Connecting students’ lives and previous experiences to lessons is always a great way to capture attention. “The Sociology of Bubbles” by Bruce G. Carruthers (Contexts, Summer 2009) explains the sociology of the economic meltdown, a topic that will surely be of interest to many students.
Here are some potential questions that you could use with article:
1) Do you have any experience with the finance system in the U.S. (e.g., the stock market, school loans)? Has your experience been positive or negative? If you have no experience, how do you think you will in the future?
2) Has the economic recession changed your views of the financial system in this country? What consequences of the recession have you seen in your own life?
3) Why do you think so many people invest in the stock market or borrow from banks when the risks are so high? What do you think this says about our culture?
4) The author writes that economic inequality in this country is at levels not seen since the Great Depression. Based on what you learned from this article and your own knowledge, what are the social repercussions of such high economic inequality?
Comments 2
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Mario — October 28, 2015
Ahh, supporting my sinafiicngt other in his career quest. Mostly I just sit back, pay the bills, and let him build up his business. I guess I am lucky in that balance seems to be finding itself. I go to work and do my job and learn new things while I'm there, and then I go home and spend time with Chris, and on the weekends I get to see other people too. Maybe if I worked at a place where I was pushed to do more, stay later, work harder, etc., I'd have a harder time with the balancing act.In a way, though, my investment in a career *is* one of my investments into my family. If I didn't feel fulfilled in my work, if I didn't have a paycheck to help support us, how could I really give of myself to my family?