Sociology
PART A: YOUR STATUS SET, ROLES, AND ROLE PROBLEMS
1) Status Set:
a) List a status set that includes at least five
statuses that you currently have.
•• Remember: A status is simply a position you
fill in society. It may be a job title, but it could
also include a position you fill within a family
or a community. For more information,
review Section 4.3 in your webtex
b) Label each status in your status set as ascribed,
achieved, or master.
•• Remember: An ascribed status is one you’re
born with and have no control over. An
achieved status is reached through your own
efforts or simply good or bad luck. A master
status is so important that it overrides your
other statuses. For more information, review
Section 4.3 in your webtext.
2) Roles:
a) Choose one status from your status set.
b) Describe the role that is associated with the
status.
c) Describe how you learned that role.
•• Remember: A role is the behavior expected
of someone with a certain status. For more
information, review Section 4.4 in your
webtext.
3 Role Problems:
a) Choose two statuses from your status set.
b) Describe a time when you experienced a problem
because of the demands of your two different
roles associated with those statuses.
c) List at least two different ways you could have
solved the problem. For example, could you ask
someone for help? Or could you go online to
research a possible solution?
d) Describe the approach you took to solve the
problem. What was the result? Would you do
things differently next time?
PART B: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS
1) Social Networks:
A social network includes all of the relationships that
link you to other people and groups. Through social
networks, you can connect with people who may be
able to offer you valuable advice, introductions, or opportunities.
a) Identify an area of interest that you would like
to pursue, either professionally or personally. It
could be a job or industry, a volunteer position, or
a social group.
•• Examples: accounting, volunteering with the
elderly, joining a book club
b) Identify and describe three people in your social
network (people you know personally) who
have a connection, or might know someoconnected to your area of interest. These three
people may be work colleagues, family members,
or close friends.
•• Remember: For privacy reasons, do not list
their names in this assignment. Instead,
identify them as Person A, B, and C.
c) For each person, write a brief description of why
you selected them, and how they are connected
to your area of interest.
d) Identify the person who you think is the best
contact for you to communicate with about
your area of interest. Why did you choose that
person
