Sociology: Culture and Core Values Unit II
Grade Level:
11/12
Subject:
Sociology
Overview- To help students understand how dominant American values are reflected in, and
reinforced by the mainstream media. To demonstrate the role of print media in shaping and
diffusing social norms in mainstream American culture. To help students problematize
hegemonic discourses as transmitted through material culture
Do Now:
Write in Notes: In 1970 Robin
Williams identified core American
Values. They were:
Equal Opportunity
Achievement and Success
Material Comfort
Activity and Work
Teacher Objectives
Practicality and Efficiency
Progress
Science
Democracy and Enterprise
Freedom
SWBAT: Identify and compare Latent and Manifest
Prepared By:
L. Korpics 10/16/-10/19
Performance Standards Addressed. ASA: American
Sociology Association Pre-College Board Prototype for
AP Sociology Courses. NYU Sociology Curriculum
To understand, compare and analyze American Core Values
with personal values and group expectations
Student Guide
: By critically engaging with elements of
popular and mainstream culture, students will
come to appreciate better the role of the mass
media in the socialization process and to
understand the regulative function of the
values supporting contemporary capitalist
societies.
Functions. Describe the use of sociology in determining
social stratification, and explain the differences between
the Functionalist, Interactionist and Symbolic
Perspectives.
Readings: Durkheim: “Sick Theory”
Discussion/Analysis
Parsons: Interactionist Theory
Information
(Give and/or demonstrate necessary
information)
I do: Notes on Objectives, Inquiry
Verification
(Steps to check for student understanding)
We Do: Analyze an issue using the three sociological
perspectives at a test grade assignment. Students are
asked to pick up a picture of their favorite celebrity.
• Does your favorite celebrity uphold similar
values? Why or why not?
• What does this image of a celebrity tell us
about how we should live our lives, how we
should look and behave?
• Do you think you should strive to be like
J.Lo (both in terms of looks and lifestyle)?
Why or why not?
• Do you think you
Activity
Provide students with a list of core American
values. Use Jennifer Lopez (“J.Lo”) to
illustrate the values associated with
achievement and success; activity and work
etc.
They Do:
Discussion
Why is J.Lo is so successful? What values does she
uphold? (Achievement and success; hard-working; selffulfilling; narcissistic; dating a handsome successful male
(heterosexual); physically attractive, etc.).
should strive to be like your favorite celebrity?
Homework : Work on Sociology Project
Sociological History of VCHS
RESULTS: SURVEY
NEXT STEP: Progress towards bringing
sociological urban legends to an end,
reevaluating ingrained belifs.
Assessment: Exit Quiz
Exit Quiz
Summary: PowerPoint
We do: Activities: Brainstorming latent and manifest
functions. Activities: Symbolic body language activity
Materials Needed



Pen
Notebook
Text: “Sociology: HOLT.
Magazines (Teacher asks
students to bring copies of
magazines which feature their
favorite celebrity to class).
Pencil/Pen
Paper/Notebook
List of Core American values
for each student
Other Resources
Smart Board/Computer/Photos
Computer Lab: 10/16, and 10/19/11
PRESENTATIONS