Reference no: EM133646346
This research exercise requires to apply sociological concepts and theories to analyse people's relative standings and class positions in contemporary societies. Collect information about two individuals' life experiences and family background by searching relevant materials (e.g., news websites, blogs, magazines, books; excluding the life stories in the textbook though) or drawing on knowledge from everyday experience or previous, informal communication with familiar people (please keep any personal information anonymous). Based on the 'real-life stories', students would identify which class these individuals belong to in a system of social stratification and explain the reasons from a sociological perspective.
Suggested Structure
Title. A short and clear summary (not a paragraph).
Introduction. Briefly introduce the purpose and significance of the research exercise and the structure or organisation of your essay.
Research question and method. Address issues: what is your research question? Such as 'Who gets what and why?' 'What are the major factors that affect class identification in contemporary society?' 'What main characteristics would differentiate the middle class from the working class?' It is recommended that the research question is formulated in a specific and clear way, which will guide your research and help you decide what materials would be most relevant to the research. In addition, it is important to briefly explain how to collect information about these two individuals.
Life stories. This part includes a clear and succinct description of personal life experiences and family background in the current world. Please use fake names or anonymous identities for the individuals where appropriate. For public figures (e.g., a famous athlete, a movie star, a billionaire, a politician), it is fine to present their real names if collected the relevant information from published sources and include relevant references in your essay.
Class analysis. What is your sociological analysis of these two people's class positions? What classes do they belong to? Why? What theories of social stratification can be used to explain the issues and support your arguments? Is there any important socioeconomic context that would influence your class analysis of these individuals? This is a very important part of this essay, which should be elaborated to reflect your critical thinking and academic skills.
Comparison. Are there any similarities or differences between these two people in terms of their class positions? Why? What are the most important factors for analysing class positions in Australia or other countries?
Summary and discussion. Summarise the major findings. Discuss the explanatory power of relevant theoretical accounts used in your analysis. Discuss the implication of your study (e.g., contribution, strength, or weakness)