Why?

Why do we say that in England, they drive on the WRONG side of the road?

If you were given the chance....

to leave America and live in a completely different culture (like that of the Yanomami) for a year, would you take it? Explain your answer!

Tapier amazed?

What thing that Tapier has never seen before will most amaze him? Explain your reasoning!

Do you think?

Do you think Tapier's journey to England will ultimately be negative or positive? Explain why you think so!

If you...

had to live amongst the Yanomami for a year, what part of their life/ culture would be most difficult for you to adapt to?

Yanomami and the west

What thing do the Yanomami do that would give them the biggest problem if they moved to the United States?

Yanomami Funeral Rights

Yesterday we saw a Yanomami funeral. List two ways that they are similar and two ways they are different from funerals/ burial rights in the United States. Is there anything that we do that the Yanomami would find offensive? Is there any rights that the Yanomami perform that would seem strange to westerners?

Yanomani

Why did HISIWE use hallucinogenic drugs? What happened after he had used them?

Cultural Anthropology

Why is it important to study other cultures? What can we learn from studying other cultures (peoples outside the U.S.)?

Crazy thing monkeys can do

Working with a peer, find a video with a chimp/ monkey with a unique ability and post it here!

Humans are unique!

Today we will focus on what sets us apart from chimps. What things do humans do that set us apart from all other species? List at least five things!

Chimps and humans

Based on what you have learned about chimpanzees, are we more like chimps or more different? Explain how we are alike or different!

What does this video say?

View the video below. What does this video say about the ability of chimpanzees? About humans?

Animals and People

Reflect on a time where you were struck with the behavior of an animal that was like a human's.

Why study primates?

Of all animals, the bonobo is the closest genetic relation to humans
Why do we study primates to learn about humans? What can we hope to learn about humans by studying primates?

Convinced?

What was the single most convincing evidence you heard for any of our three theories (Creationism, Evolution, or Intelligent Design)? Why did you find it convincing

Why?

Why do you think the teaching of creationism has gotten less popular while the teaching of intelligent design has grown more popular?

Explain....

1. What each of the following believes:
a. Evolution
b. Creationism
c. Intelligent design

2. Which theory does the picture below describe?

Evolution or Intelligent Design?

Which do you think should be taught in schools, intelligent design or evolution? Is it offensive to teach the other? Why or why not?

Neanderthal

What adaptations did Neanderthals have that made them likely to survive an ice age?

What do you have that makes you an evolutionary success story?

What trait do you possess that that makes you suited to survive and pass your genes onto the next generation?

Example: Mr. Bernstein has a big brain which allowed him to complete College and get a job that can put food on his family's table.

Homo Ergaster

Based on what we saw in "Savage Family", what new adaptations did Ergaster possess that made them more likely to survive?

Climate change

In each of the episodes of "Walking with caveman" climate change is responsible for causing some species to die out, and others to adapt and thrive. Are human beings vulnerable to climate change today? What people would be most susceptible to a warming climate? How are they vulnerable?

Evolutionary Success

What makes some species an evolutionary success while others die out?

Explain...

in your own words, what the theory of evolution is.

Looking at pictures

What does the picture above suggest? Do you agree with what it is trying to say? Explain your rationale.

Did men come from Apes?

Do you believe than human beings are descended from apes? Why or why not?

What is Anthrpology?

Based on your prior knowledge, and information from classroom posters and the internet, what do you think Anthropology studies?

Dangerous Families

What are five negative aspects associated with marriage or being part of a family?

Do you see...

Do you see yourself eventually getting married and having children? Why do you think that marriage/ kids is for (or is not) for you?

Bride given away

In American marriages, it is tradition for the bride to be given away to the groom by the bride's father. Why do you think this is done?

Families and Television

One of the ways we learn about how families are supposed to be is from television. For this activity, name two television shows that contain families, and say whether they show a positive or negative example of how a family is supposed to be:

Example:

The Simpsons are an example of how a family is not supposed to be because the dad (Homer) is an alcoholic idiot, the mom worries all the time (Marge), and the son is a delinquent (Bart). The Cosby show, in contrast, showed what a family was supposed to be like. The mom was a lawyer, the father was a doctor, and they lived a happy, middle-class life style.

Weddings

Describe a wedding you have been to. Was it big, small? What was the food like? Why do you think weddings are such a culturally important event?

Your family

How would members of your family feel if you dated (or married) outside of your race or religion? Why do you think they would feel the way they feel?

Remember the Three C's in your response!

Content: Thoughtfully answer all parts of the Question
Construction: Answer in complete sentences
Citizenship: Show Respect for the content of the class, peers, and the instructor!

Big Fat Greek Wedding

What has happened in the film so far? If you missed it, find an online summary and paraphrase how the film began (put it in your own words!).

Negatives of Family life

We've already talked about divorce- what are some other negative effects of family life for wives, husbands, and children?

Why do we choose to live in families?

Why do adults choose to form families? What do they get out of it?

Romantic love?

Not all cultures marry their partners based on romantic love. In India and Pakistan marriage are arranged based on the wishes of their parents. In some cultures, marriages serve to form alliances between different familes. Which way do you think is better? Explain your reasons!

DIVORCE

We leave gender to talk about love and marriage. 90% of all people get married, but for every 10 marriages, 4 end in divorce. Why do you think that so many marriages end in divorce?

Masculinity and Femeninity

Describe a person you know who us extremely masculine (macho) or feminine (girly) personality. What do they act like? How do you think they got to be that way?

Example:

Mr. Laskiewicz was always the jock type. He grew up playing all kinds of sports and was extremely competitive. When he got into high school, he would try to impress girls by lifting compact cars. When he was growing up, his father had put a football in his hands from before he could walk and telling him that, "quitters never win and winners never quit."

Cartoons...

What kind of TV shows did you watch when your were little? What kind of toys did you play with? Based on what we have been talking about, pick a character or a toy- were they portrayed in a masculine or feminine way?

Example:

When Mr. Laskiewicz was young, he used to play with Barbie. Barbie showed him that pretty girls are very thin, tall, and have long blonde hair who liked shopping and clothes.

Look at the list of masculine and feminine traits below. Which item from your gender list(males pick from masculine list/ females from feminine) most defines you? Which item least defines you? Explain why.

Feminine Traits
Submissive
Dependent
Unintelligent and Incapable
Emotional
Receptive
Intuitive
Weak
Timid
Content
Passive
Cooperative
Sensitive
Sex object
Attractive because of physical appearance

Masculine Traits
Dominant
Independent
Intelligent and competent
Rational
Assertive
Analytical
Strong
Brave
Ambitious
Active
Competitive
Insensitive
Sexually aggressive
Attractive because of achievement

What's wrong with this picture?

Based on what we have been learning, what is wrong with this picture?

Women in Disney films

On Friday, we spoke of how stereotypes about men were portrayed in Disney films. Today, list three stereotypes of the "ideal" woman that are shown in Disney films.

Men & Women

Think of some of the differences we've discussed between the behavior/ abilities of men and women. Do you think that most of the differences are because of socio-biological factors (born that way) or because of socialization (learned from other people). Give a reason for your explanation!





Next, as you watch the film, list five ways men are portrayed in Disney films. Do you think they affect children and how they form their gender identity?

Do you think...

any of differences between boys and girls from the 50's children's book are true?

Gender differences

This week we look at Gender differences. List at least three ways you think men and women act differently.

Which is more attractive?

We move now from our discussion of the criminal justice system to looking at masculinity, femininity and attraction.

Look at the picture above. Of the two pictures, which do you find more attractive, A or B? Try to explain why!

Why?

Why do you people with mental illness are overrepresented in prisons (meaning there is a greater percentage in prison than society as a whole)?

Mental illness

What kinds of services do people with mental illness need to function in society?

Juveniles in adult facilities

Do you think it is a good idea to lock up juveniles in adult facilities for serious crimes? Why or why not? If not, should there be different consequences for juveniles who commit the most serious crimes like rape and murder?

We continue to talk about recidivism- how over 50% of released juvenile offenders end up reincarcerated. In your opinion, what are three additional interventions/ things that can be done to keep these juveniles from ending up back behind bars?

Inside and Out

Juvenile offenders have a recidivism rate (meaning they get locked up again after getting out) of about 50%. What do you think are some reasons (write at least three) that juveniles so frequentely back behind bars?

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PAGE TO HEAR MARCUS' STORY

AS YOU LISTEN, LIST FIVE THINGS ABOUT MARCUS' LIFE THAT CAUSED HIM TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION SYSTEM.

What's the point

Today we begin our discussion of juvenile detention. In this context, what do you think is the point of juvenile prisons? Should it be to rehabilitate or punish? If it's to rehabilitate, what kind of services should juvenile detention centers provide to help kids?

Why do people break the law?

Why do people become criminals/ commit crimes? Choose one or more of the following and explain why you chose your answer or provide an explanation of your own!:


1. They are born criminals
2. It was the neighborhood they grew up in
3. It is because they were raised that way
4. As long as there are poor people and rich people, there will always be crime
5. Criminals become criminals because of who they asssociate with

Agree or Disagree?

Agree or Disagree with the following statement and explain your reasoning:

"Blacks are more likely to be imprisoned for drug crimes"

What does Sociology study?

Based on your work last week with the 30 days series, what is Sociology and what does it study? What is the point of Sociology?

.....then follow this link to take the survey!

When the Nazis came to Skokie

In 1977, a Nazi group organized a March in the Chicago suburb of Skokie. Skokie's large Jewish community was outraged and applied to a judge to prohibit the march. Do you think that the group should have been allowed to march?