$(this).click(function(){})

and 

$(this).click(sam())

function sam() {}

using the second one if i want to give it the text string "ginger" as a variable i would do this

var text = "ginger";

How would i do this when using the first method of calling a function?

UPDATE

the second example does not work if i try to pass in any variables, it has to be 
$(this).click(sam);

not
$(this).click(sam(variable))
or 

$(this).click(sam())

so my question is now how do i pass a variable to a function with both methods