THEORETICAL APPLICATION PAPER

You will be writing a paper that demonstrates 1) your understanding of three of the sociological perspectives we have studied in the course and 2) your ability to apply these perspectives to stratification. Explore the topic of social stratification, specifically, social class, and answer the following questions in the format provided below. Your final paper should be a five paragraph 500-750 word essay (3 pages), using a 12-point font, and double-spaced. Failure to adhere to formatting standards may result in a deduction of points from the final grade. Important: You are required to use material from the textbook and the article provided . Use ONLY these 2 sources – NOTHING else! Cite both sources using either MLA or APA format, and you must include a “Works Cited” or “References” page. This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade. INTRODUCTORY SECTION: Identify stratification & social class, (cite textbook 182 & 184 ) and tell me what you plan to do in the paper. THEORETICAL SECTION: STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM: Describe how social stratification (social class) may be viewed via the structural functionalist perspective. Include an overview of the theory, its key focus, (textbook 20-22) and how it can be applied to stratification. (Article, Davis and Moore) SOCIAL CONFLICT: Describe how social stratification (social class) may be viewed via the social conflict perspective. Include an overview of the theory, its key focus,(textbook 23-26) and how it can be applied to stratification. (Article, Tumin) SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST: Describe how stratification (social class)may be viewed via the symbolic interactionist perspective. Include an overview of the theory, its key focus,( textbook 27-31) and how it can be applied to stratification. (textbook 191-193) CRITICAL THINKING ANALYSIS: (should be about a page in length) In this section,  explicitly illustrate an ability to select and use information appropriately to investigate a point of view or conclusion. Conclude your paper by doing one of two things: A) Make the case for the “best” theory to explain social stratification (social class) (you will choose and have to be able to justify this choice by using information appropriately) Or B) Make the argument that stratification (social class) is best understood by using multiple theoretical lenses (again, you have to be able to justify this choice by using information appropriately.