My experience in sociology this semester was unique to say the least. This was the first sociology class I had taken and honestly, I didn't really know what to expect. From day one, I discovered a deep interest in the thoughts and ideas associated with the study of sociology. In this specific course, the main concepts we discussed were race and ethnic relations. The first chapter we discussed this semester focused on the general diversity that exists in the United States. In this unit, we learned what exactly a minority group is and the visible distinctive features that set people apart. In the second chapter of this course, the main topics we covered were assimilation and pluralism. We discussed the distinctive patterns and variations of assimilation and pluralism as well as the difference between these two theories. In chapter three, we began to discuss the ideas behind prejudice and discrimination. We talked about hate crimes, the main causes and trends of bias, and why it has persisted over time. In chapter four, we focused primarily on the development of dominant-minority relations in pre-industrial America. Throughout this chapter, we have examined the origins of slavery in the United States, contact status, paternalistic relationships, and dimensions of minority group status. This semester on contemporary race and ethnic relations has not only provided me with a vast amount of knowledge that will be useful to me for the future, but it has also allowed me to understand things that I might never have thought of previously. Learning more about society and how people evolved and treated each other throughout history was extremely interesting. I always had my o...... middle of paper...... acism became a direct result of this process. Coming into this class, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought I knew just about everything I needed to know about society and social relationships, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I have always had my own personal thoughts on how people in society treat each other, but after taking this course it allowed me to broaden my opinions based on the facts that have happened. products throughout history. The knowledge I gained about minority groups, assimilation, discrimination, and the origins of slavery will be something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This semester on contemporary race and ethnic relations has not only provided me with a great deal of knowledge that will be useful to me in the future, but it has also allowed me to understand things that I might never have thought of previously..