Interview Analysis

My participant is a Political Sciences major studying in the are of pre-law. His reason for choosing college as a career path is because it offers "more money and it makes it easier to get a job". Currently a sophmore, he is striving to graduate within 4 years.  After the 4 years he will attend law school but is not sure exactally where yet. His ideal career would be a lawyer. A specific area in which he wants to practice law is still undertermined.

Asian Lesbian Struggles

An "invisible" minority is a minority that is not generally noticed or is not that common. Someone who looks white and "americanized" but has a European accent could be considered an "invisible" minority because they only sound like a minority, not by looks. "Sticking to your own kind" means associating yourself with people who are similar to you, by looks, gender, or race. I think people do this to feel comfortable with themselves. If you are around people who look and sound like you, you will not feel weird about your looks or sound. I don't think I tone down any aspect of my identity. I think that because I am "american enough" to feel comfortable in society because I blend in so well to the majority. If I had a weird accent I think I would either find friends that had the same acccent or try to lose it in order to fit in. Just because I don't hide my identity doesn't necessarially mean I wouldn't if I stood out somehow.

"Adopting the Principle of Pro-Feminism"

By socialization and the way that society works I have unintentionally adopted some sexist ways of thinking. However, I am for equal rights of women, some ways of thinking about "inferiorority" of women have affected me. For example thinking that men are better at certain sports that women, or the common sterotype that men are stronger mentally and physcially. I do agree that men are stronger physically than women, but that is based on my thought that biologically that is generally true. On the otherhand I think that men and women have an equal base for mental toughness. I don't know how to change this notion of women because I base a lot of my beliefs and ideas on rational thought and reason. Scientifically, men are phycially more able than women, but in no way shape or form do I think that women are "incapable" or "inferior" to men.

Paraphrasing Activity

Studends tend to overuse quotations. When direct quatations are overused in a research paper, it can be problematic. Only "10% of the [paper] should be acutal direct quotations". Cutting down on direct quotes should be a goal while taking notes. (Lester 45-47)

Child Trafficking in Cambodia

I have learned about child trafficking beofore but I have never read something like Laura's paper. She gives lots of information that deems her as a crediable writer. I find this to be a very upsetting and horrible topic, but reguardless it still needs to be researched. The statistics that she gave were really shocking. They way parents sell their children for money and as a means to survive is very sad.

Reflection on Reading a Research Article

I learned a lot about how to break down an article to get the most information out it. The methods we used in class gave me a good idea on what questions are important when looking into an article or journal. This was benificial doing this as a group rather than doing as a lecture style lesson or on my own.

Summary Practice

This passage is about whether not popular musicians make 'art' or if it is a fad. The author attempts to dertermine the difference between 'serious' and 'popular' music. Serious music is 'explained by social conditions determining its production and subsequent consumption we are dismissed as philistines'. Moreover, popular music is 'taken to be good only for sociological theory'. The main point is to 'uncover the social forces concealed in the talk of "trancendent" values'.