SAMPLE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
EXAMINATION 3

  1. Distinguish between sacred and profane (object). Give an example for each.
  2. Explain what secularization is.
  3. Describe how secularization has affected religious groups in the United States.
  4. Relate revival to secularization.
  5. Stark and I state that religion remains important to many members of the modern community. Briefly discuss what religion provides for these people.
  6. Distinguish between a church and a sect.
  7. Discuss the kind of community in which a cult is likely to have the greatest appeal / success.
  8. Briefly discuss what education claims to do for us. What do sociologists show it often does?
  9. Public education is seen as an opportunity structure, a way to gain access to occupational success. Discuss how education does or does not meet this goal. For what social class in the United States does it work best?
  10. Education as a process and as an organization means different things to different groups in the community. Select a major group (e.g., administration, instruction, student, business, parents) and discuss how that group relates to education.
  11. What is tracking or channeling in the public schools?
  12. Schools sort students by ability through tracking or channeling. Identify the positive and negative features of this program.
  13. Describe academic freedom.
  14. Identify the advantages or disadvantages of a "voucher" or "choice" system in providing education from public funds.
  15. What dangers seem to be a part of the development of the state?
  16. How can the power of the state be kept in check?
  17. What is the purpose of the state?
  18. Under what circumstance might an elitist state seem appropriate?
  19. What conditions and processes seem to be needed to keep a pluralistic state in existence?
  20. In the long run, what difference has the type of state made for the condition of the average person?
  21. How is change in the social structure likely to affect your future life? (What roles, activities or opportunities will be different, enhanced or made less important?)
  22. Identify conditions or processes that have made change in the social structure. Give a brief example of each.
  23. What is social change?
  24. What is cultural lag? Give an example.
  25. We write in characters that were developed by Phoenicians, count in a system developed by the Arabic peoples, hunt with weapons based on a Chinese invention. Describe the process that is involved.