- Do you agree with Marx that the establishment of a communist economy would create a more humane society? How could we abolish private property? Is this the answer that we need in today’s market/s? Be specific with your explanations. Arguably, modern attempts at communism (U.S.S.R.’s Communism, China, Cuba, etc.) have not produced a more humane society. Is this the case? Why or why not. Use examples from your previous experience, and research you can do and present your findings in the form of a research paper.
- Discuss some of the theoretical arguments that can be applied to the death penalty and long-term imprisonment of Americans. Are there beliefs associated with public support for these punishments?
- Research different types of government and economic systems (i.e. monarchies, dictatorships, democracies, socialism, capitalism, etc.) and write down the strengths and weaknesses of each. Be sure to think about certain themes such as citizen happiness, quality of life, strength of infrastructure, and levels of education to name a few. Once you have completed this list, attempt to write a “blueprint” for what you believe would be the strongest form of society for people. Be sure to be specific and feel free to invent your own new structure (you can even name it). Finally, what has your research taught you about what our democratic/capitalist society does right and where it could improve?
Emile Durkheim
- The Internet is a new social organization which consists of the email, blogs, Wikis, Social Networking communities (like Facebook and LinkedIn), and the Web. What role(s) does technology play within an overly specialized division of labor? In addition, looking at the Net Societies, do you think whether electronic gatherings are similar to Durkheim’s mechanical societies or are they similar to organic societies?
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Consider what Gilman would have said if she lived today pertaining to the American society. Do a google search for American legislature and laws affecting gender (and sexual) equality in our history? What did you find? Then, research cases on sexual and gender inequality that have made the Supreme Court. What did you find? Have all cases of discrimination ended since laws providing protections to gender/sexuality were enacted? Explain your findings in a form a research report.
W.E.B. DuBois
- Research intermarriage rates in the U.S. What do you find? Also, look at dating patterns of Americans. What do you find? Try to identify the oldest published article and the newest published article on this topic. What do you find to differ between them and what remains the same, in terms of the article, arguments, and participants/population? What would Du Bois have to say about your findings? Write a research paper in response to this prompt.
Immanuel Wallerstein
- Research organizations dedicated to global issues such as The Red Cross, the Peace Corps, Global Workers Justice Alliance, and any others of relevance. Apply Wallerstein arguments on regarding these efforts to a summative essay, presenting your findings in the form of a research paper.
Dorothy Smith
- Write a research paper where you discuss the roles that women and men have when it comes to gender-dominated fields, like teaching and nursing. Apply Smith’s standpoint and bifurcation of consciousness to your analysis. Consider the language of “carework” that we adhere to these two fields (teaching, nursing). Then conduct an online search for peer-reviewed works (i.e., government or university) tables that provide details about who is in management in these two fields by sex/gender, and the breakdown of the sex/gender for the field.
Patricia Hill Collins
- Critically analyze the following quote: “Most Black women do not have the opportunity to befriend White women and men as neighbors, nor do their children attend school with White children. Racial segregation remains a fundamental feature of the U.S. social landscape, leaving many African-Americans with the belief that “the more things change, the more they stay the same” (Collins 1998a, 11–43).” Write a research paper where you present findings that either supports or counters the above quote.Be specific about what you found and relate what you find to Collins’ work.