Journal Prompt #1 Examine the idea of perspectives by identifying an issue that you look at in one way and your

parents or other adults look at in a different way. Write about the issue from both perspectives. Perspectives provide an extremely interesting topic of discussion. It truly amazes me how differently a concept or sight can be seen by various people. When I think of concepts or issues that I view in a different manner from my parents, one of the best examples that comes to mind is our outlook towards my college experience in the near future. Using sociological terms, we have completely different ideas of what comprise the manifest functions of college. I believe that these opposing outlooks exist because my parents focus much more on my future happiness while I care much more about my present happiness. My parents are proud of my intelligence and expect me to thrive in college. They view college as a time for me to primarily get a quality education and earn good grades along the way. They also expect me to get involved in order to prove my leadership skills. In general, they see it mainly as a time to improve myself for the future and get a good job to help support a possible family. I definitely do find these aspects of college important, but they are not by any means the first things that I think about when imagining college next year. I view college primarily as a time for fun like the majority of other kids my age. I constantly envision freedom from my parents. I imagine getting out of bed at 12 or 1 in the morning without them getting angry and calling me lazy, and I imagine not having to make my bed when I do not feel like it. I also look at college as a time to party and meet new people. Another probable reason for this huge difference in perspectives is the fact that I will be taking

part in the experience and not them; therefore, it is for them to want me to study and work as they do not have to do so.

Journal Prompt #2 Your grandparents have fourteen children; your parents had eight children. You are expected to take over the family farm when you turn twenty-one. You will be getting married soon, and your future spouse wants to only have two children. Using the concept of functionalism, convince your parents why a smaller family is a better choice for you. The perspective of functionalism focuses on keeping a balance and maintaining a stable social order. It does not favor change, unless it is necessary to counterbalance another unavoidable change. Previously to the modern era, families had many children to actually benefit them economically as they helped them provide by farming. Modern technology has changed the culture of society. With various farming methods, farmers can now provide for many more people than before with much less physical effort. Nowadays, children actually cost a family much more than they benefit them. An online source I found indicated that to raise an average child over 18 years costs far more than $200,000. If I had to convince my parents that I only want two children when taking over the family farm, I would say something along the lines of, I understand that we have a history of large families, but I have good reason to believe that it is not the best option for us. The financial aspect of the decision provides our main cause for the choice we have made. Children nowadays cost a large amount of money to raise when you factor in insurance, clothes, food, etc. We still would like to have a couple children to carry on the legacy, but not anywhere near as many as our past generations. It will prove to be a better financial decision to simply hire more workers to

tend the farm and the animals while still raising two children that can help out some on the farm.

Journal Prompt #3 In recent media reports, many Native American Indian groups have complained that major sports team mascot names such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Red Skins, Atlanta Braves, and Cleveland Indians are insensitive to their heritage. Using the basic assumptions of symbolic interactionism, defend or condemn the use of American Indian references in team mascot names. Symbolic interactionism basically means that symbols are given meanings and send messages to their viewers that are not explicitly stated. Native Americans find that using symbols such as chiefs, red skins, braves, and Indians as mascots sends an insulting and sarcastic message to America about Native Americans that is insensitive to their heritage. I totally agree with their argument because most mascots include animals like tigers or bears and other objects. Therefore, using different aspects of Native American culture as mascots displays them almost as animals or objects to us. On the other hand, one may state that the mascots represent an aspect of their past culture. For example, the symbol of the St. Louis hockey team is the Blues because the type of music known as the blues made up a large part of the cities original culture. Therefore, one may argue that these cities that had a large amount of Native American culture have a fair right to use American Indian references as mascots. I strongly differ with this dispute as the history with most Americans and Indians is extremely cruel and unjust. Americans did not respect their

existence in any way, shape, or form and do not deserve to use references from the culture if they do not have permission. Furthermore, some names like the Red Skins are blatantly insulting.

Journal Prompt #4 You are a Sociologist who wants to see if receiving welfare benefits affects long-term job commitment. Describe the research method you would use. Why is the method that you chose the best for this topic? The best bet for researching this topic may be for me to start with secondary analysis. I could look up government records to help create a correlation between welfare benefits and longterm job commitment. It might be helpful to start and see when welfare benefits were the highest and if less people stayed at their jobs. Also, it could be beneficial to see the amount of people that had long-term jobs and either quit or were fired. Then, look up how many went on to get another long-term job or simply continued to live off of welfare from there. If the relationship seems to show that welfare benefits could have an impact on long-term job commitment, then I could interview a group of people that seem to demonstrate this correlation to gain knowledge of whether welfare benefits did specifically affect their long-term job commitment. I could start by interviewing a number of citizens that had jobs, but quit or were fired and currently live off of just welfare, as previously mentioned. I could then ask them whether they have any motivation to get another job or simply wish to live of their welfare checks. I could also ask people that live off welfare and never attained a job to see if they have any interest in a longterm job. With the right questions, I could get real and detailed information on whether welfare benefits are affecting long-term job commitment.

Journal Prompt #5 Do you think human behavior is more a result of culture or heredity? Give reason to support your answer. (250 words) Obviously, there are instances in which human behavior is a result of both culture and heredity, but I think the majority of it stems from culture. Many large aspects of human behavior including religion, violence levels, and communication are shaped mainly by culture. For example, religion is taught almost completely by society. Parents and schools drill religion into children and teach them everything about it. It is a natural tendency for a human to follow what everyone else is doing or believing. People in specific schools or regions of the world tend to follow the same religion because it truly is a result of culture. Without various cultures instructing people about the different religions, people would have a hard time formulating something to believe and actually have faith in it. Consequently, this affects a massive amount of other aspects of human culture because religions usually push people to act a certain way towards themselves and others. Rates of violence also appear to be mainly a result of culture. The best example of this is the difference between the United States and a lot of other countries. This must be because the culture of the United States includes so many violent video games, shows, and even groups such as gangs and fight clubs. Humans do not naturally desire to kill others or themselves without cause. Another result of culture is communication. How we initially greet people, for instance, varies based on cultures. The inhabitants of the U.S. usually shake hands while those of Mexico embrace and kiss each others cheeks. Such differences in behavior based on culture are almost endless. Journal Prompt #6

Review the list of US values that we discussed and are on pg. 90 of your text. Is there a value not listed that you think should be? What is it? Why would you include it? Are there any on the list that you think should be removed? Why or why not? I noticed that activity and work were listed in the book as a basic value in the United States, but I feel that leisure and relaxation also comprise a major value in our country. Almost any American will say relaxing and watching a favorite show or movie every once in a while is completely necessary in getting through life. Most Americans will also state they need to spend time simply in the company of their family and friends talking or doing some relaxing activity. I totally feel such things are necessary in getting by the stress filled lives most of us live. I believe in the value of equality as listed on page 90 of our textbook, but I feel that it is not a basic value in the United States. Many argue that they want equality for their own race, gender, or social class. On the other hand, most citizens of the United States have no remorse for those that have a lower value in society as themselves. Even cliques at schools look at other cliques as unequal to theirs, whether lesser or greater. I think equality needs to be valued much higher in our society, but I do not think it currently deserves to be on the list of most prized American values.