Assignment: Essay
The following is our final essay exam. Within each of the below questions, you will be required to demonstrate expertise with the material we have covered to this point in the course. Although parts of the below questions will solicit specific conceptual understandings, the vast majority of what you use to support your answer will be entirely up to you. This is not to say that I am not seeking specific types of responses in these questions; indeed, there are several key concepts that you will be expected to address given the parameters of each individual essay question.
Everyone must answer the first question, and then choose three of the remaining four questions. The first question should be approximately 2 paragraphs in length. Each of the remaining questions should be approximately 1.5 to 2 pages per response.
1) John, who lives on the East Coast, understands the arguments surrounding global warming quite well: the Earth's ice caps will melt, sea levels will rise, and storms will intensify. This places our coastal communities in a vulnerable position. During the height of hurricane season, John's town is devastated by an uncommonly fierce hurricane that leaves utter destruction in its wake, decimating John's community. The impact of the storm is particularly damaging because John's town mostly relies upon tourism for the support of local families. How would a sociologist use the sociological imagination to describe, first, how this storm event impacts John and, second, how it impacts his community? (Think about the theories we have used to this point in the course for help!)
2) Referring to our reading, lecture, and video content, explain in detail the most well-regarded theories about what causes colony collapse disorder with honey bees around the world. B) explain how a functionalist and a conflict theorist would differ in interpreting one of these major theories.
3) Giving direct reference to our reading, video, and lecture material, explain three major reasons why nations such as North Korea would want to develop nuclear weapons. B) explain the development and justification for the use of nuclear weapons on the country of Japan at the end of World War II. C) explain how a nuclear apocalypse could be viewed as a public health concern.
4) As we mentioned in class, the vast majority of global warming deniers come from the United States, and although they are in a distinct scientific minority, their voices are given an incredible amount of airtime in mainstream media. Explain from a conflict viewpoint why the United States seems to be the bastion of global warming deniers. B) Finally, propose a thoughtful way in which nations with the largest economies such as the United States, Japan, and China, may be able to work together in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5) Referring to the content of the feature film, Snowpiercer, please answer the following questions: A) explain at least two instances in which the film demonstrates a "lifting of the veil" for the film's characters. B) explain how a functionalist and a conflict theorist would strongly differ in their interpretation of social order on the train. For example, how would a functionalist see the "sacred engine" differently than a conflict theorist?
Everyone must answer this question!!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbnpaj9ghs4ixw9/Readings.zip?dl=0