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Task:

Sociology is a relatively new area of study emerging in the 1800's. Massive changes occurred during the late 1800's, such as many nationalist revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, changes in science and math, ideas of progress and democracy. The Industrial Revolution is tagged as the primary cause of change during the 19th century leading to changes in economy, politics, and society. As a result of these drastic changes, great thinkers began to wonder what triggered the societal shifts taking place around them. Using methods created for the physical sciences during the Scientific Revolution, social thinkers set out to understand the new dynamic taking shape under industrialization. Originating in European countries such as Great Britain, France, and Germany, Sociology took shape and quickly spread as a means to better understand the world in which we live as well as how we connect to that world. The United States was quick to pick up this new area of study dealing with similar issues of industrialization as Europe. American Sociology became hands-on focusing not only on studying society but also finding solutions and changing society. These sociologists became the modern social worker, using sociology to better understand what causes problems and then using the results to fix the society around them. The influence of Sociology continues today in all social fields including social work, teaching, criminal justice, and social reformers. 

Focus Questions: What perspectives and theories did these thinkers use to explain the changes? How do we continue to use their ideas in Sociology?


Standards and Objectives

SSSocFR1: Students will explain the origins of sociology and the sociological perspective, and how sociology relates to the other social sciences.
b. Describe the origins of sociology as a social science and the significance of its historical framework

Objective:
I can gather relevant information from a number of credible resources in order to compare and contrast the various ideas of the "founders of Sociology."

Process:

Step One: Research
Complete the following chart by watching the following videos and reading the provided webpages

Famous Sociologist Chart
File Size: 29 kb
File Type: doc
Download File

Your completed Background section should include: 7-10 sentences describing the life and work of the founder (for example, major publications, major contributions, education, etc.). All work must be cited (footnotes at the bottom of the chart are acceptable).

Your completed Key Beliefs section should include: 7-10 sentences (or bullet point sentences) regarding key beliefs of the founder (what was he famous for? How did he contribute to the field of Sociology?). Be sure to include 3-5 vocabulary words, highlighted and defined.
Students who provide examples and the upper number of each requirement (for example, 10 sentences instead of 7) will earn full credit.
Websites:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/the-sociological-perspective/the-founders-of-sociology

August Comte

http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Comte.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/auguste-comte-9254680
http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/Auguste-Comte.htm

Herbert Spencer
http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/spencer.htm
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spencer/
http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/Herbert-Spencer.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer

Karl Marx
http://www.scn.org/cmp/modules/soc-marx.htm
http://www.sociologyguide.com/thinkers/Karl-Marx.php

Emile Durkheim
http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/Biography.html
http://www.sociologyprofessor.com/socialtheorists/emiledurkheim.php
http://www.iep.utm.edu/durkheim/
http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/Emile-Durkheim.htm


Max Weber
http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/Max-Weber.htm
https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Max_Weber.html
http://www.riseofthewest.net/thinkers/weber03.htm


Picture
Step Two: Fake Text Message
  1. Go to this website
  2. Select 2 famous sociologists from your chart
  3. Pick 1 of the following issues/topics: college, bullying, health, drug abuse, war, racism, sports
  4. Create a conversation displaying each sociologist's viewpoint regarding the issue/topic:
  5. Include at least 3 exchanges & 3 vocabulary terms (all vocabulary terms must be highlighted and defined in your chart)
  6. The last exchange should be your real name, period, & date
  7. Email, print, and save the link. 
  8. Due 8/13/2014
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