You can write on any one of the following three questions.(choose one of the followings).
Essay question.
You can write on any one of the following three questions.(choose one of the followings).
.
- How has ‘urbanisation’ led to the development of new social relationships, such as ‘subcultures’ and ‘urban tribes’?
- Critically asses how feminisms assist in understanding social inequality faced by women of colour.
- Western terms such ‘homosexual’ and/or ‘gay’ do not necessarily translate into non-western countries. Discuss.
Please read all the following information and check the example essay which will help you to understand how to writet this assignment.
Marking criteria
An original approach to the question is present.
Sociological terms are diverse & critically engaged.
Contemporary issues pertinent to the question are integrated into discussion.
Writing style is succinct, accurate, & sophisticated.
Structure is logical & all key sections (introduction, body, & conclusion) are well developed. Key references cited accurately & contextualised.
There are six (6) key areas which will be the focus:
(1) Answering the question
(2) Terms from the unit
(3) Real-world examples
(4) Writing skills
(5) Essay structure
(6) Referencing.
D: WRITING AN ESSAY
An essay is one of the more common forms of assignments at university. They consist of a formal set
of rules and it may take some time to grasp the skills, but you will be assessed on your capacity to
write an essay as much as your capacity to understand the unit material.
An essay consists of 3 COMPONENTS:
Introduction
States clearly how the essay intends to answer question.
Places the topic of question in context of the unit.
Identifies the key sections of the essay’s body.
Body
The main section of the essay where the question is answered.
This is where your research appears (see pg. 25).
Consists of discrete sections that revolve around the central ideas which
were identified in the introduction.
Sections may or may not correspond to paragraphs.
A general rule is: “One idea per paragraph” and there may be several
ideas in one section.
Sections/paragraphs must follow a logical path and consist of ‘linking
sentences’ that guide the reader from one idea to the next.
Conclusion
Summarises the body’s main ideas which are directly linked to
answering the question.
No new information is entered here.
Answering the Question
One of the more common errors in essay writing is not answering the question.
Step 1. The first step in writing an essay is dissecting the question. You have to be clear on what it is
you are being asked to do and not steam-roll ahead thinking you know what the essay is asking. You
do this by underlining the key terms in the essay.
Here are two example essay questions.
- Rates of HIV/AIDS are higher in the Third World. Why?
- According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics religious identification has declined over the past
decades. Critically assess which sociological factors have contributed to this.
This is not to say that other pieces of information are not important, you just want to flag the key
points so you do not go ‘off topic’.
– 31 –
Step 2. It is essential that you understand what these terms mean in the context of the unit, in this
case sociology.
You need to be clear what the terms ‘third world’ or ‘religious identification’ mean. This is when you
turn to the textbook/reading that correspond to this topic. In the case of the latter question you are
directly being asked to ‘critically assess’ however when referring to the Marking Criteria (pg. 23) you
will see that it is also implied in the first question also. Thus you need to know what ‘critically
assessing’ means (luckily I have covered this on pg. 32).
Step 3. After you have collated your research (see pg. 25) and ready to start writing it is important, to
ensure you are answering the question, to mirror the language of the question.
If you are answering the first example essay question the first sentence of your essay could be:
“This essay will discuss why the rates of HIV/AIDS are higher in the third world”.
In the case of the second example essay question your first sentence may be:
“This essay will critically assess several sociological factors which support the Australian
Bureau of Statistics’ observation that religious identification has declined over the past decades”.
You may recognise that these sentences correspond to the first feature of the ‘Introduction’; the first
essential component of the essay as noted above.
Example essay
Question: Aboriginality is not just about skin colour. Discuss.
Please check the second attachment of this order for example essay.
Early sociologists thought, as modernity progressed, secularisation would increase. However, religion continues to have a significant role in Australian society. Why? Early sociologists regarded religion as an anachronism and that it would decline as modernity advanced. Although these early sociologists expected religion to yield to secularisation this has not occurred as they predicted and religion holds a considerable place in Australian society today. This essay will firstly define the term religion and how it relates to society, secondly review the expectations of the early sociologists and their predictions of modernity and their subsequent conclusion of secularisation and thirdly clarify secularisation and briefly examine the examples and reasons of religious expression that are emerging and why they hold a meaningful place in Australian society. Giddens (2011) defines religion as “a cultural system of commonly shared beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all-encompassing and supernatural” (p. 677). This definition emphasises people sharing values, norms and beliefs being manifest in activities that defines the members as belonging to a certain community and provides a world view and a sense of purpose. Van Krieken, Habibis, Smith, Hutchins, Martin, Maton, (2010) suggest the definition would include a belief in the metaphysical and that religion has an organisational quality to it; however it will depend on the objectives of the sociologist. Durkheim’s functionalist view emphasised the role of religion in society, its societal impact and “substantive definitions are helpful when applied to specific social phenomena” (Van Krieken et al., 2010, p. 352). However the rise of new age spirituality has required a furthering of the definition to include an awareness of something beyond the profane or “life as ordinarily experience” (Van Krieken et al., 2010, p. 352). 2 However Marx argued that religion was one of the many institutions that was “influenced by economic forces” and that “religion was a major source of false consciousness” (Van Krieken et al., 2010, p. 353), promoting denial of self- accomplishment plus a “view that religion represents human self-alienation” (Giddens, 2011, p. 680). Additionally Marx said religion provides a haven from the realities of a harsh world; an “opium for the people” (Giddens, 2011. p. 680). Proposing it deferred happiness until after death thus discouraging the people from making changes or challenging the status quo; thereby allowing inequalities to continue and the power and authority of exploitive political systems could flourish unchallenged. Although Durkheim did not associate religion with inequalities or power as Marx did, he was concerned with social significance of religion. Religion was not solely about belief but it was the communal nature of performing rituals and rites together that was significant to social solidarity. In traditional societies, survival of society depended on it providing the collective conscience (Van Krieken et al., 2010). Religion is where society derived its beliefs, the profane became sacred and symbolic when associated with religion, further binding people in social cohesion. However Giddens (2011) says it is not hard to use these ideas to see “division, conflict and change” (p. 684) within society. Conversely, Weber studied world religions on a very large scale, so far unrepeated in its scope (Giddens, 2011). His in-depth studies examined the “connection between religion and social change” (Giddens, 2011, p. 680) unlike Durkheim. Weber’s work also differed from Marx as he did not agree with Marx’s conservative constraints of religion, suggesting that religion has “produced dramatic social transformations” (Giddens, 2011, p. 682). Durkheim agreed with Marx that the old religions would pass away, modern societies would progress and the influence of religion diminish. Durkheim did however expect that in modern times an altered form of religion would develop or be created (Giddens, 2011). 3 Although early sociologists argued that with modernity society would embrace and become reliant on science and technology to rationalise the world. Weber thought industrialisation and scientific approach would create the “disenchantment of the world” (Van Krieken, 2010, p. 361) as capitalism was contrary to religious world view, thus relegating religion to the margins of society. Auguste “Comte envisioned a progression of three stages of history-from the theological to the metaphysical to the scientific. He left little doubt that these transitions were more or less inevitable and certainly the story of progress” (Neuhaus, 2009, p. 23). Neuhaus (2009) described Weber’s work on secularisation as a “near-inexorable process” crudely summarised as “As modernity advances, religion retreats” (p. 23); this was the definitive declaration until the 1970’s. However the view of secularisation, the waning of religion, was inconsistent with what sociologists saw in society, especially concerning the “American exceptionalism” (Neuhaus, 2009, p. 23). Perhaps America was not an anomaly after all, “viewed in global terms, the American mix of modernity and religion seems to be the normal pattern” (Neuhaus, 2009, p. 23). Surveys are showing a decrease in attendance to the traditional religious institutions (Giddens, 2011). Melleuish (2010) suggests people are now less willing to identify and formally declare themselves with belonging to a particular religion. Grace Davie (1995) extended the idea of “Believing without belonging” (Van Krieken et al., 2010. P. 364). Additionally Giddens notes claims of secularisation cannot be measured in falling attendances as it discounts non-western faith and new religions (Giddens, 2011, p. 708). Also Van Krieken (2010) affirms that although these statistics show a reduction in formal attendance of organised religion, it “does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in religious matters.” (p. 364). If people are indeed Homo Religiosus, then it stands to reason that as 4 modern institutions fail to guide or are void of moral meaning, this drives people to seek religion for such guidance, although increasingly from “individualised forms of religion” (Van Krieken et al., 2010, p. 366). Still further, phenomenological theories of religion examine the connection of subjective experience of religion and the effect on our social world through shared understanding (Hefner, 2006). “These are not static but must be constantly renegotiated, re-created and maintained” (Van Krieken et al., 2010. p. 355). However Melleuish (2010) asserts that historically Australia did not have an established church; that it “has always been religiously pluralist with a range of religions, including Judaism, being represented in the First Fleet”. Protestant politics formed policy in the first half of the twentieth century with restrictions on gambling, hotel openings and Sunday entertainments. More recently religion has re-emerged in our political culture. Melleuish (2010) says it is because of strong church leaders, specifically Cardinal George Pell and Archbishop Peter Jensen together with unashamedly religious Prime Ministers such as Kevin Rudd who maintained the “core continuing principle” of the Christian involvement with politics stating that government “must always take the side of the marginalized, the vulnerable and the oppressed.” (Melleuish, 2010). During the 1980’s studies found Australia’s church attendance rate was higher than that in the UK but lower than in the USA. Black (1990) found this to be consistent with Martin’s (1978) theory “that in Western societies there is generally a direct connection between a degree of religious pluralism and rates of religious participation” (p. 29). Melleuish (2010) refers to the increased immigration to Australia after World War Two and with this multicultural arrival there “has been a vast increase in the number of religions”. Australia has seen I
slam with the “growth of various Muslim communities” (Black, 1990, p. 32), Hinduism, Buddhism, totemism and animism and new age movements (Giddens, 2011). 5 Therefore conceding that religion “still remains a critical force in our social world” (Giddens, 2011 .p. 708) and it is likely to be long lasting as it explains ontological inquiry and answers other questions in a way rationalist perspectives cannot (Giddens, 2011). Van Krieken states “a recurrent theme is that religion offers a solution to the moral uncertainties of contemporary existence” (2010, p. 366). Durkheim believed, religion gives meaning to milestones that are experienced in life- births, marriage and deaths and other significant times of transition in life, bringing communities together as they share these occasions (Van Krieken et al., 2010; Mouzelis, 2012). Modern society continues to embrace these celebratory achievements and for many it has retained a strong religious component. Thus religion remains significant, a fundamental aspect of modern life, “albeit in new and unfamiliar ways” (Gidden, 2011, p. 695). Fitting this new model is the progress of mega/growth churches; defined as a Protestant church with 2000 or more regular attenders (Thumma, 2001) as cited in (Maddox 2012). The fastest growing of the Christian denominations in Australia have been the Pentecostal Churches (Melleuish, 2010). Brian Houston’s Hillsong and Phil Pringle’s Oxford Falls are two mega churches in Sydney which Maddox (2012) says they “could never be accused of hiding their light under a bushel” as they are rock concert loud, bright and branded; “growth churches actively model their approach on global capitalist corporations, complete with entrepreneurial CEOs and topdown management. Their leaders are exemplars of charismatic, entrepreneurial visioning with a strict corporatism, based on ‘body of Christ’ theology.” Early sociologists would find it ironic because according to Maddox (2012) “Growth churches are capitalism’s cathedrals”. In conclusion, while early sociologists considered religion inconsistent with modernity and forecast religion as such would decline, this essay established this has not been the case. 6 Early sociologists expected religion to lose its authority in social life and society would become increasingly secular. However this has not occurred as predicted and religion still holds a significant place in Australian society today. Firstly this essay has defined the term religion and shown how it interacts with society. Secondly it has looked at the early sociologists’ views and prospects of secularisation in view of modernity, then lastly examined development of religion in Australia and confirmed that religion continues to have a significant role in Australian society. 7 References Black, A. W. (1990). The Sociology of Religion in Australia. Sociological Analysis, 51, S27- S41. Giddens, A. (2011). Sociology (6th ed.). Cambridge, UK: Polity Press Hefner, P. (2006). What is religion to do?. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science. pp. 501- 504 Maddox, M. (2012). ‘In the Goofy parking lot’: growth churches as a novel religious form for late capitalism. Social Compass, 59(2), 146-158. Melleuish, G. (2010). Religion and Politics in Australia. Political Theology, 11(6), 909-927. Mouzelis, N. (2012). Modernity and the Secularization Debate. Sociology, 46(2), 207-223. Neuhaus, R. J. (2009). Secularizations. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, (190), 23+. Van Krieken, R., Habibis, D., Smith, P., Hutchins, B., Martin, G., Maton, K. (2010). Sociology. (4th ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia.
Is this the question you were looking for? If so, place your order here to get started!
