Internet Exercises

Erving Goffman's exploration of total institutions offers a sociological perspective of daily life inside prisons, the military, mental hospitals, and convents. Review the list of four common traits shared by all total institutions on page 90 of your text. Then, log onto the Cybrary of the Holocaust. Spend time learning about the Holocaust in general, and life in concentration camps in particular, utilizing the video, photographs, stories, and research links on the site.

What story or image had the greatest impact on you? Why? What new facts did you learn through your online visit?
Reflecting on Goffman's ideas, identify how Nazi-run concentration camps qualify as total institutions. What occurred during the degradation ceremony that prisoners were exposed to upon entering the camps?
What/who was the authority in the camps under which all aspects of life were conducted?
In what specific ways were the activities of prisoners monitored by others?
What was the daily routine of prisoners? What control, if any, did they have over their own lives?
What were the main purposes of these camps, and how were prisoners forced to fulfill those purposes?
Has looking at the Holocaust through a sociological lens changed the way you view this time in history?How so?

Your text offers insight into day care around the world (see page 97), an issue that becomes more important as economic and family roles continue to change. The decision to send a child to day care, and then the effort to find a good day care center, are often difficult for parents. Practice Verstehen by pretending that you are a parent trying to select a day care center that is best for your child. Log onto http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Children/Child_Care/Centers_and_Preschools/ for a list of day care centers. Choose three from the list and link to their sites. For each day care center, answer the following:

What services are offered?
What training, education, or experience do the teachers and staff have?
How long has the center been in operation?
What age group does the center serve?
How much does it cost? Could you afford this?
What are the hours of operation? Do these hours fit into your work and school schedule?
What philosophy or goals guide the center's activities? In your estimation, what kinds of social lessons (socialization) would a child attending that school be exposed to?
What impressed you most about the day care center? What would you like to see changed, if anything?
Which of the three day care centers would you choose for your child and why?

For many people, the mass media have become a powerful agent of socialization-shaping views on government, family, and social issues. To understand how the media are used for political socialization, visit The :30 Second Candidate, a PBS and Wisconsin Public Television website based on a documentary (http://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/front.html).

Examine the timeline offered. Which president was the first seen on TV? What was the "Checkers" speech? What role did television play in the debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon in 1960? What other important milestones show the connection between the media and politics?
Click on "From Idea to Ad." Who was Rosser Reeves and what contributions did he make to media and politics? Define and discuss each of the stages used in making a political ad. What surprised you most about the stages used in this process?
The website offers visitors the opportunity to make political ads, either for or against a candidate, by clicking on the "Tricks of the Trade" section. How do the "for" ads differ from the "against" ads? How do changes and editing of sounds, images, and music alter the themes and content of an ad?
In your opinion, what impact has television had on the political campaign process over the years?

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