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DB 1: STEP 1: Respond to the following prompt in a response of at least 150 words:
Cultural norms play a significant role in socialization, as outlined in the example of Princes William and Harry taking a “gap year” before starting college. Take a moment to think about the various ways culture has shaped your own socialization. Pick a specific example of how your culture may have shaped your socialization and identify how exposure to a different culture may have shaped you differently. Use specific terminology from the module.
STEP 2: Return to respond to at least TWO other posts in at least 75 words or more.
DB 2: Module 11 Discussion: Religion
This module introduced two contrasting perspectives on religiosity in the United States: 1) society is becoming more secularized, or, 2) society is becoming more fundamentalist. Which position do you agree with and why? Provide relevant examples where possible.
Reply to two other students’ posts, remembering to be courteous to others. Reply to one post you agree with and one you disagree with. Replies should add substance to the conversation.
DB 3: Module 2 Discussion: Sociology Research
STEP 1: Find a peer-reviewed journal article about a topic in Sociology. Acceptable journals include PLOS ONE, Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology, The Sociological Review, Journal of Public Health, Health Education Research, American Journal of Public Health, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, or other similar journals. The study should have been performed within the past 10 years.
STEP 2: In a paragraph, summarize the study including the place of research, who conducted it, the type of research method/s employed, the research question, and the findings. Add in your own thoughts about the study. What did you find interesting?
STEP 3: Comment on at least 2 other students’ posts who selected studies other than the one you selected.
DB 4: Module 9 Discussion: Gender
STEP 1: Find a company that advertises the same product to different genders in distinct ways. For example, look for clothing brands, beer companies, body care products, condoms, razors, energy drinks, health products, etc.
STEP 2: Post the two different ads or links to the ads in the discussion forum, along with a paragraph explaining how and why the two ads play into gender stereotypes.
STEP 3: Pick either the structural-functionalist, conflict, or symbolic interactionist perspective to analyze how someone from that perspective would analyze that advertisement. Add in your own thoughts and explanation as to how someone from that perspective may think about gender or sexuality.
STEP 4: Post a response of at least 100 words on at least TWO classmate’s responses.
DB 5: Module 7 Discussion: Stratification
Sociologist Thorstein Veblen introduced the concept of conspicuous consumption in 1899 to describe the act of buying and using (and displaying) products to make a statement about social standing.
STEP 1: Over a two-day period, be on the lookout for examples of conspicuous consumption that you see on display in your own environment (i.e, as possessed by actual people in real settings, and not on TV or online). Choose one that seems especially expressive or noteworthy.
In a post of at least 200 words, describe this object first in terms of its visual or aesthetic features and then in terms of what it might be thought to symbolize in terms of status. What reasoning has to be entered into to arrive at these meanings? What frames of reference must be shared in order for these qualities and characteristics to be meaningful? What objects might be considered categorically similar but above or below this object in a particular hierarchy? To help your colleagues understand your points and then write up their responses, it might be helpful to find an image of your object (or one identical to it) and to use the text box to paste your images directly into the thread with your first post.
STEP 2: Respond in two separate posts to two classmates (in at least 75 words). Explicitly address their examples and try to extend, complicate, or redirect their points in a substantive, knowledge-demonstrating way. Be sure to cite relevant concepts and key terms from the reading.