Sociology 101
Introduction to Sociology
Fall 2003
Dr Scott SchafferFinal Examination Prep Sheet – Fri/Mon Dec 5/8, 1pm to 150pm
Rules of the Game: The final examination will take place on Fri Dec 5 and Mon Dec 8/2003 from 1pm to 150pm. Some additional time may be allotted for you to complete the exam, but do not count on it. As per the course syllabus, no makeup exams will be given; if you will be unable to attend the midterm exam, you must let me know no later than W Dec 3/2003 at 4pm. In extreme cases necessitating your absence, an alternate assignment may be given at my discretion.
For this exam, you will need the following items; no other materials or resources will be permitted:
- At least four blue examination booklets (two for each half of the exam);
- Two blue or black pens – no exam written in pencil will be graded, and you will receive a zero (0);
- One (1) 8 1/2in by 11in sheet of notes for each part of the exam – you may write whatever you like on this sheet, as small as you like, and you may utilize both sides for notes.
At the end of each part of the exam, you will submit the blue books, the exam sheet, and your sheet of notes. No credit will be given for anything not written in the blue books, but at least I’ll be able to see where you were heading in the event you run out of time.
On the notes for the exam: As mentioned above, you may write whatever you like on the sheet of notes, going so far as to write the entire set of essays below in 2pt font and using a magnifying glass during the exam. The one thing that you must have on the notes is page citations for the material you use to support your responses to the questions below. Any exam that does not include adequate page citations for evidence that is utilized in the essays will automatically lose one full letter grade from each of the essays in which this problem appears (or for the entire concept identification grade).
Details: The midterm exam will be composed of two parts. The first part, to be held on Fri Dec 5, will ask you to identify twelve sociological concepts discussed this semester, and will constitute 40% of your exam grade. For this section, your responses should be short statements defining the term, identifying the author who developed or discussed the concept, and discussing its importance for sociological study.
The second part, on Mon Dec 8, will ask you to respond to two essay questions; each essay will be 30% of your exam grade. Each essay will ask you to develop an argument-based response to a question dealing with a particular sociological issue or set of sociological theories. Your essay should be oriented to developing a clear, direct, and well-developed response to the question.
During each of the exam sessions, I will announce the time remaining at 30min, 15min, and 5min left in the exam.
At the end of the exam, be sure to submit your blue books, the exam sheet, and your notes to me.
Good luck, and happy preparing…
Section I – Concept Identification (F Dec 5; 40% of exam grade)
Of the thirty (30) concepts below, twenty (20) will appear on the exam. You will be asked to identify twelve (12) of them, in point form, along the following lines:
- Correctly identify the author who most prominently discusses the concept;
- Define the concept in your own terms, and discuss the importance of that concept for that author’s argument;
- Identify any related concepts discussed during the semester in any text (with authors), as well as how you see them as being related.
1. False consciousness vs. class consciousness
2. Postindustrial society
3. International division of labor
4. We-relations vs. they-relations
5. Hidden curriculum
6. Models of ethnic relations
7. Manifest vs. latent functions
8. One-dimensional society
9. Demographic transition
10. Bifurcated consciousness
11. Economic interdependence
12. Agency vs. structure
13. Democratic elitism
14. Normalizing judgments
15. Means of production vs. means of consumption16. Carceral archipelago
17. Tragedy of culture
18. Glass ceiling
19. Legitimation crisis
20. Authoritarian personality
21. Vectors of oppression and privilege
22. Conspicuous consumptions vs. conspicuous leisure
23. Looking-glass self
24. System vs. lifeworld
25. International governmental organization
26. Global city
27. Cultural capital
28. Habitus
29. Unanticipated consequences
30. Relative deprivationSection II – Essay (M Dec 8; 60% of exam grade)
Below you will find five essay questions. Three of these will appear on the midterm exam; of those, you will select two (2) for your response. You’ll note that each question asks you to talk about multiple articles; please be sure to discuss all elements in the topic before answering the question, paying careful attention to the basis on which you are evaluating the social practices discussed in the paper. The key question to which you must direct a thesis statement is in boldface.
Please make sure that your essays contain a thesis statement within them. Be sure to utilize at least the number of sources mentioned in italics after the question. See the guidelines on paper evaluation in the course syllabus and the “How to Write a Schaffer Paper” handout (online) for more information on how these will be evaluated.
1. In what ways do the actions that Desai and Bourdieu discuss parallel other forms of social action discussed this semester? Would you say these actions are beneficial or detrimental (and for whom), and why? (Desai, Weight of the World, Massey, Giddens)
2. Bauman’s theory of postmodernity includes four kinds of politics – tribal politics, the politics of desire, the politics of fear, and the politics of certainty (Ritzer, p. 246). After describing these kinds of politics, discuss at least one example of each kind of politics discussed in the Massey reader. To what extent would you say these kinds of politics are beneficial or detrimental for social life, for whom, and why? (Ritzer, four articles from Massey reader)
3. Between the two works we’ve read by Bourdieu in the course, we have seen a number of macro-micro linkages – that is, a clearer view of the ways in which larger social-structural forces impact on the lives of individuals. Using articles that discuss at least three of the kinds of sociological forces we’ve discussed this semester (use Giddens’ chapter headings as a way of thinking about this), discuss the ways in which you can see this macro-micro linkage operating in your life. To what extent has your life been beneficially or detrimentally affected by the larger social forces that have impacted on it, and why? (The Weight of the World, Acts of Resistance, three articles from the Massey Reader)
4. Describe the insights we can gain by using three of the theoretical approaches we’ve discussed during this semester, as well as the kinds of sociological concepts they allow us to understand. Which theoretical approach do you find most useful when thinking of solutions to social problems, and why? (Ritzer, theory essays in Massey, Giddens)
5. Discuss at least three sociological phenomena we’ve discussed this semester that make it so that you depend on other people, as well as the ways in which you depend on those others. Which of these phenomena do you think you could most readily contribute to changing, and why? (Desai, Giddens, Massey, Ritzer, Bourdieu)
Basic Grading Rubric:
These general principles are what will guide the application of letter grades to the essays submitted. Other deductions as specified in this assignment or in the course syllabus will affect these grades, and +/- modifiers will be applied.
As always, the key element of my evaluation will focus on the strength and clarity of your response to the assigned questions, as well as the sophistication you show in identifying elements of your argument to be addressed. Other issues, such as those included in the syllabus under “paper evaluation guidelines,” will pertain as well.
A – Clearly formulated and demonstrated response to the “big question(s)”; addressing all specified parts of the question, and demonstration of logic behind those responses; presentation of evidence from required texts and demonstration of how that evidence supports the statement made.
B – Well formulated response to the “big question(s),” though without full demonstration of the logic; addressing all/most of the specified parts of the question and/or not fully demonstrating the logic behind those responses; presentation of evidence from required texts, but no demonstration of how that evidence supports the statement made.
C – No clear thesis in response to the “big question(s)”; addressing some/most of the specified parts of the question, but without development of the logic behind those responses; intimation of evidence from the required texts, but no discussion of that evidence or how it supports the statement made.
D – Cursory attempt at answering the “big question(s)”; addressing some of the specified parts of the question, but no discussion of logic behind those responses; no presentation of evidence from required texts.
F – No attempt to answer the question assigned; cursory discussion of specified parts of the question; no use of evidence from the required texts.