The assignment wahs to be based on reading of the book, i have attachments to e-mail, copied and scaned pages from the book

Schaefer- 1) What is the distinguishing feature of sociology? Explain C. Wright Mills concept of the Sociological Imagination. In doing so, explain the key difference between “individual problems” and “social problems.” How is the sociological imagination used to explain the problem of “divorce?”

2) (Schaefer-1) Discuss Emile Durkhiem’s classical scientific study of suicide. How was his theory different from other psychological theories of suicide? What were Durkheim’s conclusions about suicide rates and how they differed based on various social groups and levels of integration?

3) (Schaefer- 1) Compare and contrast the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology- (functionalism, conflict theory and interactionism.) As you compare these approaches, be sure to use the Gulf Coast Oil Spill as an example. How does each theoretical perspective view this problem differently?

4) (Schaefer- 2) Describe the key differences between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. How would the two approaches understand the topic(s) of “the 2003 Iraq War” and “children marrying adults?”

5) (Schaefer- 2) Based on data collected from 1966 through 2011, explain (in detail) how the social “values” of first year college students have drastically changed. Using any evidence from the reading(s), what other social forces taking place over this time period may have contributed to this general shift in values?

6) (DelSordi-1) Describe my use of the “sociological imagination” and how it is applied to electoral/voting behavior (be specific). 

7) (DelSordi-1) Describe 2 major transformations that have taken place in American culture over the last few generations. How have these specific changes created new social problems that sociologists are currently grappling with?

8) DelSordi-1) Explain the concept of “value freedom.” How does the use of “situated objectivity” help us remain academically honest?

9) (DelSordi-1) How does positivism differ from postmodernism? How has postmodernism changed the field of sociology? Explain how postmodernism has altered our understanding of social problems (using one major example in the reading).