Charles Lemert Case

Charles Lemert argues that to navigate our way through the social world, we use "practical sociologies," that help us to make sense of social relationships and social structures and to figure out how to relate to them in our everyday lives. Begin the first draft of this paper by writing your practical sociology, discussing "words to live by" like mottos, song lyrics, sayings, etc. that you have used to help make sense of your life up to this point. Build upon this by reviewing the theories we have read in the course and identifying key concepts that are central to your view of the social world as you have come to understand it through the study of social theory. Integrate the practical and theoretical elements to write your sociology. Try to use at least five theories of more contemporary writers or you have not been tested on or asked to apply to in other assignments before. Formulate an argument about how you understand society and your place in it. You may develop a grand theory, a theory of everyday life, or an integrative theory, depending upon which makes most sense to you. How is your sociology useful in making sense of the social world? You might compare your sociology to the work of theorists who you find most relevant. The length of your paper should be around 3 or 4 pages single space. A clean copy of your "My Sociology" paper is due in class on Tuesday, December 12 between 10:45-1:15 pm in the Office of the Department of Sociology Roosevelt Room 200. Put it in the drop off box in Roosevelt 200.

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