Sociological Imagination Essay examples -- Sociology

To understand the term `Sociological Imagination', it is important to identify what Sociology is and what do sociologists study. It is also vital to look at the three basic concerns of the sociological imagination or perspective, which include Social Structure, Social Institutions and Social Processes. Moreover, it is necessary to understand what C. Wright Mills means when he mentions "the personal troubles of milieu" and "the public issues of social structure", and how it helps us to understand the society in which we live in. What is `Sociological Imagination'? To answer this question a person must first know what Sociology is. Sargent (1994) states that "There is no short answer... however, we can come to understand the nature of Sociology." It may be explained as the study of society. R.Van Kraken et all (2000) explains it in a more complex sense as "the description and analysis of the social forces that shape human behavior in contemporary social life." Sociological imagination is central to the study of society because it allows many of the perso...

Modern Society and Breakfasts

Breakfast is identified as the most important meal of the day. It is also the meal which people often skip despite having health benefits such as helping in weight management, better energy and concentration, as well as better problem-solving skills (The Importance of Breakfast). From context, the word breakfast means breaking the fasting which lasted throughout the sleep. People prefer different meals for breakfast. Some go for cereals; some go for bread, some for rice, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausages etc.Whatever kind of breakfast a person eats, as a habit, it is still related to a certain culture but modern culture has resulted in breakfast being neglected. From the data gathered from an interview, the Western style breakfast consists mostly one or more of the following: pancakes or waffles, cereals, bread, eggs, bacon, ham, sausages with milk, coffee, juice or tea. The interviewees said that they usually have breakfast as a family before but changing times resulted in not having to eat breakfast with other family members.Some can still manage to eat with their family. Many now prepare their own breakfast and treat it as an individual activity. Due to a fast-paced life especially in the city, many people no longer have breakfast at home. They usually get breakfast on their way to work or school. In a modern society, people consider breakfast as an individual affair and very few people regard breakfast as a ritual, thus, family members have breakfast at different times. Many people have also been known to skip breakfast (Prevos, 2004).The importance of eating breakfast cannot be denied. I study indicated that children who ate breakfast showed better performance in school. They have better test scores, have better behaviour and are less hyperactive (Jegtvig, 2008). Breakfast in an important meal but modern cultural influences have resulted in breakfast becoming an individual activity instead of being a group activity like it was considered before. More and mor e people are also skipping breakfast. Interviews: Person 1 †¢ Eats pancakes, waffles or cereals, milk, fruit juice for breakfast.†¢ Breakfast is a group activity with family members †¢ Pancakes and waffles go with maple syrup with milk or fruit juice for drinks. Eats breakfasts with family since all family members go to work or school early Person 2 †¢ Eats eggs, cereal, bacon, ham, rice, milk or coffee for breakfast. †¢ Breakfast is an individual activity. Family members wake up at different times but breakfast is served by mother. †¢ Sometimes have breakfast on the way to work. Person 3 †¢ Eats toasted bread, eggs, sausages, fruit juice or coffee for breakfast.†¢ Breakfast is an individual activity. †¢ Cooks own breakfasts or have breakfast on the way to work. Person 4 †¢ Does not eat breakfast. References Jegtvig, S. 20 August 2008. Eating Healthy Food Aids Learning. About. com. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://nutrition. ab out. com/od/ nutritionforchildren/a/dietandlearning. htm Prevos, P. 15 August 2004. Breakfast and Culture. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://prevos. net/ola/breakfast. pdf The Importance of Breakfast. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http://www. bellybytes. com/articles/breakfast2. shtml

Peacock Facts (Pavo sp. and Afropavo sp.)

Peacocks are birds known for their showy plumage and piercing calls. While both males and females are often called peacocks, really only the male is the peacock. The female is a peahen, while the young are peachicks. Collectively, they are properly known as peafowl. Fast Facts: Peacock Scientific Name: Pavo cristatus; Pavo muticus; Afropavo congensisCommon Names: Peacock, Indian peacock, blue peafowl, green peafowl, Java peafowl, African peacock, Congo peafowl, mbuluBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 3.0-7.5 feetWeight: 6-13 poundsLifespan: 15-20 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Forests of India, Southeast Asia, and Congo Basin of AfricaPopulation: ThousandsConservation Status: Least Concern to Endangered (depending on species) Species Peafowl belong to the pheasant family (Phasianidae). The three genera are Pavo cristatus, the Indian or blue peacock; Pavo muticus, the Java or green peafowl; and Afropavo congensis, the African peafowl or mbulu. There are also subspecies of green peafowl. The male green peafowl and female Indian peafowl can mate to produce a fertile hybrid called a spalding. Description Peacocks are easily identified by their fan-like crest of feathers and long train of colorful eye-spot feathers. Male birds have spurs on their legs which they use for territorial disputes with other males. While peahens have a feathered crest, they lack the elaborate train. Both males and females have iridescent feathers. Actually, the feathers are brown, but crystalline structures produce vibrant blue, green, and gold colors by the scattering and interference of light. The body of the blue peacock appears blue, while the body of the green peacock appears green. The African peacock is a darker blue-green and brown. Chicks bear cryptic coloring in shades of tan and brown that help them blend in with their environment. Both males and females are large birds, but males are about twice the length of females because of their feather train. On average, adults range from three to over seven feet from beak to tail tip. They weigh between six and thirteen pounds. African or Congo peafowl have shorter trains the green or blue peafowl. Stan Osolinski, Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Originally, the Indian peacock came from the Indian subcontinent. Now it is widely distributed across South Asia. Green peafowl live in Southeast Asia, including China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Java. The African peacock is native to the Congo Basin. The three peafowl species do not naturally overlap ranges. All three species prefer forested habitats. Diet and Behavior Like other pheasants, peafowl are omnivorous, basically eating anything that fits in their beaks. They eat fruits, insects, crops, garden plants, seeds, insects, small mammals, and small reptiles. At night, peacocks fly to tree branches to roost in family units. Reproduction and Offspring The breeding season is variable and depends largely on rain. Males fan their feathers to attract a mate. A female may select a mate based on several factors, which include the visual display, its low-frequency vibration (picked up by the females crest feathers), or the males call. A blue peacock has a harem of two to three peahens, while green and African peafowl tend to be monogamous. After mating, the female scrapes a shallow nest in the ground and lays between four and eight buff-colored eggs. She incubates the eggs, which hatch after 28 days. Only the female cares for the chicks, which follow her around or may be carried on her back when she flies to roost. Peafowl reach sexual maturity at two to three years of age. In the wild, they live between 15 and 20 years, but they may live 30 years in captivity. Green peahen with chicks. Ronald Leunis / EyeEm, Getty Images Conservation Status Peafowl conservation status depends on species. The IUCN classifies the conservation status of the Indian peacock as least concern. The bird enjoys wide distribution across Southeast Asia, with a wild population over 100,000. The IUCN lists the Congo peafowl as vulnerable and decreasing in population. In 2016, the number of mature birds was estimated to range between 2,500 and 10,000. The green peafowl is endangered. Fewer than 20,000 mature birds remain in the wild, with a decreasing population. Threats Peacocks face numerous threats, including habitat loss and degradation, hunting, poaching and predation. Green peacocks are further endangered by introduction of hybrid birds into wild populations. Peafowl and Humans Blue peacocks are agricultural pests in some regions. Peafowl readily breed in captivity. They are most often kept for the beauty and their feathers and sometimes for meat. Peacock feathers are collected after the male molts each year. While peafowl are affectionate toward their owners, they can be aggressive toward strangers. Sources BirdLife International 2016. Afropavo congensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679430A92814166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679430A92814166.enBirdLife International 2016. Pavo cristatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679435A92814454. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679435A92814454.enBirdLife International 2018. Pavo muticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679440A131749282. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679440A131749282.enGrimmett, R.; Inskipp, C.; Inskipp, T. Birds of India: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Princeton University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-691-04910-6.  Johnsgard, P.A. The Pheasants of the World: Biology and Natural History. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 374, 1999. ISBN 1-56098-839-8.