Introduction to Sociology – HW 4
Directions: All homework (HW) assignments must be typed and numbered in the text box provided. Answers to all questions should be well-written (i.e. clear, complete sentences) and well thought out.
1. Do you believe that the traditional family should be saved? Why or why not? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. A traditional family usually is a family that keeps together and has some kind of a dictatorship usually the father figure. They believe in certain type of religion and where the mother has to stay at home and take care of the children while the husband goes to work and provides for the family. I personally believe that maybe having that type of family is not bad if it keeps them happy, but it is not necessary to keep around. There is nothing bad with different types of families. The type of family does not matter it does not have to be the picture-perfect family that the media projects; A family by definition is a social institution found in all societies that unites people in cooperative groups to care for one another, including any children. Weather the family should be saved or not depends weather the people want it or not if that is what the members of the family want. Maybe having a few around is not a bad to probably look back and refer to the start of a family.
2. How serious a problem is single-parent childrearing? How ought our society respond to this concern? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. – OR – Should we allow gay and lesbian couples complete legal equality with heterosexual couples? Discuss. This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. Being a single parent in the United States is thirty percent. The serious problem with having many single- parents is that this usually leaves the parent heading to the path of poverty along with their children they are raising; the problem with that is that this parent has little opportunity of moving forward and usually depending on their mothers for extra help weather it is taking care of the children, money, or even housing sometimes. That is not the only problem though things like single parenting usually has a domino effect that leads their children to do the same thing and most likely tis will lead their children’s children to do the same place and so on. I think our society should try to work things out or find someone capable to financially help them or the government should help out single-parents a little more.
3. What are examples of secularization in our nation? Do you think secularization is good or bad? Why? Is secularization even actually occurring? Why or why not? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. – OR – Provide examples of religion’s ability to promote significant social change. Can you envision a society without religion? What would it look like? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. Secularization is the historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred. An example of a way that secularization takes place in our nation is the way days that are usually sacred to our nation as religious days are now being replaced for things like football Sunday or just sports games in general another example would probably be the way that we have abortions now and back then that was not even thought of.
4. Some people argue that schools ought to teach students how to think critically as well as passing on important skills and knowledge. How well do you feel that U.S. schools presently provide this function? Is this ever likely to be a major function of schooling? Should it be? Discuss. This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph. – OR – Many Americans believe that access to a good education is all that is needed to overcome inequality in U.S. society. Do you agree? Why or why not? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph.
5. Many classroom teachers believe that, over the past few decades, the academic performance of most U.S. students has not merely declined but rather has virtually collapsed. What are some of the factors that may have contributed to this problem? How serious do you believe this problem to be? How would you attempt to fight it? This response should be a minimum of 2 solid paragraphs.

6. How has society positively shaped your health? Negatively? This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph.
7.Do you feel that the United States needs a system of national health care? Why or why not? If you had to design a national system of health care, how would you structure such a program? This response should be a minimum of 2 solid paragraphs.
8. What are the three most important changes that have occurred during your lifetime? What do you see as the most positive social change in your lifetime? The most negative? Explain your answers. This response should be a minimum of 1 solid paragraph.
9. What are some of the major problems of contemporary U.S. society? Do you find mass or class theory more useful in trying to understand the problems of contemporary U.S. society? Why? Do you think life in the United States is getting better or worse? Defend your position. This response should be a minimum of 2 solid paragraphs.