Introduction to Sociology Instructor: Glenna L. Simons GUIDELINES FOR PAPER ONE Paper One will consist of two parts. PART I should be a contrast/comparison of each of the three major sociological perspectives discussed in class. Please compare/contrast each of the three on the basis of the image of society offered by each, the image of social change, the fundamental elements and questions asked by sociologists within each perspective. Also mention the major classic theorists and some of their contributions. Please discuss how each of the perspectives reflects the time and place in which the theorists were writing, putting their ideas into a social and historical context. PART II will consist of the APPLICATION part of the paper. Choose some social phenomena (marriage, homelessness, crime , video games--could be ANYTHING that relates to human behavior) and then describe how a sociologist from each of the three perspectives would go about studying the phenomena from that particular perspective. What sorts of questions might he or she ask? How would the phenomena be viewed, what aspects would the sociologist be interested in? Papers should be 5 to 7 pages in length. You should refer to portions of the text, readings, and/or class notes when describing concepts (and be sure to include a reference page). Citation style may be APA, MLA, or any other format you are familiar with (or that is required for your particular major). Criteria for grading the papers are as follows: 1. Paper must be well written and well organized--it may be helpful to break it down into sections. 2. Responsiveness--don’t just strive to “fill pages”--make sure to respond to the requirements of the assignment, and you will easily have enough pages. 3. Creativity/originality--Expand your mind! Be creative in the examples you use, and/or in the way you apply the theories. 4. Use of text materials and class notes--Good papers will weave together the concepts in the books with “real life” examples. Again, have a reference page. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN WITH THIS ---GET CREATIVE! J Three Theoretical Frameworks Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, & Symbolic Interaction I. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM A MACRO level theory –Focuses on large scale structures and institutions Views a “society” as a “whole” consisting of interdependent and interrelated “parts.” The parts serve “functions” for the benefit of the whole. One could envision the “parts” of a society as the different social institutions, social classes, or social groups—or, we could even envision PEOPLE as the parts! Structural functionalists are interested in how to maintain social ORDER and STABILITY. Image of Society: A living ORGANISM, with each part of the organism fulfilling a vital function for the whole Image of Social change: Social changes proceeds in a gradual, linear, adaptive fashion—EVOLUTIONARY! Fundamental Elements: Society is based upon SHARED VALUES—wh.

1. Introduction to Sociology
Instructor: Glenna L. Simons
GUIDELINES FOR PAPER ONE
Paper One will consist of two parts. PART I should be a
contrast/comparison of each of the three major sociological
perspectives discussed in class. Please compare/contrast each
of the three on the basis of the image of society offered by each,
the image of social change, the fundamental elements and
questions asked by sociologists within each perspective. Also
mention the major classic theorists and some of their
contributions. Please discuss how each of the perspectives
reflects the time and place in which the theorists were writing,
putting their ideas into a social and historical context.
PART II will consist of the APPLICATION part of the
paper. Choose some social phenomena (marriage,
homelessness, crime , video games--could be ANYTHING that
relates to human behavior) and then describe how a sociologist
from each of the three perspectives would go about studying the
phenomena from that particular perspective. What sorts of
questions might he or she ask? How would the phenomena be
viewed, what aspects would the sociologist be interested in?
Papers should be 5 to 7 pages in length. You should refer
to portions of the text, readings, and/or class notes when
describing concepts (and be sure to include a reference page).
Citation style may be APA, MLA, or any other format you are
familiar with (or that is required for your particular major).
Criteria for grading the papers are as follows:
1. Paper must be well written and well organized--it may
be helpful to break it down into sections.

2. 2. Responsiveness--don’t just strive to “fill pages”--make
sure to respond to the requirements of the assignment, and you
will easily have enough pages.
3. Creativity/originality--Expand your mind! Be creative
in the examples you use, and/or in the way you apply the
theories.
4. Use of text materials and class notes--Good papers will
weave together the concepts in the books with “real life”
examples. Again, have a reference page.
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN WITH THIS ---GET
CREATIVE! J
Three Theoretical Frameworks
Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, & Symbolic
Interaction
I. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
A MACRO level theory –Focuses on large scale structures and
institutions
Views a “society” as a “whole” consisting of interdependent and
interrelated “parts.” The parts serve “functions” for the benefit
of the whole.
One could envision the “parts” of a society as the different
social institutions, social classes, or social groups—or, we

3. could even envision PEOPLE as the parts!
Structural functionalists are interested in how to maintain social
ORDER and STABILITY.
Image of Society: A living ORGANISM, with each part of the
organism fulfilling a vital function for the whole
Image of Social change: Social changes proceeds in a gradual,
linear, adaptive fashion—EVOLUTIONARY!
Fundamental Elements: Society is based upon SHARED
VALUES—when values begin to deteriorate, so does society!
IMPORTANT EARLY THEORISTS
AUGUST COMTE—The founder of sociology, and the first to
propose the “organismic analogy”—the idea that we can
conceive of society as a living organism, with all the same
attributes present.
HERBERT SPENCER—Built upon the organismic analogy,
saying that as societies grew larger in size, the parts become
more complex and specialized. Spencer drew on the work of
Charles Darwin to speculate that societies evolve, just as do
living organisms, and coined the term “survival of the fittest.”
EMILE DURKHEIM—Functionalism comes full stride with
Durkheim. He was interested in the concept of social solidarity

4. and posited that in early societies, VALUES are a sort of social
glue, holding the society together (mechanical solidarity), while
industrialized societies were held together because of the
interdependence created by the division of labor (mechanical
solidarity).
QUESTIONS A FUNCTIONALIST MIGHT ASK:
What is the FUNCTION (or dysfunction) of the phenomena in
question—that is, in what way does it contribute to the
functioning of the whole?
What values are evidenced or reflected in the phenomena in
question?
Does the social phenomena that we are analyzing add to the
order and stability of the society?
5
II. CONFLICT THEORY
A MACRO level theory, focusing on large scale institutions and
structures (probably the only feature in common with
functionalism)
Views society as multiple groups competing for limited
resources

5. “Conflict” is not pathological, rather a natural part of every
society. Conflict theorists do NOT view society as stable or
orderly (“flip side” of functionalism?)
Conflict theorists are primarily interest in POWER and POWER
RELATIONS---and they see this as a necessary element that
was lacking in the functionalist perspective.
Image of Society: A continual struggle between the “haves”
(bourgeoisie) and the “have-nots” (proletariat).
Image of Social Change: A DIALECTIC PROCESS that occurs
through conflict. Conflict is needed for meaningful social
change. REVOLUTIONARY!
Fundamental Elements: The ECONOMY is the basis, or
infrastructure of society. Who owns and controls the means of
production has the power and controls society!
IMPORTANT EARLY THEORISTS
KARL MARX—His writings form the basis of conflict theory.
He thought that true social change could happen only through
revolutionary struggle. His primary focus was on the economy
as the basis of every other social institution. Marx felt that
capitalism was an unfair system ultimately doomed to failure.
MAX WEBER—Was interested in the connection between the

6. economic and religious institutions of a society. Weber was not
as “negative” toward capitalism as Marx, and saw a connection
between capitalism and Protestantism.
W.E.B. DuBOIS—The first African American sociologist.
Studied under Weber, but was later drawn toward Marx.
Applied the ideas of Marx regarding class struggle to RACE.
DuBOIS is famous for his concept of DOUBLE
CONSCIOUSNESS.
QUESTIONS A CONFLICT THEORIST MIGHT ASK:
Who has the POWER and how is it being used?
Who BENEFITS at whose EXPENSE?
What is the role of ECONOMICS?
III. SYMBOLIC INTERACTION
A MICRO level theory, focusing on SMALL GROUP interaction
and on the INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY
Concerned with how we use SYMBOLS (language) to
communicate, to put “meaning” on objects and events, and to
create a shared SOCIAL REALITY.

7. Symbolic interactionists focus on the use of language not only
to communicate, but to create a shared social reality.
Symbolic interactionists also focus on the SOCIALIZATION
PROCESS and the development of the SELF through social
interaction.
Image of Society: A continual PROCESS of creation and
recreation as we go about our everyday lives engaging in social
interaction.
Image of Social Change: Change is CONTINUAL—whether it
be evolutionary or revolutionary, human beings are active
AGENTS who are ALWAYS in the process of social change.
Fundmental Elements: SYMBOLS (language) is the basis of
society. If we could not meaningfully interact, we could not
have a society. LANGUAGE is the basis of the development of
the self, AND the basis of society!
IMPORTANT EARLY THEORISTS
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY—Developed the concept of the
“looking glass self”:
1) we imagine how we appear to others
2) we imagine others’ judgments, and
3) based on the above, we develop a self concept. We see
ourselves through the “looking glass”—the eyes of others!
GEORGE HERBERT MEAD—Said that the social self is
composed of the “I”—the impulsive part of the self, and the
“Me,” the part that is socially restrained. He also developed the

8. three stage model of development of the social self:
Preparatory Stage, Play Stage, and Game Stage. Interaction
with others is critical to the development of the self.
QUESTIONS A SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST MIGHT ASK:
What does the phenomena in question SYMBOLIZE ? What
MEANINGS do persons put on objects and events?
How are symbols used to COMMUNICATE?
How is language used in creation of the self concept, and how
does language (labeling, for example) affect the social self and
self esteem?
How is language used to create a shared social reality between
participants that may be different from the reality experienced
by others?