Final Essay Exam
Answer three of the following questions. You MUST answer the first question. Each response is expected to be at least three pages in length (typed with standard font and margins) and will be weighted equally. Therefore, you should put an equal amount of effort into each response. You should also be sure to answer each part of the question. The best papers will reflect the student’s critical reaction to the readings assigned in class. This means the paper will demonstrate in depth analysis of the issues being discussed, a synthesis of the various sources, and/or an informed judgment of the relevant issues/debates. This exam is due on July 27th and 11pm (place your paper in the D2L dropbox as a Word document by that time).
1) REQUIRED: Consider the class as a whole. One common theme of several of the topics we have covered is how the reproduction of social inequality is a “structural” rather than “individualistic” process. Draw on several readings (at least four), including at least one theoretical reading, as you describe how structural factors act to reproduce class, race, and/or gender inequality. The point of this essay is for you to demonstrate that you can make an argument that synthesizes the course as a whole. In doing so, you should highlight the readings that made, in your opinion, the most compelling case that the reproduction of social inequality is a structural process.
2) Review the various ways in which women, racial minorities, and older people face discrimination. What are the causes and consequences of these various types of discrimination? How is discrimination linked to inequality in general? How do these types of discrimination intersect? You are expected to cite at least two specific examples from the readings to support your arguments.
3) Review Rothstein’s discussion of the ways social class influences educational outcomes and his suggested reforms aimed at reducing these disparities. In your opinion, how realistic are these reforms, and if implemented, how successful do you think they would be? What are the mechanisms that produce racialized wealth inequality and how is it passed from one generation to the next? Considering the Johnson book, how does wealth inequality affect educational disparities, and how to wealthy and poor parents make ideological sense of this process?
4) How does John Ogbu’s oppositional culture theory explain racial differences in educational performance? According to Carter’s book “Keeping It Real” how does “the burden of ‘acting white’” play out in educational settings? What are her specific policy recommendations and how effective do you believe they would be for reducing educational inequality between black and white students? Detail Ainsworth-Darnell and Downey’s empirical test of this theory and the subsequent debate with Farkas et al.. Based on the evidence presented in our readings, what is your opinion concerning the oppositional culture theory? That is, is it a useful explanation of racial differences in educational performance?
Advice for Written Work

At the most basic level, your written work should demonstrate that you have read and critically thought about the assigned readings or videos.

The best papers will reflect a critical reaction to the readings. This means the paper will demonstrate in depth analysis of the issues being discussed, a synthesis of the various sources, and/or an informed judgment of the relevant issues/debates.” These three general requirements are discussed in more detail below:

1) In-depth analysis involves critically reflecting upon the readings. This is not simply summarizing the readings, but discussing them in a critical way. What are the central arguments? What are the strengths and weaknesses in the claims made? Are their any logical errors in the arguments presented?

2) Synthesis involves making connections between multiple sources. This is the easiest way to show me you have thought critically about the readings. Sociological works are typically contributions to a conversation. What is the conversation the assigned readings are part of? Is there a debate? What are the competing arguments in the debate? How are the findings and/or theories of various sources related to each other? As the course progresses, you will have an increasingly large set of sources to draw upon as you develop such syntheses, so strong students will keep past readings in mind as they read new material.

3) Informed judgment is the statement of the author’s position backed up with supporting evidence or argument. This is not simply the author’s opinion. Tell me what you think, and why you think it. Is your position related to any debates within the literature?

General advice:
Do more than summarize the readings. Simple summarizing the readings is a common error. I expect much more than summary. You should think of these essays as a statement of your reaction to the readings, and an argument/statement of your own on related topics. I want to see your voice coming through.

Drawing on your relevant lived experiences is an excellent way of analyzing readings or supporting your judgments. We often draw upon our lived experiences as we make sense of what we study, and incorporating those experiences is certainly relevant. However, such citation of lived experiences should be relevant and should be done as concisely as possible. Your essay should not involve extensive storytelling.

Making direct reference to the readings, beyond any provided lecture notes, is an excellent way to show me that you have done the readings. You do not need to quote in order to do this. Simply referring to relevant examples from the readings (with page specific citations) will show me you have read the material. This should be done beyond the examples provided in lecture notes and/or class discussion.

Quoting is fine, but should be done sparingly and only when you cannot make the point better yourself. Do not let quotes speak for themselves. Simply copying quotes without discussion does not show me you have thought about the readings.

I place a priority on making connections to other readings from our course, in comparison to readings from outside our course. You can draw on outside readings, but this should be done sparingly, and only when particularly relevant. The bulk of your essay should be based on course readings. Avoid writing essays that would lead me to wonder if it was cut-and-pasted from an essay written for another purpose.

Writing significantly less than the expected length suggests that you don’t have any more to say. You will not be downgraded for writing more than the expected length, but concise writing is expected. If you feel it is necessary to discuss topics beyond the assigned readings (e.g. lived experiences, or citation of material from outside our course), than writing more than is required is a useful strategy. I expect most of the essay will be devoted to the assigned readings.

Avoid “fluff” or “filler” and going off-topic. Each sentence should serve a purpose in advancing your argument.