Sociology 211
Social Problems
Spring 2003
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Final Examination – Thurs May 15/2003, 1015am to 1215pm

For this examination, you will need the following supplies:

No other materials or supplies will be permitted. You will have the entire two hours for the exam. At the completion of the exam, you will submit the blue books, this exam sheet, and your notes. Exams will be available for pick-up at the start of spring semester; should you wish your exam, journals, or final paper to be sent to you, attach a 9” by 12” self-addressed stamped envelope to your final paper.

Rules of the Game: The final examination will be based upon the essay questions listed below. Of the eight questions below, five will appear on the final exam; you will choose three for your response, as listed on the exam sheet. Each essay will count for 1/3 of your exam grade. Your essays will be evaluated on the same basis that paper assignments were, including the strength and coherence of the argument, as well as the presentation and mobilization of evidence. You are required to utilize at least three (3) of the course readings in each of your responses to these questions.

I would strongly advise that you do one of two things in the preparation of your exam notes – either write out the complete essay, ensuring that you fully and completely develop your argument; or build up an outline, including sources and evidence, that you will complete during the exam.

Evaluation guidelines: Your response will be evaluated based on how fully and completely you answer the question; how well you utilize evidence from the readings to support your claims and show how that evidence supports your claims; and how logically your response is developed.

A few notes:

1. Obviously, there’s a lot of preparation to do for this exam. Don’t wait until the last second to do it. Start now, ask questions when you have them, and come see me if you need to.

2. Just like with every other exam, your success or failure here depends on what you do between now and the day of the exam more than it does on what happens during the exam.

3. Don’t short-cut or try to figure out how many of these you have to do. Prepare everything. Really.


The Questions:

Be sure that you utilize at least three (3) readings in the development of your response to these questions, and that you show how it is you came to the claims you make in your response to these questions.

Two of the following questions will appear on the final exam; you will choose one for your response.

1. To what extent do you think we should learn from the ways in which other societies solve their social problems, and why?

2. How does the use of the levels of analysis as an analytic tool highlight our responsibility for the reproduction and maintenance of the social problems we face, and why?

3. To what extent does our particular ideological system make the development of solutions to America’s most pressing social problems more difficult, and why? (Be sure in this question to identify the most important domestic social problems, as well as why you believe they are the most pressing.)

 

Two of the following questions will appear on the final exam; you will choose one for your response.

4. Consumerism has been interpreted in three ways by different authors. Using at least two articles for each interpretation, outline those interpretations. Which do you find most compelling, and why?

5. Given the extent to which consumerism has overtaken our society, what possibilities do you see for resisting consumerism? How would you go about starting that resistance? And what kinds of impacts do you think that resistance would have on other aspects of our social lives? (Here, be sure to use readings from Commodify Your Dissent and Fences and Windows to support your argument.)

 

One of the following questions will appear on the final exam; everyone will respond to this question.

6. To what extent do you think we should involve ourselves in the ways that other societies solve their social problems, and why?

7. To what extent do you think we should learn from the ways in which other societies solve their social problems, and why?