Reference no: EM132304004
Intro Soc. ---FINAL EXAM/ Additional questions to pick your three final exam questions from.
Pick any three questions to answer out of the following: Your answers for each of the questions should be2 page in length-double spaced-and typed. These are thinking questions.
1. Unemployment is a huge social problem in America and throughout much of the world-Describe the research process for constructing the unemployment statistics. How do the researchers define the population, number of households to be included in the survey; as well as the rubric that is used to determine if someone should be included in the statistic?
Do you feel that the statistic is a true reflection of the unemployment in the United States? What groups or individuals, who might personally feel unemployed, does it leave out of the official unemployment statistic? What solutions would you propose to deal with this complex and vexing social problem?
2. Describe the creation of the modern corporation and how the paradigm has shifted from its traditional historical mission. Describe five strengths and weaknesses of the modern corporation and the positive functional benefits, and conflicting challenges that exist in the dynamics of this modern Institution as it impacts workers of the world. A good example would be Wal-Mart and McDonalds Corp.
3. Pick a topic related to criminology; research analyze at least three positive and three negative aspects about the topic some possible topics are: Crime Prevention, Capital Punishment, The Innocence Project,Mandatory Sentencing, Recidivism, Solitary Isolation, Privatization of Prisons, Parole, Educational Programs GED, College Programs, Recreation, Costs, House Arrest, Community Service, The evolving impact of forensics-biotech, and computers in Crime Scene Investigations, the role of the prison guard, the role of the prisoner-The Zimbardo Film on The Prison Experiment-Stanford University. Feel free to pick your own topic not listed above.
4. Has the skyrocketing cost of college educations created any social issue and problem in the American culture today? Analyze the challenges facing college students today and the creative solutions some college students and their families have created to deal with this costly problem.
Analyze the historical relationship between a college education and income earned over the graduate's lifetime. Based on your contemporary research is the strength of the correlation between college and income still valid? What explanations and findings did you find through your research to explain the dramatic rise in cost of a college education? Can you develop solutions to this challenging problem?
5. Thinking synoptically about the potential positive and potential negative implications of the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, do you foresee any social problems that could come about? Look at the legalization of marijuana through the three lenses of sociology; functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interaction. Are you in favor, or against the legalization of marijuana? Explain.
6. Make up your own passionate sociology question, and answer .
7. Research C. Wright Mills-The Power Elite. According to his paradigm: Who are they? How do they live?-What characteristics and traits do they possess? How do they get into these positions of power and maintain them from one generation to the next? What is your opinion-do you feel there is a concentrated group-in American and the world that are a Power Elite?
8. Research the Stratification in the American Society-How many classes are in the American Society and what are the characteristics and traits that identify each class? How have the demographics of class membership changed over time? How do you feel the United States should handle those individuals who are in the lower socio economic classes relative to social policies that could possibly help a significant number of people up the economic ladder?
9. Read and critique the general theme of Barbara Ehrenreich's book Nickel andDimed-not getting by in America-what parts do you agree, or disagree with? Do you feel she is making a valid assessment of the growing underclass of struggling poor in the American Economy today? What are the possible solutions to this social problem?
10. How is deviancy defined? Give three examples of Positive and three examples of Negative types of deviance. If scientists could clone genetic deviations out of its gene pool through gene therapy or human cloning-at a genetic level-what good and bad sociological implications can you imagine?