L2 Parsons & Merton RGA.notebook

1

September 12, 2018

Starter Slide

Classroom Expectations:

Arrive on time

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Equipment & Planner on desks

TITLE: DATE:12/09/2018Consensus and Conflict: Society as a functional

unit

LOs

The Big Question:Consensus versus Conflict: Which view gives us a better understanding of Society?

Objective Key Words

Know

Understand

TITLE: DATE: 12/09/2018

What does Parsons mean by a 'social system'?

How does Durkheim describe society?

Apply How can we critique functionalism using Merton?

Consensus and Conflict: Society as a functional

unit

Sep 1116:23

HOMEWORK:

https://napierpress.com/booktwoworkbooks

Complete Functionalism section of the workbook, Due 18/9

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Functionalism ‐ ParsonsFor the social system (everything from education, to law, to media, to economy) to function it must fulfil specific needs called functional prerequisites.

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Functionalism ‐ ParsonsSociety does not exist in reality; it's a collection of people. Parsons: society must resolve problems to ensure functional prerequisites are met, what he means is people must act appropriately to ensure these problems are solved.

This is where CULTURE comes in; societies need to set up values and norms which ensure all needs are met.

CONSIDER: What kind of values and norms would a successful culture need?Are there any dangerous norms and values that might lead to societal breakdown?

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Functionalism ‐ ParsonsParsons calls these cultural choices pattern variables: it is the pattern variables that lead to differences between different cultures. These variables determine how people behave and as such their social roles.

https://napierpress.com/book-two-workbooks

L2 Parsons & Merton RGA.notebook

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September 12, 2018

Sep 1116:36

Criticisms of Functionalism?

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• Built on Parsons but was critical too...

"Some institutions may be both functional and dysfuntional. Society is more complex than Parsons thinks."

• Some people respond to the goals and values of society in different ways. Not all people accept all aspects (e.g. a criminals accept economic but not moral imperatives)• Society is less deterministic than Parson's view; people choose whether to conform to social and cultural systems.

Criticisms of Functionalism: Internal ‐ Merton 

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"I posed three major questions..."

‐Functional Unity? is society really connected into one functional unit? A smooth whole?

‐Universal functionality? are all institutions positive? Some may be dysfunctional and have negative impacts

‐Indispensability? Just because something exists does that mean there are not better alternatives? Is society perfect just because it works? Why are some things functional for some, and dysfunctional for others?

What do you think of Merton's critiques?

Criticisms of Functionalism: Internal ‐ Merton 

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Despite raising questions, Merton still felt the actions of people in society have functions:

Manifest functions: the intended function of an action (e.g. a religious ceremony by the Hopi Indians to bring rain)

Latent functions: the unintended consequences (e.g. to unite a group, creating order and lessening anxiety)

"Sociologists should proceed by studying latent functions if we want to find out about the degree of order and function in society"

Criticisms of Functionalism: Internal ‐ Merton 

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Further CritiquesThere are also criticisms from outside the functionalist approach. Sharrock et al (2003) argue that there are several:

TASK: Using the images as stimulus, come up with at least 3 criticisms of the functionalist approach.

Plenary

REVIEW & REFLECTTITLE: DATE: 08/09/18Nature or Nurture?

Task: Answer the following question:

1) What is a social fact?

2) What are functional prerequisites?

3) Explain one critique raised by merton

4) Why are shared values important to Durkheim?

5) How does Parsons describe society?

6) Explain the questions raised by Merton about the functionalist approach.

7) What are the differences and similarities between Durkheim's and Parsons' ideas of functionalism?

8) Explain three critiques of the functionalist approach

Attachments

Assessment folder cover sheet.docx

ASP1 10 mark Education Essay Cover sheet.docx

NAME

TUTOR GROUP

TARGET GRADE

Date

Question

Question type

(Paper + marks)

GRADE

SMART Notebook

STUDENT NAME:

Essay Title:

Outline and explain two

MARK SCHEME

Marks

Level Descriptor

What went well:

8-10

Good knowledge and understanding of the topic/debate.

Two developed applications of the relevant material.

Both reasons will be appropriately analysed/evaluated.

4-7

Reasonable knowledge and understanding of one or two issues/arguments.

Some successful application of relevant material.

Some analysis/evaluation offered.

Even better if:

1-3

Limited knowledge of one or two issues/arguments.

Limited application of material and lack of focus on the question (e.g. answers may drift off topic)

Limited or no analysis and thereby very little explanation.

/10

MARK

GRADE

TARGET

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SMART Notebook

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