LESSON PLAN 2.

TERMS, CONCEPTS AND THEIR USE IN SOCIOLOGY

The content in this lesson plan is taken from the 11th standard NCERT textbook, Introducing
Sociology and from chapter 2, Terms, Concepts and their Use in Sociology. In this lesson
plan I will introduce and discuss the concept of various types of groups found in the society. I
will also outline various characteristics of different groups with the illustration of examples
within the context of the learners so that they are able to construct their own understanding of
the concepts and have better clarity and consolidation of the content.

OBJECTIVES

The learners would be able to;

- Have a comprehensive understanding of the content

- Become proficient in using sociological terms and concepts while speaking and
writing.

- Develop perspectives and see the social reality around them.

TOOLS/AIDS

I would be using PowerPoint presentation and visual aid to explain the content.

The pupil teacher would briefly give a recap of the content explained in the previous class
and how the concepts we would be learning today would help us in building sociological
perspectives. As they are the entryways to understand the social reality that surrounds us. I
would also mention that these concepts and terms are not water-tight compartments or fixed
entities because society itself is a very dynamic entity which keeps on changing even when
we do not feel the change.

From here the pupil teacher will focus on the aspect of society being a dynamic and ever-
changing entity. The society in which we live in presently has undergone so many changes
and developmental phases to become the society it is right now. To consolidate the point
made, a brief illustration of how society is undergone through various developmental phases
and social changes. For instance, we learn in smaller standards how the society in its initial
phase was a primitive society where we had hunting-gathering societies which gradually
transitioned into agrarian societies which gradually transitioned into industrial society which
transitioned into the modern society we live in. There are two important points to be made
through this illustration that through out the various phases or various societies human groups
and collectivities existed and different types of collectivities have existed in different
societies.

The pupil teacher would initiate the discussion regarding how the learners would define
society around them as? And ask them to give examples of various groups or collectivities
that they think are the constituents of a society. Then I would give them two examples of
groups- people standing in a queue to enter a zoo and family as group and would ask them
can these two be called a social group? And further question them what really makes a group
social? Here I would also bring in the significance of how sociological knowledge is not
common-sense knowledge because a layman would say that the people standing in a queue
constitute a group but whereas a sociologist would say that these two groups are two different
kind of groups with varying level of interaction, belonging-ness, common and shared
attributes and structure.

From here the pupil teacher will start explaining and discussing the various kinds of groups
found in society what makes a group social? There are three types of groups in a society;

- AGGREGATE
- QUASI GROUP
- SOCIAL GROUP

AGGREGATE

They can be understood as combination of people who happened to be together at the same
time and in the same place, but they do not interact with each other nor share connections to
each other. Example – the people standing in a queue, the cinema audience, people stuck in a
traffic jam, crowd watching a cricket match etc. All these individuals happen to be together in
the same place, at the same time and they do not share any common attributes, who interact
with each other in the most superficial way.
QUASI GROUP

This group can be understood as a collection of individuals who are grouped together on the
basis of having at least one common attribute but otherwise do not necessarily interact. The
members of this group are either less aware or not aware of their existence as a group and this
group lacks structure or organisation. Examples of such kind of groups can be; women as a
quasi-group. Where we can put women all around the globe into a single group on the basis
of their biological sex as a common attribute even though the members of the group do not
interact with each other. Another example can be of an age group, for instance when we
consider toddlers as a group i.e. babies from the age of 0-3 years, we can put them into a
single group on the basis of age as a common attribute, same goes for teenagers as another
example of quasi group based on age. Racial categories like Asians can be another example
where the common attribute would be race.

SOCIAL GROUP

This group can be understood as a group of individuals who share continuously interact with
each other, share common interests, culture, values, and norms, there is a sense of belonging.
The defining feature of social group is that the members of this group use the self-referent
pronoun “we” using it to refer to their own collective as a group. Examples of social groups
include: families, companies, circles of friends, clubs, local chapters of fraternities and
sororities, and local religious congregations.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOCIAL GROUP

-Persistent and stable pattern of interaction to provide continuity;

- A sense of belonging, to identify with the members and being conscious to the group’s
norms, rules, rituals etc;

- Have a shared interest;

- Acceptance of common norms and values;

Let’s discuss an example of social group in a little elaboration. When we take family as an
example of a social group. We can say that we have close and intimate bond with our family
members and we continuously face-to-face interact with them. We as a member of this social
group are conscious of the rules, rituals and beliefs our families hold in terms of religion and
culture etc. Also, as we are born into this group (family) we accept and follow its norms and
values and share a common identity with them. In rare cases, it is difficult to imagine any of
us living totally alone. Even people who live by themselves still interact with family
members, co-workers, and friends and to this extent still have several group memberships.

Lastly, I would conclude that we as individuals at certain points of time are part of certain
types of groups and within these certain groups, we as its members behave differently in
different groups.

ACTIVITY

To identity and give examples of various groups that they encounter every day and justify as
to what type of group it is.

ASSESSMENT

To make a concept map of the terms learnt in class based on your own understanding.