What is Sociology? The Sociological Perspective Lesson 1

WELCOME to SOCIOLOGY!

This is obviously a weird year, but like I said in that email I sent you last week - I am truly committed to the class and I think you might even get more out of it than in a traditional class.  However, I recognize it's a totally different format so please don't hesitate to ask for help or make suggestions.  And please be understanding of difficulties along the way.  Thanks in advance for that.

While I have plenty of experience using tech and the web for teaching, I have not used Zoom a whole lot.  My class will rely heavily on this blog for the lessons.  Please bookmark this page.  I will post lessons on the blog each day.  If you miss a zoom or if you are not sure about the lesson, go to my blog page to review the lesson.  During our Zoom lessons, I plan to work off the blog so, I might assign you to a breakout room to work individually.  We will do this today.

I will link to each individual reading as we go along, but if you want a complete readings packet for Unit 1: The Sociological Perspective click here  

Student Demographics Survey 

I want to get to know each of you better as an individual, so please answer this demographic survey.  It is only for me.  Please share as much info as you are comfortable sharing.  

I had you fill out the survey above because I wanted to get to know you as an individual.  My question now is, are you, in fact, an individual?  What makes you an individual?  For remote learning, I want you each to answer individually for all of the numbered bold face questions below.  I will do this for each lesson of ours.  Click on the link below and open the Google Form in a new window.  Then read along with the blog and answer questions in the order that they come up.  If you have questions, I will available via zoom or email.  

Here is the Google Form for today's lesson.  Please open it in a new window.

1.  Do you think you are an individual?  Why or why not?

2.  What do you think it means to be an individual?

Sociology

The Western world in general, particularly Americans, like to believe that they are individual and unique.  This idea stemmed from the Enlightenment.   Many scholars at the time doted on the idea that each person is unique and each person free to choose whoever they want to be.  

However, shortly after the Enlightenment, the industrial revolution changed the way people lived and it showed that individuals are shaped a great deal by their social circumstances and not just by their own free choice.  We will learn more about this in the lessons to come, but for today, see this idea exemplified in the student demographic sheet you filled out. 

People are shaped by structures of society and their place within the structure.   The place you were born and the culture you were born into will shape how you think, talk, and what opportunities you have.  Families, schools, jobs, politics and media all influence how you see the world and what you value and how you think.  Additionally, your race, gender, social class all shape how you see yourself and how others see you.  Sometimes that can result in others treating you differently based on those identities.  All of this is sociology.  Sociology is scientifically studying how these groups in society affect the individuals within them and the obstacles and opportunities they will face because of their group identities.

3.  Any questions about what sociology is?

Syllabus

Please look at the syllabus for this class. The syllabus is in the readings packet on pages 2-5, but here is a separate link to the syllabus.  I want to highlight a few ideas:

• Please be open to learning.  If you took this class only because it is easy or you took it because you want to debate the course content (as opposed to learning), drop the class now.  It will be better for you and for your classmates.
• This class is a dual credit class through Loyola University.  
• Grades are based on EBR and the standards and targets included in the syllabus.  
• Blog:  This blog is an important learning tool for this course.  Bookmark it.  If you are absent, or if we are quarantined, you must still read the blog post and answer the questions for each day.
• Reading:  You will be required to read for this class.  This class will have the expectations of a college-level class.  If you want to have no work this year in your class, I urge you to drop this class and find another class to take instead.

4.  Any questions about the highlighted items above?

Teen-Parent Conflicts 
5.  Identify some conflicts you have with your parents.  What are they about?

Discuss as a group:

• Do you think these conflicts are personal?
• What is difficult about being a teen?

HW1:  Read Parent-teen Conflicts by Stephanie Coontz.  (Also in your student readings packet pages 6-9)  This is an important reading for this first unit.  Please be sure to read and understand it thoroughly.  It will help make the rest of the lessons this unit easier.

As you read, think about what Coontz attributes the conflicts to.  What is her overall thesis?

HW2:  Read the full syllabus.

HW3:   Name Survey

For homework, please survey your family about why you were named the legal name that you have.  If you have a nickname, please ask about that as well.  How and why did you get these names?  Is there a symbolic meaning to your name or why you were named that?