News Analysis 2 social stratification 20%
Due date: April 5
Part A. 12 possible marks. Read the assigned chapter from Bryan Turner’s book Classical Sociology; Chapter 12 The Sociology of Stratification. In this chapter the author provides a slightly longer account of the three theories discussed by Brym in our textbook in chapter 6. Choose one of the three theories discussed by Brym (Marx’s conflict theory, pp. 127-30; the functionalist of Davis and Moore, pp. 130-1; and Weber’s compromise, 131-132) and compare it to the relevant account given in the Turner chapter. Your comparison should note the following: what specific aspects of the theories do the authors agree on, and where do their accounts differ from each other. Approx. 400 words.
Bryan Turner Classical Sociology Chapter 12 The Sociology of Stratification reading page numbers:
Marxism and class analysis 221-224
Weber The of class status and power 224-226
Social Stratification in American Sociology 226-229
Part B. 4 marks per story and explanation: out of 12
You are to find news stories that demonstrate your understanding of the three theories. For each of the theories you need to find a news story (you need to provide a link to the story, and it has to be a news source like a newspaper or a news media website) that captures or illustrates a specific feature of that theory. This involves two components: you need to identify a specific part of the news story and briefly describe how, in your view it is connected to a specific part of the (as opposed to how it is connected directly to the issue of stratification or poverty or class etc..) Three theories, three stories. Approx.. 150-200 per story/theory.
