The Essential Sociologist

Beth Hess, Peter Stein, and Susan Farrell's "The Essential Sociologist: An Introduction" is an introductory text that combines sound pedagogy with the latest developments in sociological research and current orientations in the field of sociology. The major features include: Readability - Hess et al have developed a highly readable text with a fresh, informal writing style that will engage and sustain student interest with its student-friendly tone. Coverage of race, class, and gender integrated throughout the text. Every chapter analyzes similarities and differences generated by issues of gender, race, and social class in the United States and globally as well as their impact on all aspects of social life; A global outlook - this book offers rich comparative material for exploring the social diversity of the world - from small, traditional societies to large, developing, and industrialized societies; Empirical coverage - it features the latest research findings in sociology from the leading sociology journals and the latest statistical data available. The text helps students learn how to do research and interpret what the research shows. It also includes: Theoretical coverage - it focuses on the three major theoretical frameworks while also including new directions in social theory, such as humanist sociology, feminist sociology, rational choice theory, and postmodern thought. It offers other benefits to instructors and students. The text offers its own comprehensive Website. A free Student Resource Study Guide is downloadable from the Website. Additionally, 10-15 Websites are listed in the text for each of the 16 chapters. Many are interactive as well as scholarly and research oriented. These sites lead students to cutting-edge research in sociology as well as government sites packed with statistics and data on subjects in each chapter. Boxed case studies expand concepts and themes with the most recent research and up-to-date applications. Cross-referencing clearly links boxes to the text. Photo captions pose stimulating critical-thinking questions that integrate text and illustrations. A comprehensive Instructor's Manual/Testing Program, available on disk or as bound hard copy, is provided.

ISBN 1891487493   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9781891487491 (What's this?)   Pages 471 Publisher Oxford University Press   Volumes 1 Imprint Roxbury Publishing Co   Weight (grammes) 748 Format Paperback   Published in Los Angeles Publication date 01 Mar 2001   Height (mm) 248 Library of Congress HM586.H47   Width (mm) 178 DEWEY 301   Academic level Tertiary education

Part I. Foundations of Society 1. What is Sociology and How Do You Do It? The Scope of the Field and This Book What Do Sociologists Know and When Did They Learn It? The 'Big Three' of Classical Sociology How Do Sociologists Know What It Means? Contemporary Social Theory Why and How Do Sociologists Do Sociology? 2. How Is Society Possible? Culture and Social Structure Culture Social Structure Formal Organizations 3. Becoming Social: Conformity and Deviance Socialization The Social Self Other Views on Self Development Deviance and Social Control Explaining Deviance 4. Sexualities: How Many? Sexual identities and Scripts Reproduction, Sexuality, and the Law Homosexualities: The Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Experiences Part II. Structures of Inequality 5. When Some Are More Equal Than Others: Social Stratification Principles of Social Stratification Inequality in the United States 6. The American Mosaic: Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Minorities What Is a Minority Group? The Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity Coming to America Models of Americanization Processes of Inclusion and Exclusion The Enduring Significance of Race and Ethnicity Religious Minorities 7. Drawing Distinctions: Gendered Inequality What Is Gender? Becoming Gendered Systems of Gendered Inequality Gendered Worlds Winds of Change Part III. The Institutional Order 8. Mating and Marrying: Contemporary Families Family Systems Across Space and Time Mate Selection in Modern Society The Modern American Family Family and Household Diversity in Contemporary America 9. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Economic Factors The Nature of Economic Systems The American Labor Movement The Corporate World 10. Who Rules? Power, Politics, and the Military Power Defined Historical Trends Civil Liberties Political Participation Political Socialization The Structure of Political Power Democratic Dilemmas The Military 11. Multiple Choices: Educational Systems Public Education: Ideals and Realities Schools and Stratification Structural Features of the American Education System Questions of Quality and Equity 12. Believing and Belonging: Religious Institutions Theoretical Perspectives The Structure of Belief Varieties of the Religious Experience Across Time and Place Belonging and Believing in Twenty-First Century America Contemporary Trends The New Religious Movements 13. Crimes and Punishments: The Criminal Justice System Criminals The Police The Courts Life Behind Bars: Prisons and Jails 14. A Sound Mind in a Sound Body: Health, Illness, and the Delivery of Care Patterns of Health and Illness The Development of the American Health Care System The American Hospital Models of Health Care Delivery Part IV. Modern Dilemmas 15. Demography as Destiny: Populations and Their Environments World population: Six Billion and Counting Population Dynamics Population Pyramids Human Activity and the Environment Environmental Concerns Internal Migration in the United States: From Farm to City and Back 16. 2001.com: Technology and Social Change in a Global System Processes of Social Change Theories of Social Change Master Trends: Modernization and Globalization Social Movements and Social Change 2001.com: Here Already

"In writing style alone, this [text] is head and shoulders above its competition. I find myself drawn into reading more and more of this book." - Jon E. Iannitti, SUNY Morrisville College "This text takes one step further than most introductory sociology textbooks by challenging the status quo. More importantly, it does so in plain English." - Michelle Newton, Averett College "The humor in the book is refreshing. The theory section is one of the most timely that I have seen in many texts. Also, the research methods section is one of the clearest I have ever read." - Mark A. Winton, University of Central Florida

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