sociology essay questions

sociology essay questions

Exploring Contemporary Sociological Issues: A Collection of Essay Questions

1. Introduction to Sociology Essay Questions

We have yet to achieve a society that is free from poverty, or where all people have access to the resources they need for a decent standard of living. The barriers posed by economic and social status can limit what people can achieve in order to maximize their potential and improve their quality of life. Education levels contribute to these discrepancies and reflect the structure of society as a whole. If the overwhelming relationship between education and social inequality is not changing, can these problems still be addressed in the area of education? Can we create a more egalitarian system in which all individuals have the opportunity to maximize human potential?

Conflicts such as those along the lines of race, class, or ethnicity continue to divide societies into “us” and “them,” which is a continuing source of tension and conflict. Members of society are also socialized to conform to the norms and values of society, so that we have an integrated whole rather than a society made up of self-interested individuals. The question is, how does society manage to socialize its members to conform and maintain the cohesion of society, and at the same time deal with deviant behavior when it occurs? These two aspects of society—its integrative nature and its control of individuals—are two contradictory imperatives that society demands. So, we create institutions—education, religion, and the criminal justice system, for example—that socialize individuals so that those who still do not conform can be controlled.

This collection of more than 100 essay questions is designed for use in class, discussion sections, or as homework on the topic of sociology. The collection was developed for use in a course at the first-year university level, but the questions can be easily adapted to any curriculum. At the end of the topic, you will also find suggested answers.

2. Key Sociological Concepts and Theories Essay Questions

What is the sociological perspective? What is the invisible cage? How do we use power to control society? Give an example from real life in which society is controlled by the powerful. What are the key tenets of conflict theory? Why is capitalism an inherently unstable and exploitative system? What is the key tenet of interactionist theory? Give an example from real life of a society in which the powerful dominate the weak.

Instructor’s Note: This section includes five essay questions that engage students in interesting and relevant material in the field of sociology. The essay questions do not require a systematic study of major concepts or theories. Instead, students can demonstrate their understanding of these concepts and theories by applying them in interesting ways. Boatright underscores the importance of student engagement in the classroom – argument and discussions – to make visible his and hers critical thinking ability. All answers should reflect the best knowledge and research. To get the most out of this collection, students will want to complete each chapter of the text before attempting to answer the precedent questions. These questions can also be used to stimulate classroom discussions in small groups and to shape in-class quizzes and exams.

3. Social Inequality and Stratification Essay Questions

In the United States and in many European countries, women are heavily concentrated in relatively few types of jobs, particularly in teaching and in certain “pink collar” fields such as secretarial work, retail employment, and civil service occupations. Women who do manage to move into higher paying, typically male, jobs are extremely rare. How do sociologists account for the particular concentration of women in a relatively small number of occupations? In what general ways do women in the United States differ from one another in terms of occupation, educational attainment, and income? How have these differences changed over historical time? In view of the fact that the past several decades have seen great increases in the numbers of women pursuing higher education and moving into the professional and managerial fields, does it follow that sex plays a diminishing role in determining occupational choices and in placing limitations on the occupational rewards women can expect?

4. Globalization and Social Change Essay Questions

Essay question 4-2: What significant changes have taken place as a consequence of globalization which may pose an even greater long-term threat to the sustainability of global social development and which encourage an increased polarization of the traditional as well as the emerging geopolitical system? What are the strengths and limitations of the various models associated with the ways different sociological perspectives approach this question? Provide one original macro-level and one original micro-level explanation for social variations, both within and between cultures, about how we can effectively manage the impact on world poverty, inequality and traditional, cultural, and societal diversity associated with maintaining a globally competitive market economy as a focal point in altruistic attempts to ensure the reasonable well-being of the broad mass of the world’s poor and the health and compatibility of the world’s differing structures of governance.

Essay question 4-1: How has globalization and its potential to significantly increase the standard of living in non-industrialized countries changed the role that advanced industrial societies play in the provision of international humanitarian services and development aid to poorer countries? What are the strengths and limitations of the various models associated with the ways different sociological perspectives approach this question? Provide one original macro-level and one original micro-level explanation for international variations in the provision of these services and discuss one policy issue that emerges in the ethical debate on the global institution of humanitarian service that underscores the importance of such research for both altruists and policymakers concerned with the science of the saving of lives and the maximizing of the overall health and well-being of the world’s people.

5. Conclusion and Future Directions in Sociological Research

In conclusion, I want to bring up some possible future directions in sociological research. In fact, these questions are often incorporated into assignment presentations exactly as they appear in the final section of this book: “A Call to Action.” Many professors study little else than what is required in preparation for, and teaching of, their few courses per semester, or mainly focus on their primary area of academic research. Many professors seem overly concerned with attracting varying types of evaluative incentives provided to them by administration, in the form of awards and compensation; requests for faculty-led student research in any area of an institution are certainly not always at the top of the form. What research topics are truly the most critical to prevent disaster and suffering in the years to come?

The 37 chapters in this book provide thought-provoking essays on some of the most pressing and unusual problems sociologists face today. Not a textbook or encyclopedia, Exploring Contemporary Sociological Issues was written to elicit critical thinking among students and their instructors as well as the general public. By using the scientific method to examine problems in our society, this generation of undergraduate sociology students will be better prepared for addressing and solving some of the pressing social problems we will encounter as we move further into the twenty-first century.