Introduction To Sociology Caap 1 Instructions1 Answer Two Critical T ✓ Solved
Introduction to Sociology CAAP #1 Instructions 1. Answer two critical thinking questions from below. Each question must be from a different module. Each response should be two pages, so four pages total. If it is a little longer, that is fine.
Be sure to apply terms/concept(s) from the readings, and/or the slide presentations. The assignment is called Critical Analysis APPLICATION Paper; therefore, you should apply and connect terms/concepts from the course. 2. Use at least two direct quotes with citations ( ASA style ) per response to support your points. In your discussion, you may relate the topics to your personal lives, current events, and/or slide presentations.
Write one response, then the next, then include your reference page. It is all one paper, but the discussions are separate. No late work is accepted. You must upload the entire paper as ONE attachment file under ASSIGNMENTS in the online classroom. The attachment must be Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, PDF, or Word Pad (RTF) format.
I cannot open Mac files (Pages), so you will have to convert it. Turnitin will check for plagiarism, so DO NOT COPY FROM THE INTERNET OR OTHER SOURCES! 3. Papers must be typed. Use a standard 12 size font in either: Tahoma, Times New Roman, Courier New, Calibri, or Arial.
The paper must be double spaced with one-inch margins. 4. Put your heading (name and such) in the header of the paper – you do not need a cover page . Put page numbers at the footer of the paper. Before each response, write the Module section and number of the prompt you are answering.
5. Be sure to reference the author you directly quoted, even if it is from the textbook or slides. You should have a page at the very end called “Referencesâ€. You only need one reference page. Wikipedia and Dictionary.com are not academic sources – you do not need to use them.
The only sources you need for this assignment are your class notes, slides, textbook, and class reader. Follow the American Sociological Association format for in-text citations and the reference page. You can do an Internet search for “ASA style guideâ€. You only need to use ASA style for quotes, citations, and the reference page. 6.
When writing formally, avoid using contractions (can’t, don’t, won’t). Use the full versions (can not, do not, will not). Do not use slang such as “coolâ€. Spell out smaller numbers (twenty instead of 20). Do not end sentences in prepositions (with, for, by, along, in, out).
7. Make sure you break your work up into paragraphs. Do not submit one long paragraph for each response. 8. Note: some of the prompts are more straightforward then others.
Regardless of what prompts you select, you should apply and incorporate course material (what you are learning) in your answers. You can always tell more than what the prompt is asking for – again, the point of the assignment is to apply what you are learning. Prompts Module 1 1. Briefly describe your favorite character from literature, television, or film. Using your sociological imagination, explain some of the problems that character had/has from a sociological perspective.
Be sure that you clearly define and identify "the sociological perspective" and "the sociological imagination." Be careful not to give a detailed summary of the character – stick to the sociology! 2. Imagine you wanted to study child poverty from a micro, meso, and macro level. For each of the three levels of analysis, describe what question or questions you might ask to learn more about child poverty and why that level of analysis is appropriate for your question. 3.
Explain how social units, social structures, and social institutions are related. Using examples from your own life, illustrate the interconnectedness of these concepts. 4. Consider the social problem of homelessness in the United States. What questions might someone from anthropology ask about homelessness?
What about someone from economics? Political science? Psychology? Sociology? Which of these disciplines do you think could best help find a solution for homelessness and why?
Module 2 1. Compare and contrast two different research methods. For each method, explain what you would choose to study if you could examine anything about political participation among 18-24 year olds, and why that method is appropriate for what you are choosing to research. 2. Describe one of the five theoretical perspectives mentioned.
Further, explain the critiques of that perspective. Do those critiques make the perspective useless? Why or why not? 3. You have been asked to conduct a study entitled “The effect of television watching on the grades of college freshmen.†What theoretical perspective will you use to guide your study and why?
Explain at least two hypotheses you have about the effect of TV on grades. Describe the method you will use to conduct your study and explain why that method is most appropriate. 4. Imagine you wanted to study the United States military from a functionalist, symbolic interactionist and conflict perspective. What research question will you ask from a functionalist perspective about the military?
Why is the functionalist perspective appropriate for this question? What research question will you ask from a symbolic interactionist perspective about the military? Why is the symbolic interactionist perspective appropriate for this question? What research question will you ask from a conflict perspective about the military? Why is the conflict perspective appropriate for this question?
5. In the late 1960’s, Laud Humphries conducted a study called “The Tearoom Tradeâ€. Humphries posed as a “watch queen†(a man who guards the doors of restrooms in public parks so that men can have sex with other men inside). Humphries then wrote down the license plate numbers of the men who had sex with other men, then looked up their addresses, then disguised his appearance and went to their homes to interview them a year later. Humphries discovered that, contrary to popular opinion, many of the men were actually married to women and living otherwise quiet, middle class lives.
Today, this study is considered unethical. In light of what you learned about research ethics, what ethical principles does this study violate? Do you personally feel the benefits of the study (it destroyed many stereotypes) outweighed the risks? Module 3 1. We detailed how societies transform and highlighted the five types of societies that have existed during human existence.
Describe each of these five societies in detail, paying specific attention to the primary characteristics of each type of society. In your essay, you should also highlight the cultural changes that occur to move societies from one type to the next. 2. Globalization is a widespread cultural phenomenon in many nations. Describe globalization, paying specific attention to how it emerged.
You should also illustrate how globalization is contributing to the creation of a global culture. Finally, you should offer one argument in favor of globalization and one argument against globalization that relate specifically to how globalization affects national cultures. 3. How are the four forms of non-material culture used to reinforce the culture of the society? Make sure to describe each of the forms while also detailing how they are used to maintain unity and order within a culture.
4. How might we understand culture differently if we study it as a Symbolic Interactionist, a Structural Functionalist, or a Conflict Theorist? In your discussion of this question, you should pay attention to the main assumptions of the three theories and how they translate into the study of culture. What beneficial knowledge can we gain by studying culture through each of these three lenses? Module 4 1.
Mead discussed the concept of the “I†and the “me†as the two parts of the self. Explain each of the two parts. How are the two related? Further, imagine that as you are driving home from the exam today, a car cuts you off and you very nearly get into a car accident. How would your “I†react toward the other driver?
Why? How would your “me†react toward the other driver? Why? 2. Explain Mead’s three stages in the development of the self.
Imagine you were working at an elementary school. How would you know a child was still in the first stage? How would you be aware that he or she is in the second stage? Use examples of actual behaviors the children might engage in during each stage to provide support for your explanations. 3.
Thinking about your own socialization process, who were your primary agents of socialization? (Be sure to consider micro, meso, and macro influences.) How have your primary agents of socialization changed across your life course? 4. How does social class influence the way a child is socialized? Why might it be beneficial for children to be socialized according to their family’s social class? Why might it be harmful?
ASA Style (Source: Cal State LA) Quotes and Citations · If author’s name is in the text, follow it with the publication year and page number or PowerPoint slide number in parentheses: When Chu (1977:16) studied… · If the author’s name is not in the text, enclose the last name, year, and page number in parentheses: When the study was completed… (Jones 1994:72). · If the page number is to be included, it follows the year of publication after a colon, with no space between the colon and the page number: …as reported by Chavez (1966:16). · For three authors, give all last names in the first citation in the text. Afterwards use the first name and “et al.†For more than three names, use the first author’s last name plus “et al.†Examples as follow: Three authors, first in-text citation = (Smith, Garcia and Lee 1954:10) Three authors, later in-text citations = (Smith et al.
1954:17) More than three authors = (Snow et al. 1999:154) · THIS IS THE PREFERRED METHOD . Quotations in the text must begin and end with quotation marks. The citation follows the end-quote mark and precedes the period, as follows: “In the late 1990s, reported data shows that technologically oriented jobs paid better†(Hildenbrand 1999:47). References · References follow the text and endnotes in a separate section headed "References." · All references cited in the text must be listed and vice-versa. · Remember: Like all other parts of the paper, references should be double-spaced. · List references in alphabetical order by author’s last names. · Use hanging indention (see examples below).
This is when the first line of an entry is at the margin and the following lines are indented. · Invert the author’s name (type it last name first). If there are two or more authors, invert only the first author’s name. · Arrange multiple items by the same author in order by year of publication, earliest year first. · Use six hyphens and a period (------.) in place of the name(s) for repeated authorship. · Distinguish works by the same author in the same year by adding letters (e.g. 1993a, 1993b, 1993c). · Use italics for book and periodical titles (underline if italics are not available). · If no date is available use "N.d." in place of the date. · Include both city and state for place of publication (except for New York) using U.S. · Postal Code abbreviations.
For foreign cities provide the name of the country. Reference Entry Examples: (Do not skip lines between reference entries.) Chapters, Books, Articles: Holley, Polly D. and Devin E. Wright, Jr. 2006. "A Sociology of Rib Joints." Pp.
46-53 in McDonaldization: The Reader , edited by George Ritzer. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. PowerPoint files: Ballantine, Jeanne H. and Keith A. Roberts. 2018.
“Topic.†Pp. 1 – 25 in Class Name , edited by Peter A. Aguilera. City, CA: Your College Name. Retrieved June 9, 2019 ( Note: the names are dependent on the authors of the main textbook.
My slides are always based off of textbook material with additions from my own work. For the year, put the year our class is taking place. Retrieved date is the actual date you got the file. You quote and cite the slides would go: “Quote†(Name and Name Year:#). The # is the slide number.
You treat a slide number like a page number. Web Resources: Spalter-Roth, Roberta and William Erskine. 2016. “Race and Ethnicity in the Sociology Pipeline.†Washington, DC: American Sociological Association. Retrieved January 9, 2017 ( Class Lecture: Aguilera, Peter A.
2019. “Topic.†Presented at Your College Name, Month Day, City, CA. For the above example, be sure to customize the topic, college, date, and location. A quote from me would go: “Quote†(Aguilera 2018).
Paper for above instructions
Student Name
Course Title
Instructor Name
Date
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Module 1 - Question 1: Sociological Imagination and a Fictional Character
One of my favorite characters from literature is Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Gatsby symbolizes the American Dream and embodies the struggles associated with achieving it. He is a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties in the hopes of rekindling his past love with Daisy Buchanan, who represents the ultimate attainment of his desires. Using my sociological imagination, which C. Wright Mills describes as the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces (Mills 1967), I can analyze Gatsby’s problems from multiple sociological perspectives.
Gatsby's predicament reflects broader societal issues, such as class stratification and the illusion of the American Dream. His wealth is obtained through questionable means, and despite his riches, he remains an outsider, unable to penetrate the upper echelon of society represented by Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband. This aspect illustrates the social structure and how access to social capital, familial ties, and established networks compound the difficulties of upward mobility (Wilson 2012). The distinction between the "old money" of the Buchanans and Gatsby's "new money" illustrates the rigid boundaries of social class. As noted by Veblen (1899:50), such boundaries not only create barriers but also foster feelings of exclusion and inadequacy among those striving for belonging in an elite group.
Moreover, Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of Daisy epitomizes the concept of “looking-glass self,” as he bases his self-worth on how he perceives others view him (Cooley 1902). His lavish displays and parties reflect his desire for social acceptance, revealing a disconnection between his internal self and external realities. Instead of finding happiness through genuine relationships, he is trapped in a façade built on materialism and illusion. This highlights how societal expectations and definitions of success can lead to profound alienation and personal tragedy.
In contemporary society, we see similar patterns where individuals, influenced by media portrayals of success and happiness, chase after wealth and stature at the expense of genuine connections. Recognizing these pressures can help us discuss the importance of authentic identities in navigating societal expectations. As Mills (1967) emphasizes, applying the sociological imagination allows us to identify the influence of broader societal structures on personal choices and behaviors. Gatsby’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of equating self-worth with societal validation and material success.
Module 2 - Question 2: Research Methods in Political Participation
Exploring the topic of political participation among individuals aged 18-24, one might consider utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods, each suited to uncover different facets of the issue.
Qualitative Method
One potential qualitative research method is conducting in-depth interviews with participants. The focus of these interviews would be to understand their motivations, barriers to participation, and personal experiences with politics. Questions such as "What factors influence your decision to vote or not vote?" and "How do social media platforms affect your perception of political engagement?" would be integral. This method is appropriate as it allows participants to express nuanced views that are often lost in quantitative measures (Mason 2002).
The qualitative method enables researchers to capture the storytelling aspect of political participation, providing deeper insights into the emotional and contextual factors influencing political behavior. As Denzin and Lincoln (2011) argue, qualitative research allows for rich, detailed perspectives that illuminate complex social phenomena.
Quantitative Method
In contrast, a quantitative research method could involve designing a survey that targets a broader audience within the same demographic. Questions may guide participants toward indicating their voting habits, preferences for political issues, and frequency of engagement (e.g., attending town hall meetings or engaging in political discussions). A quantitative approach is beneficial in this context because it enables statistical analysis to identify trends and patterns across a larger sample size (Bryman 2016).
For example, analyzing survey data may show correlations between political participation and variables such as socioeconomic status or education level. This could help policymakers understand demographic trends and devise strategies that enhance political engagement for young adults.
Using both methods in a mixed-method design would enrich our understanding of political participation among 18-24-year-olds. The qualitative interviews would provide a narrative depth to the quantitative findings, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of a complex social issue.
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References
Bryman, Alan. 2016. Social Research Methods. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Cooley, Charles H. 1902. Human Nature and the Social Order. New York, NY: Scribner's Sons.
Denzin, Norman K., and Yvonna S. Lincoln. 2011. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Mason, Jennifer. 2002. Qualitative Researching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Mills, C. Wright. 1967. The Sociological Imagination. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Veblen, Thorstein. 1899. The Theory of the Leisure Class. New York, NY: Macmillan.
Wilson, William J. 2012. The Declining Significance of Race: Blacks and Changing American Institutions. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. 1925. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Note: Adjust citations as necessary based on actual reading materials and presentations. This is a fictional example and should be customized to fit the applicable materials used in the coursework.