Theoretical Perspectives
Part A: Theoretical Perspectives
Three paradigms have come to dominate sociological thinking, because they provide useful explanations: Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. In this section, you will explain the focus or perspective of each sociological paradigm as it relates to Deviance and Crime; Gender; Religion. Use or cite the readings from Week 5-9 to support your answers.
Citation for textbook pages if needed: OpenStax College (2014). Introduction to Sociology.
(2nd Ed.). OpenStax College.
For each section on theoretical Perspectives (Deviance and Crime; Gender; Religion):
- Explain each sociological paradigm separately.
- Compare and contrast the similarities and differences in their explanations.
Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance and Crime
A. Functionalist
B. Conflict
C. Symbolic
Theoretical Perspectives on Religion
A. Functionalist
B. Conflict
C. Symbolic
Part B: Analytical – 6
Short Answer Questions (Provide a minimum of 2 in-text citations or evidence from the readings to support each answer.)
Instructions
Label each answer with the question number.
Do not cite or discuss literature that is not listed on the syllabus.
1) In the “It’s Hard Out Here if You’re a Black Felon” article, Williams et al. examine the challenges Black males experience post-incarceration.
2) In the “Social Causes of Health and Health Problems” chapter, Barkan presents evidence on the fundamental causes of health inequalities.
3) In the “Millennials and the New Marriage” chapter, Willoughby examines how Millennials approach to marriage differs from previous generations.
4) In the “The Long Friday” chapter, Perez explore how society and data gaps lead to gender inequality in society.
5) In “The Sociology of Elites” article, Khan provides evidence on how the elites control or have access to five significant resources.
6) In their “Seeking Shelter from the Strom” chapter, Wennersten and Robbins describes six principal drivers of climate refugee populations.
Part C: Contemporary Social Facts
In this section, you will use your sociological imagination to conduct an analysis of contemporary social facts. Social facts are things such as institutions, norms and values which exist external to the individual and constrain the individual. Social facts can also be viewed as laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals, and all of the cultural rules that govern social life. In section, you will be provided with 3 statements from real life events or observations in society.
For each statement, you will:
- Identify the social facts in the statement.
- Describe what social group is affected by the social facts.
- Use your social imagination to explain how and why society created this social fact and the ways in which it affects a specific group.
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