This document provides an introduction to a sociology course taught by Professor Ray Brannon. It outlines Brannon's background including having six kids and five grandchildren. It encourages students to think critically about sociological issues and how their personal histories shape and are shaped by society. The document discusses changing sociological paradigms and paradigm shifts, referring to how new evidence can destroy older theories and replace them with new theories.

1. Introduction to Sociology
Ray Brannon

2. A little about myself…
six kids and five grandchildren

3. A long time ago in a distant galaxy ……I began to program with IBM cards on
very big computers that didn’t have the power of your smart phone.

4. Retired President & CEO of
Choice Technologies

5. The Mid Ray Brannon, Ph.D. candidate
www.inspectyourgadgets.com

7. • Your picture please!
• Pick two class contacts
• OMG – this syllabus is long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

8. Did You Know?
We Are a Piece of the Social Puzzle
The good news……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1NJ9Vv-Y6Q

9. Trapped!!
Psycho –Social Interweave
• Personal destinies are linked to societal structures
• Blinding pace of change
• What problem in society bothers you?

10. The Challenge:
To become a critical thinker on sociologic
issues because …..
your personal history matters!!

11. • Locating yourself in the period in
which you live- how you are shaped
by society and how you can shape
society
• Link history and biography – three
generations
• My grandfather, father, me, son,
grandson

12. Changing Sociological Paradigms
Your date of manufacture is not
important!

13. What is Epistemology?
What is a Paradigm?

14. Paradigm Shift:
The destruction an old theory by new facts and its
replacement as a new theory that fits the new facts.
Thomas Kuhn

15. What is a Paradigm Shift?

18. Baloney Detection Kit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJmRbSX8Rqo