Due Thursday, October 2, 2014

Read the article, The McDonaldization of Society and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper:

1) What does Ritzer mean by the "McDonaldization" of society?

2) What are the dominant values in a fully rationalized society? Give an example of how each of these five values has shaped everyday life in contemporary American society.

3) Why is irrationality an inevitable by-product of this growing rationality? What is the difference between a rational system and a reasonable system?

4) Drawing upon your reading of the article, describe how Americans learn the values of a rational society. How are we socialized to live in a McDonaldized society?

5) Can you identify subcultures or countercultures whose values run counter to the five values of McDonaldization?

6) Evaluate the values of the McDonald's culture. To what extent is your value ethnocentric?

7) Is there another viewpoint of this trend that Ritzer ignores? What are some of the positive aspects of rationalization for society?

Due Thursday, October 2, 2014

Read pages 62-86 in you textbook (starting with "A Guided Tour of the Brain") and copy the vocabulary definitions ("Key Terms") from this section of the chapter ("phrenology" - "structural plasticity" ------ 34 terms in total).

Study for Test on Chapters 1 and 2 on Friday, September 26, 2014

Read chapter 2 and complete the multiple choice sections of the study guide packet handed out in class. You may also take a practice test here to help you prepare.

Study for Chapter 1 Test on Friday, September 26, 2014

Study your class notes and chapter one in your textbook for Friday's test.  Take a practice test here to help you in your preparation.

Terms for Vocabulary Quiz on Friday, September 19, 2014

Study these terms for Friday's vocabulary quiz in my sociology classes.

Terms for Vocabulary Quiz on Friday, September 19, 2014

Study these terms for Friday's vocabulary quiz in my psychology classes.

Due Thursday, September 18, 2014

Read the article, What's So Great About America and respond to the following in a well organized essay (2 page minimum):

1. In your opinion, is America great in comparison to other nations?
2. Did you agree with the author's examples of what makes us unique?  Explain why or why not.
3. Do you feel that the author left out any examples of American exceptionalism that you would have included?
4. In what ways does this article demonstrate the sociological perspective?
5. Why does D'Souza so easily utilize the sociological perspective when describing our society (why might it be easier for him than for you)?

Due Monday, September 22, 2014

Mini-Research Paper:

1. Do a little internet research on psychological studies that are widely considered to be unethical.
2. Choose one to research further
3. Present your findings in a short paper (3 pages minimum)
1. Describe the experiment or study.
2. Why is this study considered unethical?  
3. Do you agree that it was unethical?  Explain why or why not.
4. What insight into human behavior did we gain from this study?
5. Did the ends justify the means?
6. What other methods/studies could have been used to gather this data?
4. Cite your sources using APA format

Due Thursday, September 11, 2014

Read my blog post on early childhood memories, as well as the article that is linked to it, and respond in a comment of at least 300 words.

Due Monday, September 15, 2014

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/PowerSchool/chromebooks)

·         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.)

·         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

• It should have a cover page as well (does not count as one of your 3 pages!)

Due Monday, September 8, 2014

Read and outline chapter one in your textbook. If you need a refresher on how to make a good outline check out this page.

Due Monday, September 8, 2014

Read chapter 1 in your textbook and complete the guided reading questions.