Sociology 315 Assignment
Week 7 Readings
Due on Tuesday (2/21/12)
Do your best to answer the questions in your own words. DO NOT SIMPLY transcribe text
from the article to your page. If you quote the text, be sure do use quotation marks and to
provide a proper citation. It should look like this: Eimer begins his argument by reporting
that “students tell him they do not do the readings unless he makes them do review
questions (Eimer 2006: 2). Eimer is the author. The publication was issued in 2006. The
quotation was from page 2. REMEMBER…THIS IS 40% OF YOUR GRADE…DO A
GOOD JOB. There are 8 questions.
1. Briefly summarize the problem that Mr. Venezio (the fellow profiled in the article “A
fall through insurance-coverage gap.”) has the American welfare state. Be sure to use the
class term “Means testing” in your answer.
2. The article by Katherine Newman and Victor Tan Chen provide a sociological name for
people like Mr. Venezio. Please provide the term they use and explain what they mean by
it? Be sure to mention the size of this group in your answer.
3. Newman and Chen propose a number of ways to improve the situation of the group of
people they discuss. Please describe two of the changes that they propose.
4. Of the public policy changes they mention, which do you think has the best chance of
someday becoming an actual policy? Why? Which has the least chance of becoming a
public policy? Why?
5. Elijah Anderson’s article “The Code of the Streets” was turned into a book that is
considered to be a landmark study. Describe what is meant by the term “code of the
streets,” being sure to provide concrete examples of this code.
6. Anderson suggests that the “code of the streets is actually a cultural adaptation to a
profound lack of faith in the police and the judicial system.” What does he mean by this
statement? Be sure to cite the text in your answer.
7. What is meant by the terms “decent” and “street?” In what ways does Anderson argue
that the code forces even “decent” kids to learn to live by the code?
8. To what extent do the kids you are working with seem to exhibit social norms and
behaviors that are similar to the “code of the streets” that Anderson discusses.