03.22-03.26

__What to do, what to do?__
Although we were supposed to watch a movie this week, and I do like to watch movies in class, I am thinking our time might be better spent if we work on applying our sociological imaginations to some events in the real world. As a general rule people accuse theory classes of being the least practical ... but I think this is unfair. Theory helps us to predict why things will happen, to explain why things have happened, and to initiate questions about what we should research in the future. Plus, there is a lot going on this week. Health Care legislation was just passed, there was an election in Iraq, the war is escalating in Afghanistan, new reports of sexual violence are coming out of Africa, new discussions about gun laws are happening in the Supreme Court ... how can we understand it all? What do we think we know and what kinds of questions should we be asking?

__This week you are responsible for doing two things:__
=== I am going to ask each of you to start a discussion thread on an issue that is interesting to you. Hunt around on the web and find a link to a story or current event that you find interesting and would like to discuss. Then post it on the discussion tab associated //__with this page!__// Post your thoughts on the issue along with a link so that interested parties can get more information. Make sure your thoughts cover the following issues: === 1. How does your link/issue relate to class 2. Why is your issue something sociologists (and our class) should be interested in? 3. How can social theory help us to understand the issue? What does your favorite theorist say about this issue? How might s/he have understood it? 4. What other questions should we be asking?
 * Is it an example of something a theorist has said?
 * Does it contradict something a theorist has said?
 * Is this something that sociologists aren't studying?
 * Why do you think it is important that we understand this occurrence?
 * If you were explaining the issue to a non-theorist (or non-major) what would sociology be able to tell them?
 * What kinds of questions should we ask if we want to inform policy?
 * What kinds of questions should we ask if we want to build theory?

The first above work needs to be completed by WEDNESDAY at 11.

Second, you will need to engage in __two conversations__ with your classmates while also monitoring your own. So you will pick two topics that seem interesting to you, get on the discussion thread, and have a conversation (make more than one post!) with that person and the other posters. This is a great way to build up participation points for those of you who are lacking. Your conversations can be questions for the poster, comments on their interpretation of the situation, or maybe you think the situation is best understood through a different theorist. Remember, it is okay to disagree with people; disagreement is a part of intelligent discussion. The key is to always remain respectful. You all are one of the strongest classes of students I have ever taught and I have a great deal of respect for each of you. I expect you all are able to remain respectful of each other even if you don't see eye to eye.

So get started ASAP. I'll judge this weeks efforts based on the strength of your sociological analysis. Next week we will return to something closer to our normal class format. I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say!