Wolf's Sociology 204

Excellent sample research paper by TaiAnn Thompson - Spring 2009

In this paper I want to explore the causes of affluency and poverty. In our society it seems that the rich are continually getting richer and the poor are getting continually poorer. The rich are admired for their "opulent displays of consumption", while the poor are rebuked for the inability to save or work hard enough. My question is, why does our society continue this pattern of destruction? There is a very unequal allocation of society and world resources, with a majority of the resources going to the smallest population with the smallest amount of resources stretching out to take care of the world's biggest population, those at or under the poverty line.

Continue reading "What features of society cause different groups to have different opportunities?" »

Posted by Rowan at 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Students,
We will be attending the Illumination Project performance. Attendance will be taken as this is an activity of our regular class schedule.

The Monday/Wednesday class should meet in the Performing Arts Center (next to the Library) for class on Monday 5/18

The Tuesday/Thursday class should meet in the Performing Arts Center (next to the Library) for class on Tuesday 5/19

Other Performance Times
Wednesday, May 20th 1:00 -2:30 PM PAC Lobby

Wednesday, May 20th 6:00 -7:30 PM PAC Lobby

Thursday, May 21st 11:00 AM -12:30 PM PAC Lobby

The Illumination Project is also accepting applications for next year. Informational sessions will be held in the Sylvania Library Wednesday, May 20th 9-10 AM Library 204 and Wednesday, May 27th 10-11 AM Library 204.

The Illumination Project of PCC is...
a year long student leadership and peer education program based on the PCC Sylvania campus. The program is designed to address issues of oppression including racism, sexism, and heterosexism through interactive theater performances.

Students in the Program Receive..
• Twelve (four each term) tuition free sociology credits for participating in this year-long project. The credits meet general education and diversity requirements and are college transferable.
• Training in becoming educators, facilitators, community organizers, event planners and activists
• A closer connection to PCC
• A community of friends and colleagues

Eligibility Requirements
• 2.5 GPA or above.
• Currently enrolled at PCC with at least 4 credits per term besides the Illumination Project.
• Meet standard prerequisites (WR/RD 115). These may be waived with instructor approval.
• Commit to working the entire 2008-2009 academic year.

Posted by Rowan at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Students attending the Illumination Project heard discussion of a DVD which was a paid insert into papers around the country in September of 2006. Since many did not see to be aware of this issue, here is a a link to a watchdog organization ObsessionWatch.org.

I have also included a copy of a report by NPR on this.

Continue reading ""Obsession" Video Insert Information" »

Posted by Rowan at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excellent example of paper 2. Name withheld by student request. Spring 2009.

"The formation of culture among humans is made possible by language. Learning the language of a culture is essential to becoming part of a society." (Andersen/Taylor, 2008:59) This is something I never really critically thought about until recently. Ideas had floated around in my head, but until reading this chapter in our text on culture and language I had taken language for granted. Language is powerful in that meaning is given to words and symbols and these meanings then shape our society and its culture with our thoughts and expectations.

Continue reading "Language and Culture" »

Posted by Rowan at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Rowan Wolf, PhD. September 2005

Social Stratification by age is the most fundamental of stratification systems. One could argue that the way a society structures itself and its cultural ideology around age is indicative of how it constructs other forms of stratification. For example, one of the primary ways of "putting people in their place" is tone of voice. Higher status groups are generally talked to in a "respectful" tone of voice. Those with lower status are often "talked down" to - or talked to as if they were children. This early socialization into age status rules and roles is often reflected in the way other status group rules operate.

Continue reading "Age-Based Stratification" »

Posted by Rowan at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grade scale A 45-50; B 40-44; C 35-39; D 30-34

Your paper is eligible for a rewrite if you received below an A (44 points or below)

Rewrites have the possibility of improving up to full points for the paper.

Rewrites are due on Monday 4/27 for M/W and Tuesday 4/28 for T/R classes. You may also drop the rewrite off in my office in SS217.

You must attach the paper I graded to the rewrite.

Paper 1 is a "test" of your understanding of concepts and paradigms from Weeks 1 & 2 of the course. Regardless what topic or question you wrote on, the paper should significantly feature, and clearly use those concepts as they apply to your paper.

Posted by Rowan at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excellent example of paper 1 by Jillian Ensign - Spring 2009

Dashing into Macy's shopping center, I stroll pass the perfume counter and smell a hint of sweetness and bitterness all at the same time, while approaching the juniors section I spot the perfect pair of jeans and they are even on sale. After trying the perfect pair of jeans on, I have an epiphany that the junior department at Macy's will never have the correct length for my five foot tall stature because they don't make them in my length. As I have been reading the text "Sociology in Everyday Life" the authors discuss, many ideas about the significance of how society shapes our minds and what the "Ideal" may mean to our social structure. Looking onward, I would like to talk about how the "Ideal" within our social structure and institutions has resulted in us placing labels on almost everything in our society.

Continue reading "What is Ideal?" »

Posted by Rowan at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)