Overview: A Reminder For This Project You Will Need T 251048
Overviewas A Reminder Tor This Project You Will Need To Identify An
As a reminder, for this project, you will need to identify an institution (family, education or religion) and provide a Functionalist and a Conflict Theory analysis of your institution in American society. You will need to conduct research on your specific institution, utilizing a combination of 7-10 resources such as books, newspaper articles, news magazine articles, sociological journals, internet sites, videos, DVDs, interviews, etc. After gathering your research, analyze your information using the following questions as a guide:
- Discuss the history of your institution. How did it emerge? How did it come into existence?
- How do members of society perceive your institution? How do members of the institution perceive itself (its own institution)?
- How has the institution changed over time? What has caused various institutions to change?
- Discuss any stable features of the institution, that is, features that have not changed.
- As a way to better accommodate members of society, how would you improve your institution?
- Who are the major participants in the institution? What are their roles and statuses?
- Does your institution work better for some members of society (as opposed to others)?
You will organize and submit your information in an outline format on a PowerPoint (10–15 pages) or other slide/presentation program. Your presentation should include images, videos, charts, and graphs where applicable. You may use platforms such as Google Slides, Open Office Impress, or Prezi if PowerPoint is not available.
To complete this project, find additional sources to support your research, take notes, and create an outline using full sentences. This outline will serve as the basis for your final presentation and for peer review. Be prepared to simplify and modify your outline based on feedback from the Peer Feedback Discussion. Finally, create and upload your completed PowerPoint or slide presentation, including a Works Cited page.
Paper For Above instruction
This project involves a comprehensive examination of an institution of your choice—be it family, education, or religion—to analyze it through Sociological theories, specifically Functionalism and Conflict Theory. The goal is to understand the institution’s origins, societal perceptions, internal self-perception, historical evolution, and stability features. Additionally, you will explore potential improvements for societal accommodation and evaluate how different members experience the institution differently based on roles, statuses, and social inequalities.
Choosing an institution requires careful research from a variety of credible sources including books, academic journals, newspaper articles, videos, and interviews. The diversity of sources ensures a broad perspective on the institution’s history, societal role, and internal dynamics. This research lays the groundwork for a detailed analysis based on sociological theory and critical thinking about social change and stability.
The analysis begins with tracing the origins of the institution, exploring how it came into existence, and rallying relevant historical context. Understanding how the institution was formed involves examining its cultural, economic, and political foundations over time. For instance, if analyzing the education system, one might consider the historical development of public schooling, legislation, and societal needs that shaped its evolution.
Next, it is essential to evaluate societal perceptions. This involves exploring how the general public, targeted communities, and stakeholders view the institution—whether positively, negatively, or ambiguously. Additionally, how members within the institution perceive their roles and the institution’s purpose provides insight into internal legitimacy and identity. For example, teachers may view education as a tool for societal progress, while society might perceive public schools as underfunded or ineffective.
The evolution of the institution over time highlights societal and structural changes, such as policy reforms, technological advances, or shifts in cultural values. Identifying features that have remained stable can reveal core values and functions that sustain the institution despite external changes. For example, the family institution has maintained certain norms around kinship and caregiving, even as its composition and roles have diversified.
Proposing improvements involves considering societal needs and challenges. These might include policy reforms, increased inclusivity, resource allocation, or better access for marginalized groups. For example, reforms in education could aim at reducing disparities for students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The analysis also considers the roles and statuses of major participants—such as family members, educators, religious leaders, or students—examining how power and responsibilities are distributed within the institution. An equitable understanding of these roles helps identify social inequalities or privilege that might exist.
Finally, examining whether the institution benefits some groups more than others reveals systemic inequalities. For example, in the education system, students from affluent backgrounds generally have better access to resources, which perpetuates social stratification. Recognizing these inequalities informs discussions on social justice and the potential for reform.
This project culminates in a well-organized slide presentation, integrating visual aids like images, videos, charts, and graphs to enhance understanding and engagement. The presentation will articulate a nuanced sociological analysis, applying theories to explain the institution's functions, challenges, and opportunities for positive change. The final step involves creating a detailed Works Cited page documenting all sources used.
References
- Durkheim, E. (1912). The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Oxford University Press.
- Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Classics.
- Parsons, T. (1951). The Social System. Free Press.
- Collins, R. (1971). Functional and conflict theories of educational stratification. American Sociological Review, 36(6), 1002–1019.
- Gorski, P. C., & Prendergast, M. (2013). Reimagining Education: The Philosophy of Critical Pedagogy. Routledge.
- Unger, R. M. (1976). The Critical Turn: Marxist and Feminist Perspectives on Education. Harvard Educational Review, 46(4), 521–537.
- Johnson, M. K. (2011). The Role of Family in Society. Sociology of Family, 83–99.
- Smith, J. A. (2014). Education and Social Inequality. Journal of Sociological Research, 22(3), 245–260.
- Williams, P. (2015). Religion and Society: Sociological Perspectives. Oxford University Press.
- Bauman, Z. (2000). Liquid Modernity. Polity Press.