Chapter 18 Projects

Project Assignment

Purpose

The economy is shaped by many different factors, including social structures, government, politics, and sociological factors, like hierarchy and class. The purpose of this project is to explore how sociologists study the economy and the effect it has on society and people.

Directions

Part 1

Choose a section from this chapter about a topic that relates to the economy. For instance, you could choose to explore the wage gap in the United States, recent economic conditions, the economies of agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial societies, or any theoretical perspectives on the economy.

Explore articles or other reliable sources to find photos or images related to your topic. For example, if you are exploring the different economies of agricultural societies, you could include pictures of the kinds of tools people use to farm. If you explore the gender wage gap, you could include pictures of different genders working white-collar and blue-collar jobs. Be creative and think outside the box to use images to represent the topic you have chosen accurately and thoughtfully.

Create a poster with at least seven images and be prepared to explain each of them and how they relate to your chosen topic.

Part 2

Present your poster to the class. After everyone has presented, gather in groups of three or four to discuss the presentations. Consider the following questions as you discuss:

• What's something you didn't know that you learned in the presentations?

• What's something that surprised you from the presentations?

• Which images resonated the most with you?

Materials

Physical or electronic resources to create a poster

Checklist

Part 1

Part 2

Writing Assignment

Purpose

We hear the words capitalism and socialism all the time, but what do they actually mean? How do sociologists view these two forms of economy? The purpose of this writing assignment is to explore the differences between capitalism and socialism, how each affects the societies in which they are practiced, and how people differently understand them.

Directions

This assignment will be completed in class. There is no minimum length for this assignment; however, make sure you are thoughtfully addressing each of the following questions:

• What is the sociological definition of capitalism?

  • How does capitalism integrate national and cultural values, norms, and symbols to socialize people?

• What is the sociological definition of socialism?

  • How does socialism integrate national and cultural values, norms, and symbols to socialize people?

• How is capitalism different from socialism?

• How is capitalism similar to socialism?

• What are some common myths related to capitalism? How did these myths come to be?

• What are some common myths related to socialism? How did these myths come to be?

• How does each economic system create or inhibit hierarchies, stratification, solidarity, and social mobility?

• How does capitalism affect day-to-day life?

  • How might people differently experience life under capitalism based on their race, gender, or class?

• How does socialism affect day-to-day life?

  • How might people differently experience life under socialism based on their race, gender, or class?

Materials

None required

Checklist