Exam #1 Essay Questions
ESSAY QUESTIONS: Here is the study guide for your essay questions for exam #1. Of these five, I will select three and you will pick two of those three selected to write on. It is important that you support all your answers with course material, films watched and readings if possible when preparing your essays.
1. Explain the technological, social, political, and economic conditions under which sociology first emerged as a scientific discipline. Remember to discuss where Sociology emerged, when it emerged and why it emerged. Remember to discuss Comte, tradition versus science, the revolutions, economic shifts, etc).
2 What is the "sociological imagination" or sociological perspective? What is meant when sociologists say that the sociological imagination helps us grasp the relationship between "history" and "biography" within society? Remember to include the contributions of Mills (troubles, issues, biography, history, etc) and Charon (What is freedom? How can the sociological perspective help us answer such a question?)
3 What is Theory? Briefly discuss the main elements of the five sociological theories- Structural Functionalism, Conflict theory, Symbolic Interactionism, postmodernism, and Feminist theory. What contributions does each theory make to the study of social behavior? What are the major characteristics of each theory? Give examples to support your answer.
4. Summarize Marx's argument regarding the workings of the social world. What key concepts did he utilize? What did Gramsci add? Modern times?
5. What is culture? Discuss why culture provides a taken-for-granted orientation to life and explain how this relates to ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Use the articles by Harris and the Fernea's to support.
Exam #2 Essay Questions
ESSAY QUESTIONS: Here is the study guide for your essay questions for exam #2. Of these five, I will select three and you will pick two of those three selected to write on. It is important that you support all your answers with course material, films watched and readings if possible when preparing your essays.
1. Sociologists use the works of Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead and Ervin Goffman to explain the theories and ideas relating to socialization and symbolic interactionism. Explain the main ideas behind their theories as they relate to the development of the self.
2. Sociology contends that society is socially constructed and social behaviors and attitudes, to a large extent, have to do with the individual as a social being and a product of his or her environment. Use the concept of "the social construction of reality" to explain the above. How does the social construction of reality apply to gender? Remember to discuss the subjective and objective elements of "reality." Make sure you understand the connection between microsociology and macrosociology.
3. As discussed in the course and in articles, the media is one socialization agent that is influential in shaping us. The mass media promotes the values, norms, and practices of our democracy. Based on the articles and films on media, what can be said about the information the public gets to see?
4. Conformity in society plays an important role in keeping things in order. However, sociologists have noted that conformity, as a group process, can also produce some consistent results. What does the Ash study inform us about our behavior in groups? What did the Milgram study conclude about our response to authority?
5. What is deviance? When explaining deviance, Sociological theories on deviance differ from those proposed by other studies. How is the sociological explanation different? What are some examples of theories used in sociology to explain deviance?
Final Exam Essay Questions
FINAL EXAM ESSAY QUESTIONS: Here is the study sheet for your essay questions on the final. Of these six, I will select four and you will pick three of those four selected to write on. When preparing your answers, make sure you support all your answers with course material, films and readings.
1. When discussing class inequality and poverty in the U.S., we looked at the wide gap between the wealthy and the rest of society. What are some general conclusions we can make about the characteristics of the division? Who are the poor? Give support to back up your statements.
2. In an effort to explain the existing stratification system and poverty, Sociology utilizes two theoretical perspectives. What are these two theories and how do they explain social stratification and class inequality?
3. While discussing race and racial inequality, I stressed that it is important to distinguish between several elements or concepts of race. What is the difference between race and ethnicity? What the difference between prejudice and discrimination? How is race a socially constructed idea?
4. When discussing racial groups and racial inequality, what is the sociological significance of categorizing groups into dominant and minority groups?
5. When discussing gender inequality and work, I emphasized that the employment experiences of men and women differ greatly in terms of societal expectations and job types and tasks. What are some useful sociological concepts that explain these different experiences and gender discrimination in the workplace? After accounting for educational attainment, occupation and other factors, what can be said about gender inequality and income?
