USS (700234) Lecture 3 - Worksheet

1. Watch the video on ‘What is sociology’ and take notes

Sociology is the study of society, watching the world around you. Studying the people that make up
societies. Who we are as people. You think of yourself as a free agent, but you follow social
background patterns. As a woman one may go about acting her femininity, but where have those
ideas come from? Why do I relate to people in a particular way?

We are changed by society, and we are the bearers of society.

2. Use the next three sentences to construct a definition of sociology.

Sociology is the study of society and the people that constitute it.

It impacts on our society because the observations made by sociologists can be used to change our
society for the better.

It relates to social science because society is constantly being changed by and changing the people in
it

3. Write some notes regarding the following theorist

Emile Durkheim

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Karl Marx
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Max Weber
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4 - Watch the BBC documentary and take notes

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5. Answer the following questions:

What is ‘Eugenics’? If you missed taking notes, please search the meaning and write down the
definition.

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What do you understand by Herbert Spencer’s concept of ‘Survival of the fittest’? From whose work
did he derive this concept?

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What is universal law? When was it declared?

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In the documentary how is the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’ applied to genetic cleansing?

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What does the documentary suggest that we should be sceptical about?

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As a sociologist how would you critique ‘survival of fittest’? Reflect from the perspective of social
justice.

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