SLA #1

Sociologists have used empirical research to demonstrate that our class, race, and gender statuses influence

our lives. To further develop your sociological imagination, I am asking you to engage with the course material

on social class. Throughout your assignment, you should demonstrate your understanding of the sociological

perspective. To do this, you should meaningfully engage with course readings, lecture notes, and/or discussion

section materials.

For this assignment, you can choose to answer the following questions by

either WRITING A PAPER OR RECORDING A VIDEO PRESENTATION.

You only have to do one or the other, not both!

Assignment questions

1. Explain how Domhoff defines social class and contrast this with Socioeconomic Status (SES) as a

measure of class. What pieces of information would you need from an individual to identify their

class based on Domhoffs understanding of class? What would you need to know about an

individual to determine their SES? Which measure of class do you find preferable? Explain why.

2. Drawing on Shapiro, explain the terms wealth and income and why it is important to distinguish

between wealth and income when considering ones class status and life circumstances. Explain

how wealth and income might contribute to social class reproduction.

3. Apply Domhoffs perspective to your own life. In other words, identify and describe the key

institutions (i.e. school, social clubs/extracurriculars, work, etc.) and social networks you have had

access to in your life. Explain the terms social mobility and social class persistence. Explain how

your access to specific institutions and social networks might lead to social mobility or social class

persistence in your life.

PAPER OPTION INSTRUCTIONS

One option for this assignment is to write a paper where you answer ALL of the assignment questions,

following these paper guidelines:

Write a paper that is approximately 3-5 pages double-spaced with 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

You should answer each of the assignment questions fully and with complete sentences.

Please clearly number your answers according to the question you are answering.

Writing will be considered while grading.

Documents should be uploaded in one of the following formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf. Do NOT submit

.pages documents.

You should NOT bring in any outside sources or collaborate with anyone on this assignment.

Your assignment should NOT contain any quotes from the course readings. Your entire assignment

should be written in your own words.

At the end of your paper, you should include an AI Acknowledgement Statement, if necessary (see AI

policy below).

You do NOT need to include a works cited page.

In order to receive written feedback on your assignment, write Written Feedback Requested at the

top of your assignment. If you do not specify that you would like written feedback, we will grade using

the rubric on ICON and will leave few, if any, comments.

Submit your assignment via the course website- to do this, click on the Assignments tab and then

click on Social Location Assignment Option #1