SOCI 1010 1nd Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture I. What is Sociology? II. Sociological PerspectiveA. Millsa. Sociological Imaginationi. Biography & Historyb. Trouble v. IssueIII. Academic DisciplineCurrent LectureI. What is Sociology? THE BIG IDEA: Sociology is both an academic discipline and a unique perspective through which to view the world. Sociology is not about what we study but how we study it. II. Sociological Perspectivea. Millsi. Sociological Imagination: 1. A level of consciousness/way of thinking 2. Ability to connect a person to the world around them3. Being able to see the whole & the parts to understand both4. Belief that society shapes you as you shape society 5. Belief that the context of your life shapes who you are6. Mills says you must look outside of a person and see what world around them (their networks, opportunities, etc.) ii. Biography & History1. Both your biography and history shape you.a. Biography meaning people’s individual livesb. History meaning the history or past of the society we are iniii. Trouble vs. Issue1. Trouble: private, attributing a problem to the person.a. Ex. reason for unemployment: lazy, not following policies, showing up late, etc.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.2. Issue: public, attributing a problem to something outside the persona. Ex. reason for unemployment: budget cutsIII. Academic Disciplinea. Human behaviors/interactionsb. Patterns of behaviori. Once behavior becomes patterns it shapes societyii. Don’t focus on one particular situation1. Ex. Don’t ask “Why was Reagan a great President?” but instead ask “What is a characteristic of a great President?”iii. Focuses on categories of people: look at how experiences vary by category.1. Men & women 2. Americans, Mexicans,
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