Due Monday, September 23, 2013

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!)

Due Thursday, September 19, 2013

Read the article, The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker and write a reaction paper to what you read (1 page minimum).  Do you agree with the concept of the blank slate?  Where does the author of the article stand on this issue?  On what points did you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with Mr. Pinker?

For further inquiry into this debate, you can watch a short video discussion by the author here.

Weekly Reading: 09/09/2013

Read chapter one in your textbook (focus on the vocabulary terms).

Due Thursday, September 12, 2013

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 Thursday, September 12, 2013

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 (2 pages minimum)
1. Why is this study considered unethical?  
2. Do you agree that it was unethical?  Explain why or why not.
3. What insight into human behavior did we gain from this study?
4. Did the ends justify the means?
5. What other methods/studies could have been used to gather this data?
4. Cite your sources using APA format

Due Thursday, September 12, 2013

Read my blog post titled, Secession and respond in a comment, of at least 100 words, with your thoughts on the questions I posed in my post.  I suggest that you compose and edit it in Microsoft Word, or a similar program, first before posting it to the blog.  Please check your spelling and grammar!

Due Thursday, September 3, 2013

Locate an online source on the Civil War, which you believe to be a factual, valid, and reliable source.  Print it off (or include the address in your write up if it's too long) and attach it to your written piece explaining why you think it is a good source.