Download Unit 1: Sociological Perspectives

School District: Bremen School District 228
Department: Social Studies
Course: Sociology
Unit #/Title: 1
Grade Level: 11-12
Topic Area: Sociological Perspectives, Origins, and Careers
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
Date Created: 2006
Date Modified: 2010-11
Unit Designers: Eric Mollin, Jodie Hausken, Jim Curtin, Robert Reiser, Steve Kushner
Stage 1 – Desired Results: Begin with the end in mind by identifying what students should
know and be able to do.
Content Standard(s):
18.B
Summary of the Unit:
Unit 1 will cover the introduction to sociology, the origins of sociology, and the careers in
sociology.
Enduring Understanding(s) / goal(s)
Essential Questions:
Students will understand:
1. Explanation:
Sociology is a social science that studies group
behavior and social interaction.
What are the characteristics and important
aspects of the three theoretical perspectives in
Sociology?
Sociology has a rich history full of historical
figures that shaped the way people we
understand group behavior today.
Social behavior can be understood on several
different levels according to different
sociological perspectives.
2. Interpretation:
What does each sociological theory reveal
about social behavior?
3. Application:
How is sociology applied to the larger world?
4. Perspective:
How do the views of Herbert Spencer differ
from those of Karl Marx?
5. Empathy:
What are different points of view about crime
according to sociologists?
6. Self-knowledge:
How are my views on sociological
perspectives shaped by my own experiences?
Key Words:
Sociology, Sociological Perspective, Social Structure, Functionalism, Conflict Perspective,
Symbolic Interactionism, Social Dynamics, Proletariat, Bourgeoisie, Manifest Function,
Latent Function.
Student objectives (outcomes):
Students will be able to:
1. Outline the contributions of the major pioneers of sociology.
2. Distinguish sociology from other social sciences.
3. Identify the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today.
Students will know:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The differences between symbolic interactionism, conflict perspective and functionalism.
The history of sociology.
Career possibilities in sociology.
How the struggle of class systems in societies affect social behavior.
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence: Establish evidence of student understanding through
Performance Tasks and other assessments.
Performance Task (GRASP): Research a
famous figure in Sociology
Other Evidence:
Stage 3 – Learning Plan: Create learning experiences and instruction that promote student
understanding through the WHERETO process.
Learning Activities:
What sequence of teaching and learning experiences will equip students to develop and
demonstrate the desired understandings?
W = How will you ensure that all students know where they are headed in the unit, why they are
headed there, and how they will be evaluated?
Students will research one historical figure and report back to the class their findings.
H = How will you hook students at the beginning of the unit? (Unit Specific)
Students will be given current case studies of social behavior and discuss why the issue is
happening,
E = What events will help students experience and explore the big idea and questions in the unit?
How will you equip them with the needed skills and knowledge? (Unit Specific)
Students will compare and contrast the three sociological perspectives of social behavior.
R = How will you cause students to reflect and rethink? How will you guide them in rehearsing,
revising, and refining their work?
Students will have to evaluate their own social behavior and compare it each of the three
sociological perspectives.
E = How will you help students to exhibit and self-evaluate their growing skills, knowledge, and
understanding throughout the unit? (Unit Specific)
Students will encounter several check point throughout the unit that ask them to show a certain
level of understanding for each key term.
T = How will you tailor and otherwise personalize the learning plan to optimize the engagement
and effectiveness of ALL students, without compromising the goals of the unit?
Multiple teaching techniques will be used to incorporate each student’s learning style.
O = How will you organize and sequence the learning activities to optimize the engagement and
achievement of ALL students? (Unit Specific)
Students will first learn the basic premise behind sociology. Then, each student will research a
historical figure in sociology. Finally, The students will apply human behavior to today’s widely
accepted perspectives in sociology.