1.+Foundations+and+Research

Welcome to your first unit of Sociology! 1. How can the study of sociology help us understand the world around us? 2. How do sociologists do research?
 * Essential Questions: **

=** Day 1: What is Sociology? Why should I study it? **=


 * Silence Experiment and Debrief: **You just did sociology! Based on your experiences with the first day of classes, you have come to expect the teacher to stand in front of the room and give you guidelines and expectations. You have noticed patterns and acted accordingly. Studying how groups follow patterns and act accordingly is the study of Sociology!

The difference with this class......passive vs. active learning

You **will** be more active in the learning AND teaching process


 * Discussion:** Did you realize that you expect the teacher to just tell you what they want you to do? How do you see this as affecting your becoming a life-long learner?

Syllabus and Class Expectations

[|Join Google+ AES Sociology Community]


 * Now let's start learning TOGETHER! But first, I will present SOME information to introduce you to the topic of Sociology.**


 * 1. ** [|Intro Presentation]


 * Review:**

1. What is sociology?

2. What is conventional wisdom and why can it be a problem?

3. How does sociological imagination help us better understand and participate in the world?

What is the benefit of trying to solve problems using the sociological perspective?
 * Homework:**
 * 1. Join Google plus and the AES Sociology Community**
 * 2.** Watch the first 15 min of the video below and answer the following using as much specific info from the video as possible:

media type="youtube" key="wadBvDPeE4E" height="315" width="560"

Also read the intro to Malcolm Gladwell's book //Outliers// starting on p10 of [|this pdf]. Then, answer the following questions in your FIRST BLOG POST! Use [|this self-assessment form to help you]. You must make connections between your life and what we are learning in class.

1. Who are you? 2. What are the biggest influences on your life? 3. How has when, where and to whom you were born shaped your life today?

=**Day 2 Intro Cont.**=


 * Do Now: Discuss the following with a partner:**
 * What are 2 Sociological considerations that may help to prevent suicide?**

Revisit question: Why might there be more suicides in California than Ohio? (Hint: Think about social factors/patterns that may contribute to suicide)

Read through a post of **two** of your classmates and post a comment for each (No more than 2-3 sentences but be thoughtful!)

self-assessment guide
 * How your posts will be graded**

According to C Wright Mills' concept of Sociological Imagination, what made it possible for the residents of Roseto to live longer than most societies in the U.S.? To what extent do you agree with Mills and Gladwell's ideas?
 * Activity 1: Follow up Discussion:** Review pp6-11 in your Sociology Text:

How is the Abandon Ship activity an example of the social construction of reality and the sociological imagination?
 * Activity 2: Abandon Ship Activity**

1. How is this an example of Sociological Imagination? 2. How is your personality influenced by the technological age you live in? media type="custom" key="25910056"
 * Another Example:** Watch the clip below and answer the following:

Discuss

Read through: [|"Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy"] Thoughts?

Another example of Sociological Imagination: What do you think about the idea that we no longer teach cursive in schools? How will it impact the future for kids who no longer know how to write cursive?[| One idea]


 * Sociological Mindfulness:** [|Check out this post]and prepare to share your thoughts on sociological mindfulness. Start thinking about ways you can be mindful and enact a change to help society! Also read the [|Sociological Mindfulness reading on p 16 of this pdf]Share some ideas with the class.

[|Example of Sociological Mindfulness and trying to the police (story originally published after the Ferguson trial)]

2 Illustrations of Sociological Mindfulness: Chris Jordan and Barack Obama media type="custom" key="25910762" media type="custom" key="25910738"

Discuss! **Homework:** First, read pp23-31 in your textbook and be comfortable with the Sociological Perspectives Review the perspectives on p. 22 of [|this pdf]

Then, Read the following article by Malcolm Gladwell about [|getting into college]

Prepare to discuss the following questions next class:

1. Discuss Sociological Imagination and how it relates to the history of admissions into Ivy League universities.

2. How does the Sociological Imagination continue to be related to admission into universities? What do YOU need to get in to the school of your choice? Good SAT scores? Involvement in extra-curriculars? etc..... why are these things important for admission?

3. What are the consequences (both pos and neg) of the admission process in universities? How could you use Sociological Mindfulness to address problems in the process?

4. Does going to a specific college even matter in terms of helping students to be successful later in life? To what extent does it matter which school you go to?

=**Day 3: Perspectives of Sociology**=
 * [|Reading Quiz!]**


 * Do Now:** Share thoughts about the Malcolm Gladwell article. Choose one of the Sociological Perspectives that you think can best explain the admissions process that has been a part of Ivy League admissions. (Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic Interactionist, Dramaturgical) We will discuss all of them!

Freaks and Geeks Episode 1: (Activity borrowed from Salituro's course) media type="custom" key="25979464"

As you watch answer the following in your notes: 1. Identify the groups in the episode. What function does each group serve for the different individuals? What are the negative functions (dysfunctions)? 2. Who has power in the episode? Why? How do they use it? 3. What are the important symbols in the episode? Note that the symbols might be an object but also might be an object, but might also be an idea, an event or something else. How do these symbols affect how the individuals act?

Discuss as a class.

Read the following: [|Common Sense and the Science of Sociology] Focus on the sociological theories and the research methods sections. 1. Why is sociology not an exact science? How do sociologists prove anything? 2. Think of a situation that can be explained differently based on the 4 Sociological perspectives discussed in the reading (Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic Interactionist, Dramaturgical)
 * HW:**

=**Day 4:** Introduction and Research Methods Continued=
 * Do Now: Perspectives Review:** How would each of the perspectives view the ever increasing presence of smart phones in society?

Let's get more specific with the science of Sociology......

How does this illustrate the need for the scientific method in Sociology?
 * 1.** [|Common Sense and Sociology Quiz]

[|Correlation Between income and SAT Scores]
 * 2. Research Methods in Sociology:**
 * Correlation vs. Causation** Example:

How does this video illustrate the need for qualitative AND quantitative data in Sociological Experiments? media type="custom" key="25923346"
 * 3. Connection to the real world:**


 * 4. Ethics:** [|Why would this study be unethical today?]

Look at a problem that exists in society (ideas: drug use, school dropouts, poverty, etc.) Research and find a sociological hypothesis about what sociological causes might be contributing to the problem. If possible, use sociological mindfulness to propose a potential solution to the problem.
 * 5. Reviewing Sociological Experiments: **

**Option 1:** IF you can't think of a problem, try to find a problem addressed in [|this study about pre-school's impact on children] and prepare to discuss what a potential hypothesis might be, what the problem is and how pre-school is a solution

**Option 2:** OR you can use this study about [|high-school dropout rates]

[|Examples of Sociological Research from the Pew Center about teens] Notice how the researchers conducted their research. Choose a study and look for:
 * Option 3:** OR look at:

1. What were the study's findings? 2. How did they gather evidence for this finding?

3. If possible Identify each of the following: hypothesis, IV, and DV and use the criteria for showing causation (correlation, time order, ruling out alternatives). If this is not possible explain why. Also explain if this experiment contains generalizability.


 * Discussion:** Find someone who researched a topic different from the one you researched and share your findings.

and answer the following questions: 1. What does the author think is the best way to do sociological research? Find quotes to support this. 2. How does his method of research change? Why? 3. What might be some potential short-comings of his research strategy? 4. Is this study ethical? Why or why not?
 * HW:**[| Read the excerpt from //Gang Leader for a Day// found on p28 of this pdf]

=**Day 5:**=
 * Do Now:** **Discussion:** Find someone who researched a topic different from the one you researched last class and share your findings.

Reminder of questions: 1. What were the study's findings? 2. How did they gather evidence for this finding? 3. If possible Identify each of the following: hypothesis, IV, and DV and use the criteria for showing causation (correlation, time order, ruling out alternatives). If this is not possible explain why. Also explain if this experiment contains generalizability.

2. How did the sociologist in //Gang Leader For A Day// do research and what are potential shortcomings with his methods of Sociological Research? You must reference your homework reading in your response (if you didn't do the reading, discuss a specific study that you learned about in class. Identify the hypothesis, IV, DV, and correlation vs. causation. Also, explain how the findings have influenced the way you understand the world.
 * Review Quiz: **
 * 1. ** How would each of the main Sociological perspectives explain the presence of Gangs in the U.S.?


 * [|Example of Sociological Problem and potential solution] (**Mental illness treatment)

Today, you will have the rest of class time to work on..... Please remember that posting on your blog is the primary way that you provide evidence that you are learning. The posts are what will determine your grade at the end of the semester. Here is a prompt to help you with post number 2:
 * Blogpost #2 Due next class. You must reference specific content that we have covered during this unit. (Solituro)**

**Description of Assignment:**

BRIEFLY Explain ONE of the sociological concepts that we have covered thus far: sociological imagination, sociological mindfulness, social construction of reality, research methods and ethics. Then give an example from your own life/your own perspective for the concept. Also be sure to explain how at least 2 of the sources we looked at relate to the example/concept you are describing. Remember to write properly using correct spelling and grammar. Here is the scale that will be used to report your progress:

4 Exceeds Standards 3 Meets Standards 2 Shows some proficiency in the standards, but needs more work. 1 Does not demonstrate any proficiency

Here are the three areas you will graded on: Sociology Content - explain the sociology concepts that we learned this unit. Demonstrate that individuals are shaped by their social life. 4 application to student’s life and demonstration of sociological mindfulness. Student is able to fully explain the sociological content and apply it to a unique example. 3 Student fully explains the sociological content using relevant terminology from the class. 2 Student somewhat explains the content from class but does not do it in detail and/or uses little or no sociology concepts or terms. 1 Student completed the assignment but did not explain any sociology at all.

Literacy - demonstrate an understanding of the sources used in class (books, movies, websites, etc…) and be able to connect them to sociological concepts/themes. 4 Student refers properly to multiple sources from class and/or explains the connection of an outside source found by the student. 3 Student refers properly to a source from class and explains its connection to sociology in the student’s own words. 2 Student refers to a source from class but it lacks depth, clarity or correctness. 1 Student completed the assignment but was not correct in interpreting the sources from class.

Academic Expectations - be a part of the community of class; being present and on-time, listen, share, respect, and trust other students; participate in class and write properly. 4 Student contributes to the class through commenting, listening and reading. Student uses proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and clear and academic writing. Student meets deadlines and is on time. Student’s work is neat and professional. 3 Student is able to meet almost all of the expectations above. 2 Student meets some of the expectations. 1 Student turns in the assignment or shows up, but does not meet any of the expectations above


 * HW:** Finish post AND comment on two other students' posts.

= Day 6: Review posts =

How to make a good post

[|Example: Sociology in Focus] Find a post from the "Research Methods" section that relates to something we have done in class. Be prepared to share with the class how it relates. Think about how you might write your own post about the topics listed on the Sociology in Focus site OR come up with your own scenario to relate to class topics.

How to do quiz make-ups in this class

Read chapter 3, focus on sections 1 and 2, in your textbook and answer the questions below: 1. How is culture a social construction of reality? (you must mention sociobiology in your response) 2. To what extent do you agree with the idea that "People can begin to view the world differently as they learn a new language"? Give an example from your own life to illustrate your point.
 * Homework:**

ALSO Read "Social Time: The Heartbeat of Culture" Be prepared to discuss the following questions next class: 1. How is time a social construction? 2. How do the sociologists study time? 3. What are some examples of time varying around the world? 4. What role does language play in the interpretation of time?

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