Students will write responses to the following 3 question prompts provided in this document.
Each written response should be in 12pt., Times New Roman or Arial font, 1.5 line spacing, 1
inch margins. Each question will have a specific minimum and maximum length. Exams should
be submitted in D2L under the “Assignments” area by 11:59pm on the due date in Microsoft
Word or PDF format (no other file types will be accepted). The percentage points per question
is provided. This exam is worth 20% of your grade in the class.
The heading for your exam document should read:
Last Name, First Name
SOC 103, Term (semester and year)
Exam 1
Students should put any concepts/definitions in their own words, however if necessary any
direct references from the text should use proper citation formats.
Work should be your own. Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is strictly
prohibited for this exam. Anyone using these tools will be subject to failure of the exam.
In your responses, simply place the number of the question in the beginning of the response.
(no need to copy and paste the question).
Written Exam Questions:
- Choose one of the following social problems: school shootings or domestic violence.
Describe the social problem selected and what makes it a social problem. Brainstorm possible
causes of the social problem using each of the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology:
structural-functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. In your response, define
each of the theoretical perspectives, and discuss as to how the various perspectives contribute
to analysis of the social problem. (Minimum 1.5 pages, Maximum 2 pages; 30 points)
Rubric will evaluate for:
● Writing:
○ Clear introduction, body, and conclusion
○ Understanding, evaluating, and applying concepts to respond to question
● Content:
○ Defining what a social problem is, and how the social problem selected meets
that definition
○ Description of each theoretical perspective
■ Identifies how they differ
○ Application of each theoretical perspective to the social problem
○ Analysis as to the benefits of utilizing multiple perspectives to analyze a social
problem. - Compare and contrast the following government approaches to drug use using at least
one example for each: zero tolerance, deregulation, and legalization. In your response, define
each approach and include at least one positive aspect of the approach and one challenge.
Conclude with your thoughts on which is most effective and rationale as to why. Provide an
example in the form of a news article or study as a reference as to why.
(Minimum 1 page, maximum 1.5 pages; 30 points)
Rubric will evaluate for:
● Writing:
○ Clear introduction, body, and conclusion
○ Evaluating and applying concepts to respond to question
● Content:
○ Defining each approach
○ Providing an example for each approach
○ Providing at least one positive aspect and one challenge of each approach
○ Explanation provided as to which approach is most effective and supported by a
news article or study. - Many students who take this class are interested in fields related to the health sciences.
Discuss the reasons for health disparities along racial and gender differences, providing at least
two examples of each. Explain how this knowledge might impact how a healthcare worker
engages in their profession. Finally, define and discuss the challenges surrounding health care
reform. What specific aspects have been particularly controversial and why? (minimum 2 pages,
maximum 3 pages; 40 points):
●
Rubric will evaluate for:
● Writing:
○ Clear introduction, body, and conclusion
○ Clear explanation and applying concepts to respond to prompts
● Content:
○ Defines health disparities
○ Provides at least two examples for reasons of health disparities
■ Across race
■ Across gender
○ Explains application of this knowledge to the role of a healthcare worker
○ Defines health care reform
○ Discusses challenges to health care reform
○ Analyses what is controversial in health care reform