American Society

This text invites student to pursue a career in sociology, entices others to consider advanced courses in sociology, and yet serves those who will take but one sociology course. Intended as a basic text for the Introduction to Sociology course, this book is also designed for the course in American Society. Throughout, every effort is made to present sociology's struggles to understand how society works and to supply the knowledge needed to run it better. Concepts are explained as they are introduced and are used and reused until students have a sense of mastery over the subject matter. The text presents sociology as both an academic and applied discipline. It stresses the challenges of relating sociological knowledge to policymaking and provides case studies on how professionals solve (or do not solve) problems. By involving students in policy issues, the text sharpens analytical skills and predisposes students toward asking questions and avoiding easy answers