Essay Questions
Choose one of the questions below and write a 6-page paper in response (excluding bibliography). Your paper should be typed and double-spaced in 12-point font.
You are not required to use secondary sources but must cite them if you do.
Your essay should make an argument, reflect your understanding of course material (notes and readings), and should demostrate your ability to apply and evaluate the material.
Compare and contrast a selected aspect of the thought of one contemporary theorist with that of one of the classical sociologists (e.g., Marx, Durkheim, Weber, or Simmel).
Choose one contemporary theorist covered in the course and evaluate their ideas applying Mills’ The Sociological Imagination (You can choose: Talcott Parsons/
C. Wright
Mills/
Peter Blau/
George Herbert Mead/
Herbert Blumer/
Michel
Foucault/
Jürgen
Habermas/
Pierre
Bourdieu/)
Choose two authors we have discussed. (Including all authors above) Drawing on their ideas, how would each analyze a contemporary social movement? (Movements you might consider include: Black Lives Matter, Trumpism, the ‘Freedom Convoy’) though you are welcome to choose others. How does this case reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each approach?
You will be graded on your:
• Grasp of the author’s theoretical perspectives
• The strength of your argument
• Assertions backed up with well-reasoned arguments, and examples
• Insightfulness of analysis
• Original non-obvious argument
• Writing & Organization
• Engaging style, correct grammar, punctuation
• Argument follows logical organization, smooth transitions
• Concise expression
• You may use outside sources, though not necessary
(Authors/Readings that might be helpful sources)
