Quiz 3
Houston Community College System- SW
Spring 2011
Answer any 4 essays due by Saturday Midnight the week of April 17,
2011
The following are the topics regarding which there will be four essays required. Each
essay has to be a minimum of one page. Use APA style formatting, write in your own
words giving examples from your experiences. Analyze the given situation with relevant
examples and apply theory to explain the concept/ concepts covering the situation. Put all
the essays together in one document and submit it.
1) Are SAT scores right predictors of performance at college? What kinds of inequalities
are seen in school education and how does it affect college education (Hint: you can
apply theory here, and/or watch Finding Forrester movie and discuss the inequalities and
perception of inequalities and stereo types)?
2) Do gender, race, ethnicity play a role in the quality of education received? Discuss a
case recorded in history where there was gender/ race/ cultural inequalities in education
that was reported/ recorded. (Refer Reading 13 from the Sociology Reader, My Secret
Life as a Black Man, by Anthony Walton, p.130 and/or also watch the movie Morning
Break in which Harrison Ford is the main character and discuss what inequalities you
may find)
3) Do you suggest to college students any traits to develop in order to succeed (based on
symbolic interaction: what traits are cherished what traits are not conducive to growth?
Refer Reading 10 from the Sociology Reader Boyhood, Organized Sports and the
Construction of Masculinities by Michael A Messner, p.88 and/ or watch the movie
Hoosiers in which Gene Hackman and others acted and discuss the traits the students
developed, valued. Also discuss how the coach was accepted and criticized by peer and
society)
4) What is Capitalism? How did spirit of Capitalism arise out of Protestant Ethic? (Refer
Reading 35 from the Sociology Reader, original essay Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism by Max Weber, p.347 and/or watch the movie Wall Street in which Michael
Douglas and Charlie Sheen acted and discuss the negative aspects of Capitalism and give
examples from recent scandals in the business world)
5) According to Karl Marx, Capitalism will destroy itself leading the society towards
Socialism and ending in Communism. Why did this not happen? Do you think
globalization creates competition among nations? What effects will it have on different
countries in terms of job loss, change in life style (Read current issues of Business Week
or any other source, and watch “Outsourced” that comes on NBC on Thursdays prime
time and discuss effects of Globalization.
6) Discuss about one of the following movies:
i)Saving Private Ryan
ii)Nine Months
Discuss in what way members of society have supported in the mission? What is your
take with regard to theory?
Please see the rubric in the following page:
RUBRIC:
Grade
A
B
Rubric
A: 90% or
Explains
Explains
More
Theory,
Theory, with
B:80%-89% With
Examples
C: 70% to
adequate
and
79%
examples,
comparison.
D: 60% to
comparison Write up is
69%
and
not
Scholarly
following
F: less than
write up and Format,
60%
Format,
sources
Sources or
mentioned
references
mentioned
with citation
C
D
F
Explains
Theory but
needs more
elaboration,
Examples
from the
book,
nothing new
contributed
Sources not
adequately
mentioned
Explains
write up very
inadequately,
examples
from the
book not
adequately
given, needs
a lot of
improvement,
sources not
mentioned
Theory is
summarized
in one
sentence or
two. No
examples
given, or
material is
copied and
pasted and
sources are
not
mentioned.
If copied
from
internet and
claimed as
own, it is
plagiarism,
leads to F
grade for
the semester