Soc180 (1 Viewer)

[glitterfairy]

Hi all,

Anyone else looking at the essay and thinking "man, this should be easy, but starting is so hard?!"

 

[bscienceboi]

Hi all,

Anyone else looking at the essay and thinking "man, this should be easy, but starting is so hard?!"

All essays are like that, and all reports too.

 

[glitterfairy]

Really? Hmm... there's truth in that statement.

The main problem I have with this one is that the content is fun, and the question isn't all that hard. So, it's a big clash in my head between "Essays... ooh, hard" and "Oooh! Popular culture! Sociology! FUN!" and I'm finding it really hard to strike the serious mode of address required (now that I've written 600+ words of fluff).

 

[bscienceboi]

Whats the question? Lets discuss.

 

[MaryJane]

I found the same thing with my essay for SOC. A hint: Dont try and address any drastic/unique questions. I did this, well tried, and I still got a pretty decent mark, but I was warned about it which is really quite stupid given the highly subjective nature of sociology.

I hated this assignment. Mine was on how clothes fashion the person, or something like that.

 

[glitterfairy]

Ok, so the key is to go for generic?

G: Select a form of popular culture and in 1500 words explain what it tells us about the people who consume or participate in it, as well as what it says about modern life in general. Employ at least one analytical concept studied in the unit (eg interaction, class, gender etc).

 

[MaryJane]

Haha, thats exactly the same as last year (from memory). What are you going to do? As I said, I did fashion. I'd suggest steering clear of it; there is a lot of extra research and a lot of wafting. Pick something solid, like gender or something along those lines which has a heap of stuff and empirical studies on it.

 

[glitterfairy]

Eek, so if I said I was going to study "class", you would say...?

 

[MaryJane]

I think class is fine, its pretty defined, I'm sure people would have written something about the different lives people live in relation to their class...

I think thats doable. In the end, I'm sure most things are doable, its just a matter of how much time and energy you're willing to put into it (and for SOC, it wont be that much energy )

 

[AsyLum]

Haha, im hoping to do a sociological examination of the Annandale vs the Spectrum tonight hehe, wish me luck!

 

[glitterfairy]

TONIGHT?

lol.

Soc is warped. It's like CUL100, but without the "omg if I don't try hard I'm going to FAIL!" motivation to work (it seems too fun for anyone to fail).

Hopefully soc180 is easy to pass... if it's like cul100, it may end up being one of those subjects that just doesn't like me all that much (although I'm enjoying it)

 

[AsyLum]

Haha analytically im spent after that bout of Media, Philosophy and Ancient essays ive just done. I'll probably just do the actual layout of the place and yeah, im too tired lol

 

[AsyLum]

Hey MJ, just a question, are they looking for us to do more of our own work but citing theorists upon the concepts we use, or rather doing something tried and done and quoting people who support our findings ?

 

[MaryJane]

Hey, sorry about the late reply!

I tried to be original and twist a concept to a new way of thinking and was told not too, that it was too advanced for a 100-level unit (although all units seem to just want us to regurgitate others opinions/findings). So, with that experience, I'd say do the latter, do something relatively old and done so you have decent references, but I'd attempt to put some creative spin on it, maybe just suggest some new ways of looking at the concept etc. because you get marks for creativity.

 

[AsyLum]

Ahh damn, yeah thats basically sealed the deal, changed the focus to online personas and social interactions using Counter-Strike as the basis for the interaction.

Thanks dear

 

[glitterfairy]

Oh gawd, 1142 words down and I'm ready to roll over on my tummy and die. I'll polish it tomorrow to ensure it answers the question, cross my fingers and hand it in (and hope for the best). SOC180 is so much like and not like cul100 it's not funny (and it's driving me insane).

 

[AsyLum]

Asylum | soc: 276/1500 | -essay

 

[SuGa BunI =D]

at glitterfairy: if you think soc180 is like cul100? read this essay question (due 2mor as well)

4. The common sense view of language as a labelling of things ‘out there in the world’, is sharply opposed (in our world view) to the ‘magical’ view of language in sacred rituals, where words are regarded as having effects on the world (see Tambiah, below). But are words and language really simply labels for things, thoughts and emotions? Or does language shape our everyday construction of the world in ways that are somewhat ‘magical’? Make sure your answers include detailed examples from at least two languages.

at least your doing popular culture

 

[AsyLum]

Asylum | soc: 906/1500 | -essay

 

[MaryJane]

When is SOC due? Use heaps of references to blow your wordcount out.