Sociology Reading Guide
Now is the time to explore an aspect of society that you find interesting. You will be REQUIRED to read a
book in order to earn a passing grade in Sociology. There is a wide variety of fascinating topics. The
following are suggestions, if you have an alternative NON-FICTION, just ask and I will try to accommodate
your choice.
1.
Neither Wolf nor Dog- Kent Nerburn
2. Culture of Fear – Barry Glassner
3. Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich
4. Shot to the Heart - Mikal Gilmore
5. As Nature Made Him - John Copitalano
20. No Ordinary Heroes – Demaree Inglese
21. Am I Thin Enough Yet? Sharlene Janice
Hesse-Bibner
22. I’m Down - Misha Wolff
23. Half the Sky- Nicholas Kristof and
Sheryl WuDunn
6. Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
24 Outside Lies Magic – John Stilgoe
7. Coming of Age in Mississippi - Anne Moody
25. The Legacy of Luna – Julia Butterfly Hill
8. Klan Destine Relationships – Darryl Davis
9. Richistan – Robert Frank
10. Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser
11. In Praise of Slowness - Carl Honore
12. Savage Inequalities - Jonathan Kozol
13. The Other Side of the River - Alex
Kotlowitz
26. Life on the Color Line – Gregory Howard
Williams
27. Columbine by David Cullen
28. Chain of Command by Seymour Hersh
(9/11 to Abu Ghrab)
29. Another Place at the Table by Katherine
Harrison
30. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
31. Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepherd
14. Three cups of Tea - Greg Mortensen
32. The American Way of Eating by Tracie
McMillan
15. Freakonomics – Steven Levitt and Stephen
Dubner
THIS PROJECT IS DUE
16. “Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting
Together in the Cafeteria?” Beverly
Daniel Tatum
17. Lies My Teacher Told Me – James Loewen
18. Our Daily Meds – Melody Patterson
19. Food, Inc – Peter Pringle
ON______________________________.
NO LATE WORK – NO EXCEPTIONS!
Please read your book and analyze it as a sociologist. You will be completing the following tasks:
Part I. Create a Reader Discussion Guide . Your TYPED guide will include:
a. Brief biography of author IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!! If you cut and paste a bio it will
earn you a zero.
b. A well written summary of the book including THREE worthwhile sociological
concepts/definitions that show your newly acquired knowledge. Please underline the concepts
and include specific page numbers or chapters where the concept is discussed. The summary
should be at least 1-2 pages in length.
c. An alternative title for the book with an explanation why it makes sense.
d. A relevant article from an academic professional journal along with a TYPED summary
and explanation how it relates to your book (2-3 paragraphs minimum) Please include the first
page of the article.
AND if you would like an “A”
e. Independent research. You are to conduct an interview with a professional who has some
background and/or connection to the subject matter of your book.
 You will create at least five appropriate questions that you will ask your contact.
These must NOT be “yes or no” questions. They can be book specific or about the
topic in general. The preferred method of interviewing is face to face. However,
you may conduct the interview over the phone. Contact information must be
included. (see attached form).

Interview Response: Please write up the responses to your questions in paragraph format.
Consider it as if you are writing a newspaper article about the interview.
Reader Discussion Guide
-
A brief biography of the author
Book summary and explanation of three definition or concepts
An alternative title for the book.
Academic Journal
/5
/35
/5
/20
-
Interview questions
Interview response
/5
/5
75/ pts
Part II. Written in class responses to a series of questions about your book.
25 pts
Part III. Speed booking
15 pts
Reader Discussion Guides are due no later than Thursday MAY 24!
No exceptions – no late work.
Please complete this page along with the written portion to receive the additional 10 pts.
Sociology Interview
PLEASE PRINT
Your Name:
Topic:
Name of interviewee:
Title/Position:
Date of interview
Phone number:
Email.
Website ( if applicable)
Questions: “Yes or No” will not count.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(Minimum of five)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
In class response
On a separate sheet of paper, please write a well thought out and detailed response to
the following questions. You will write a total of FIVE responses.
+ Please skip lines
+ Please do not write on the back of the sheet.
You MUST answer these two questions:
a. What was your favorite part of the book? Why? Please cite a specific passage.
b. What does this book say about society? Any particular aspect?
Please answer three of the following questions. BE SPECIFIC
1. Did you find any flaws in the book? Explain.
2. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
3. What were some of the major themes of the book?
4. What have you read or viewed that is similar to this book?
5. What is the most important relationship in the book? Explain.
6. Explain why would this book make a good documentary or movie?
7. Are there any aspects of this book that are relevant to your life? Explain.
8. If you could have a conversation with the author – what would you ask?
9. Is there a possible sequel to the book? What would it be? Title? Explain your
reasoning.
Name:
Excellent
5
Biography
Summary plus
Definitions
& Concepts
Alternative
Title
Article summary
Questions
Written
Responses
Good
4.25
Average
3.75
Poor
3.25
Unacceptable
2
An effective
biography –
accurate
information could be
expanded.
Demonstrates
adequate
knowledge of
the book.
Concepts
covered but not
explicated
stated.
Biography is
included –
minimal effort
or incorrect
information is
used.
In complete or
inaccurate
summary. “Cut
and paste” job?
Concepts
unclear or
inadequate.
No page #s
Too short –or
simply a “Cut
and paste job”
Poorly
constructed
and/or no
explanation
Minimal effort
demonstrated
on summary
and/or article
not relevant to
topic
Not included
Interesting and
well written
biography –
appropriate and
accurate
information
Well written
summary in your
own words.
Excellent
understanding
of concepts.
Page #s
included
An effective
biography –
appropriate
length.
Creative and
original title
with explanation
Successful title
with explanation
Title included
with little or no
explanation
Well written
summary,
appropriate
article and
demonstrated
relevance to
topic
Excellent
questions.
Interesting and
appropriate. All
contact
information
included.
Well written
and thoughtful
responses.
Shows clear
understanding
of the concepts.
No grammatical
errors. Relevant
interview
subject.
Clearly written.
Not exceptional
but logical and
requirements
are included.
Decent job of
summarizing
appropriate
article and
showed its
relevance.
Good questions.
Appropriate
content.
Contact
information
included.
Decent
questions some
“yes and no”.
Little to no
contact
information.
Too many yes
or no questions
or not
appropriate to
the content.
Not included =
0
Clearly written.
Not exceptional
but logical and
all requirements
are included.
Relevant
interview
subject.
Completed the
requirements.
Demonstrated
adequate
insight. Some
grammatical
errors.
Interview
subject
somewhat
appropriate.
Poorly written
– little to no
insight into the
topic.
Grammatical
errors hurt the
effectiveness
of the writing.
Not included=
0
Decent summary
and shows a
good
understanding
of relevant
concepts. Page
#s included.
Summary and
concepts fail to
show a basic
understanding
of the
material. No
page #s.
Total
X1
X7
X1
Not included
X4
X1
X1
Total
/75
Comments: