still experiencing prejudice and discrimination:

Which one is real? Any different from the other two?
5. Native American Mascot - Cartoon Analysis (Assignment #19 - eBackpack)

6. What about the Washington Redskins? Bob Costas' opinion on Sunday Night Footbal. The reaction to Costas' editorial.