1. Graduation rates vary from state to state in the United States. Based on the statistics for the two states you selected, identify at least one potential reason for this variance. 2. From a personal perspective, does the graduation rate in your state surprise you? Why or why not?

3. Auguste Comte, one of the founders of sociology, believed that society should be studied through science. He called this approach positivism. He also believed in social justice and making society better for all people.

Imagine that you are Auguste Comte observing the issue of high school dropout rates in the United States for the first time. What do you think he might say about this issue? Write your answer in the form of a paragraph that contains at least three complete sentences.