Answea the question

Soc 305/American Society

Midterm Exam Fall 2020

Due Thursday 10/15/20 by midnight

Instructions:

There are 10 total questions on this exam. The first section’s answers are a bit shorter than the second, be sure you write within the word amounts I have asked for. Keep in mind that although this is open book, your answers should mostly be in your own words. You may use brief quotes (like one sentence) and then expand upon it with your own ideas, or just write the whole answer in your own words. You will not get credit for an answer that is mostly quoted from the text. Also, keep in mind that when I say “explain,” I really mean it. You should imagine that you are writing these answers for someone with no prior knowledge of the topics-that will help you to really show me your understanding. Your answers should read like mini-essays, not like a bullet point list.

In the interest of saving time, you only need to use citations if you decide to use a quote or statistics from outside of the text for your answer. You do not have to use outside sources, but you may if you are trying to bolster a point or explain in a different way.

To get a good grade on this exam, you need to attend to the quality of your answers, and write the amount of words asked for. Make sure you have well constructed answers that are grammatically correct and error-free, and that they are correctly focused on the question at hand. Pay attention to where you are drawing your answers from in the text, as there are many similar terms. I have tried to make sure that the questions use the same terminology/titles/terms as is used the text so you can find the answers I’m looking for, but if you are unclear about what I’m asking about, please feel free to email and ask.

You can write this exam in any kind of 12 point font, please number your answers and leave a couple of spaces at the end of each answer for my score and comments. Answers in the first section are worth 8, answers in the second section are worth 12, making a total of 100 for the exam.

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Shorter answers: 250-300 words each. Worth 8 points each

1. Describe the US economy on the spectrum of capitalism to socialism and/or market to command economy, using examples. (Chapters 2 & 3, week 2 notes)

2. Define and explain clearly the difference between negative and positive freedom. The text discusses ways in which capitalism has a contradictory effect on freedom (such as by enabling one kind of freedom, you limit the other) for individuals or companies, explain an example of that in your own words.

3. Explain the “fair shares” vs “fair play” views of inequality. Then, explain your thoughts on which is better, more motivating, or more functional for people/society - or how both/each might be best in different situations.

4. From chapter 9, explain what the “financialization” of the US economy means. Then, cite at least one piece of evidence that it has indeed happened or is a valid notion, and one of the outcomes of financialization.

5. Why does our capitalist economy encourage excessive consumption or consumerism? In other words, how is a capitalist economy tied to consumption? What is one effect/outcome of this excessive consumerism in the US that was discussed in the course materials in that unit?

Long Answers: 2-3 paragraphs or 300-400 words each. Worth 12 pts each.

Note: These questions could result in very long answers if you got really in-depth. Please keep the length limit in mind and summarize accordingly, I am not expecting more depth than can be accomplished in less than 400 words.

6. In chapter 4, the text outlines 5 problems in the functioning of capitalist markets. Choose one of those 5 problems, then discuss and explain it, using an example in the realm of the environment, and an example in the realm of consumerism in your discussion. Basically, explain the problem using the 2 examples to clarify or illustrate.

7. In chapter 17, the authors discuss the limits to optimal democracy within a capitalistic democracy such as the US. They describe 2 major constraints that limit the ability of individuals to have and communicate their wants to our institutions/government. Describe these constraints, using an example to illustrate how each might work.

8. Describe/Explain 2-3 of the ways in which our media has become less truthful, free or investigative in recent years. In other words, what sorts of policies or market trends have resulted in less reporting that serves the public good or brings us truths we couldn’t find out without reporter investigation?

9. Briefly describe neoliberal thinking about the role of the state/government vs. private markets. Then, explain 2 of the clusters of policies that were enacted (or policies that were taken away) since 1980 that were attempts to further that agenda. Explain those policies well and in your own words. Conclude with one of the possible or actual outcomes of these policy changes. This info is in chapter 19.

10. What set of concepts, piece of news discussed, or historical story (from text/films) that you’ve learned in this class has most impacted you thus far, and what is the impact? How does it affect your thinking or your actions going forward?