Social+and+cultural+continuity+and+change

=SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTINUITY AND CHANGE=

Introduction
There are nine key concepts that we have to study in Society and Culture:
 * persons
 * society
 * culture
 * time
 * environment
 * power
 * authority
 * technology

These key concepts will return again and again in every topic we do in the course. The definitions are in your workbook (see below).

Class workbook
During the whole of first term, you will be using the Society and Culture 2011 booklet. You have already received a copy of this workbook. If you lose it, you can download it by clicking on the following link: [|wiki_CORE_HSC_2011_COMPLETE[1.docx]]

The key concepts
Once you have completed your workbook, the questions listed below will help you to learn and to practice answering typical HSC questions. The first question of the trial and the HSC exam usually refers to one or two of the key concepts, for example,
 * Question One (one mark): Define the key concept of culture.
 * Question Two (one mark): Define the key concept of environment.
 * Question Three (four marks): How do the concepts of culture and environment interact?

Here are some examples of how Question Three could be answered. These were produced by former students at this college. [|SAMPLE ANSWERS TO KEY CONCEPT QUESTIONS.docx]

Lessons
The following is a summary of what we will study in class in the first few weeks: Remember in this subject everything we study in the Preliminary course is relevant to the HSC course:
 * In the first week of classes we will study the term socialisation. Socialisation is an important concept in Society and Culture. It does not mean hanging around with friends having a good time. In Society and Culture this term means **the process by which we grow and develop and learn to become members of society, by internalising the norms and values of society, and learning to perform social roles.** The first agent of socialisation is the family. As the individual grows and matures other social institutions impact on the process of socialisation, institutions such as the media, education and religion. To further explore this concept we will study the ideas of an important sociologist called Erik Erikson. He theorised that the key to maturity was the abilty to make appropriate life decisions. In week one we will watch the classic 1950s film //Rebel Without a Cause//. This film is based on research into delinquent teenagers in the USA. It is interesting to watch this movie in the light of Erikson's theories of teenage behaviour when confronted with important decisons.
 * In week two we will continue to study Erikson's theories on teenage development. We will compare Erikson's theories to the theories of psychologist Jean Piaget. Piaget theorised that from the age of twelve onwards an individual was capable of "thinking about one's thoughts" (Donelly et al 2008 p45). He called this introspection. The teen film //Ferris Bueller's Day Off// is a cult film based three teenagers truanting.. We will watch this film in week two.
 * In week three we will watch the final teen film. //The Breakfast Club// expands both the theories of Erikson and Piaget//.// __On Wednesday 2nd March you will sit for your first Preliminary assessment task. It is worth **20%** of your total Preliminary mark.__ You may consider other teen movies for this assessment task. //Ferris Bueller's Day Off// and //Juno// are appropriate when studying the theories of Erikson and Piaget. Following the asessment task we will study Genie's story. Genie was a so called feral child. She was denied all the normal agents of socialisation until she was thirteen years old. Genie is therefore an interesting case study in the understanding of socialisation. She was denied the usual rites of passage most people associate with growing up in a Western society. If the processes of socialisation has been successful an individual becomes both socially and cultrally literate. We will study the concept of social and cultural literacy in week three.
 * In week four we will begin to concentrate on the nine key concepts of Society and Culture. We will begin with Persons, Society, Culture and Technology. Begin to learn the definitions of these four concepts.We will put these concepts into context by studying tribal societies. The first tribe we will study is the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradash in Northern India. The second tribe we will study is the Babonga tribe of Gabon in Central Africa.
 * In week five I will show you documentaries of other tribal societies. These societies will help you understand the concepts of Time, Environment, Gender, Power and Authority. You need to choose one of these for your second Preliminary assessment task. You cannot use the Adi tribe or the Babonga tribe for your assessment task.
 * __In week six you will present your project on a tribal society. The task is clearly descibed in your workbook. The task is worth **40%** of your Preliminary course and the project is due on Wednesday 23rd March. There is a 5% deduction for each day the project is late. You will now be famiiar with the nine key concepts of Society and Culture. You are also familiar with research methodologies. Key terms and concepts and methodologies will be assessed on Wednesday 28th April.__ __This task is valued at **40%.**__