Engage
Applying Theory to Social Life
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This discussion addresses Module Outcome 1. Review the textbook and module notes on the sociological perspectives. The application of sociological theories to a situation depends on the level of analysis the sociologist wishes to examine. Each perspective can apply to any given situation. The theory that most tend to apply is the one that best fits their understanding of how society works. Many researchers today blend elements of two or more theories when they analyze a situation. For example, a social psychologist may blend conflict theory and symbolic interaction to understand the stress that social barriers place on the impoverished. There is no wrong way to approach an analysis based in and upon theory. For this discussion, you will pick one current event from the articles below, and then analyze this event using each of the major theoretical approaches.
Engage
Before beginning this activity, be sure to read the Module Notes and the assigned readings and viewings. Use as much detail from the readings and other learning materials in the module as possible to answer the following questions.
Choose a current event from this list below that covers the current event you will discuss:
- Option 1: Claire, C. M. (2020, February 12). Young men favor gender equality, but not vacuuming (Links to an external site.) . New York Times , B5.
- Option 2: Claire, C. M. (2020, April 27). Three things lockdowns have exposed about working and parenting (Links to an external site.) . New York Times.
- Option 3: Pohle, A. (2020, August 28 ). The coronavirus pandemic is making college students question the price of their education; remote learning (Links to an external site.) . Wall Street Journal.
- Option 4: Nierenberg, A. (2020, May 24). Plant-based ‘Meats’ catch on in the pandemic (Links to an external site.) . New York Times.
Analyze this event using each of the major theoretical approaches, and address yourself to the following two questions:
- How do you explain the current event you have chosen using Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism?
- Which theoretical approach fits best with your understanding of society and why?
Your initial post should be at least 250 words and must substantively integrate the assigned readings with proper APA style formatting (Links to an external site.). For assistance with APA style formatting, visit the Library (Links to an external site.) or the Excelsior OWL (Links to an external site.). Your initial post is due by Thursday at 11:59 PM ET. Your responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET.
Your Response to Classmates
This is a “post first” discussion forum. You must submit your initial post before you can view other students’ posts. Please read your classmates’ posts and choose at least two to respond to. They can be initial posts or other classmates’ replies.
Most importantly, each response (that you post) should be at least 100 words in length, and contribute to the discussion in progress while being substantive in nature. This means they should go beyond simple agreement or disagreement with classmates’ posts to advance the discussion. You should consult the Discussion Expectations here for further guidance on posting expectations and etiquette. One can disagree with others while still being respectful (netiquette), and you should adhere to the topic questions in the discussion prompt. Should you have any questions about netiquette, or how to properly prepare your response in a text editing program and post it in Canvas, please consult the Discussion Posting Guide.
Lastly, continue to monitor and respond to any replies to your initial post, and complete all posts during the appropriate time periods. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. To respond to a peer, click “Reply” beneath their post and continue as with an initial post.
Responses to posts of at least two classmates are due by Sunday at 11:59 pm ET.
Evaluation
This discussion will be graded using the discussion board rubric. Please review this rubric (see direct link below) prior to beginning your work to ensure your participation meets the criteria in place for this discussion. All discussions combined are worth 25% of your final course grade.
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