Sociology in the News1
Throughout the semester, we will apply sociological concepts to new items in order to
better understand the world around us and to improve our sociological imaginations. The
first aim of this assignment, by having you regularly read newspapers, is to make you
more aware of current events. More importantly, however, this assignment will show
you the immediate applicability of sociology. These activities will help you hone your
sociological imaginations and enable you to more clearly see “the transformative power
of history” in our everyday lives (to use the words of C. Wright Mills).
This Assignment
1. Every designated class period (see the bottom of this assignment for dates), each
student must bring in at least 1 article relevant to the week’s readings or general
subject material. Articles must be dated within 7 days of the current class. The
only permissible sources for these articles are:
a. The New York Times
b. The Washington Post
c. The Los Angeles Times
d. The Idaho Statesman
2. In randomly assigned groups, students must work together to choose one article
and undertake the following sociological analysis, using complete sentences and
correct grammar.
a. Summarize the article in one or two sentences.
b. Choose a single sociological concept to apply to the article. Don’t forget
that each chapter has a list of “key terms,” though you are in no way
limited to these.
c. Use your own words to define the concept and explain its general
contours. Feel free to use examples (at least two sentences).
d. Explain how and why the events depicted in the news article relate to the
highlighted sociological idea (at least 2 sentences).
e. Identify a “point of departure” (POD): how the ideas or events depicted in
the news item differ (however slightly) from the highlighted sociological
concept. One way to help identify a POD is to complete the following
sentence: “This isn’t’ a perfect example of (the sociological concept)
because _________.”
3. One person from each group must be prepared to present their analysis to the rest
of the class in less than five minutes, explaining all facets of the above assignment
(article, concept, analysis, and POD). All groups will not have to present each
time, but be prepared to do so.
Grading
1
This assignment is largely drawn from an assignment by Arthur Scarritt, based on
Nancy L. Malcom (2006) “Analyzing the News,” Teaching Sociology 34:143-49.
You will get full credit for participating in the group exercise. If you are not in class, you
cannot get this credit. These exercises can never and in no way be made up at another
time. Make sure that all participants’ names are on the assignment when you turn it in at
the end of class.
Example:
“Police Work.” Special Supplement to the Savannah Morning News, March 19, 2002.
This article discusses the work and different jobs of police officers. It shows that
their jobs vary in levels of interest and difficulty.
Gender segregation refers to the pattern whereby men and women are situated in
different jobs throughout the labor force. Many jobs in our society are thought of as
either a man’s or a woman’s job. For example, nurses are predominantly women and
police officers are mostly men. There are more women in the teaching profession than
men, and more men caching athletics than women. This does not mean that the opposite
sex cannot do the job; it only suggests that people generally lean towards a more
traditional role when choosing a profession.
This article implies that gender segregation is prevalent on the police force. Few
women are shown as officers. Furthermore, it appears that the male police officers hold
the more difficult and more interesting jobs. This suggests that a man is more equipped
for the more challenging jobs on the force. A woman officer featured in the article works
with the children at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, a safe place for the kids and the female
officer.
My point of divergence is that even though men are concentrated in this
occupation, this article does feature some female police officers. Women are found on
the police force, and some of these women are well-respected and high-ranking police
officers.