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Understanding the Relationship Between Everyday Life and Social Structure-Yunchaeeun

Understanding the Relationship Between Everyday Life and Social Structure 1. Summary In this class for the course Understanding Everyday Life and Social Structure , we examined the close relationship between the daily experiences of individuals and the larger social structures that surround them. Social structures refer to the organized patterns of relationships and institutions that shape society, such as families, schools, governments, and workplaces. These structures are not just external frameworks but actively influence how people behave, think, and interact on a daily basis. We discussed how social norms—unwritten rules about how to behave—guide our actions without us often being consciously aware of them. For example, simple acts like queuing in line, greeting someone politely, or respecting personal space are all governed by social norms that vary between cultures but maintain social order. Beyond norms, institutions create formal rules and roles that organize social life. S...
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Week 12 Reflection: Collaboration and Co-Creation — Understanding the Evolution of Wikipedia Articles Name：CHENYUNLIN This week, I gained a deeper understanding of how Wikipedia articles gradually develop into high-quality entries. In the past, I often viewed Wikipedia as just a tool for quick reference. But in reality, it's more like an evolving knowledge ecosystem. Wikipedia articles rarely begin as polished or complete. Most start as brief “stub” entries and, over time, are expanded and refined by numerous editors who contribute content, structure, and reliable citations. This growth process demonstrates the decentralized nature of knowledge production: no single editor-in-chief, no closed peer review—just the ongoing collaboration of thousands of volunteers worldwide. What impressed me most was the logic behind Wikipedia's article assessment system. Unlike traditional publishing, where quality is controlled by authors and reviewers, Wikipedia relies on community consensu...
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  Week 16 — Deepening My Wikipedia Editing Experience Name：CHENYUNLIN This semester’s work on Wikipedia editing has brought me more accumulation and reflection. Compared to the initial basic corrections, I am now more familiar with editing procedures and community guidelines, and I am more confident in taking on more challenging tasks such as expanding article content, adding diverse references, and participating in discussions on controversial pages. Once, I supplemented a sociology article with additional content, spending a lot of time searching for the latest research and supporting points with reliable academic sources. During this process, I deeply realized that choosing reliable sources is not just about citing them, but is key to ensuring the quality of an article. Feedback from community administrators reminded me to further improve citation formatting and avoid biased language, which made me place more importance on editorial rigor. Additionally, I noticed that Wikiped...
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  Week 15 | What I Learned from Editing Wikipedia Name：CHENYUNLIN How I Entered the World of Wikipedia Editing Before starting this project, I had never seriously thought about who writes the knowledge we read. Wikipedia has always been my go-to source for quick facts, but I rarely considered the structure and labor behind it. After participating in the editing process myself, I developed a completely new understanding of how knowledge is created. At first, I simply mimicked the article format. But as I dug deeper, I realized that editing wasn't just about formatting. Wikipedia’s principle of “neutrality” forced me to carefully examine every sentence for bias, emotional language, or unverified claims. I began to pay close attention to the way information was expressed. Sources Aren’t Just Something You Find Randomly Unlike regular school assignments, where copying from a source is often overlooked, this time I had to make sure every piece of information came from a reliable re...
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  Week 3 — Knowledge as a Public Good: The Philosophy Behind Wikipedia Name：CHENYUNLIN When we open Wikipedia to search for a term, it's easy to view it simply as a product of technology—millions of pages, countless users, vast servers and algorithmic systems. But in reality, what supports it isn’t just code; it’s a deep and enduring belief about knowledge itself: that knowledge is not a commodity, but a public good. The Ideal of Decentralization: Who Gets to Define “Authority”? Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Wikipedia is how it breaks from the traditional idea that knowledge must be controlled by experts. In conventional encyclopedias, only credentialed scholars are qualified to define facts. Wikipedia, however, adopts a decentralized model of collaboration: anyone who follows the rules can contribute. This openness not only lowers the barrier to participation, but also challenges the singular definition of authority. Behind this lies a fundamental rethinking of know...
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Week 14 Reflection: Wikipedia Talk Pages – The Overlooked Space of Collaboration Name：CHENYUNLIN Summary Most people using Wikipedia only focus on the main article content, rarely clicking on the “Talk Page.” However, this section is actually one of the most important collaboration mechanisms on Wikipedia. It’s not just a space for editors to express differing opinions—it's the core of Wikipedia’s “consensus culture.” Behind every article are often countless debates over wording, sources, and perspectives. The Talk Page records these arguments and shows how the community negotiates and follows shared policies like neutrality and verifiability. Interesting Insight At first, I thought “neutrality” simply depended on the tone of individual editors. But after reading several Talk Pages, I realized neutrality is something that’s negotiated through discussion. Especially on topics related to politics, history, or identity, contributors from different countries and cultural backgrou...
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Week 13 Reflection: What I Learned from a Day Without Modern Technology Name：CHENYUNLIN This week, I challenged myself to spend a whole day without using any modern technology. That means no smartphone, no computer, no internet, no electricity, no public transportation. It was an attempt to step back into a “pre-digital era.” I replaced my phone alarm with an old-fashioned mechanical clock and used pen and paper instead of typing. I walked instead of taking a taxi or subway, and used a paper map to find my way. Most of my day was spent reading, walking, and reflecting. Eating was the most challenging part — without a microwave or takeout, I had to cook simple meals by myself. The most profound experience was the feeling of slowing down. Usually, I feel busy, but much of that busyness comes from constant interruptions by phone notifications: replying to messages, scrolling through short videos, mindlessly checking social media. That day, life became slower, even a bit empty. But it ...
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