Second Exam: Contemporary American Sociological Theory

Sociology 402

Hogan

7 April 2000

Second Exam: Contemporary American Sociological Theory

Please choose one of the following two questions and answer it completely. The second question is, theoretically, easier, particularly if you are not sure that you really understand the contemporary and classical theories. The first question might be more interesting because it is more challenging. Choose wisely.

You must type or word-process your essay. Handwritten essays will not be accepted. You are limited to five double-spaced, size 12 font, pages with one inch margins all around. You should consider anything below three pages too short and anything over five pages too long.

Two critical points seem to have been missed on the first exam.

First, you are not allowed to use any references other than the assigned texts (Farganis and Ritzer), your notes, and course materials available on the PUCC network. Exams that rely on outside materials will not be accepted.

Second, you are expected to know the rules regarding plagiarism (presenting someone else’s ideas or words as your own). You are expected to use parenthetical references and quotes (as illustrated, below, in question 1) to identify other people’s ideas or words. You don’t need a bibliography. You can reference, Farganis, Ritzer, and Hogan (lecture or title of essay). Violation of the rules of plagiarism will be grounds for failure on the exam. Serious violations (plagiarizing outside readings and thus attempting to disguise the fact) will be grounds for failure in the course and possible disciplinary measures (ultimately, expulsion from the university).

You have one week to complete this exam. It is due at the beginning of class (9:30 a.m.) on Friday, April 14.

Please feel free to bring any questions about this exam to class for consideration and discussion. Alternatively, you can come to see me privately, but I will be more inclined to answer your questions in class—so that everyone can have the benefit of your question. Even then, I prefer that you (collectively, in class or individually, in your essay) find your own answer.

Questions (choose one)

1. Ritzer argues that, although most American sociologists were liberal (particularly prior to 1975), “early American sociological theory helped to rationalize exploitation, domestic and international imperialism, and social inequality. In the end, the political liberalism of the early sociologists had enormously conservative implications.” (Ritzer, p. 184).

In a similar vein, Hogan argued that in the U.S. there was a lack of “protracted political debate” within the U.S. government and a lack of an “orthogonal debate” within sociology.

Taken together, these arguments or interpretations suggest that contemporary American sociological theory (particularly prior to 1975) falls far short of the achievements of classical (or even contemporary) European sociological theory.

Evaluate contemporary American sociological theory in this light.

1. To what extent are the contemporary theories less critical about the modern world than the classical theories were?
2. To what extent has this been problematic? Are less critical theories less useful? Alternatively, is this actually a benefit rather than a liability?

Be sure to include specific examples of the major types of contemporary sociological theory: functional, conflict, neo-Marxist/critical, and symbolic interactionist. Be sure to identify “more or less critical” with specific theories (or theoretical debates) and specific time periods (e.g, the Fifties, the Sixties, pre/post 1975).

1. To a large extent, contemporary American sociological theory is the refinement or further development of classical theory.

Explain how each of the major contemporary theories built upon the classical theories

1. Which classical theories were major influence on each of the major contemporary theories?
2. How did contemporary theories improve upon or move beyond limits of classical theories?

Be sure to include specific examples of the major types of contemporary sociological theory: functional, conflict, neo-Marxist/critical, and symbolic interactionist.