MHCHS

I am going to start updating this Blog regurarly, for all my Sociology classes at Mill Hill County. There will be articles posted on here which are connected with the topics you are studying, or just connected to Sociology in general. I will also post questions that you can think about, and, from time to time, may set homework through the blog. I hope you will find it useful and thought provoking!

General Election 2010

Well, the general election has been announced (6th May for those of you living under a stone...) and you don't need me (or maybe you do...) to tell you that this is VERY important to sociologists. The political party who is in power has an enormous impact on social policy, and therefore on the work we do as sociologists. Everything, from education to poverty, from social mobility and crime and deviance- it's all decided and influenced by politicians and these are areas which the politicians from the various parties are going to be debating over the next month or so.

As you watch the coverage of the election, as you read newspaper reports and hear interviews on the radio, start to make connections between what you hear/read/see, and the things you study in sociology. Start to think about how you might link what the politicians are saying to what you know about what certain sociologists say.... as well as thinking carefully about what YOU think of the issues being discussed. Some of you might be too young to vote, but some of you won't and you should be thinking about for whom your vote will be cast!

Think I'm getting the hang of this now...

Who's your favourite Sociologist?
I have a soft spot for Bourdieu (cultural capital? makes so much sense....) but I also get star struck when I meet Sociologists who study Education (like Heidi Mirza) at the Institute of Education...they're Sociological Celebrities!

Is Durkheim your man? Mad about Marx? Think Cohen is cool? Let me know!

(and yes, I am aware that being a 'fan' of a Sociologist makes me seem very nerdy, but hey, I am a Sociology teacher....)

Thinking point....

Why do we do Sociology?
What can Sociology contribute to society? Social policy?
How do other people view Sociology? Why do you think this is? Use the comment box below to post your thoughts!
It would be particuarly interesting to know how people who study Psychology and Politics view Sociology as a discipline...

My first blog

Hello all! This is my first ever blog entry.

Below are some useful Sociology sites which I think all good Sociology students should be checking reguarly...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society- the Society Guardian page is a great place to find articles about all sorts of sociological issues.

http://www.sociology.org.uk/- a good site with revision activities and plenty of summary notes which you might find useful if you want reminding of anything you've covered.

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/index.aspx- The Economic and Social Research Council gives money and support to researchers in the Social Sciences. It also has information on Social Science events happening in London (like speakers etc), stuff on Social Science careers and summaries of research which has just been carried out. A great site for keen Sociologists!

Look out for additions to this list soon....