SOC101 Introduction to Sociology Assignment No.1 Solution Spring Semester 2013

[Vuhelper]

SOC101 Introduction to Sociology Assignment No.1 Solution Spring Semester 2013


SEMESTER SPRING 2013
Introduction to Sociology (SOC101)
Assignment No. 01
Due Date: May 09, 2013 Marks: 20
Sociological Perspectives in Everyday Life
Leaning Objective:
• To introduce the students with basic schools of thought of Sociology
• To enable students to practically impart their knowledge with help of theoretical approaches
learned in this subject
• To enhance students’ ability to critically analyze the social situations from different angels
Assignment 01
In sixteenth century and later on in Europe coffee centers were considered as centers of gossip and
political intrigue for the elites in the past and now the same culturehas expanded to the middle class as
well. Friends and families spend their time in these shops in order to have some fun as well as discuss
important issues of surroundings. Suppose you go to a Coffee house with your friends. You found
three paintings by Brughel hanging over there. The main theme of the paintings is derived from 16th
century (era of development of the discipline of sociology). In a first look paintings portrayed a large
number of people engaged in a range of bizarre activities. The painting first seems to make a little
sense but in reality it has in-depth social happenings in it.
Picture 01
Picture 02
Picture 03
Questions:
1. Have a look at the paintings given above; your task is to critically analyze each painting from the
social context given by the following perspectives and give logical reasoning to justify your answer:
15
1. The Structural-Functional
2. The Social-Conflict
3. The Symbolic-Interaction
2. How the social situations presented in each painting provide a conflicting context for other school
of thought? Explain with examples. 5
Steps to attempt the assignment:
Firstly, critically analyze pictures one by one from each school of thought
Secondly, try to extract the social context of each picture
Thirdly, relate the social context presented in the picture with all three perspectives
Lastly, compare and contrast how these pictures present diversified view of society as per sociological
perspectives
Learning Outcomes:
• Learners will be able to understand the roles of sociologicalperspective in shaping our
everyday life
• Students will also be able to apply multiple schools of thought in specific situations which
ultimately help them to avoid ethnocentric approach in life
Note:
Only in the case of Assignment, 24 hours extra / grace period after the due date is
usually available to overcome uploading difficulties which may be faced by the
students on last date. This extra time should only be used to meet the emergencies and
above mentioned due dates should always be treated as final to avoid any
inconvenience.
Important Instructions:
Please read the following instructions carefully before attempting the assignment solution.
Deadline:
• Make sure that you upload the solution file before the due date. No assignment will be
accepted through e-mail once the solution has been uploaded by the instructor.
Formatting guidelines:
• Use the font style “Times New Roman”/ “Arial” and font size “12”.
• It is advised to compose your document in MS-Word 2003.
• Use black and blue font colors only.
Solution guidelines:
• Every student will work individually and has to write in the form of an analytical
assignment.
• Give the answer according to question.
• For acquiring the relevant knowledge don’t rely only on handouts but watch the video
lectures and use other reference books also.
Rules for Marking
Please note that your assignment will not be graded or graded as Zero (0) if:
• It has been submitted after due date
• The file you uploaded does not open or is corrupt
• It is in any format other than doc (MS. Word)
• It is cheated or copied from other students, internet, books, journals etc…
Note related to load shedding: Please be proactive
Dear students!
As you know that semester activities have started and load shedding
problem is also prevailing in our country now a days. Keeping in view the
fact, It is requested to all of you to manage to post your activities as early as
possible and don’t wait for the due date. For your convenience activity
schedule has already been uploaded on VULMS for the current semester,
therefore no excuse will be entertained after due date of assignments,
quizzes or GDBs.

[Vuhelper]

Idea Solution :


The structural-functional approach is derived from earlier uses of functionalism and systems models in anthropology, sociology, biology, and political science. Structural functionalism became popular around 1960 when it became clear that ways of studying U.S. and European politics were not useful in studying newly independent countries, and that a new approach was needed. Structural-functionalism assumes that a bounded (nation-state) system exists, and studies structures in terms of their function(s) within the system. For structural functionalists the question to be answered is what does a structure (guerrilla movement, political party, election, etc.) do within the political system (of country x)? The goal is to find out what something actually does in a political system, as opposed to what it is supposed to do. Thus, structural functionalists would not waste time studying constitutions in Third World countries if they found that the constitutions [structures] had little impact on political reality.
Almond claimed that certain political functions existed in all political systems. On the input side he listed these functions as: political socialization, political interest articulation, political interest aggregation, and political communication. Listed as outputs were rule-making, rule implementation, and rule adjudication. Other basic functions of all political systems included the conversion process, basic pattern maintenance, and various capabilities (distributive, symbolic, etc.). Structural functionalists argued that all political systems, including Third World systems, could most fruitfully be studied and compared on the basis of how differing structures performed these functions in the various political system.