Choose two of the following three questions to answer in an essay format (500-700 words for essay question), which should consist of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Ensure to incorporate class readings ONLY when responding to the questions.
Remember to cite your sources; when paraphrasing or quoting from the textbook or readings, include the author’s name, year, and page number, followed by a bibliography page. If not, this can be considered plagiarism.
Type your paper in word document times new roman, 12 point font, one inch margins, and include page numbers. Please submit it on Blackboard.
1. Define practical knowledge and scientific knowledge. Using these two concepts (practical knowledge & scientific knowledge) how has your practical knowledge about a topic (society, culture, identities, economy, class etc.) evolved from thinking about it on a practical knowledge level to a scientific knowledge framework. Furthermore, define and explain what the sociological imagination is and describe one moment when your sociological imagination was active (do not use the “Doing Nothing” assignment as an example). In other words, when and how did you begin to look beyond the individual but began looking at the larger forces that influence people’s lives, how have you began to understand the intersection between biography and history?
2. Describe what is conflict theory according to Karl Marx. How does conflict theory from Marx’s perspective (social class) help us understand economic inequality today? Do you think there is a conflict between the social classes in our current U.S. society? Why or why not? Furthermore, explain what makes up a person’s socioeconomic status and provide one example on how socioeconomic status impact people’s life chances.
3. Explain in two to three sentences what intersectionality theory is. How does intersectionality theory help us challenge dominant Eurocentric epistemologies and perspectives? Provide one example of a dominant Eurocentric epistemology (e.g. the history of Christopher Columbus) that we have been taught and how does applying an intersectional lens create an inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives, that historically have not been included?
