Description
THINK Currency. THINK Relevancy. THINK Sociology.
With an engaging visual design, 15 page chapters, and readings from popular trade titles, THINK Sociology is the introductory Sociology text your students will read.
THINK Sociology is informed with the latest research and the most contemporary examples, allowing you to bring current events directly into your classroom with little additional work.
An engaging visual design developed with the benefit of extensive student feedback will appeal to your students and deliver the core concepts of Sociology in a way that they can actually understand.
The groundbreaking instructor supplements package will help you bring the core concepts of Sociology to life, without burdening your students with heavy, too dense and too expensive learning solutions.
Thinkspot, the text’s open access website, provides students with a large resource of tools to help them achieve a better grade.
Features
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Create a Custom Text: For enrollments of at least 25, create your own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence you want. To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. You may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create your ideal text—publishing your own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact your Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started.
- 17 chapters - Informed by the latest research and the most current events
- Chapter length – average 15 page chapter length
- Value-Priced - less than half the costs of most introductory Sociology textbooks
- Current and relevant readings - excerpts from popular trade books, many of which are available for packaging for little additional cost, allow you to introduce students to primary source material at a depth you desire. Instructors can also package Penguin Publisher titles with Think Sociology at heavily discounted rates. See below for a list of recommended titles.
- TheThinkSpot - www.thethinkspot.com. An open-access website with chapter-by-chapter quizzes, chapter-by-chapter study cards, and flashcards. Also includes a Sociology blog written by a sociology professor.
- Audio version - downloadable individual audio chapters containing entire chapter. Ideal for students when they are commuting, working out, etc.
- Chapter Organization – Every chapter follows a 3 step process:
1. Comprehend the topic
2. Frame the topic with theory
3. Move from classroom to community
- Theory Wheel - every chapter has a theory info-graphic, which is a picture/ graphic that visually discusses the three main sociological paradigms.
- Community Learning Activities - Allows your students to act and think like a sociologist, with no additional work for you.
- Global Comparisons — International comparisons are found throughout the text. There is also a “Going Global” box in every chapter that looks at specific issues closely.
- Making Connections — this text focuses on help students make connections with sociology, their world, and their community. “Making Connections” boxes look at media issues or other “hot topic” issues and illuminates with a sociological understanding. 'Thinking Sociologically' boxes help students apply sociology to the world around them.
Penguin Books - available at a significant discount. Chapter openers come from popular trade press books and articles. Some of these trade books are from Penguin. Here is the list:
- Elliot Liebow, Tell Them Who I Am: The Lives of Homeless Women (New York: Penguin Books, 1995)
- Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (New York: Penguin Books, 2005)
- Jared Diamond, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (New York: Viking Press, 2005)
- Joseph L. Graves, The Race Myth: Why We Pretend Race Exists in America (New York: Penguin, 2004)
- Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin Press, 2006)
- Jeffrey Reiman, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology, Class, and Criminal Justice (Boston: Pearson Education, 2007)
- Jeffrey D. Sachs, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (New York: Penguin Press, 2008)
New to this Edition
IN THIS SECTION:
1. OVERALL CHANGES
2. CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER CHANGES
OVERALL CHANGES
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Updated references and data throughout, e.g. 2010 Census Data
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New photos and captions that highlight and illustrate text content in a more effective way; adds to overall engaging visual design of the book
- Throughout the text, data has been updated and references to newly-published articles and books are included to make the book up-to-the minute timely. Whenever possible, everything has been updated to reflect the most current information on an individual topic.
CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER CHANGES
In addition to the updating and incorporation of new research, here are some of the highlights of individual chapters:
Chapter 1. Sociology: An Introduction to the Foundations of Sociology
· New section on “Emerging Paradigms” to include Feminist Theory, Exchange Theory, and Environmental Theory
Chapter 2. Sociological Research: How Do We Learn about Society?
· Revised “Go Global” box to focus on “International Voting Statistics”
· New table on statistics from US CDC on Fertility Trends in US
Chapter 3. Culture: A Framework for the Individual
· Coverage of symbols revised to include swastikas with various connotations
· New data on racism in the US
Chapter 4. Social Structure and Interaction: Micro and Macro Orientations
· New data/research on hierarchical status
· Revised coverage of Symbolic Interactionism
· Revised coverage of Conflict Theory
Chapter 5. Socialization: The Process of Fitting into Society
· Revised opening book: “Consuming Kids” by Susan Linn
· Revised introductory text
· Revised Classroom to Community feature
Chapter 6. Groups and Societies: Understanding our Environment
· Revised coverage of special groups
· Revised coverage of decision making
Chapter 7. Social Class in the United States: Stratification in a Modern Society
· New pie chart on income distribution
· New information on poverty and the “near poor”
· Revised “Think Sociologically” feature
· New information on mobility
· Revised Social Policy feature: Taxes and Social Insurance
Chapter 8. Global Stratification: Wealth and Poverty in the World
· New opening book: “The Bottom Billion” by Paul Collier
· Revised introduction to reflect new opening book content
· New material on poverty and hunger
· New chart on Poverty Rates on 10 Developed Countries
· Revised information on Quality of Life
Chapter 9. Population and Environmental Impact: How Do Societies Deal with Growing Numbers?
· Revised table of Birth Rate, Death Rate, and Rate of Natural Increase for 10 Largest Countries
· Make Connections box revised to include Gulf of Mexico oil spill
· Think Sociologically featured revised to focus on “Climate Change”
Chapter 10. Race and Ethnic Stratification: Is it a Question of Color?
· Race infographic updated and revised
· Revised “Make Connections” box
Chapter 11. Gender Stratification: The Social Side of Sex
· New opening book: “Guyland” by Michael Kimmel
· Revised content on Gender Construction
· New Census data throughout
· Revised content in “Make Connections” box
Chapter 12. Aging and Health: The Graying of Society
· New information on the elderly in the US
· New content in the Think Sociologically feature on Health Care Reform
Chapter 13. Crime and the Legal System: How Do Societies Respond to Crime and Deviance?
· Revised table on crime statistics/international perspective on crime statistics
Chapter 14. Marriage and Family: How Do Societies Perpetuate Themselves?
· New content on empty nesters/international perspective on empty nesters
Chapter 15. Education and Religion: How Do Societies Pass on Information?
· New content in revised “Make Connections” box
· Content from Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Bright-Sided” re: Christianity
Chapter 16. Economy and Politics: How Do Societies Support and Govern Themselves?
· Revised “Make Connections” box, focus on Tea Party
· New content on campaign funding
· New content on conditions at Walter Reed Hospital
Chapter 17. Social Movements, Collective Behavior, and Social Change: How Do Societies Change?
· New Opening Book: “Flavor of the Month” by Joel Best
· New introductory text
· Revised content on Social Policy
· New content on CAFÉ standards for cars
Table of Contents
IN THIS SECTION:
1. BRIEF
2. COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1. Sociology: An Introduction to the Foundations of Sociology
Chapter 2. Sociological Research: How Do We Learn about Society?
Chapter 3. Culture: A Framework for the Individual
Chapter 4. Social Structure and Interaction: Micro and Macro Orientations
Chapter 5. Socialization: The Process of Fitting into Society
Chapter 6. Groups and Societies: Understanding our Environment
Chapter 7. Social Class in the United States: Stratification in a Modern Society
Chapter 8. Global Stratification: Wealth and Poverty in the World
Chapter 9. Population and Environmental Impact: How Do Societies Deal with Growing Numbers?
Chapter 10. Race and Ethnic Stratification: Is it a Question of Color?
Chapter 11. Gender Stratification: The Social Side of Sex
Chapter 12. Aging and Health: The Graying of Society
Chapter 13. Crime and the Legal System: How Do Societies Respond to Crime and Deviance?
Chapter 14. Marriage and Family: How Do Societies Perpetuate Themselves?
Chapter 15. Education and Religion: How Do Societies Pass on Information?
Chapter 16. Economy and Politics: How Do Societies Support and Govern Themselves?
Chapter 17. Social Movements, Collective Behavior, and Social Change: How Do Societies Change?
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
(Each chapter has 3 sections: Get the Topic, Think Sociologically, and Discover Sociology in Action)
Chapter 1: Sociology: An Introduction to the Foundations of Sociology
Sociology Defined
Developing a Sociological Imagination
Emile Durkheim's Theory on Suicide
The Functionalist's Worldview
Functionalism in the United States
The Conflict Theorist's Worldview
The Symbolic Interactionist's Worldview
The Three Paradigms: How are They Interrelated?
Getting Involved in Sociology-- Community Learning
Chapter 2: Sociological Research: How Do We Learn About Society?
Objectivity
Variables
Cause and Correlation
Scientific Method: What Are the Six Stephs of Social Research?
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Triangulation
Research Methods and the Three Paradigms
Social Policy and Statistics
Community Learning-- Needs Assessments
Chapter 3: Culture: A Framework for the Individual
Material Culture
Nonmaterial Culture
Additional Values
Norms and Sanctions
The Study of Culture
Symbolic Interactionism-- A Crisis of Values
Functionalism-- Communitarianism
Conflict Theory-- The McDonaldization of the United States
Social Policy: Multiculturalism and Assimilation
Chapter 4: Social Structure and Interaction: Micro and Macro Orientations
Macrosociology and Microsociology
Micro Orientations: Social Interactions
An Example of Symbolic Interactionism: The Thomas Theorem and the Social Creation of Reality
An Example of Functionalism: Study Essential Features of Functional Social Structures
An Example of Conflict Theory: Deliberate Efforts to Weaken the Structure and Culture of Native Americans
Social Policy -- The Perry Preschool Project
Chapter 5: Socialization: The Process of Fitting into Society
The Nature vs. Nurture Debate -- What Makes Us Who We Are?
Theorists on Socialization
Agents of Socialization
Can We Be 'Resocialized'? Experiencing the Total Institution
Symbolic Interactionism and Resocialization
Functionalism
Conflict Theory -- What Forces Socialize Us?
Applying Sociological Thinking in the World, Social Policy, and Title IX
Chapter 6: Groups and Societies: Understanding Our Environment
Formal Organizations
Functionalism and Leadership
Conflict Theory -- Marx, Bureaucracy, and Democratic Organizations
Symbolic Interactionism -- Creating a Just and Democratic Workplace
Adult Civic Engagement and Childhood Activities
Leading Groups
Chapter 7: Social Class in the United States: Stratification in a Modern Society
How Does the United States Define Poverty?
Social Mobility
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Social Policy: Welfare for the Poor
Social Policy: Minimum Wage
Chapter 8: Global Stratification: Wealth and Poverty in the World
Global Stratification
Social Systems
Global Stratification: No Longer a Third World
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Social Policy: Foreign Aid
Chapter 9: Population and Environmental Impact: How Do Societies Deal with Growing Numbers?
Population by the Numbers
Malthusian Theory
Demographic Transition Theory
Issues Associated with Population Growth
Human Exemptionism
Environmental Sociology
Population Control Programs
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnic Stratification: Is It a Question of Color?
Census Definitions
Racial Stratification in the United States
Symbolic Interactionism: Color-Blind Racism
Affirmative Action
Chapter 11: Gender Stratification: The Social Side of Sex
Gender vs. Sex
Patriarchy and Sexism
Gender Roles
Gender and Inequality
Feminism
Feminist Theory
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Chapter 12: Aging and Health: The Graying of Society
Health Defined
Health in the United States: Living off the Fat of the Land
Health Care
Aging: The Graying of the United States
Functionism -- Disengaging from Society
Symbolic Interactionism -- Living an Active Lifestyle
Conflict Theory -- Aging and Inequality
Social Security and Medicare
Chapter 13: Crime and the Legal System: How Do Societies Respond to Crime and Deviance?
Deviance vs. Crime
Historical Roots of Deviance and Crime Theories
Functional Explanations of Crime and Deviance
Social Interaction Theories
Symbolic Interaction Theories
Symbolic Interactionist Theory
Social Conflict Theory
General Theories of Crime Causation
Crime Control: The Criminal Justice System
Chapter 14: Marriage and Family: How Do Societies Perpetuate Themselves?
Marriage and Family
Symbolic Interactionism
Conflict Theory
Functionalism
Gay Marriage vs. Civil Unions vs. Nothing
Chapter 15: Education and Religion: How Do Societies Pass on Information?
Education in Society
Religion
Symbolic Interactionism
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Improving Education with School Vouchers
Chapter 16: Economy and Politics: How Do Societies Support and Govern Themselves?
Economic Systems
Global Economy
Political Systems
Types of Government
Politics in the United States
The Nature of Power
Lack of ASsistance for Veterans
Chapter 17: Social Movements, Collective Behavior, and Social Change: How Do Societies Change?
Shifts in Society
Shifts in Society
Resistance to Change
Conflict Theory
Functionalism
Symbolic Interactionism
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Glossary
Endnotes
Photo Credits
Index
Author
John Carl's interest in sociology grew from his interests and job experiences after college, which included working in hospitals, schools, churches and prisons. John reflects, “In these many diverse encounters I continued to notice how often the structures of society often did not support the change so desperately sought after by the individual. I began to reflect on my sociology courses from my undergraduate work and decided to return to graduate school to study sociology.”
Returning to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, he became passionate about the study of Criminology and Stratification completing his Ph.D. while teaching full time at Rose State College. John says, “I found that every part of my life to this point, fit perfectly with the study of sociology. It is a diverse and exciting field that helps a person understand their world.”
Today, teaching remains his primary focus. John Carl has excelled in the classroom, winning awards for his teaching and working to build and improve the sociology program at Rose State. “I teach the introductory class every semester because I believe it is the most important course in any department. It is where students get the foundation they need for their continued study of sociology. In these classes, my goal is simple. To teach students to think sociologically so that they can consider any new event in the light of that thought.”
When asked why he wrote Think Sociology, the answer was simple: “This book is truly a labor of love for me. I wanted to write a book that is filled with examples used in the classroom and written in a language that students can understand without compromising the core concepts of sociology.'
John lives in Oklahoma with his family, wife Keven, and daughters Sara and Caroline. In his free time, John plays golf, gardens, throws pottery, and plays his guitar. He continues to move from the classroom to community by being active in non-profit leadership in his home community and providing training to non-profit boards so they may better achieve their goals. John suggests, “It is all part of sociology, not only to understand the world in which we live, but to take that understanding from the classroom and use it to improve the community.”
Reader Review(s)
Thank you to the following reviewers:
Rick Herbert South Plains College
Patricia O'Brien Elgin Community College
Pamperin Bruce University of Wisconsin-Stout
Tara Shaw University of Oklahoma
Elizabeth Jenner Gustavus Adolphus College
Mark Miller East Texas Baptist University
Sheli Bernstein-Goff West Liberty University
Amanda White St. Louis Community College at Meramec
Donna Sullivan Marshall University
Shannon Carter University of Central Florida
Tammy Jolley University of Arkansas Community College at BAtesville
Soheyl Amini Salve Regina University
Shirley Keeton American University of Afghanistan
Erica Hunter University at Albany
Kwaku Obosu-Mensah Lorain County Community College
paul rhoads Williams Baptist College
Catherine Duncan Pueblo Community College
Mona Scott Mesa Community College
Lois Easterday Onondaga Community College
Marta Henriksen Central New Mexico Community College
Claudette Jackson McLennan Community College
Amanda Miller University of Central Oklahoma
Mitchell Mackinem Claflin University
Connie Zirkle Marshall University
Olga Rowe Oregon State University
Michael O'Connor Hawkeye Community College
Norma Lythcott Chattahoochee Technical College
Sarah Allred Berry Collge
Elizabeth Mansley Delaware State University
Richard Miller Missouri Southern State University
Sue Greer-Pitt Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Leslie Elrod University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College
Stuart Shafer Johnson County Community College
Laura Scott Pierce College
Maria Flynn Ocean County College
Dana Mayhew Bristol Community College
Lorna Zukas National University
Xiaoshuo Hou University of Massachusetts Amherst
Kyra Greene San Diego State University
Rose De Luca Emmanuel College
Brooke Strahn-Koller Kirkwood Community College
Harry Mersmann San Joaquin Delta College
Kayleen Oka Seattle Central Community College
Bobbie Brannon Catawba Valley Community College
Rebecca Plante Ithaca College
Rondell Merrill Oakton Community College
Nancy Reeves Gloucester County College
Gail Stewart Pierce College Puyallup
Judith Rozarie Gibbs College
Maxine Elmont MassBay Community College
Alan Young Southern Nazarene University
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