Question 1: Durkheim's work on suicide
After reading the text and reviewing Durkheim's work on suicide on the Web, explain why Durkheim's explanation of suicide is significant historically. Explain his basic argument. What is his evidence and how does it support his hypothesis?
Question 2: Sociological Imagination
What is the Sociological Imagination? Why is it important to understanding what happens in the world around us? How can using a sociological imagination help solve problems facing the world today? Try to think of something specific locally, nationally or globally. Here are some ideas to get started: climate change, pollution, war (pick any current conflict), religious conflicts, the budget crises that almost every state in the U.S. is struggling with. Feel free to come up with other examples. This should be a lively and wide ranging discussion. Who knows? We might even come up with something that proves useful.
Question 3: The Milgram Study
Newman tells us that "statuses, roles, groups, organizations and institutions are the building blocks of society. The purpose and function of these building blocks is to maintain social order, teach us how to behave, what to expect from others, how to reduce deviance, etc. What happened in the Milgram study that made the research subjects deviate from expectations, break norms, etc.? What norms about behavior were followed and what ones were broken?
Question 4: Statuses you hold
What are your statuses, roles, groups, organizations, etc. currently? Which two or three would most change your life if they suddenly disappeared? Why? Be sure to follow the textbook definitions of status and role, and to use these terms correctly. Status is a named social position that people can occupy, e.g., "student." Roles are the expectations, rights, obligations, behaviors, duties associated with a particular status, e.g., "take quizzes."
Question 5: Theory Explains
Explain in your own words how either the Structural Functionalist perspective or the Conflict perspective would view the cause of war (any war). Remember that Functionalism focuses on the harmonious operations of all parts of a society in order to assure stability and order. Conflict theory focuses on inequality within a society (principally economic, but also gender and race or ethnic inequality) as the driving force behind social change. Both perspectives have merit.
Question 6: Constructing Reality
The text asserts that "reality is a product of the cultural and historical period in which it exists." Examine this position either cross-culturally (comparing societies in two different countries) or historically (comparing one country, probably the U.S., in two different time periods). For example, you could discuss accepted "truth" about the Earth's position in the universe today compared to that of the 1600s.
Question 7: Research Methods
Think of a research question, something that interests you, that you would like to know more about. Here are two simple examples: Do blondes have more fun? Who are better drivers, men or women? The questions don't have to be serious; they just have to work as answerable questions. What would be the independent vaiable in your question, or cause? What would be the dependent variable, or outcome? What kinds of data would you need to answer the question? Where might you get that data? question.
Question 8: Research Methods Continued...
Good research questions are informed by a theoretical grounding. Take one of the research questions offered in the Question 3 posts, and think what kind of answer that Structural Functionalism would expect us to find? or that Conflict theory would expect us to find?
Question 9: Nacirema
How is culture "invisible"? Under what circumstances do we sometimes become much more aware of the invisible cultural rules all around us? In reading the article on the Nacirema, what is Miner trying to tell us? What is his method to teach his readers the invisible aspect of culture? Miner is writing a parody of a real society in order to make an important sociological point. In your answer or response to other students, please do not give it away. Each student should deduce for her/himself who the Nacerema are.
Question 10: Globlization's Critics
Why do critics of globalization say that it is causing a loss of distinct, local cultures in many countries around the world? In what ways might a global "monoculture" be a good thing or a bad thing? Remember to keep your work focused on what you are learning from the readings.
Question 11: Culture
Define material and nonmaterial culture. What example can you give of EITHER material culture OR nonmaterial culture? Come up with your own example; please do not repeat examples already given in the discussion or in the book.