Blog

The essay component of the exam is worth 10 points in total. Select ONE essay to answer from the list of questions.  The essay should include citations from course material to support your response.

Remember to include your name on your paper and essay question in your response.

You should cite using APA style and include a list of references at the end of each answer.  Here’s a guide for using APA citation: https://owl.purdue.edu/

***Although students may talk about different ways to respond to a question, no two answers should be so similar I may suspect plagiarism has occurred.

Appropriate sources for your responses include:

• You May Ask Yourself (YMAY)
• Margaret Heffernan’s “Forget the Pecking Order at Work,” Kimberly Jones’ “The Social Contract with Black America” and interview on The Daily Show
• Additional readings including articles assigned to complete breakout group work in-class
• Please note adding reading or information not assigned for the course will not earn additional points and may reduce your score as you deviate from the instructions to answer a question.
• Note Crash Course videos should help supplement the assigned course material, not replace it

Select ONE question to answer from the list. The essay should be 3-5 paragraphs in length. It is worth 10 points. Remember to cite all of your sources!

Question #1

Choose one “cousin” of sociology: history, anthropology, psychology, economics, or political science. List and describe two similarities between sociology and the cousin you chose. List and describe two differences.

Question #2

Select one social theorist reviewed in YMAY to offer an interpretation of Margaret Heffernan’s belief employers should abolish a pecking order at work. What might she say in response to your chosen theorist’s statement? Provide specific examples to support your response.

Question #3

Choose one of the following American social theorists: Park, Wirth, Cooley, Mead, Du Bois, or Addams. Describe the main idea of their theory, including relevant details, and describe their lasting contribution to sociology.

Question #4

Select one social theorist reviewed in YMAY to have a discussion with Kimberly Jones about racial inequality and discrimination in the U.S. Why did you select this theorist? What do you think they would say to Jones about improvements or setbacks in race relations and systematic inequality between the time period they are writing and today? Provide specific examples to support your response.

Question #5

Describe one significant difference between white coat effects and reflexivity in social research. Offer one reason why awareness of white coat effects is important. Offer one reason why reflexivity is important. Provide specific examples to support your response.

Question #6

Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research methods. List and explain two points of comparison (similarity). List and explain two points of contrast (difference).