AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology

Comprehensive Examination in Sociological Theory ________________________________________________

Fall 1998
4 December 1998

The exam is composed of four parts. Answer one question from each part. The total number of hours is four, one for each part.

I. Answer only one of the following questions. One hour.

1. Enlightenment thinkers often presented theories of ideal societies or ideal states. In contrast, sociologists of the early 19th century meant to analyze real societies. Show this difference by comparing one Enlightenment thinker and one 19th-century sociologist.

2. Explain how two of the following theorists understood the concept of power, and how this allowed them to formulate a sociology of politics:

3. How are structure and agency linked with each other in the work of two of the following theorists:

II. Answer only one of the following questions. One hour.

4. Outline a theory of social change developed within each of two of the following modern theoretical perspectives:

Structural-functionalism
Neo-Marxism
Feminist Theory

5. Parsons' theoretical paradigm was challenged in the 1960s. Review two of those challenges, explain why they arose, and discuss whether or how they moved modern theory a step forward.

6. Compare the concept of dialectical relationships in the thought of two of the following theorists:

III. Answer only one of the following questions. One hour.

7. How has sociological theory tackled the lack of integration of individuals into groups? Choose one classical and one modern theorist to illustrate your answer.

8. How has social theory explained the process in society which continually produces and reproduces social structure? Choose one classical and one modern theorist to illustrate your answer.

9. Describe an aspect of a classical and a modern theoretical position that has been questioned by feminist theory and by post-modern theory.

IV. Answer only one of the following questions. One hour.

10. Which theoretical perspective, in your opinion, best explains current global socio-economic trends? Describe these trends and defend your choice of theory to explain them.

11. Media reporting carries uneven weight in today's political process. Analyze theoretically why the media's impact is uncertain, and what other factors enter into the process.

12. Provide a theoretical framework that can account for the high level of religiosity in some of today's societies.

Theory Fall 1998