QVCC                                                  Dr. Brian Donohue-Lynch
Fall 2005                                                Soc. 101 05

For this assignment, I ask that you look in local newspapers, weekly news magazines and other similar resources for articles (generally brief ones) that have to do with any of the issues that we will be dealing with this semester. You may find articles in more specialized journals; you are also likely to find such articles in regular newspapers. When you find such articles, clip them (or photocopy them) and collect them in a folder. Periodically I will ask in class how people are doing in finding such articles. If you find any that seem particularly relevant to a class discussion, feel free to note it in class. By Dec. 4 I will collect these folders, and ask that you have at least fifteen such articles in your collection.

In addition to this folder of fifteen clippings, I will also give you a (brief) written report- assignment to go along with your clippings. I will give you details about this report later in the semester.

Read the book by Jonathan Kozol. After you have read the book, write a brief(3-5pp.) review in the following format:

Introduce your review with a short summary statement of what the book was about--in your own words, include in this summary a statement of the book's key argument or point. Then, briefly tell what kind of "evidence" the book provides to make its case. Finally, tell what you thought were the book's strengths and weaknesses, giving some specific examples to illustrate your position.

This report should be as concise as possible. It also should be ready to hand in on the given due-date, as we will be discussing the book that week. If the review is not handed in on time, I will take 10 points off for each class day that the report is late, as the review is in part a preparation for class discussion of the book.

Please give yourself enough time to read the book and to ask any questions you might have ahead of time, for an adequate completion of this assignment.

For this assignment you will read a book of your choosing--after discussion with me about your choice. After you have read the book, write a brief(3-5pp.) review in the same format as you did for the Kozol book:

Introduce your review with a short summary statement of what the book was about--in your own words, include in this summary a statement of the book's key argument or point. Then, briefly tell what kind of "evidence" the book provides to make its case. Finally, tell what you thought were the book's strengths and weaknesses, giving some specific examples to illustrate your position.

This report should be as concise as possible. It also should be ready to hand in on the given due-date, as we will be discussing the book that week. If the review is not handed in on time, I will take 10 points off for each class day that the report is late, as the review is in part a preparation for class discussion of the book.

Please give yourself enough time to read the book and to ask any questions you might have ahead of time, for an adequate completion of this assignment.

For this assignment, I ask that you take a few weeks to begin to see what sociology is all about—the kinds of questions it asks, the tools it involves etc. Then begin to look in the world around you, in everyday life, for things that (1)are important to you (2)that have to do with “sex and gender” (3)that you could look at "sociologically" (We will talk about this further in class.)

By Oct. 9, (at the latest) we will then talk about your research project and final presentation that will relate to this topic.

Your final project for this assignment will be due Nov. 28.

 Close This Window