Wolf's Sociology 204

Excellent example of paper 2 by Julianna Banse-Fay - Winter 2010.

Before modern technology, when an adolescent had a question, most would ask their parents. If the parents were unsure, then the adolescent would ask their grandparents. From there, they might ask a neighbor or a close friend. Then probably ask a member of a social group, such as church, for the answer. Information came from agents of socialization, or family, school, peers. The information was obtained from the geographical area one grew up in meaning the information received would usually be of best benefit in that area. After the expansion of technology (telephones, television, and in particular the internet), children most often go to the online world for answers. Then instead of going to their parents second, they chat online with friends. Sometimes they chat with people they have not met. The agents of socialization are now mass media, peers, family. The parents are left behind and close relationships with them are sparse. This happens because the internet offers very specific information about topics and the resources to chat with professionals of a topic. In comparison, parents' knowledge is microscopic. In this world, socialization creates who we are, thus technology advancements play an important role in the type of people we become.

Continue reading "Media Influences Dominate Parental Influences" »

Posted by Rowan at 6:06 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 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are links to the video "The House We Live In." that I showed (or tried to show) in class. The first link is to the entire 57 minute video, the second link is to the same video broken into 6 parts. If you have high speed access, then the first link will work fine for you. If you do not have high speed internet, then the 6 part video is the better way to go. In either case, you must enter user name wolf and password wolf.

Full 57 minute "House We Live In" (high speed modem)

6 part "House We Live In" (lower speed modem)

This video is part of a 3 part series called "Race: The Power of an Illusion".

Posted by Rowan at 8:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An excellent example of paper 2 by Eric Peek - Winter 2010

In a time when survival was entirely unorganized and unpredictable people valued a different assortment of attributes. You were respected for being a good hunter, gatherer or someone who was physically fit and had the ability to go beyond the laws of nature. As time continued on, man discovered innovative ways to make life more adaptable to fit our needs. We found ways to bring resources in closer proximity to where we lived by creating cooperative social groups known as societies. With basic life sustaining resources in a manageable position, humanity found themselves in a world where we could use our brains for more than just survival. This allowed humanity to invent new contraptions and concepts that further improves the quality of life. In this evolved western based society, people strive to modernize in order to be viewed as a success. We've come to value modernizing, because it allows us to be more productive and efficient. This momentous appearance has attracted other societies to join our ambitions. Not all societies see modernizing as a means to success.

Continue reading "Distorted Looking Glass" »

Posted by Rowan at 7:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is an excellent example of paper 2 by Kelly Sittser - Winter 2010

As Americans we believe to view our way of life as the best way to live. We have developed technology that makes life easier for us. You want to talk to a friend send them a text message, you want to go out and take photos poof your digital camera will not only take the photo but you will be immediately able to see the image. We can log into a number of social networks to say "hello" to any acquaintances or family members that maybe on your friends list. We are a society that loves technology so much so that actual personal relationships seem to be a thing of the past. In American culture we tend to place value in materials, looks, and science/technology. The core family value is a thing of the past, education is not nearly important as it use to be; it seems more like a fashion show. Who's wearing the latest and greatest fashions? Parents give kids credit cards as a way to show their children that they are loved. Where are the family traditions that are to be passed down? Have we lost all core values that make us lose sight of a true family culture?

Continue reading "Modernization -Globalization- Culture" »

Posted by Rowan at 7:21 PM | 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 2/01 for M/W and Tuesday 2/02 for T/R classes. You may also drop the rewrite off in my office in SS217. This is to allow time for me to grade your paper and get it back to you before your second paper is due.

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.

The problem that many of you ran into was to jump to the culture chapter and write on those concepts. You could have written about something related to culture, but it MUST demonstrate concepts from weeks 1 & 2.

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

Stereograms are 3D images hidden within another picture. In order to view the 3-D images. They are a picture within a picture. Gazing at the picture we see an image or picture. However, if we look just right, we see a totally different picture emerge. These types of images are also sometimes called "magic eye."

Here are a couple of links to examples:

Magic Eye image of the week

3d Stereogram examples

Continue reading "Stereograms - Seeing beyond the image" »

Posted by Rowan at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With your purchase of the Henslin text you automatically purchased access to the electronic version of the text. I recommend that everyone activate the ebook access.

During your registration you will be asked to "Join a Class" Use the appropriate course id to enter in the correct class.

Your Course ID: cm613138

When you go to access your ebook, enter the following ebook course id to access my ebook.

The eBook ID: Course ID: Wolf00458890eb.

There are a number of online resources that come with this text. We may need to use some of them if our school gets hit with H1N1 flu.

Posted by Rowan at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you purchased the text, you automatically have access to the electronic online text. However you can purchase the electronic version only from the publisher. Here are the directions for doing that:

To purchase the EBOOK ONLY.
(Do NOT do this if you purchased the regular text and are tring to access the online text. For that you should use the card in the text and the codes I provided to you.)

Go to the site: www.mysoclab.com
Click on registering as a student

Click on 1st choice: Mysoclab

Click on I want to buy mysoclab with ebook

Click on Henslin 8e essentials

Follow registration process.......

Posted by Rowan at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excellent example of the final paper by M. H. - Fall 2009

There are many different types of stratification within a society. A societies' particular value system based on their cultures ideology of how power, wealth, and prestige are allocated determine where a person is placed in their stratification system. These basic stratification processes can also be used to categorize countries around the world where the distribution of wealth, power and prestige is extremely unequal. An individual country's position in the stratification process is established by its relationship to other countries and its ability to achieve economic power. This is global stratification.

Continue reading "Global Stratification" »

Posted by Rowan at 8:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excellent research paper by M.H. - Fall 2009

"Human history is the chronicle of class struggle, those in power using society's resources to benefit themselves and to oppress those beneath them - and of opposed groups trying to overcome domination." (Henslin 2009)

This quote from Henslin's book, "Essentials of Sociology," shows us that all throughout human history, there has been class struggle, and there have been those in power, whether it is political or corporate power, who will use society's resources to benefit only themselves.

Continue reading "The Exploitation of Guestworkers in the United States" »

Posted by Rowan at 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An excellent research paper by Maggie Hodges Fall 2009

I admit it, I am a Californian transplant. Unable to afford the rising housing trends of my home state, I moved northward where rumors of better prospects existed. When I asked locals where I would be able to buy a house in the Portland Metro area, I was unanimously directed (by whites) to what was referred to as "the Ghetto," or the inner Northeast. I was informed that there was a revival of areas where the prices were cheap and the neighborhoods were on the "up and up."

Continue reading "The Rose City by Any Other Name Still Smells Like Segregation: Gentrification in Portland" »

Posted by Rowan at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An excellent research paper by A. Abero Fall 2009

When you go into any franchise market, restaurant, or store, you often encounter this rather impersonal and insincere attitude from the workers in these establishments. You are often thought of as a number, another customer that is adding to the company's profit, and not as a human being or individual. I remember going into a Walmart store in Virginia Beach, VA a long time ago, and experiencing first hand just how impersonal a big franchise could be. The cashier barely looked at me in the face, and had this rather monotonous tone in their voice that voided them of any personality. Most big companies are typically set up bureaucratically. This means that jobs are divided up, and the hard labor tasks are done by workers that make the company functional who, incidentally, all working under the supervision of CEOs and managers. After having experienced such an undesirable situation at a Walmart store, I made a conscious decision to start supporting local businesses because of the personal interaction and care you get from the workers when you buy from them, and not to mention you are supporting the local economy and making it thrive. The rise and expansion of big companies and franchises such as McDonald's and Walmart, has clearly made a negative impact on society by standardizing the way people live their lives.

Continue reading "The Socialization of Bureaucracies" »

Posted by Rowan at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)