SOCI305: Contemporary Sociological Theory
Essay 1
Course Objectives: This course assessment will evaluate your ability to do the following:
Course Objective
One
Course Objective
Three Define sociological theory. Course Objective
Four Analyze important developments in sociological theory, including
developments in European sociological theory that influenced the growth of
theory in the United States. Identify major bodies of theoretical work in contemporary sociology and the
theorists associated with them. Choose one of the two questions to write on. Essays must be at least 6 pages, and
double-spaced. Essays must be in APA format and sources must be properly cited.
Questions (choose one):
1. After reading the Theory of Action in Chapter 2 beginning on page 35, describe the
Theory of Action and then present an analysis of a recent news article in terms of the four
points of behavior conceptualized by the Theory of Action: (1) behavior is oriented to the
attainment of ends or goals or other anticipated states of affair; (2) It takes place in
situations; (3) It is normatively regulated and (4) It involves expenditure of energy or
effort or motivation. There is an example of a brief analysis of a case on page 36 – you
may follow this model, which begins at the end of the first column, but it is important
that you include a richer description than the example offered on page 36. You may
choose to use a newspaper article, a magazine article, or an article located on the Internet.
Or you may choose:
2. From page 89: “The Culture Industry encompasses all those sectors involved in the
creation and distribution of mass-culture products: television, film, radio, music,
magazines, newspapers, books, and the advertisements that sell them. Geared toward
entertaining and pacifying the masses, the culture industry administers “mass deception”
by churning out a never-ending supply of mass-produced, standardized commodities that
“aborts and silences criticism.” Manufactured movie and television stars act as its
leading spokespersons, promoting its superficial, conformist vision of the happy life both
in their performances and in their revolving appearances on the cycles of vacuous, everthe-same talk shows.” First, discuss the concept of technological (or instrumental)
rationality and how it has come to form the basis of the dominant ideology in our society.
Next, choose a recent news article and describe how it either supports or refutes the
notion that the culture industry administers mass deception.
