Critique

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Critique

Chapter 3 of the book The Real World by Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein is designed specifically for the classroom context since it concentrates on the viewpoint that learners are most concerned about-their fellow students. Nearly all the chapters are dedicated to using daily events, ordinary activities, and fashionable culture to motivate students into thinking using sociological principles. The introductory sections of the chapter started with the best way to study culture. Ferris and Stein (2014) argued that it was imperative to attempt to apply cultural relativism when studying any group. This section of the chapter was effectively structured. It contained the necessary introduction that ushered in eth readers and gave them a brief summary of what to expect in the paper. A specific case is the definition of culture, as the “entire way of life for a group of people” was elaborate and self-explanatory (Ferris and Stein 7). Through the chapter, many other definitions were included to explain technical terminology. The usage of simple vocabulary and short arguments allowed the reader to understand the concepts.

In terms of structure and layout, chapter 3 was organized using a precise top-down approach. The chapter commenced with a section on “How to read this chapter” which guided the readers on the best way to gain the most from the chapter. After this, the chapter moved it the basic definition of culture. The definitions ushered in specific phenomena within culture including ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. The variation is chapter structure was kept to a minimum. After discussion on ethnocentrism, the chapter reverted to addressing other aspects of cultural variations in relationships and in the future. The use of real-life examples when discussing topics was a useful inclusion. College students and scholars regularly need to perceive the relationship between theory and practice. All the major principles were accompanied by ordinary examples from the school and home setting that could be understood by the college level students. The chapters of the book were arranged in an appealing way. The graphic design in chapter 3 used color themes extensively. Apart from color themes, the authors also included various other supplementary instruments including tables, pie charts, quote sections, and sidebars to highlight arguments, and theories. Since the chapter was discussing about social elements and sociology, the authors made liberal sue of illustrations and pictures. These illustrations improved the understanding of the issues being discussed. They also captured the attention of the students.

The presentation of the main arguments and real-life examples within chapter 3 flowed relatively easily. Ferris and Stein (2014) designed the chapter to communicate the key ideas of cultural components and change. Therefore, in their discussions, both authors addressed a large number of topics but concluded by bringing back the discussion to show its relationship with culture. Examples of topics covered included the role played by technology, social media, education, and religion in shaping culture. IN conclusion, chapter 3 of the publication The Real World covered the fundamentals of culture in an elaborate yet comprehensible way. It was also highly relevant as it contained numerous examples using the latest trends in social media, fashion, film, and education. It is a useful inclusion to the study list for students at the middle school and college level as it is easy to understand, has many illustrations and related readings that can make learning about culture interesting.

Works Cited

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Ferris, Kerry, and Jill Stein. The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2014. Print.

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