Sociological Imagination

Soc 1033 – Spring 2008

Assignment #2

Due: Tuesday, February 12 (in class)

Option 1

Complete the “Individual Writing Exercise” on pp. 92-93 of Exercises in Sociology.

·        Court TV is now called Tru TV and focuses more on reality shows such as Cops than on actual courtroom scenes.  A show called Arrest and Trial would be the best show to watch for this assignment.  It airs at a couple times in the afternoon on weekdays and a couple times in the evening and late night/early morning on Saturday/Sunday.

·        The assignment you turn in should be 2-3 typed (and stapled) pages analyzing the events in the courtroom from a sociological perspective. (You do not need to turn in your notes). You should connect what you observe to the concepts and ideas we’ve been reading about and discussing in class.  (dramaturgy, impression management, organizations and bureaucracy, statuses and roles, social control and sanctions, sociological explanations of why people commit crimes).

Option 2

Complete the “Internet Exercise” on pp. 89-91 of Exercises in Sociology.

·        You should turn in 2-3 typed (and stapled) pages written in essay format.  Pay attention to differences in the two data sources. Give a sociological explanation for your findings, incorporating concepts and ideas from class. 

For both assignments, use your sociological imagination.  If you were visiting the US from another planet and the only clues to our culture were the data you have before you, how would you describe our the values, attitudes, practices and beliefs of our society?

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