* This workbook is in print and electronic form. Students may submit answers to workbook questions in either print or electronic form. Please see the UW Rock instructional technologist, Rich Path if you need instructions how to submit answers electronically. Please check whether our UW Rock computers can handle attachments to e-mails that you may submit from other sites.
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This course pivots upon several working definitions of sociology. They include:
a) Sociology is the disciplined observation and interpretation of varying patterns of social relationships, with an eye to understanding their origins and consequences for society;
b) Sociology highlights how the FIVE Rs of society shape human behavior, and affect whether people meet their needs and goals. The FIVE Rs are rankings, relationships, rivalries and rituals, roles, and rules.
c) Sociology is ongoing inquiry into issues of social importance. These issues can be classified as those of: fact, interpretation, cause, responsibility, effect, ethical acceptability of conduct, effectiveness or efficiency, and priority.
The practical purposes of this workbook are: a) to guide students in using superior resources to learn the factual lessons and principles of sociology; b) to encourage them to begin to apply these lessons and principles in assorted contexts; and c) to encourage them to do assignments on a regular basis, in accordance with the overall plan for the course.
The total point potential of the activities in this workbook will be at least 125 points, toward the total for the course which in the past has been around 260. As we move through the course, it is possible that some of the questions will be folded into quizzes or exams.
Bryjak and Soroka, second edition, Sociology: Cultural Diversity in a Changing World;
5. A global studies text, Michael Strada, Through the Global Lens;
6. Two global studies readers, Jackson, Global Issues 97/98 and 99/00;
7. A reader which focuses mainly upon American society, Susan Ferguson, Mapping the Social Landscape;
8. World Religions;
9. An annotated bibliography of readings which is found on Prof. Groth's Website. A sample of these readings is found in the readings and assignment binders for the course;
10. A collection of news items which will be distributed as the course proceeds.
| Activity 1 | Activity 6 | Activity 11 |
| Activity 2 | Activity 7 | Activity 12 |
| Activity 3 | Activity 8 | Activity 13 |
| Activity 4 | Activity 9 | Activity 14 |
| Activity 5 | Activity 10 | Activity 15 |
The introduction to this workbook stressed that this is an introductory social science course. Let us find out what people think science, and social science in particular are and perhaps are not. In this exercise, please state what is your impression of what science is all about. Then say what science might mean in relation to groups, organizations, or social trends.
Natural science
Social science
As applied to groups, organizations, or trends, social science means:
According to Vincent Ruggiero and also to Richard Paul (who spearheads the critical thinking reform movement in American education), all fields pivot on questions or issues. Please read the concluding chapter of MC, and identify at least three important questions about the future of China by which sociologists of the future may be occupied. Also, judging only from the chapter, what prompts sociologists or informed Chinese people to pose the questions?
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The introduction to this workbook stressed that learning the basics of sociology involves comparison of social patterns. In connection with each chapter of our text, and ideally each lesson in class, we will compare social patterns, interpret the patterns, and/or interpret the differences in patterns. Let's begin this process by identifying at least one important social pattern each in two of the following sources, labelled alphabetically: a) Ferrante, chapter 2 and/or the news item concerning immigration in Europe; b) chapters 2 or 3 of Strada's Through the Global Lens; c) Chapter 1 of Modern Brazil.
Identify at least two possible advantages of comparing societies in introductory sociology.
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One key point of chapter 3, Ferrante, is that social science theories ideally are built up and tested by rigorous means. This commonly involves taking key steps of social science research: finding out what scholars and scientists have already found of importance in understanding the problem, crisply defining the problem, determining what theories might shed most light on the problem, setting out hypotheses which link the problem to the theory, determining if/what observations should be made to test the hypotheses, planning those observations, carrying them out, and interpreting the resulting information in a logical and systematic manner. Workbook activity 3 will give us some practice in taking these key steps. There will be more options than in most other workbook activities.
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Psychologists think that rewards and punishments shape or determine human behavior. Economists stress price incentives. Anthropologists and sociologists stress the group and organizational contexts of human behavior and what it means, rationally and symbolically. In workbook activity 4, we spot what meanings specific behaviors have to the Balinese, and to Koreans. Specifically what do foods, and patterns of growing them mean to groups various groups? IS students are encouraged to check the article from Human Organization concerning organic food, to see what organic food means and symbolizes to those involved in the organic food movement and to outsiders.
According to Ferrante, cultures are shaped by geography and history. Based on readings in the Modern Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, etc. series, state precisely how geography and history have shaped the present present cultures of two nations. What further investigation might you undertake to find out whether such geographic circumstances as that a nation is surrounded by water, or lacks much arable land have similar consequences as a general rule?
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Sociologists observe and analyze socialization in the varied contexts in which it is most likely to occur in various types of societies. In the U.S., these contexts include: child care centers, homes, and schools. In this activity, we determine first whether Americans agree which context is appropriate for child rearing, what norms should prevail in this context, and if not how they try to settle disputes about which setting for child care, and which type of care is best.
The second objective of this activity is to pinpoint factors that determine whether American education is successful, in the sense that students learn skills and knowledge sufficiently well to help the U.S. excel in international political or economic competitions. In line with this objective, compare/contrast the Chinese educational system with the American. Is either system more likely to produce graduates who are more able to cope with assorted challenges of the future--familial, socio-economic, political, etc.?
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Among the key concepts of this chapter are context and content of interaction. In this activity, we spot key contexts and contents of interactions which determine how severe is the AIDS epidemic, or another epidemic. Base your answer in part upon the Ferrante chapter entitled "Interaction" and in part on a news item which covers an AIDS epidemic that is mushrooming outside of Africa, or non AIDS epidemics in two nations.
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Sociologists offer social structural and cultural insights into deviance. The key terms culture and social structure will be further defined in class.
State how these terms come into play in explaining the clashes over Chinese opium trade, over cocaine cultivation in Peru, over heavy use of alcohol in Russia, or over alcohol use by American troops who are stationed in Islamic nations.
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Either: a)The growth of nongovernmental organizations reveals that previous political and economic organizations are needed to cope with the new problems and challenges of a new global era. Judging by Strada's discussion of nongovernmental organizations, which problems did previous political and economic organizations either create or fail to resolve? Judging by materials presented to the class, has one nongovernmental organization promise to succeed?
OR
b) Fast food organizations often are saddled with responsibility for the poor diets eaten by many Americans. Based on a small scale study, state whether schools or fast food franschises provide more adequate nutrition? Also explain why social scientist skeptics would pose the question.
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Here are some examples of types of "multinational" organizations: cartels; consortiums; corporations based in one nations but producing in several; corporations based in one society but marketing in several. Write an essay in which you anticipate what it might be like to work in a key department of a multinational organization--like operations/transportation, labor relations, or finance. Base your essay on a news article, chapter, etc., that provides insight into what kind of tasks you might face.
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The economic fortunes of Brazilians and Chinese may depend very much on how much labor and primary commodities like coffee, rice, or coal are worth on international markets.
a) Based on relevant chapters of MB, say how prices of sugar or coffee may influence (if they do) the wages or salaries of Brazilians in various walks of life.
b) Judging from the news article concerning Saipan and one other, what factors determine whether Chinese laborers are paid living wages?
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One key term in studies of stratification and classification is multidimensionality, another is polarization. Groups that insist that there is much racial or gender stratification often are challenged to consider whether factors other than prejudice and discrimination could account for:
a) differences among activities in which most females and males, or people of different skin colors engage; or
b) the differences in pay associated with differences in the activities in which people of different gender or skin colors may engage.
Based on relevant study, what might these other factors be? Union membership, academic skills, for example?
Option: Use Sowell's Race and Culture to try to explain why current immigrant groups in America, and/or historic minorities exhibit far different rates of self employment.
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Judging from MB, ch. 3 and MC, ch. 6, are the genders of China and Brazil very polarized, as Ferrante defines the term polarization?
AND Please explain two patterns of gender inequality. In one, females must be disadvantaged, in another males. Can one theory help explain both patterns?
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Option A: Use the MB chapter covering religion to develop a theory why Christian denominations gain or lose membership in a society.
Option B: Develop a theory why people are as geographically separated by residence as they are among American states, or among the present nations of the world. Please use the material in Ferrante's chapter concerning socialization as one clue to the geographic separation.
You may use Smith's "Islam and Christendom," which appears in the Oxford History of Islam.
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A more detailed description of this activity will be presented after the second exam for the course.
It will pivot on these three questions, for two of which students will be responsible:
a) If any, what political, economic, or populations changes have improved and imperiled China's capacity to feed itself?
b) By comparison to other variables, is population growth a particular important stumbling block to adequate nutrition of the Chinese people? Or of Brazilians?
c) Besides trying to limit family size to one child, how else might the Chinese curb population growth, or encourage population decrease? Are the options feasible?
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Please do one of these three options:
a) According to the introduction to ch. 11. MC, Chinese officials have promoted economic development, which in turn "solved of of its (China's) more pressing problems," "given more breathing room in which to try to deal with the problems," and "created new and serious problems." Give concrete examples of each type of consequence of Chinese economic development. Also state reasons to believe or to disbelieve the theory that economic developments alone account for changes in other spheres of Chinese life.
b) Among sociological theories of development are variations on the theme that the development of one nation, or class of people implies the underdevelopment or even oppression of a second group or nation. Based on Brazilian experience, is this conflict theory of development sound?
c) A second theory says that whether nations develop depends on whether political leaders push for revolutionary enough changes so that the life chances of a people can improve. Based on readings concerning Mao, Deng, and Colosio, did any of these leaders revolutionize his society thusly? If so, what was done?
You may use Smil's "Feeding China" in answering the questions.
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If you have any questions or comments about this Electronic Workbook for Sociology 101, or about any of the class assignments or readings, please contact Prof. Philip G. Groth directly at UW-Rock County, 2909 Kellogg Avenue, Janesville, WI 53546. TEL: 608-758-6545, or E-Mail him at pgroth@uwc.edu. Posted on 09/08/01.