Reaction Paper II Prompt

This paper is an opportunity to establish a relationship between three major sources of institutional inequality: education, the media, and the economy. It will also encourage you to draw personal connections to social issues through your sociological imaginations!

Write your papers using one-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12-point font. The entire paper should be at least 5-6 pages in length (it may be even longer). REMEMBER TO UPLOAD YOUR PAPER AS A WORD DOCUMENT ONLY! Make sure to complete all four steps of this assignment:

Step I:

Click on the link below to watch a twenty-minute TED TALK video called “Jimmy Wales: The Birth of Wikipedia.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/jimmy_wales_on_the_birth_of_wikipedia?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tedspread (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Then, address the following questions (feel free to number your responses but I prefer you write them in paragraphs with complete sentences).

1. Who owns Wikipedia?
2. What is the goal of the Wikimedia Foundation?
3. Who writes the content$WIKI_REFERENCE$/pages/ for Wikipedia? How much money do they make? Who is in charge of Wikipedia, and how much money does it take to run Wikipedia?
4. What is the free licensing model and why is it revolutionary?
5. Why does Jimmy Wales state that Wikipedia is more popular than the New York Times website? Why do YOU think Wikipedia is more popular than the New York Times website?
6. What is a quality test? Who is responsible for one?
7. What does “vandalism” on Wikipedia look like? How is vandalism handled? Who might (and why) someone vandalize a Wikipedia page?
8. What is a “neutral point of view policy” and why is it important for Wikipedia?
9. Why is Google essential for Wikipedia?
10. Why would professors encourage the use of Wikipedia? Why might they discourage it?
11. Why do you use Wikipedia (BE HONEST!)? If you have never used it before, why not?
12. According to Jimmy Wales, what is the next big think in education? Why is his idea important, especially given the textbook’s concerns regarding education, the media, and the economy?

Step II:

Next, log onto www.wikipedia.org (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and type “social problems” into the search engine.

Then, address the following questions regarding the “social problems” page (feel free to number your responses but I prefer you write them in paragraphs with complete sentences):

1. What are the “multiple issues” currently with this particular Wikipedia page (what needs help/fixing)?
2. Why does the page use the term “issue” rather than “problem”?
3. What are the main “generic types” of social issues listed on the page? What do you notice about the social issues listed? Spend some time scrolling through them.
4. Choose one of the “generic types” of social issues to click on. What did you choose, what additional information were you able to learn from the page, and where did the additional links for that particular social issue take you? How do you trust that the information you are reading is accurate?
5. Near the bottom of the page, there is a link under “See Also” for “Social Problems.” Click on this link.
   1. Spend some time perusing this site. It is for the journal called Social Problems. In a few sentences, discuss the journal’s purpose, relationship to Sociology, and importance for students.
6. Near the bottom of the page, there is a link under “See Also” for “The Society for the Study of Social Problems.” Click on this link.
   1. Spend some time perusing this site. It is for an organization called SSSP. What are the particulars of the organization (what is it for, who is responsible for it, why does it exist), its relationship to Sociology, and its importance for students?
7. How might you benefit from using this Wikipedia page on social problems for our class?

Step III:

Click on the link below to watch a twelve-minute TED TALK video called “Sajay Samuel: How College Loans Exploit Students for Profit.”

https://www.ted.com/talks/sajay_samuel_how_college_loans_exploit_students_for_profit?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tedspread (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Then, address the following questions (feel free to number your responses but I prefer you write them in paragraphs with complete sentences).

1. Samuel frames his talk around three key points. Identify each key point, and discuss in a few sentences the particulars of each point.
2. What is Dr. Samuel’s solution for combating student loan exploitation for profit? What are the three main particulars of his solution?
3. Do you agree or disagree with his proposed solution (and why)?

Step IV:

This final step helps to connect the dots from steps I, II, and III. Again, address the following questions (feel free to number your responses but I prefer you write them in paragraphs with complete sentences).

1. Why are you currently attending El Camino College (be completely honest with your answer!)? What are your future educational plans? What are your intentions in terms of a career, and why do you want to have it? How much money do you expect/want to make with your career?
2. What is your position on establishing a policy that provides free community college tuition to anyone in the United States? Discuss the costs and benefits of such a policy.
3. TED Talks and Wikipedia are part of the institution we call “Media.” What is the importance of the media in today’s society, and how do resources like TED Talk videos and Wikipedia pages relate to C. Wright Mills’ concept of the Sociological Imagination? What might he say about Wikipedia? What might he say about TED Talks? And finally, what might he say about offering free college tuition, free books, and providing ubiquitous access to knowledge?