October, 2009
Contents:
What is Sociology?
Famous sociology
Majors!
Course topics
Careers in sociology
Sociology cartoon
Sociology quotes
NPHS Sociology News
Welcome to another school year!
Hello and welcome to the Sociology newsletter. I hope you
and your families have started the 2009-2010 school year well.
The purpose of this newsletter is to share some information
about what sociology is, what topics are covered, and where we
see it in the world around us. I hope you enjoy it!
-
Mr. Bob McCreary
Teacher – NPHS Social Studies Dept.
What is Sociology?
Popular books
Surprising findings
From studies
______________________
Sociology is the systematic study of social behavior
and human groups. It focuses on social relationships
and how these relationships impact society as a
whole. It also studies how societies develop and
change.
Sociology can be studied in two ways – the macro and
the micro point of view. Macro-sociology focuses on
the structures in society that impact social
relationships in smaller groups. For example, a
sociologist may study flaws in our capitalist
economic system in order to help understand why
some may turn to crime. Micro-sociology focuses on
the interactions and relationships of small groups
and how that impacts society as a whole. For
example, a sociologist might study how a teacher’s
expectations can affect academic performance
overall.
You majored in what?!
The following people were sociology majors!
- Rev. Martin Luther King
- Ronald Reagan (double majored w/economics)
- Michelle Obama
- Rev. Jesse Jackson
- Regis Philbin – TV Host
- Dan Aykroyd – actor
- Robin Williams – actor/comedian
- Dinah Shore – singer
- Dr. Ruth Westheimer – The “sex doctor”
- Alonzo Mourning – former NBA player
- Joe Theisman – former NFL quarterback
- Emily balch – 1946 Nobel Peace Prize winner
NPHS Sociology News
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Topics we cover in the course!
History is,
strictly speaking,
the study of
questions; the
study of answers
belongs to
anthropology
and sociology.
W. H. Auden
If it's far away,
it's news, but if
it's close at
home, it's
sociology.
James Reston
The next time
some academics
tell you how
important
diversity is, ask
how many
Republicans there
are in their
sociology
department.
Thomas Sowell
Culture
Technology
Values
Norms
Socialization
Crime/deviance
Gangs
Collective behavior
family
media
education
poverty
class
personality
groups
subcultures
Countercultures
racism
politics
the family
inequality
social movements
interaction
.and many more!
Sociology related careers!
Medicine
Law
Police
Social work
Education
Business management
FBI
Journalism
Politics
research
policy development
consultant
statistician
criminologist
therapist
psychologist
counseling
NPHS Sociology News
Sociology on the bookshelves
In the past, there have been a number of books related to sociology that have
made it onto “Bestseller” lists. Listed below are some of the books I have
read recently with a brief description. All can be found in bookstores, online
book sites, and probably your local libraries. I think you will find them good
reads! There are countless others so do some searching!
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – Currently on the NY Times Best Seller List,
this book provides a little different explanation of what leads to success.
Cultural reasons are explored which connects it to sociology.
Failing at Fairness: How our schools cheat girls by Myra and David
Sadker – This book details how boys and girls are treated differently in our
schools and how this negatively impacts girls’ academic performance, selfesteem, etc.
The Two-Income Trap: Why middle-class mothers & fathers are going
broke by Elizabeth Warren & Amelia Warren Tyagi – Two income earners in
families have steadily become the norm in middle-class families. But what
impact has it had socially and economically for families? You might be
surprised by what you read.
Top of the Class: How Asian parents raise high achievers by Dr. Soo Kim
Abboud and Jane Kim – This is a must-read for parents of school children as
well as students looking to improve their grades. When the “achievement
gap” among minorities compared to whites continues to increase, how is it
that the Asian minority consistently outperforms all ethnicities in America
including Whites?
Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell – Mr. Sowell, a
conservative economist and author, provides a different look into specific
cultures and how each of their unique histories still impacts behavior and
performance today.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Another Best-Seller by Mr.
Gladwell, Tipping Point offers an explanation on why and how little things
have had such a big impact on large events. For example, why New York
City’s crime rate dramatically decreased when other towns’ crime rates seem
to keep rising.
Nickle and Dimed: On (not) getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich –
The book offers an investigative look into the life of a minimum-wage earner in
America. The author went undercover and assumed the role of a minimumwage earner in a variety of jobs to experience and reflect on the life.
Class Matters by Correspondents of the NY Times – A collection of essays
by New York Times journalists that show the impact that socio-economic
class has on many areas of one’s life. Education, marriage, and life
expectancy are just some of the topics covered.
Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin – Similar to Gladwell’s Outliers, this book
offers evidence and research that seems to contradict much of what our
culture deems to be the causes of success in many walks of life.
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NPHS Sociology News
Need to contact
Mr. McCreary?
215-368-8900
Page 2 of 4
Look what sociologists have uncovered!
Surprised?
1. More students were fatally wounded by guns in schools during
the early 1990’s than today.
Or
2. The biggest factor that explains the income gap between men
and women is a woman’s marital status and childbirth.
mccrear@
npenn.org
3. Fewer than 2% of welfare recipients in America meet the
common stereotype of the “able bodied man.” Most are
children, the old, the sick, the physically / mentally challenged,
or young mothers.
4. Women maintain considerably more eye contact than men.
Check “Home
Access” for
grade updates
for your
student!
5. Counties in California in which alcohol was more readily
available did not have more alcohol-related injuries and
fatalities.
6. Most husbands of working wives who get laid off from work
reduce the amount of housework they do.
7. The suicide rate of American students is double that of
Japanese students.
8. Following disasters, people develop greater cohesion,
cooperation, and social organization to deal with the disaster.
Source:
Essentials of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach by James M.
Henslin, 2002
”
This newsletter was written by Mr. Bob McCreary,
Social Studies Teacher at North Penn High School