Instructions:
Your
assignment this week will be to write a narrative in the spirit of Horace
Miner’s article analyzing the “Nacirema,” which we read in class last week. You
will be writing an article about our
culture here at FHUHS in the same style and manner. You should introduce
yourself as a sociologist at the beginning and tell the reader that you have
been researching the mysterious culture of the “Sretals” (a.k.a., Slaters). You
should describe a typical day in the life of a member of this culture along
with all the rituals in which we engage, the traditions we observe, the
artifacts that we produce and use, and the social norms that govern our
behavior in specific situations. Below
are some ideas on possible social phenomena and artifacts you may want to
include in your analysis:
·
Rituals while preparing for school
·
arriving at school (busses, cars, parking lot
etiquette)
·
lockers/locks/combinations/backpacks
·
morning announcements/Pledge of Allegiance
·
class changes /bell schedules
·
cliques
·
notebooks/textbooks
·
computers/user accounts/Grade
Quick/PowerSchool)
·
security measures (SRO/cameras/lockdowns/fire
drills)
·
discipline
(detention/suspension/in-school/ineligibility)
·
lunch time/ cafeteria norms and rituals
·
hall passes
·
homework assignments
·
classroom layout/desk arrangements/assigned
seating
·
cell phone/personal device use
·
clothing/school dress code
·
roles of administrators/teachers/students/etc.
·
extracurricular activities
(drama/sports/etc.)
·
field trips/dances/proms/Slaterbration/spirit
cheer/Winter Carnival/Y-Day
These are only suggestions. Have fun with this and be creative! Use your sociological perspective to see the
strange in the familiar and the general in the particular.
Requirements:
Your paper should be:
·
typed
·
double spaced
·
12 point font
·
1 inch margins
·
At least 3 pages long
o
It should have a cover page as well (does not
count as one of your 3 pages!)
