St. Francis Xavier University
Department of Sociology
Sociology 100: Introduction to Sociology – 2012-13
Dr. John Phyne
Annex 110A
Phone: 867-2313
e-mail (jphyne@stfx.ca)
Outline for Test One
Date: Monday, October 1 – 11:15 to 12:30 AM.
Evaluation: 10% of your final grade
Format: Three essay questions worth 50 marks each. All students must complete
question 1. You have a choice of answering question 2 or 3.
Requirements
The examination will cover class lectures up to, and including, the class on Thursday,
September 27. Your performance on the examination will be based on your ability to
combine materials from class lectures and the following required readings:
Section One: Introduction: The Study of the ‘Social’
Robert J. Brym, ‘Chapter One: Introducing Sociology ’, pp. 2-26.
Section Two: Becoming Members of Society: Culture
Robert J. Brym, ‘Chapter Two: Culture’, pp. 28-47.
Ralph Linton, ‘One Hundred Per Cent American’.
Sample Questions: Here are some questions to consider in studying for the examination.
Keep in mind that the issues pertaining to these questions may be combined in the
questions that you will be answering on the examination. For example, aspects of
questions 1 and 2 may be combined into one question.
1. Define and discuss the meaning of the terms: ethnocentrism, cultural diffusion
and cultural relativism. What factors promote cultural diffusion? Discuss the use
of cultural diffusion by reference to Ralph Linton’s ‘One Hundred Per Cent
American’.
2
2. What is meant by the rights revolution? Discuss the rights revolution with regards
to the impact to changes in the social composition of immigrants to Canada since
1961. How does the concept of cultural diffusion relate to the impact of
immigration to Canada?
3. In the chapter on culture, Brym argues that Canada has become a post-modern
society. What does he mean by this? Discuss with reference to the three aspects of
post-modernism. What is the relationship between post-modernism and the rights
revolution?
4. In the chapter on culture, Brym argues that rationalization and consumerism
represent constraining dimensions of culture. What does he mean by this? In your
answer, focus upon the development of rationalization and upon consumerism.
Finally, what impact does consumerism have upon counter-cultures?
5. Outline the functionalist approach to society. In your answer, discuss the organic
analogy and what this means for functionalist accounts of society. Next, briefly
summarise the four components of functionalism discussed in the textbook.
Finally, show how Durkheim’s conception of anomie is an example of
functionalism.
6. What is meant by the triple revolution? Discuss the impact of the triple revolution
on the origins of sociology. Functionalism is the first sociological approach that
emerged from the triple revolution. Briefly summarise the four components of
functionalism discussed in the textbook.
7. Discuss the four components of conflict theory discussed in the textbook. Second,
summarise Marx’s contributions to conflict theory. Finally summarise Weber’s
contributions to conflict theory.
8. Define and discuss the differences among microstructures, macrostructures and
global structures. For Mills, the sociological imagination involves connecting the
linkages among biography, history and social structure. Discuss what he means by
this. How is Mill’s analysis an attempt to link microstructures and
macrostructures?
9. According to Durkheim, the rate of suicide in a society is related to the level of
social solidarity. Define what is meant by social solidarity and how this is
connected to egoistic, altruistic and anomic forms of suicide. What solution did
Durkheim propose as a solution to anomic suicide?