I am writing an essay for Sociology and I was wondering if this statement is true.

[darklide]

I am writing an essay for Sociology and I was wondering if this statement is true.

"Doug being class consciousness would help motivate him into attending university." Would this be considered class consciousness?

Now onto the grammar question my professor states, "Big Words, a Lot of Words: Some students believe that instructors are impressed by fancy words.
They are not! The trend nowadays is to use simple English. Two general rules apply here: (i) never use
a big word when a short one will do; and (ii) never use two words when one will do"

So does this mean we have permission to use contractions such as don't instead of do not.

Also I was wondering if this is good or bad.

I ran my essay through the Gunning Fog Index and got 14 is that bad or good? And a Flesch readability score of 44.
__________________

 

[Martimus]

"Doug being class consciousness would help motivate him into attending university." Would this be considered class consciousness?

My guess is no... class consciousness is referring to social class not college class. Example: Walking around skid row might help someone appreciate how comfortable their life is compared to those living in poverty (in the lowest social class).

Now onto the grammar question my professor states, "Big Words, a Lot of Words: Some students believe that instructors are impressed by fancy words.
They are not! The trend nowadays is to use simple English. Two general rules apply here: (i) never use
a big word when a short one will do; and (ii) never use two words when one will do"

So, in other words, don't crack open your thesaurus when responding to your instructors question.

So does this mean we have permission to use contractions such as don't instead of do not.

That's a definite maybe...

Also I was wondering if this is good or bad.

I ran my essay through the Gunning Fog Index and got 14 is that bad or good? And a Flesch readability score of 44.
__________________

According to the definition here

Gunning fog index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You should be aiming for a Gunning Fog index of 12. A score of 12 targets the reading level of a High School senior. 14 most likely targets the reading level of someone in college.

 

[darklide]

My guess is no... class consciousness is referring to social class not college class. Example: Walking around skid row might help someone appreciate how comfortable their life is compared to those living in poverty (in the lowest social class).



So, in other words, don't crack open your thesaurus when responding to your instructors question.



That's a definite maybe...



According to the definition here

Gunning fog index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You should be aiming for a Gunning Fog index of 12. A score of 12 targets the reading level of a High School senior. 14 most likely targets the reading level of someone in college.

Doug was pushed into university by society and because of this he is not enjoying his first year; this is an example of role distancing. The social forces that impacted Doug would likely have been his parents. His parents did not attend university, therefore, Doug would likely be pushed into getting a degree to help him achieve the lifestyle his parents don't have. Doug being class consciousness would help motivate him into attending university.

So in context does this statement make sense?

And if I am writing this for a college class would the level 14 be good?

 

[TxGoat]

Is it maybe the addition of the suffix "ness" and maybe adding a verb? The statement, "Doug being class consciousness would help motivate him into attending university." might also be aided by a comma, if my recollection of grammar is correct. Thus, I would write it out, "Doug thought being class conscious would help motivate him into attending a university." or "Doug, being class conscious, thought it would help motivate him into attending a university.".

But then again who knows, I mean it's only 5:00am here....

 

[Frisco]

On the first phrase, in addition to what TXGoat states, "Doug, being of class consciousness, would help motivate him into attending university" would also work (the addition of the word "of" along with the appropriate insertion of commas following "Doug" and "consciousness").

As to the verity of that statement, it seems to me that it would fit in a society such as Cuba or Russia, where a university education is considered an advancement in ones social "class."

 

[OfTheDamned]

As to the verity of that statement, it seems to me that it would fit in a society such as Cuba or Russia, where a university education is considered an advancement in ones social "class."

I don't know about that. Attending a good college and getting a degree here can change ones social status or "class" here don't you think? If someone was growing up in the projects and ended up going to college and becoming a heart surgeon wouldn't that also advance his/her social "class"?

 

[Frisco]

I don't know about that. Attending a good college and getting a degree here can change ones social status or "class" here don't you think? If someone was growing up in the projects and ended up going to college and becoming a heart surgeon wouldn't that also advance his/her social "class"?

That's true ^, but I'm referring to the Karl Marx inspired "class" junk. Not just him, but the whole socialist spiel of "working class," to them meaning non-educated, non-elitist, etc. Very outdated now but still used as I noticed in Russia as well as Cuba (last in Cuba in 86 though, and things are changing I understand).

When I looked at the OP I first was struck by that stuff, but the teacher may have been driving at an entirely different point.

 

[NYCHitman1]

Just out of curiosity, I tested AF for the Gunning Fog test: Gunning Fog Index 7.84

We're the equivalent of reading Reader's Digest lol

 

[lunatic59]

I don't know about that. Attending a good college and getting a degree here can change ones social status or "class" here don't you think? If someone was growing up in the projects and ended up going to college and becoming a heart surgeon wouldn't that also advance his/her social "class"?

It would be the prestige of the career choice and not the fact that the person attended college that would advance their social standing (aka 'class'). There are very few cultures anymore that view higher education the privilege of the upper classes, so attending a university wouldn't necessarily advance anyone's social standing any more than trading up from a Chevy Cavalier to a BMW 650i.

I would argue that it's not the attendance of a particular institution per se, but what a person does with the opportunities and education provided by that institution that would alter their place in society. Of course the easiest way to achieve a high social standing is to be born into the right family.

 

[OfTheDamned]

That's true ^, but I'm referring to the Karl Marx inspired "class" junk. Not just him, but the whole socialist spiel of "working class," to them meaning non-educated, non-elitist, etc. Very outdated now but still used as I noticed in Russia as well as Cuba (last in Cuba in 86 though, and things are changing I understand).

When I looked at the OP I first was struck by that stuff, but the teacher may have been driving at an entirely different point.

I figured that was what you were referring to and in today's university system I wouldn't put it past a professor to be teaching and/or directing his students towards socialist thinking.

It would be the prestige of the career choice and not the fact that the person attended college that would advance their social standing (aka 'class'). There are very few cultures anymore that view higher education the privilege of the upper classes, so attending a university wouldn't necessarily advance anyone's social standing any more than trading up from a Chevy Cavalier to a BMW 650i.

I would argue that it's not the attendance of a particular institution per se, but what a person does with the opportunities and education provided by that institution that would alter their place in society. Of course the easiest way to achieve a high social standing is to be born into the right family.

I can agree with part of this, it is always what you are willing or able to do that has an overall affect. While what you do with your education is the most important factor to changing your social standing or class, the name on the door of the university attended doesn't hurt things either. Someone going to Southern Technical College of such and such might be able to do great things, but the guys that graduated from Harvard, Yale or Stanford already have a head start simply because of the name involved. The fact that attendees of such universities can rub elbows with those of a higher social standing could also lend to changing their own long before graduation or the start of a new career as well. Joining the right sorority or frat can do wonders for someone's social standing while attending college. In a case like this going back to the old saying of it isn't what you know, but who you know really does apply. Simply showing up won't do anything, but things that can occur while attending might.

 

[lunatic59]

I can agree with part of this, it is always what you are willing or able to do that has an overall affect. While what you do with your education is the most important factor to changing your social standing or class, the name on the door of the university attended doesn't hurt things either. Someone going to Southern Technical College of such and such might be able to do great things, but the guys that graduated from Harvard, Yale or Stanford already have a head start simply because of the name involved. The fact that attendees of such universities can rub elbows with those of a higher social standing could also lend to changing their own long before graduation or the start of a new career as well. Joining the right sorority or frat can do wonders for someone's social standing while attending college. In a case like this going back to the old saying of it isn't what you know, but who you know really does apply. Simply showing up won't do anything, but things that can occur while attending might.

Yes indeed. Going back to the OP's original premise that class consciousness is a motivator to attend a university, without specifying that university, it's not a reasonable assumption. If you can agree that the most prestigious schools like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Oxford, etc. are also the most costly to attend, then you can assume that those with the means to attend them are already of a higher social standing. It would then be reasonable to assume that attending those particular schools would be more desirable if social advancement were a deciding factor. If Doug (the OP's hypothetical undergraduate) were seriously considering Southern Technical College alongside Harvard, then it could be taken that class status was not a motivator in his case.

I'd say we simply do not have enough information in this case to say one way or the other.

 

[OfTheDamned]

Yes indeed. Going back to the OP's original premise that class consciousness is a motivator to attend a university, without specifying that university, it's not a reasonable assumption. If you can agree that the most prestigious schools like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Oxford, etc. are also the most costly to attend, then you can assume that those with the means to attend them are already of a higher social standing. It would then be reasonable to assume that attending those particular schools would be more desirable if social advancement were a deciding factor. If Doug (the OP's hypothetical undergraduate) were seriously considering Southern Technical College alongside Harvard, then it could be taken that class status was not a motivator in his case.

I'd say we simply do not have enough information in this case to say one way or the other.

I see what you are saying and I also agree that there isn't enough information to go on to really agree or disagree.

 

[argedion]

Where one goes can be a factor in their Social Status. When one talks about "Class Conscience" then are you speaking of a particular class or considering all class's? It's real easy to say something in the lines of :

Doug's relationships with the "Socialites of his School, Harvard" helps keep him class conscience and there for he refrains from dressing like he did before he came to the school.

Blue collar vs White collar is only a difference in the opportunities given to one.

If "Doug" was raised in a poverty level area, his father was not there (dead, ran off, in prison, ya da yada) There are siblings to support his opportunitys can be hindered for the sacrifices he has to make to help his mother support the family. Has to go to community college at night after working all day

VS

Doug was raised by his Mom and Dad who always helped him with his homework and helped him to understand how to do things. They enrolled him in summer camps where he really learned to be sociable. His parents have saved up money ever since he was small for college and with his Scholarships he is able to go to Harvard.

And it could be that Doug started at a community college and worked his way to Harvard do to other opportunities that life graced his way.

Some people in the projects have no other way and some are fortunate enough to be given opportunities that others don't have. Some of us are capable of multitasking and some of us are better doing one thing at a time.
We are all different and the circumstances you are in help determine what outcomes you have. Sometimes though someone is fortunate enough to defy all the odds.

The problem with our society today is we put to much emphasis on "Social Class" an not enough on actual intelligence. "Man is equal" is bull Man is determined by the class he is in. The sad thing is that Stereotyping comes in and adds a whole new level to a class

 

[Adam C]

On the first phrase, in addition to what TXGoat states, "Doug, being of class consciousness, would help motivate him into attending university" would also work (the addition of the word "of" along with the appropriate insertion of commas following "Doug" and "consciousness").

As to the verity of that statement, it seems to me that it would fit in a society such as Cuba or Russia, where a university education is considered an advancement in ones social "class."

I was going to say something similar. The addition of the word "of" definitely works. Whether or not the statement is true would depend on the country and cultural norms in that country.

This is exactly why I love studying sociology so much! There are so many different groups of people who all act differently in similar situations.