The Promise
Name:_______________________
Please read “The Promise”, type your answers below, and bring it into class ready to discuss it.
1. What is “The Promise” that Mills was talking about?
2. What was meant by, “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood
without understanding both.”? (p.1)
3. What is the sociological imagination? (p.2)
4. How would you apply the sociological imagination to yourself?
5. What are examples of troubles and issues for you? (p.3)
6. Please apply the quote, “… no problems of the private life can be stated and solved without
recognition of the crisis of ambition that is part of the vary career of men at work in the incorporated
economy.” to the current housing and foreclosure crisis in America. (p. 5)
7. How does the general society and specific individuals determine a person’s view of reality? What can
the individual do to overcome or change a hindering reality to create more opportunity for them?