We transform the natural world into a social one by carving out of it mental chunks we then treat as if they were discrete, totally detached from their surroundings.”
(EviatarZerubavel, The Fine Line, 1991: 5)

Students must come to class with a 2-3 page essay that contains each of the following:
(1)    First, students must interpret the quote above from sociologist EviatarZerubavel. What does this quotation mean? What are “mental chunks”? How are they treated “as if they were detached from their surroundings”? Why does Zerubavel believe it is important to pay attention to how “we transform the natural world into a social one”?  What do we learn, or gain, by paying attention to this process? [thisshould be at least 1 page long]
(2)    Second, students must go to one specific place and observe the patterning of social behavior there for at least one hour. Students must describe the patterning of social behavior of that place by drawing attention to the “mental chunks” that shape the behavior observed. Students must list at least two patterns of behavior observed and then reflect upon the “mental chunks” that shape that behavior. Students should pay attention to any behavior that contradicts, disrupts, or deviates from this pattern. [this should be at least 2 pages long]

This writing assignment is worth 5% of your total grade for the course.
The first part of this assignment is worth 2 points in total. Students will receive 2 points if they:
a.    demonstrate a clear understanding of the passage from Zerubavel [1 point]
b.    clarify this understanding in their own words [1 point]

The second part of this writing is worth 3 points in total. Students will receive 3 points if they:
a.    describe the place chosen and clarify two patterns of behavior observed [1 point]
b.    develop an explanation for that behavior that draws upon Zerubavel’s ideas of the creation of “mental chunks” [1 point]
c.    explain what might happen if the social pattern of behavior was disrupted and why it would happen (or alternatively, explain what actually happened when the social pattern of behavior was disrupted and why) [1  point]