SYG 2000 Augusta University Introduction to Sociology & Racism Discussion

Peer-to-Peer Discussion Board 1 covers Module VI (Chapters 10 & 11).

The class has been divided into six discussion Groups in an effort to better manage discussion with such a large class. You will either be in a group of 22 students or a group of 21 students. This discussion will present two broad topics for discussion–Race and Ethnicity from Ch 10 or Gender and Sexuality from Ch 11 (you will select one on which to focus and the prompts will be provided below). Below, you will find the 1) Discussion Prompts & Instructions for Posting, you will find 2) Grading Criteria, and you will find 3) a refresher of the Guidelines for Proper Discussion Etiquette.

1. Discussion Prompts & Instructions For Posting

IMPORTANT! These topics can be challenging for many of us to have, but they are necessary for us to better understand our social world. Sociology is meant to help us gain deeper insights to the lives, experiences, and backgrounds of others. Remember, just because we do not personally experience something does not mean that others are not experiencing it. Please be considerate in your discussions with your group members.

Prompt 1: Race

• Most people think that racism exists in the hearts and minds of human beings–that all racism is something one has, or is arguably infected with. Sociologists argue, however, that racism is built into the institutional framework of our society. What are some examples of institutional racism that you are aware of? Which is most limiting to the intended target of oppression: individual or institutional racism?

Prompt 2: Gender

• How might image portrayals of women in the media lead to gender stereotyping? How might this be influenced by the larger number of male executives in media companies today? How does this tend serve to perpetuate hegemonic understandings of gender and, more specifically, masculinity? Give examples.

Instructions: Select ONE of the two Prompts to discuss with the group. Once you select your prompt, you will need to post your response before being able to read responses from other students (I want for your discussions to be original and not influenced by what others post). Additional instructions are as follows:

• At the top of your initial discussion post, MAKE SURE TO INDICATE WHICH PROMPT YOU ARE DISCUSSING (e.g., PROMPT 1: RACE). This will allow others to know what you are covering, which may lead them to responding to your post.
• Cover all aspects of the prompts with insightful and thoughtful discussion. There is no word limit, but you need to be sure and cover all points from the prompts.
• YOU MUST POSE AT LEAST ONE QUESTION TO THE GROUP at the end of your initial discussion post. It is always best to ask an open-ended question in an effort to get others to answer with more than just a “yes” or “no.”
• YOU MUST RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER STUDENT’S INITIAL POST. Feel free to respond to more than one person in your group. After all, this is a discussion! But, you at least have to respond to one other student. Be thoughtful. Do not just respond with “yes” or “I agree” or “that isn’t what I think.” Answer their questions. Comment on their post in a meaningful way as if you were sitting down and having a conversation.
• The DUE DATE for this assignment is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 BY 11:59 PM EST (Please keep in mind, you will also have to complete a quiz by this date/time). Be sure to manage your time wisely!

2. Grading Criteria

• You will be expected to provide an initial post where you discuss the topic, using my discussion prompts/questions. (Worth up to 10 points)
• You will be expected to pose at least one thoughtful, open-ended question to the class so that they may respond to you. (Worth up to 5 points)
• You will be expected to respond to at least one other student, answering a question that they posed to the class. This doesn’t mean that you simply write, “I agree” or “I disagree.” It means that you write a thoughtful response. (Worth up to 10 points)

3. Guidelines for Proper Discussion Etiquette

• Use proper grammar, spell check your work, and use proper punctuation.
• Keep your tone in check. It is always better to write your post in Word and then copy and paste into the discussion. This way, you can stop and proof your work to make sure it sounds respectful and reasonable before you post it to the ENTIRE class.
• Be respectful, even if you do not agree with someone, something you have read, or something you have seen.
• Support your opinions! While this discussion is more informal than a research or term paper, it is still important to explain where you got the information you are citing as fact. You can certainly share your own experiences in this discussion, but be sure to emphasize that it is YOUR EXPERIENCE. Don’t assume that others aren’t experiencing similar situations differently. If you decide to include work from articles or news stories you have read, be sure to include a citation for those sources. I am not looking for a specific format, but you should indicate where you get your information. This allows other students to look it up more easily AND more importantly, gives credit to the one with the original thought.

I will be reading through each discussion and commenting as necessary, but my comments will be limited, as I will be merely monitoring these discussions from the periphery. I am really looking forward to reading through these discussions!