SOCIOLOGY 2000: WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1:
VALUES, CULTURE AND SOCIALIZATION AT THE MALL
Fall 2014
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Go to Crossroads Mall on Westnedge Ave. in Portage in your small group. Take along a
notebook and a copy of the twenty American values listed in your textbook.
2. In general, the group should keep a low profile. Try to make your observations without being
obvious. For example, wait until you are outside a store before you openly discuss a task.
3. Assign one person to write down information for each question throughout the exercise. To
remain inconspicuous, this individual should stay outside of stores. When the other group
members exit the store, they should relay their information to the person recording it. Discuss
your observations and answers to the questions as a group.
4. Those who enter stores should not ask salespeople for help. Respond "I'm just going to look
around" if they ask if they can help you.
5. When you finish your observations at the mall, make a photocopy of the group's notes for
each member. Make sure the names and I.D. numbers of all group members are included on
these photocopies.
6. Discuss your observations with the other members of the group.
7. Each group member must write a 3-5 page (double-spaced) individual paper
summarizing their findings and answering the questions below. You can answer each
question separately or integrate your answers into an essay narrative.
8. Turn in your paper and photocopied group notes in class on TUESDAY, OCT. 7. The
paper is worth a total of 50 points.
9. Your grade will be based on how well you relate course material on values, culture and
socialization to what you see at the mall; answer each question as completely as you can.
10. If you have any questions or problems, please talk to me.
A. VALUES AT THE MALL
1. What examples of the value of romantic love can you find? (3 pts.)
2. What value(s) does the GNC store represent? (3 pts.)
3. What examples of the value of youngness can you identify? (3 pts.)
4. What would be the three most important values in American society based on what you see
in the mall? Why? (5 pts.)
5. What would be the three least important values in American society based on what you see in
the mall? Why? (5 pts.)
B. CULTURE AT THE MALL
6. What are the most common types of symbols used in the mall? (4 pts.)
7. What evidence can you find about U.S. cultural diversity? (4 pts.)
8. What norms and folkways govern how people behave in the mall? Did you observe any
violations of norms or folkways? What types? (4 pts.)
9. What subcultures or countercultures are represented in the mall? (4 pts.)
C. SOCIALIZATION AT THE MALL
10. What values and norms is the typical female teenager being socialized into by the mall? (5
pts.)
11. What values and norms is the typical male teenager being socialized into by the mall? (5
pts.)
12. What are the characteristics of the people shown in advertisements in the mall (such as in
clothing departments, shoe stores, etc.)? What would the "ideal" man and the "ideal" woman be
like, according to these images? (5 pts.)
GOOD LUCK!
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