Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Structural-Functionalism. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 9 page paper explores this sociological school of thought with its roots in the theories of Durkheim and Spencer. Newer contributors such as Merton and Parsons are highlighted. Systems theory is discussed. Criticisms of the position are noted, but many reasons are given to support the credibility of the functionalist perspective. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Page Count:
9 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA020SF.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
bad things happened to good people, but his explanation left the audience thirsty for more. People tend to grasp at straws, looking for some comfort to justify the killing of
more than a dozen Colorado high school students for example, or at least an explanation. If justifications cannot be made, they look to ways of prevention. Perhaps if the children
felt a part of the group, they would not have bought guns and shot everyone. Perhaps if there were gun laws, the events of that fateful April day in 1999
would not have occurred. But the reasons, explanations and justifications for some of the events that let up to the Columbine killings bring little comfort to those who the slaughtered
children left behind. While ordinary people try to implement gun laws that will merely prevent law abiding citizens form owning weapons, and build shrines and write songs, the explanations as
to the events of the day leave a large, empty hole of lingering questions. How can that event be explained? How can mass suicide, mass murder, alcoholism, rave parties, body
piercing or anything for that matter that defies common sense be rationalized? To some in the social sciences, many things can be explored and perhaps even explained through looking
at the functions they serve. Guns serve the function to protect or to allow an individuals to lash out at society. A wife serves the function of protector of the
children and keeper of the home. Every thing and every body serves some purpose, and when viewing society in such a detached manner one can glean a bit of wisdom
that is attached to the structural-functionalist school of thought. Functionalism is a primary branch of the social sciences but is rather controversial (McLeish, 1993). It serves to explain parts of
...