Social Stratification and Its Impact
Name of textbook: “Creating and Contesting Social Inequalities” by Froyum, Bloch, and Taylor
NOT SURE ABOUT TITLE
Your paper should thoroughly analyze each major aspect of social stratification, and is
expected to reflect the level of your understanding of the textbook readings
throughout the semester. The format of your paper should follow a three-chapter
format, and should include an abstract at the beginning as well as a bibliography at the
end. The following is detailed instructions for each part of your paper.
Abstract (50 to 100 words): the abstract of your paper is a concise summary of your
paper. It should cover elements, such as the issue being studied, methodologies used (if any), and conclusions.
Chapter one (300 to 800 words): in chapter one, you are expected to introduce what is
social stratification (social stratification as a dynamic process, rather than a static state of inequalities), and how inequalities are created.
Chapter two (500 to 1000 words): in chapter two, you are expected to explain how the
overwhelmingly complicated hierarchical system is institutionalized in different aspects
of our society, and how it affects the lives of different social groups (like how dominant
groups/subordinate groups benefit or being exploited by the system).
Chapter three (500 to 1000 words): in chapter three, you are expected to discuss what
can be done to eliminate/reduce social inequalities.
Bibliography: in your bibliography section.
(for graduate students, at least 6 textbook articles plus 2 external source articles must be listed).
Requirements:
The title of your paper should be concise and reflect the main ideas of the content.
The length of your paper (excluding abstract and references) must be at least 1500
words for undergraduate students and 1800 words for graduate students.
The bibliography section must be formatted professionally (examples are given
below).
Your understanding and digestion of your weekly readings must be
reflected throughout your paper (For graduate students, in addition to this
basic requirement, you are also expected to demonstrate the ability to apply what
you learned from the readings to explaining your personal observation/experience
of the real world society).
Chapter one and two are primarily based on your textbook readings. In chapter
three, however, you are provided an opportunity to express your personal
opinions (this is also the most interesting part for me to read). You have 100%
academic freedom in expressing your personalized solutions to social inequalities,
or you may even vote yes for social stratification, as long as you can back up your
claims with good arguments! But there’s one thing you must keep in mind,
whatever your personal opinion is, the textbook readings are the basis of your
argument. In other words, demonstrate your understanding of these readings
before making your own claims!
