NO MORE ADDS. If your name is not on the sign in
sheet you may not attend class.
Turn Syllabus and Website contract in to folder on
front table
Make sure you sign in as soon as you arrive
Begin reading Note Taking Guide
TODAY
What is sociology?
Why study this subject?
How do sociologists think?
WEBSITE AND SYLLABUS CONTRACT
The purpose of this assignment:
-highlight student responsibilities
-address common questions
-help you succeed in this course
NOTE TAKING TIPS
 Use
the note taking guide (after today will only be
available on website prior to class)
 Don’t
try to write down every word you see –
PowerPoints will be on the website after class
 Write
down just the information/examples that click
most for you
 Review
your notes soon after class
CLASS STRUCTURE
This class will be a mix of:
 Lecture
using images and real life examples
 Partner/Group
 Real
activities
world connections through
-articles
-videos
-discussion
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
The systematic study of human society,
social groups
social interactions
WHAT DO SOCIOLOGISTS STUDY?
•
•
•
•
Group behavior
Inequality
Gender
Crime
•Race
•Family
•Media
•Culture
•Immigration
•Health
•Education
•Environmental problems
•And so much more
WHY SHOULD WE STUDY SOCIOLOGY?
 Explains
how people behave
 Increases awareness of influences around us
 Can lead to understanding and tolerance
 Can lead to social change
 Social research debunks myths
 Develops critical thinking skills
 Useful for most careers
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION /
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Ability to see the
many ways society
influences our
thoughts and actions
C. Wright Mills
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
See things from different angles
Examine events/actions from a
broader view point
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Allows us to
refocus our lens
HOW DO SOCIOLOGISTS THINK?
INDIVIDUAL VS. SOCIETY
Max was fired and cannot
find a job
Individual Perspective
Sociological Perspective
Cause =Max is not hard
working, lazy, rude…
Cause = Economic
difficulties are causing
most companies to let
go many employees
Therefore=Max’s situation
is being impacted by
faults in him
Therefore= Max’s situation
is being impacted by the
economy
HOW DO SOCIOLOGISTS THINK?
INDIVIDUAL VS. SOCIETY
Professor R. has a full class
with 10 students on the
waiting list and many
students asking to add
Individual Perspective
Cause =outstanding
teacher, easy teacher,
funny teacher
Therefore=Student
behavior is being
impacted by Professor
R’s individual teaching
style and personality
Sociological Perspective
Cause =budget crisis
schools cutting classes
Therefore= Student
behavior is being
impacted by state
government. All classes
are full not just Professor
R.’s
HOW DO SOCIOLOGISTS THINK?
PSYCHOLOGISTS VS. SOCIOLOGISTS
21 year old female
commits suicide
Psychologist’s Perspective
-Might ask about her
feelings
-Might ask if she was
suffering from depression
or other psychological
problems
Sociological Perspective
-Might ask about the
period of time this person
lived in
-Might ask about the
culture she lives in
USE YOUR
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
With 1-2 partners choose one of the situations below and explain the
behavior from an individual perspective and a sociological perspective
1.
2.
3.
James in an alcoholic man
Jennifer spends too much of her
money on makeup
Joey dropped out of high school
Individual Perspective
Sociological Perspective
Focus on someone’s
personal characteristics or
experiences
Focus on influences bigger
than one person (location,
culture, peers, family,
government, religion,
media…)
5 minutes
SOCIAL LOCATION
How would your life be different if you were born in:
• a different place
• time period
• of a different race/culture
• gender
• economic status
• religion
• and had a different type of education?
SOCIAL LOCATION
How would your life be different if you were born in:
• a different place
• time period
• different race/culture
• gender
• economic status
• religion
• different type of education?
Would you have on a
different outfit?
Would you have a different
major?
MYTH ABOUT SOCIOLOGY
 Many
people think sociology is “just common sense”
 Sociology sometimes proves “common sense” wrong
 Looking
behind the curtain of every day life to gain a true
understanding of society
DEBUNKING IN SOCIOLOGYPETER BERGER
Debunking= investigate
to gain a true
understanding of society
Example: is ADD more
common in males or females?
“Common sense” tells us:
Sociologists tell us:
Boys. “I’ve seen more boys
with ADD and I’m teacher’s
assistant at an elementary
school”
Females are equally as likely as males to have
ADD. Diagnosis is more common for males in
childhood. Females are much more likely to be
diagnosed in adulthood.
Source: ADD Medical Treatment Center Santa Clara Valley, 2010
CRITICAL DISTANCE
 Ability
to look at a topic
objectively
 Detach
 View
from the situation
things with a critical mind
Is this possible? Why or why not?
Introductions Added Students
1) Tell us your name
2) Pick 2 things to share from the list below:
My goal at El Camino is to ________________.
I work as a ______at _______.
People might be surprised to know that I _________.
The best part of my day is when______.
I enjoy learning about________.
When I’m not in school I _________.
My major is____________.
I feel I am a___________(visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) learner.
I think sociology is _______________________.
3 MAJOR PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY
WHAT IS SOCIAL THEORY?
A set of ideas that aims to allow us to:
1. Understand what is happening in the world
2. Why it is happening
3. What might happen in the future
4. Promote social change
What is society?
3 major theories in sociology
Society is like…
1)Society is like the human body.
Every part serves a function
2)Society is like the NFL
Everyone is in competition
3)Society is like a high school
We label and influence others
Structural functionalism
sees society as a complex system
parts work together to promote stability
Structural functionalism
Emphasizes the importance of:
• Social structure (how things work)
• Social functions (what someone or
something’s job/role is)
• How does it help society, how does it
hurt?
Conflict theory
sees society as an arena of inequality
Emphasizes the importance of:
•
•
Competition (over scarce resources)
Inequality: Conflicts between “haves” and “have nots”
rich vs poor
men vs women
employers vs employees
Symbolic Interactionism
sees society as the product of
everyday interactions of individuals
Emphasizes that:
•We attaching meaning and labels to everything
• Reality is how we define it
• Group influence
Using all 3 theories is the best way to
understand any aspect of society
Example: Education
Structural functionalism
Every part serves a function
Conflict Theory
Everyone is in competition
Symbolic Interactionsim
We label and influence others
Questions?
Review. Read the statements about media. Which
theory would say each?
a. Functionalist
1. News programs in
certain countries are
only allowed to show
positive reports about
their political leaders
so the people don’t
hear the truth.
Groups can use the
media to exert power
over others and serve
their own interests.
3 mins
b. Conflict Theorist
c.Symbolic Interactionist
2. A parent who watches
shows about cooking may
learn healthy recipes to
make for their children.
3. Repeated TV mages
of Latina women as
uneducated
housekeepers cause
stereotyping.
The media has the
ability to influence
definitions and create
negative and false
definitions.
Media can give people
information to help them
perform their duties.
INDEX CARDS
1) Write your full name on it and Soc 101 7:45 or 9:30
2) E-mail address
3) Major
4) Current job and/or career goal
5) Something you want me know about you:
interests, how to pronounce your name, nickname, learning need,
something you are going through, anything I should know
* Try to add any info that will help me remember your name
5) Next class- Bring in a small picture of yourself to tape to the other
side of the index card (this helps me learn names)
*Picture won’t be seen by others, needs to be clear
BUILDING A LEARNING COMMUNITY
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
Introduce yourself to 2-3 people sitting around you.
“My name is ____and if I had a million dollars one thing I
would do is _____ because ____”
Get the name, e-mail address, and phone number of at
least 2 other students in class
5 minutes
Students who succeed in this class
Check syllabus
and website
regularly
Come to
class
Pay attention
and participate
Read
Use study guides
ad assignment
scoring rubrics
The time to improve your grade is now
Don’t be this guy at the end of the semester
But I really
needed an A
to transfer to
CSUDH/UCLA
/USC…etc.
But I really need to
pass to stay eligible
for basketball/
football/ track…etc.
Can’t I turn in some
extra credit?
I didn’t know that I
wasn’t passing.
Can’t you
round my
grade up?
BEFORE NEXT CLASS
 Note
taking guides for each class session will be posted
on the website prior to class under Content.
 Make sure you signed the sign in sheet before leaving
 Turn in Website and Syllabus Contract to front table
before leaving
 Due A#2: Bring in a small picture of yourself taped on
an index card with your name on it and something you
want the instructor to know about you. (This won’t be
seen by others, just to help the instructor learn student
names)
3 Ways to Participate
1. Make a connection
Class to self connection
“This reminds me of something that happened to me (or my
friend/family member/ co-worker)…”
Class to class connection (psych, polisci, hist, anth, econ…)
Class to world connections (news, travels, life experience)
Ways to Participate
2. Agree
“I agree with Sara and I want to add…”
“I agree with Sara’s opinion, but for a different reason…”
“Another example of…is…”
Ways to Participate
3. Disagree (don’t think you’re the only one)
“I don’t think that is always the case, for example…”
“I understand Jason’s point, but I have also heard the argument…”
“I think there are some exceptions…”
“Someone on the other side of that topic might say…”
“An example of when that is not always the case might be…”
Ways to Participate
4. Ask questions
COMPARING THE THEORIES
Question
Structural
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic
Interactionism
What is the
relationship
between
individuals
and society?
Individuals have
certain social
roles/jobs in society
Individuals are
either the
“haves” or the
“have-nots” in
society
Individuals help
define society just
as society helps
define individuals
What are
major
criticisms of
the theory?
Conservative view
Very focused on Very subjective
that often overlooks
inequality and
inequality or injustice ignores stability
in society
3 Major Theories in Sociology
_____________functionalism
Every part serves a function
______________ theory
Everyone is in competition
Symbolic ___________________
We label and influence others
“The way to be successful is through preparation. It doesn’t just happen. You
don’t wake up one day and discover you’re a lawyer any more than you wake
up as a pro football player. It takes time.”
– Alan Page, associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court and member
of the Pro Football Hall of Fame