Download Sociology 103 Tutorial

Sociology 103 Tutorial #2
J A N U A R Y 2 9 TH/3 1 ST , 2 0 1 3
TA contact info
My email – [email protected]
Office – Sociology building 725 Spadina (Room 333)
Office hours – Monday 9-10:45
Web site - http://joshcurtispolisoc.com/
Revised tutorial structure
No slides will be posted. Take notes as you feel
necessary.
I expect you to come having read the material.
The structure will not be largely participatory.
Plan
1)
Explain test structure
2) Open floor discussion. What concepts are you having
trouble with?
3) Where do m/c questions come from?
4) Discuss the readings in sociology text (in groups /
article explanation).
5)
SP chapter breakdown with sample questions
Readings
Test #1
 Starting points: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4
 Readings in Sociology 1, 2, and 15. sections!!!
All multiple choice.
In exam center, during class time.
Open discussion
Comments about the readings.
Likes, dislikes, interesting points? Everyone contribute
a comment/concern.
Exam Breakdown
15 Reading Sociology (14 chapters)
19 questions from Lectures (4 lectures)
66 Starting Points (4 chapters)
Total 100.
5 minute group discussion
Where do you think they multiple choice questions are
likely to come from?
Starting points?
RinS?
Lecture?
Where do questions come from?
Typically:
1) Related to the purpose/debate of the article (1st para)
2) The main finding/ findings of the paper (introduced,
then repeated at the end)
3) The implication this finding has for society more
generally. (last para).
Think about this as an inverted triangle.
Use these three criteria to see through the ‘fluff’ – most of
what you’re reading is not necessarily important for the
main argument… it is simply ‘context’
How to tackle RinS
Understand the overall goals, purpose, and findings in the
article. What problem is the author trying to solve and
what does she/he show?
Answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of the article (i.e., academically,
why did the author write this paper – is it tied into a
debate?). (Puzzle/contribution).
2) Identify the main argument of the chapter (thesis).
3) Identify and define all key terms and key figures. How
do they relate to the main arguments in the text?
Group discussion / Class discussion
 Chapter 5: "Francophone and Anglophone
Sociologists in Canada: Diverging, Converging, or
Parallel Trends?”
Pay attention to the immediate tone of the paper. It’s
sets the stage for the main arguments, and purpose of
the article.
Purpose
 “I’ve occasionally been puzzled by the indifference
French- English – Canadian scholars seem to show
towards one another”….
What can you infer from this statement?????
This tells you almost everything you need to know
about what you will now read.
Purpose/goal
Purpose/argument: “In particular, I will discuss how the normal….” pg 19
There is a ‘paradox’… third paragraph sets up the dilemma.
The authors hypothesis (so, research question, theory, etc:
“Self contradictory impetus to the expansion of science” (science, as in sociology)… “as
scientific research progresses, it becomes more national and more international at the
same time”
How does she provide evidence? Goal:
“Exploring this hypothesis, I wish to systematically present a few trends that have
affected the development of sociology in French Quebec and the rest of
Canada… (19)
Her other point: “We will realize that neither the forces behind nationalization nor
internationalization have worked to foster a dialogue between the two linguistically
divided scholarly community”
My point…
The last two slides come from TWO paragraphs.
They set the stage for the purpose and goals of the
article…
They even summarize the main findings.
This is 45 seconds of reading, and you’ve already been
given a summary of the field, her arguments, and her
conclusions.
Conclusions.
“Looking at the facts, some might say that Canadian
sociology is being increasingly swallowed into
international sociology, lost its identity in the process.
That might be. But my main point is elsewhere….
French and English Canadian sociologists have never
been so isolated from one another as they are now that
their works are increasingly influenced by the same
authods and same sources”
Discussion Questions
1) Thoughts on the article?
2) Are you surprised that this is the case? Do you think
that it can be prevented in the future?
Ch.7
Chapter 7: "What a girl wants, What a girl Needs”
Has anyone in this tutorial turned to ‘advice columns’?
Why?
What are people turning to ‘self help’ advice?
- Accessibility, low cost, along with their privacy. These factors
suggest that they will remain a popular source for advice in the future.
Why has this happened?
Key social structures when people once easily obtained information
have changed. Norms and values might be less rigid (less clear
advice??).
The puzzle?: Relationship have become profoundly altered during
the ‘late modern era’. Gender and relationship norms have changed.
More than ever, couples are now mixed (ethnic, socio economic).
These changes have “made love and loving ‘chaotic’, as couples try to
build successful relationships in a culture where multiple scripts coexist”.
findings
Easily summarized (take a shot on your own).
1) Openness and joy
2) Be your own prince
3) Cheetah boys and creatures unlike any other
Thoughts?
Do you agree: “These changes have “made love and
loving ‘chaotic’, as couples try to build successful
relationships in a culture where multiple scripts coexist”
Tony example.
Chapter 6
Chapter 6: "Maintain control? Masculinity and
Internet Pornography”
Identify the purpose and evidence.
The puzzle (sets the stage)
This sets the stage as you read. What is he arguing?
“The relation of porn to contemporary masculinities
remains relatively obscure. With few exceptions, the
connection between the social construction of masculinity
and the consumption of porn has been more often
presumed than examined”
That’s his goal; his research agenda. This statement has set
the stage for the purpose of the paper.
…. “surprisingly, little work attempts to understand how
pornographic representations are involved with the
production of hegemonic masculinities”
Research goals (purpose)
“This paper aims to contribute to a more sustained
analysis of “techno-porn”.. (blah blah…)… what is the
relationship between masculinity, technology, and
pornography….
I offer two critical comments: (page 29, para. 2-3)
It’s a critique of Robert Jensen, while offering some
novel findings and conclusions.
Key point
 “At this time, porn lost its politically subversive
qualities and became merely a means of displaying
women’s bodies for the purpose of men’s sexual
arousal”
A shift from cultural, political, or other significant
foundations to what it is today.
Starting point of a harsh critique of gender norms,
masculinity, etc.
What do you think about this article?
Do you agree that pornography is inherently,
exploitative, controlling, and demeaning?
Does it create unrealistic expectations for men and
women?
This article was about men only. What about women?
Is there a comparable case?
Starting Points: Ch 1
Definitions
 Sociology – systematic study of h. beh. or society.
 Macrosociology – study of institutions or lg. groups
 Microsociology – patterns of personal interaction
 Sociological imagination –an approach that situates the personal
experiences of individuals within the societal context in which they occur.
 Role – an expected pattern of interaction with others
 Status – socially defined position that outlines rights and responsibilities.
 Social Structure – an enduring pattern of social relations among people.
All social structures control people to act in a certain way in a social situation.
Important Terms: Ch 2.
 Demography- the study of human populations (growth, decline).
 Population composition – the make up of different social types in
a society.
 Population pyramid –
a graphical depiction of the population
composition.
 Cohort – People with a common origin (sex, age)
 Human capital – a skill set that enhances workers value.
 Megacity – large city, exceeding 5 million
 Bedroom city – a tangential city (housing near a larger one)
Population Pyramid
Cohort example
Common Theories in this Chapter
Functionalism
 Society as a set of interconnected elements that operate together in
equilibrium
 Social institutions – families, economy, government, etc.– all make
contributions to the functioning of society as a whole.
 Institutions perform both manifest and latent functions.
 Social problem occur when institutions are unable to perform their
functions.
Conflict Theory
 Divisions between ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’
 Disagree with the assumption of consensus in values among all members of
society.
 It’s about unequal distribution of power and resources.
 Views society as a collection of disparate groups struggling over a limited
supply of resources and power.
Chapter 2 continued
 Thomas Malthus – the earth would eventually become
‘overpopulated’.
 The idea of: ‘positive checks’ (death, war, famine) and
‘preventative checks’ (limiting #’s of births).
 Functionalist approach– ‘preventative checks’ reflect
the maintenance of equilibrium; the dangers associated
with losing equilibrium are positive checks.
 Critical approach – deny that social equilibrium is
attainable. The upper classes take action that benefit
themselves. The problems poor countries face are a result
of unequal distribution of wealth.
Questions
Week 1 homework question
The beginning of this chapter is about a rising global
population, scarce resources, and inequality. You are
presented with two perspectives: one functionalist
argument, and the other a more ‘critical’ or ‘conflict’
approach. Which do you believe is most relevant and
why?
Discussion Questions
1) What is the difference between ‘Microsociology’
and ‘Macrosociology’? In groups, pick one general
topic and discuss how a researcher might approach
it from 1) a micro-level; and 2) a macro level.
1) The major theoretical perspectives are divisive in
many ways. What are the central tenets of each?
Explain specifically how they are distinct - and in
opposition to – to one another.