Research and analyze a current social issue involving social stratification by applying course concepts and theories
Social Stratification
RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT: INSTRUCTIONS
TASK: Research and analyze a current social issue
involving social stratification by applying course concepts and theories. Choose a contemporary issue or form of social
inequality that exists in American society to analyze, and apply sociological
concepts and at least 1 theory in examining the issue (using Marger’s book as a
source); note that theories usually contain at least 3 concepts, or 3 key
points of theory.
Use the course text book (Marger’s, Social Inequality)
and at least 2 additional outside, peer-reviewed sources to analyze the issue
you’ve selected.
NOTE: you must
meet the task assigned to earn points on this assignment; a paper on a related
topic that does not meet the requirements will get zero points. Also, you cannot use a paper that you
previously wrote for another class, it must be an original work submitted for
this course only.
FORMAT: Paper
length is 3-4 pages (do not exceed page limit), double-spaced and use font size
similar to that used on this page (e.g., Cambria 12 font). Margins should be 1” on all sides and the
Title page is a separate page that is not numbered and contains: Title of
Paper, Course Number and Course Name, Date and Professor’s Name.
TOPICS/ISSUES: Focus
your analysis on a contemporary issue that relates to an aspect of social inequality
examined in Marger’s book chapters and/or select one of the following issues:
- Wage
inequality (gender issues, race and ethnic issues…etc.) - Homelessness
or poverty-related issues - Occupational
sex segregation - Racial
or ethnic gaps in education - Child
poverty and/or the struggles of single parents with single-incomes - Residential
segregation - Income
inequality among CEOs and workers - Poverty
and inequality (family origins, family structure and opportunities?) - Affordable
Health Insurance and quality care? - Intergenerational
Income Mobility—moving up or down? - Globalization
and American jobs - Bad
jobs, good jobs…does college increase employment options? - Unemployment,
under-employment and worker struggles - Wealth
inequality and the shrinking
middle-class - Unionized
worker’s wages and benefits – the upside and is there a downside? - Immigrants
and inequality - Political
inequality – power and representation - Taxation
inequality and how the U.S. compares by class status and also to other
nations? - Who
rules America? Political Elites, Economic
Elites and Corporations? There’s a website on, Who Rules America (you can
find it by doing a search on the internet).
Or you can develop your own topic on some current issue of
social inequality; contact me via email if you’d like feedback on the topic
you’ve selected.
Also, for most of the topics listed above you could do an analysis
that focuses on this region, Bakersfield or Kern County (or nearby cities…even
your neighborhood if you’d like—as long as you meet the task assigned).
The post Research and analyze a current social issue involving social stratification by applying course concepts and theories appeared first on Smashing Essays.