Reference no: EM132832681

Question Bank

Question 1: "Theory in the News"

Your task for this question is to find a current (within the last two years) news article (online or in print) and connect the news event to a specific sociological theory from class. You should start by briefly summarizing the main points in the news article that relate to theory. Follow this summary with an explanation of how a specific theoretical framework ‘maps' onto the social phenomena. In other words, how might one of the social theorists from class explain what is happening and why? You should be specific in noting which theory you are connecting the article to and thoroughly explain the theory. You must either append a copy of the article to your exam (as an attachment) or include a link to the online article at the bottom of your answer.

Optional Examples: George Floyd's murder case and Durkheim's Normality of Crime or Goo Hara's suicide and Marx's theory of Suicide

Question 2: "Table for Four"

Imagine you are having dinner with two social theorists we have read in class. You may select any two theorists. During your fine dining experience they begin to discuss and/or argue over a particular social issue. I come to the table late and you decide to catch me up on what I have missed. Tell me what social issue and theory they are discussing. Thoroughly explain what each theorist's stance is on the topic, i.e. what is their side of the discussion/argument? After you've explained the debate between the two theorists tell me what your thoughts are on the discussion. How do you relate to it personally? You do not necessarily have to take a side, but you should have a stance on the topic that is informed by at least one of their theoretical perspectives and your personal experiences in everyday life. FYI, they do not have to be in complete disagreement. In fact, you should highlight where they agree. Feel free to write this answer as a script (optional, not required).

Optional examples: Durkheim and Marx discussing suicide or Marx and Weber discussing inequality orDurkheim and Weber talking about the methods of sociology, etc.

Question 3: "Theory in Pop Culture"

Your task for this question is to find a piece of pop culture media and apply social theory to the plot/storyline. You may use a movie, a book, a television show, a poem, or a song. Start by explaining the storyline of the pop media piece. If you are using a song or a poem, you should include brief interpretation of the lines/lyrics (this does not need to be the artist's interpretation). For other types of media, you should briefly explain the relevant aspects of the plot. Then, you should explain how at least one of the social theories from class maps onto the storyline/poem/lyrics. Be sure to explain the theory in detail and show its connection to the fictional piece. DO NOT use The Hunger Games(book/movie #1) for this question, as that application should be saved for your upcoming book analysis.

Optional examples: ‘Office Space' and Weber's theory of bureaucracy, ‘In Time' and Marx's Communist Manifesto, ‘Crash' and DuBois Souls of Black Folk, Dolly Parton's '9-5' and Marx's theory of alienation, Tupac's 'White Man's World' and Dubois' theories, etc.

Question 4: "May I Introduce to You..."
Imagine that you are a colleague of one of the social theorists that we have read in class. You have been asked to introduce this theorist and their latest theory at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting. Tell the audience of sociologists a little about the theorist you have selected, and then proceed with the summary of his/her latest work. Be mindful, there could be theoretical adversaries in the crowd, so you'll want to be proactive about any counterarguments the crowd might offer up. You should format this exam answer as a professional speech (like you might read on a teleprompter). You may use your discretion and poetic license to create the speech. However, you will not be graded on creativity. You will, however, be graded on accuracy, evidence, and quality of examples you provide that might help the crowd relate to the theory.

Question 5: "How Does it Feel to be a Problem?"
Directions: Think about your own social location and where you are at the intersection of race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, size, age, etc. inequality. For this question, you are to share the details of a personal experience where you were part of a marginalized group and made to feel like a problem by the dominant group. What happened? How did this make you feel? Then, define DuBois' concepts of double-consciousness and second-sight. Explain how his theories map on to your personal experience. For example, how did you experience double-consciousness? How did this experience provide you with second sight? How does second sight give you special insight into the dominant group? What is the veil that DuBois talks about, and how did your experience reveal that veil to you?

Attachment:- Theory in the News.rar