...|Analysing an Essay Question | 1. Introduction Common criteria of undergraduate essay writing focus on the following requirements: students need to be analytical and critical in their response students need to structure their writing logically students need to be persuasive writers | students need to answer the question | This booklet looks at, how to analyse your essay question. Other Learning Centre booklets in this series deal with the other aspects: • Analytical Writing deals with the difference between analytical and descriptive writing • Planning and Structuring an Essay deals with logical structures • Developing and Supporting an Argument deals with persuasion Expectations of student assignments One of the difficulties experienced by students, particularly in first year, is understanding what standard is expected in essays at tertiary level. As well as this, each subject discipline has its own ways of doing things and its own conventions about essay structure and writing style. For instance, in some subjects it is acceptable to write very personally and put forward your own opinions and feelings on a topic and in others such a personal response would not be appropriate. You need to find out the expectations and conventions...
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...This paperwork of LIT 210 Week 8 Discussion Questions shows the solutions to the following problems: DQ 1: Select one essay from this week Sociology - General Sociology Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model . Your text uses Bronfenbrenner's ecological model to explain how children's development is affected by different groups within their world. Using this theory, we can understand how children are socialized both intentionally and unintentionally. You must understand how this theory applies to your own upbringing as well as a young child's upbringing in order to truly comprehend the concept. After reading the text and the “Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory” article, use your understanding of this theory to respond to the questions below. Using Bronbenbrenner's ecological model, respond to the following questions: a. How did the microsystem that you grew up in differ from your parents’ or grandparents’ microsystems? Do you think this is a detrimental or an affirmative change to society as a whole? b. How do you think technology, specifically social media, influences a child's mesosystems? Agents of Socialization . Agents of socialization include parents, siblings, extended family, community, culture, economic environment, religion, child care, school, teachers, peers, formal organizations, sports, mass media, and technology. In an ideal world, these agents would complement one another in order to best influence a child's development. Choose three of...
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...Sociology Essay Plan Asses the importance of school factors such as racism and pupil’s response to racism in creating ethnic differences in educational attainment (20 marks) It is thought to believe that racism can lead to different ethnic groups getting different grades in school. For example… statistics which do better than average and which do worse? Material deprevation: P: some people may argue that racism is not the key factor to school attainment, it is to do with outside factors such as material deprevation. This means a lack of physical necessities that are seen as essential or normal for life in today's society. E: material deprevation explanations see educational failure as resulting from factors such as substandard housing and low income E: ethnic minorities are more likely to face these problems, for example 15% of ethic minority households live in overcrowded conditions compared with only 2% of white households E: this can therefore be used to explain that material deprevation is causing some ethnic groups to be underperforming for example black carribean only got 44.5 a*-c grades. However Indian and Chinese people have the highest percentage of students achieveing 5+ a*-c grades and so suggesting that material deprevation may not be the main reason. Second paragraph Labelling and teacher racism P: another factor in school which can explain different...
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...CONTRIBUTORS IN SOCIOLOGY Auguste Comte-(1898-1857) He is considered as father of sociology. Comte was born at Montpellier, in France. He founded the philosophy of positivism, and originated a concept of social science known as sociology. Comte sought to discover the laws that he believed governed the evolution of the mind. In his six-volume work, The Course of Positive Philosophy (1830-1842), he framed his "law of the three states." This law advanced the idea that people try to understand phenomena in three ways. Comte believed that people first seek a theological (supernatural) explanation; then a metaphysical (abstract) explanation; and finally a positive explanation. The positive explanation is derived from an objective examination of the phenomena. Comte believed that students should concern themselves only with phenomena that have an objective, "positive," existence. This belief forms a basis of positivism. He also has given importance to "social static and social Mobility" and cleared that changes of society can be understood on these basis. His contribution in field of Social reconstruction is related to social welfare of human beings, which should be studied with social methods. Comte regarded all social thought as an interrelated whole, the laws of which can be found by assembling what he considered the facts. His ideas have influenced students of historical and social theory, and of criminology, and such authors as Herbert Spencer and John Stuart...
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...INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY: Assignment Submission Form Student Name: | Jessica McKeon | Student ID Number: | 12302812 | Programme Title: | Business, Economic and Social Studies | Module Title: | Introduction to Sociology | Assessment Title: | To what extent does the new religious diversity in Ireland challenge traditional definitions of Irish national identity? | Lecturer(s): | Daniel FaasAnna Siuda (TA) | Date Submitted: | 13/12/12 | I have read and I understand the plagiarism provisions contained in the General Regulations of the University Calendar found at: http://www.tcd.ie/calendar/assets/pdf/tcd-calendar-h-regulations.pdf I declare that the assignment being submitted represents my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save where appropriately referenced in the body of the assignment. Signed Date: This essay explores the extent to which new religious diversity in Ireland challenges traditional definitions of Irish national identity. National identity can be defined as the cultural outcome of a discourse of the nation. This concept of national identity exists for a number of reasons. It gives us a sense of collective belonging, it decides who should be allowed become a full citizen of the nation, and it influences the goals of a nation that are thought to be in the collective social interest (O’Mahony et al, 2001). Irish national identity used to depend on Catholicism. Although predominantly Roman Catholic, Ireland today...
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...the 1940s, W. E. B. Du Bois was one of the leading black theorists and a major factor of equal rights for blacks in the United States. At a time when many black Americans sought to improve their status by adapting to the ideals of white society and tolerating discrimination and segregation, W.E.B. Du Bois was a constant proponent of unconditional equal and civil rights for all blacks. As a social scientist, he was also a pioneer in documenting historical and social truths about blacks in the United States . W.E.B. Du Bois introduce the idea of double consciousness, an ideology that defines African Americans seeking to reconcile two different cultures that create their modern identity. Although Du Bois spoke of double consciousness in early twentieth century, the problem continues to affect many African Americans today. This research will give analyze the biography, race theory and conflicts of W.E.B. Du Bois. W. E. B. Du Bois 1868–1963 “Social Scientist, Political Activist, Author, Editor, and Educator” From the late 1890s through the 1940s, W. E. B. Du Bois was one of the leading black theorists and a major factor of equal rights for blacks in the United States. At a time when many black Americans sought to improve their status by adapting to the ideals of white society and tolerating discrimination and segregation, W.E.B. Du Bois was a constant proponent of unconditional equal and civil rights for all blacks. As a social scientist, he was also a pioneer in documenting...
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...imagination, as well as theories and concepts from this course, to your life or your parents’ life (you can choose yourself, either of your parents or both your parents). In other words, how have important events, experiences, or the life trajectory of you or your parents been shaped by, connected to, and/or reflective of broader societal dynamics, patterns, institutions, or structures? Essay Outline I want to apply sociological imagination to my own life. I want to write about how Asian Americans still encounter discriminations and stereotyping despite being the “model minority”, how being an immigrant can have a negative reputation within the Asain American community. The binary of being FOB and Asian American. Second I want to talk about bamboo ceiling, how it contrast to the glass ceiling. Also I want to talk about what it means to be an Asian female in a scientific field. Discuss the issue of race vs. ethnicity, U.S is a Pluralism society, yet racial discrimination and stereotype still exBU On the surface, sociology is about the study of human behavior within the society. But sociology is much more than that, it correlates seemingly general human behavior with society, using sociological imagination, one can analyze an episode of an individual’s life to border social issues and historical events. It allows oneself to denaturalize from one’s immediate environment, questioning it and connecting it to broader social dynamics. As an Asian female student who majors in biology...
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...Sociology of Education Unit 10 What do Marxists say about the education system? Learning targets: • Marxists see that the ruling class or 'bourgeoisie' rule the workers or 'proletariat'. • The bourgeoisie have the wealth and the power to rule. The proletariat are exploited because they are not treated fairly. • Marxists argue that the education system plays a key role in disseminating the ideology of the ruling class. • Education acts as a force of oppression for the children of the working classes Key questions (AO1) What do Marxists believe? (AO1) How do Marxist theories apply to the education system? (AO2) What strengths are there to the Marxist view of education system? (AO2) How have Marxist views been criticised by other writers? Summary of key points Marxists see capitalist society as being ruled by the economy. The minority, the ruling class or 'bourgeoisie' rule the majority, namely the workers or 'proletariat'. The bourgeoisie have the wealth and the power to rule. The proletariat are exploited because they are not treated fairly. This is the basis of class inequality. Institutions such as organised religion, the mass media, the political and the education systems all reinforce the ideology that the rich and powerful should control society. They promote an ideology or belief that our society is fair and just and...
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...Outline and assess the concept of labelling as an explanation for different levels of academic achievement between social classes in UK schools. In order to explain academic achievements between social classes in the UK, this essay will outline the meaning of labelling and assess its concept. It will show who uses it and why. It will give views both for and against to this controversial subject which will be backed up by references to an unprecedented amount of documentation generated by highly skilled sociologists worldwide and provide evidence to the existence of labelling and the effects on its subjects. To fully understand labelling it would be wise to inhale the highly influential and educated studies of Howard Becker, who’s in depth exploration of labelling along with W.I. Thomas’s theory on the “self-fulfilling prophecies was born mainly from studies applied to criminology and deviance but also education. Teachers tend to have their own judgments towards pupils they teach and provide themselves with a benchmark to base an ideal pupil upon, who would be motivated, intelligent and well behaved. The other side would provide deviance in the form of non-disciplined, unmotivated and unlikely to succeed and it is found that these labels would have a significant affect on careers and education. (Taylor, 1995) (Kidd, Abbott and Czerniawski, 2003) The concept of deviance is to label a person’s unparalleled activity with the society and environment in which they are in and...
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...behavior, practices and material objects that constitute a peoples’ way of life”, and Sociology as “the systematic study of human society” (Macionis and Plummer 2012, p.964). In light of this, Cultural sociology demands that culture and social structural forces, especially economic forces to be dissociated in order to allow a form of cultural self-governance, rather than these cultural structures to be seen as external to individuals. The following essay will discuss the frame work of cultural sociology developed by Jeffery Alexander. In order to discuss how important cultural sociology for the development of South Africa is, I will assess to what extent contemporary South Africa embodies the characteristics of a cultural society in comparison to surviving practices and traditional beliefs. Theoretical framework of cultural sociology is best described as the importance of culture being seen an independent variable. Alexander (2003), emphasizes the importance of culture shaping society instead of culture being a product of society. He puts culture first and highlights that, “To believe in the possibility of a cultural sociology is to subscribe to the idea that every action, no matter how instrumental, reflexive or coerced vis-a-vis its external environments” (Alexander 2003:12). Comparatively, “Sociology of culture” implies that institutions, irrespective of how impersonal and technocratic have an ideal substructure that essentially shapes their institutional objectives and gives the...
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...Introduction This essay intends to explicitly compare Karl Marx and Emile David Durkheim ideas on religion from a sociological and functionalist perspective. Functionalists’ belief that religion is beneficial for both the community and its members e.g. it unifies the society which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. It will begin with their brief historical backgrounds, definition of religion as well as their similarities and differences in studying it. Karl Marx Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. He began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life (Engels, 1869). Marx is considered as one of the founders of economic history and sociology. Emile Durkheim According to Jones (1986) “David Emile Durkheim was born in France, on April 15, 1857 and raised in a Jewish family with his father as a rabbi. Emile was, thus destined for the rabbinate, and a part of his early education was spent in a rabbinical school” (p.12). Durkheim is considered the father of modern sociology and well known for his work on Division of Labour in 1912. Definition of Religion Both Marx and Durkheim have rather contrasting definitions of what religion...
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...Sociology Essay – Mr Baines “Assess the Marxists view of education” (20) The Marxist view is that the capitalist society is not good because it is unequal between working class and upper class people. According to Karl Marx, there are 2 groups of people; the proletarians (lower class) and the bourgeoisie (ruling class). The proletarians will be workers, and will become exploited and taken advantage of by the bourgeoisie (owners). The education system serves the ruling class. This means that from a young age in schools, children have been socialised to be able to work for the ruling class. Louis Althusser (1971) is a Marxist who argues that working class students are accepting society because of socialisation and legitimation. Althusser also says that students are learning the ideology of the ruling class and how the ruling class forms and controls society. This shows that the school is part of an ISA (ideological state apparatus), which can control our ideas and beliefs, whereas it is also a part of RSA (repressive state apparatus) and is forcing people to think in a certain way. Education makes students accept the system and inequality. It shows that however hard pupils try in education, working class students will always get working class jobs and middle class students will always get middle class jobs. Overall, the Marxist view on education is that children go to school to prepare themselves to work for upper class people. However, education serves the ruling class...
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...FACULTY: Faculty of Education DEPARTMENT: Department of Primary Education PROGRAMME: Bachelor of Education Primary COURSE: Sociology of Religion COURSE CODE: TRS 315 Assignment: identify either Karl Marxx or Max Weber and compare his ideas with any other theorist who expressed his/her views on religion. Names: Oabona Moses Sello ID #: 201204434 Due date: April 15 2014 Introduction This essay intends to explicitly compare Karl Marx and Emile David Durkheim ideas on religion from a sociological and functionalist perspective. Functionalists’ belief that religion is beneficial for both the community and its members e.g. it unifies the society which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. It will begin with their brief historical backgrounds, definition of religion as well as their similarities and differences in studying it. Karl Marx Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. He began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life (Engels, 1869). Marx is considered as one of the founders of economic history and sociology. Emile Durkheim According to Jones (1986) “David Emile Durkheim was born in France, on April 15, 1857 and raised in a...
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...SOC10004 Sociological Foundations Which is more important in shaping individuality – social structure or social interaction? Symoniah Quaggan Referencing style: Harvard referencing style The shaping of individual identity is developed through interaction with one another and the social structure we move in. Social structure is defined as social organisation based on established patterns of interactions and norms/shared values. Social interaction is the process by which we act, react and communicate to those around us. Whilst both are undeniably factors which affect individuality, this essay explores which is the most influential factor. Our individuality is built from a set of values and rules that we taught and adapt to. When considering aspects of our circumstances that we cannot control and how much impact our social structure has had in directing our behaviour and relationships before independent social interaction has occurred, this research concludes that social structure is the most important dynamic in shaping individuality. At the time of our birth we have already been placed into a social class and a predetermined social structure based on our parents place in society. Therefore, before social interaction has occurred, we have already secured a place on the hierarchy of society. We may not necessarily remain in that class or within the same structure as we develop our own identities. Society categorizes people into ranks, according to Giddens (1991)...
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...Sociology CIA1 Making sense and construction of social change through the studies of Sanskritization,Westernization and Dominant caste Pooja Agarwal 1313240 IIPSENG INTRODUCTION There have been various changes in the social structure of India brought about by the British administration, its economic policies, educational system and introduction of modern means of communication had a far reaching effect on Indian society and economy. Though the Indian society which is based on the caste system is often regarded as a “closed society”, there is still a possibility for changes. Within the framework of the caste itself some kind of mobility is observed. Lower castes have often tried to claim higher status by imitating the life-styles of upper-castes like the Brahmins and Kshatriyas, while the upper castes including Brahmins, attempt to orient their life-styles on the model of the Westerners. This trend has become so widespread that today not only the upper class and middle class people are trying to orient their behaviour, attitudes, beliefs and life-styles towards those of developed societies; but also the entire mass of people are involved in this process. Daniel Lerner calls this process ‘modernisation’. It denotes a process of social change whereby “less developed societies acquire the characteristics common to more developed societies”. The study of social change in India has taken different shapes and directions depending on the nature, shape and direction. Sociologists...
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