Core Assessment Research Paper

PART I – THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

CLEARLY identify a current social problem/issue (with research support) that affects you personally. Use the “sociological perspective” to discuss the problem/issue and include these elements in your answer:

Discuss IN DETAIL which of the major theoretical perspectives in Sociology that best “explains” the social problem/issue, and be sure to demonstrate your thorough understanding of the theoretical perspective based upon the text AND supporting research.

Explain the “cultural” components/elements that contribute to the causes, effects, and/or solutions of the problem/issue.

Identify and discuss the relationship of the “socialization” process to the issue/problem, causes and solutions, make sure and talk about what “agents of socialization” are important in your discussion.

PART II – SOCIAL INEQUALITY

The focus of this section of the paper is on several key concepts; social class, gender, and race/ethnicity, and the how these relate to the overall concept of social inequality. Here are the questions/issues to address in this part of the paper:

Identify as clearly as possible your social class as it relates to your personal (family) wealth, income, and occupational status and the relationship of your social class to your educational journey, past, present and future.

Identify your gender and discuss the consequences of your gender on current and potential occupational status, wealth, and income.

Identify your race/ethnicity and discuss the positive and/or negative consequences related to access to educational and occupational opportunities AND whether or not individual and/or institutional discrimination has affected your life chances.

PART III – SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The focus of this part of the Core Assessment is on several of the dominant social institutions in society as presented in the text as “chapters”:

Chapter 8: Social Class in the United States

Chapter 11: Politics and the Economy

Chapter 12: Marriage and the Family

Chapter 13: Education and Religion

Here is what you need to do:

Select two (2) of the chapters identified above and then focus on EACH of the institutions covered in the chapter and discuss sociologically how they affect you and others.

Use information from the text, other resources, and your personal experiences to critically evaluate the relationship between the institutions and the social trends and their effects on you and others.

Introduction

Sociology serves an important aspect in our lives; it enables us to have a fresh look into the world and to simulate a different perspective on the unfamiliar realms around us. The studies and research done by sociologists over time were mainly informed by the urge to describe the different social contexts that underlie the behaviours of a human being (Pfohl, 1994). Auguste Comte has been recognized as the father of sociology for his innovative efforts to apply positivism, a scientific method, to sociology. The perspective is based on the premises that individuals interact with people and things based on the meaning they ascribe to those things. Blumer (1969) described two additional premises to propagate the relevance of his perspective in sociology; the meanings ascribed to things in society come from our interactions in society and lastly, the meanings of those things are determined by individuals engaged in those circumstances and events.

(2,509 words)