Sociology 101
Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2002
Dr. Scott SchafferSecond Midterm Examination - Essay Assignment
Due Date: This essay is due, along with your portfolio, on Mon Apr 8/2002 at the start of class. It should be presented separately from your portfolio. If you choose to respond to these questions, they will constitute 40% of your exam grade; if not, then the multiple choice exam will be 100% of your grade.
Rules of the Game: Below, you will find five short essay questions. You are to choose three (3) of the five (as listed below) and write responses that are at minimum one (1) full and complete page for each essay question (meaning the entire thing should be three full and complete pages). Your submissions need to be typed, double-spaced, in 10- or 12-point font, on 8 1/2" by 11" white paper. Please leave 1 1/4" margins on the left and right, and 1" margins at the top and bottom.
Your paper must be spell- and grammar-checked; papers that have copious errors will automatically lose one full letter grade. Receiving two 'spelling and grammar' deductions during the course will translate into a zero (0) on the second assignment and any further assignments after that. You should ensure that your responses are full and complete. And finally, you are required to utilize at least two references from the course readings in developing each essay; however, no direct quotations are permitted in these papers.
The Questions: Please choose three of the following five questions (as broken down below) and write full and complete responses that are at least one full page in length.
You must answer Question 1.
1. Dandaneau writes that 'We cannot know the answer to the question, 'What is to be done?' until we are participating together in creating these answers. If nothing else, the history of the twentieth century should teach us the perils of letting elites'answer the question for themselves and by themselves. That is partly how we got into this difficult situation in the first place.' (Dandaneau 2001: 21)
Using the various readings in Dandaneau and Newman from this segment of the course, explain what Dandaneau means by this quote and how we would ensure the concerns he discusses above are satisfied.
Choose one of Questions 2 or 3 for your response.
2. Discuss the disparity between the reality of the dual-earner couple and the societal assumption that only one partner in a couple will work outside the home. What are some of the conflicts and problems that have resulted from the disparity?
3. Discuss 'groupthink' and the conditions under which groupthink is likely to occur. Provide one example of groupthink in our public lives. What are the dangers of this type of group influence, and how can it be counteracted?
Choose one of Questions 4 or 5 for your response.
4. What would be the consequences if there were no more poor or homeless people in our society? What would change or not change? Do we need to have some proportion of the population that is poor in order for society to function smoothly, and why?
5. Why do the high-level executives of large corporations tend to be almost exclusively male, white and upper class? What is it about the structure of bureaucracies that results in a homogenous group of American executives? Should bureaucracies operate in this way?
Tips for writing these essays:
1. Have a thesis statement that clearly answers the question.
2. Make sure that everything you write gives the reader a piece of your answer to the key question.
3. Don't presume your reader knows how you're figuring all this out ' be sure to show them how you are putting these materials and ideas together.
4. After writing these essays, go back to them with a clear mind and ask yourself three questions: What am I saying here? How did I figure that out? And why am I saying this?
5. Don't pretend that you've completely answered the question after one full and complete page ' chances are you've not. Write until you're satisfied that you've completely answered the question to the best of your ability.