introduction to sociology paper

Writing Assignment for Unit Four • Responses must be typed double-spaced, using a standard font (i.e. Times New Roman) and 12 point type size. Word count is NOT one of the criteria that is used in assigning points to writing assignments. However, students who are successful in earning the maximum number of points tend to submit writing assignments that fall in the following ranges: Undergraduate courses: 350 - 500 words or 1 - 2 pages. Graduate courses: 500 - 750 words or 2 - 3 pages. Doctoral courses: 750 - 1000 words or 4 - 5 pages. Plagiarism All work must be free of any form of plagiarism. Put written answers into your own words. Do not simply cut and paste your answers from the Internet and do not copy your answers from the textbook. Be sure to refer to the course syllabus for more details on plagiarism and proper citation styles. Please answer ONE of the following: • Include your name, student number, course number, course title and unit number with your writing assignment. • Begin each writing assignment by identifying the question number you are answering followed by the actual question itself (in bold type). • Use a standard essay format for responses to all questions (i.e., an introduction, middle paragraphs and conclusion). 1. Describe the distribution of power in the United States using the three theoretical models of political power. What do the three models have in common? What are their major differences? To what extent does each assess U.S. society as democratic? Why? 2. Identify at least four factors that are related to the high divorce rate in the United States. Why has the divorce rate increased over the course of the last century? 3. Based on the ideas of Emile Durkheim, identify three functions of religion for society. In light of these functions, do you think that a decline in the importance of religion might threaten U.S. society? If so, how? Could the family and, perhaps, the school “take over” some of religion’s functions? Why or why not?