Bell Ringer There is a stereotypical culture of the American education system portrayed in film and popular culture. Do you think RMHS fits with this idea of school culture in America? Explain. What distinct groups of kids do you see here at Rocky? Which group do YOU identify with (if any)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caIlwCi6JCc

Culture

What is culture? Culture: Shared products of human groups Includes physical objects and the beliefs, values, and behaviors of a group

What is Society? Society: Group of mutually interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity

Material culture Material culture: Physical objects created by human groups. Artifacts are the physical objects of material culture

Nonmaterial Culture Nonmaterial culture: Abstract human creations— language, ideas, beliefs, rules, skills, family patterns, work practices, and political and economic systems

Bell Ringer Think about the character “Bender” from The Breakfast Club. Why do you think he acts the way he does? Explain his behavior using the sociological imagination (in other words, how has society contributed to his behavior)?

Components of culture Symbols: Anything that stands for something else Each symbol has meaning attached to it, that everyone in a particular culture understands

Language Language: Organization of written or spoken symbols into standardized system Linguistic relativity: Theory that our idea of reality depends largely upon language If something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe it. EX: Time intervals in the US—second, minute, hour, era, century, morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, evening, etc. How we think about a thing relates to the number and complexity of words available to describe it

Values Values: Shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable How we think about a thing relates to the number and complexity of words available to describe it in our language.

Norms Norms: Shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations Examples: Respect for the flag, marriage expectations, manners, etc. Norms are learned behaviors. Once norms are learned, members use them to guide social behavior—even without awareness. Kayan tribe in SE Asia! Neck elongation! Some say the coil collar was first introduced to protect women from tiger bites. Others say the coils made women look unattractive so slave traders were less likely to hunt them down and capture them. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some say the coils symbolize beauty and wealth, in order to make a woman attractive to the men of the Padaung tribe, which help them attract a better husband. Some say the rings identify the women as Padaung, translating into "hands-off," so they won't be taken by men of other tribes. Another theory is that the rings represent the look and power of a dragon, fostering the legend that Padaung women are descendants of the mythological Mother Dragon. EX: Standing in line—don’t even think about it until someone tries to step in front of you. Applauding after a performance. In India, someone could die of starvation next to a herd of cattle. Cultures where people become engaged before they ever meet.

Norms Folkways: These are norms that do not have great moral significance attached to them--customs of everyday life Don’t eat with your fingers; shake hands when you meet someone, be on time to school/work What happens when these are violated?

Norms Mores (more-ayz): These are norms with great moral significance Violation of these will create social imbalance For serious mores, laws are created to enforce compliance Don’t steal, don’t lie.

Bell Ringer For each of the two types of social norms we discussed in class, do the following: Define/describe in your own words Give an original example Don’t steal, don’t lie.

Bell Ringer Were you able to find any research on your topic last class? If so, what did you find? If not, what are some possible key words/phrases you can search for that may relate to your topic? Even though we are just getting started with this project, you probably have an idea of what you think the outcome will be. Write down your prediction. Don’t steal, don’t lie.

Step One: Once you have selected a topic for your research paper, you need to focus and narrow it into a specific research question. Your question should be one that: Lends itself to sociological analysis (i.e. requires analysis; is researchable) Is not a "yes" or "no" question Has more than one plausible answer Is answerable within the scope of this project Has been approved by your favorite teacher (Mrs. Zimmer)