Study Questions: Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Sociology – Spring 2014 Prof. Paul Burke Study Questions - Introductory Materials
1) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised & Venezuela Articles
a. According to the video, how significant a role did the mass media play during the political crisis in Venezuela in 2002? What role did social class appear to play in determining the political loyalties of Venezuelans? b. According to Medea Benjamin, why did Hugo Chavez win a landslide reelection victory in 2004? According to Gregory Wilpert, what have been the major achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution after twelve years in power, and what have been their major shortcomings? Based on these materials, why do you think U.S. leaders have had such a negative view of Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarians? If you were an advisor to President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, how would you suggest that the U.S. deal with the government of Venezuela?
2) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Where Do We Go from Here?" & Citizen King
a. Addressing the question of "where are we now?" from the perspective of African Americans in 1968, Dr. King discusses a curious formula (p. 1) which determined the relationship between whites and blacks in the United States? What was this formula, what are its historical origins, and what specific examples does King discuss? b. To answer the question of "where do we go from here,” Dr. King laid out five concrete goals (beginning on p. 2) that he believed Blacks in the U.S. must achieve. What are these five goals? c. According to Dr. King, what were the triple evils (p. 7) that plagued American society, and how could they be overcome? d. In your view, how far has America progressed in eradicating the triple evils in the four decades since Dr. King’s tragic assassination? e. Based on this article and the video Citizen King, how is the real Dr. King different from the image most Americans are familiar with? How can we explain the gap between
1) The Revolution Will Not Be Televised & Venezuela Articles
a. According to the video, how significant a role did the mass media play during the political crisis in Venezuela in 2002? What role did social class appear to play in determining the political loyalties of Venezuelans? b. According to Medea Benjamin, why did Hugo Chavez win a landslide reelection victory in 2004? According to Gregory Wilpert, what have been the major achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution after twelve years in power, and what have been their major shortcomings? Based on these materials, why do you think U.S. leaders have had such a negative view of Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarians? If you were an advisor to President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, how would you suggest that the U.S. deal with the government of Venezuela?
2) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Where Do We Go from Here?" & Citizen King
a. Addressing the question of "where are we now?" from the perspective of African Americans in 1968, Dr. King discusses a curious formula (p. 1) which determined the relationship between whites and blacks in the United States? What was this formula, what are its historical origins, and what specific examples does King discuss? b. To answer the question of "where do we go from here,” Dr. King laid out five concrete goals (beginning on p. 2) that he believed Blacks in the U.S. must achieve. What are these five goals? c. According to Dr. King, what were the triple evils (p. 7) that plagued American society, and how could they be overcome? d. In your view, how far has America progressed in eradicating the triple evils in the four decades since Dr. King’s tragic assassination? e. Based on this article and the video Citizen King, how is the real Dr. King different from the image most Americans are familiar with? How can we explain the gap between