Piece of Information that Passes for Knowledge Discussion

Chapter 2 Journal Exercise

During or after completing the reading for Chapter 2, describe a piece of information that commonly “passes for knowledge,” but is actually partially or completely wrong. This can, perhaps, be based on personal views that had been long-debunked but live-on, or a partially valid claim that seems perplexing. You may have observed it be repeated at home, work, or the community or in the media. Include;

1) a description of the information,

2) how you think that information was created,

3) your own reaction to that information/partial or total misconception, and

4) what kind of sociological research method may be used to improve and deepen our understanding of this information.

Chapter 6 Journal Exercise

After reading Chapter 6, think of an act or instance of deviance in current events.

First, define deviance using our book.

1) Then, briefly describe a deviant act covered in the news– current or historic (such as an odd disturbance, a crime, protest, etc.).

2) Which social norm(s) did the act break? Was a law broken? Did the act bring about a change in the expected behavior (maybe challenge any existing laws)? Or did the act and the response to it reinforce these existing sanctions?

Journal entries should be written in essay form, will be evaluated based on their completeness in addressing the prompt, in the quality of the writing, and engagement of relevant readings from our textbook.