There are 7 questions to discuss. Each discussion will conclude 1.5 pages (TNR 12 and double spaced), so there are 10 and half pages total. Chapter 2- Sociologists must be continually open to having their findings reexamined and new interpretations proposed. Describe a time when you changed your mind due to new information. Was it difficult for you to change your mind? Why, or why not? Key terms: conflict theory, dependent variable, dysfunctions, empirical knowledge, feminist theory, hypothesis, independent variable, latent functions, manifest functions, public sociologists, rational choice, theory, roles, sample, stigma, structural- functional theory, symbolic interaction theory, theories, variables. Chapter 4-Sociologists must be continually open to having their findings reexamined and new interpretations proposed. Describe a time when you changed your mind due to new information. Was it difficult for you to change your mind? Why, or why not? Key terms: agents of socialization, formal agents of socialization, game stage, generalized, other, imitation stage, informal agents of socialization, interaction, looking-glass self, peer group, play stage, resocialization, role taking, significant others, social class. Chapter 5-During a typical day, when do you engage in front-stage and backstage behavior? Why? With whom do you engage in each? Why? Key terms: achieves status, anomie, ascribed status, bureaucracies, formal organizations, groups, in-group, master status, out-group, primary groups, rationalization of social life, reference groups, role conflict, role strain, secondary groups, social capital, social interaction, social networks. Chapter 6-How can social capital help keep people out of prison and help former prisoners avoid returning to prison? Why are we so hesitant to work to help a previously incarcerated individuals to build social capital after he or she is released? How will your social capital help you conform (or not conform) to the norms of society? Key terms: consensus crimes, deviance, differential association theory, hate crimes, labeling theory, organized crime, primary deviance, recidivism rates, secondary deviance, self-fulfilling prophecy, social control theory, strain theory, terrorism, victimless or public order crimes, white collar. Chapter 7-How has the social class of your parents and your upbringing influenced your success in school and your professional aspirations? Key terms: absolute poverty, achieved stratification system, ascribed stratification system, caste systems, cultural capital, estate systems, income, inequality, lifestyle, meritocracy, pluralist power theorists, power elite, relative poverty, slavery, social mobility, wealth. Chapter 9-What are your career goals? Do they follow traditional gender roles? Why or why not? How has your gender socialization impacted your career plans? Has it? Key terms: gender, gender roles, glass ceiling, hetero sexism, homophobia, sex, sexuality, transgender. Chapter 8-Review the Engaging Sociology: Preference Policies at the University of Michigan on page 239-240 and answer the question below. How would you design a fair system of admissions, what other factors would you consider? What factors do you think should be eliminated from consideration?
