Name __________________________________
Unit I Take home Essay Questions
In this first unit we have looked briefly at a number of different ideas and several different
theorists, so this first essay assignment addresses several of those which are most significant.
Part A: Having previously described the three components (“moments”) of Berger’s
“Universal Paradigm,” select an actual phenomenon that exhibits these moments that you
would use as an illustration to help explain this generic model to someone outside of class.
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Preface to Part B: The views of the two early founders of sociology, Comte and Spencer,
have been portrayed as representing, at least to some degree, two ends of the political
spectrum: Comte/Democrat (i.e., liberal, interventionist, ameliorative, Big Government) and
Spencer/Republican (i.e., conservative, lassiez faire, free enterprise, Big Business).
Part B: Now, thinking in terms of these views attributed to Comte and Spencer, how would
you analyze this statement by Elizabeth Warren, as she introduced her 2012 campaign to run
for Senator from Massachusetts:
“You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: you moved your goods to
market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate;
you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid
for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your
factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did.
"Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea? God
bless. Keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of
that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along."
(This is, in essence, a cogent summary of the major critique offered by Jonathan Freedland in
“Behind the Barricades” the recommended on-line reading posted on the course website
[http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/theory/Behind%20the%20Barricades.doc] and which you may
wish to read to further your analysis.
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Part C: In addition to any of the ideas and/or concepts you have already used to address Parts
A and B, name and elaborate upon one other major idea or concept that really piqued your
curiosity or struck you as especially relevant in the material covered in Unit I.
Suggestions for this first take-home essay assignment: Word processing preferred; otherwise
please write legibly. Responses should be clear and succinct and should represent your own
thoughtful reactions and insights. It’s always a good idea to re-read what you write before
you turn it in. And remember, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a well written sentence
is worth at least a hundred….