SOC309 Contemporary Social Theory Assignment Question 2026 | SUSS, Singapore

SOC309 Assignment Question

Read the assigned textbook chapters and readings for the theorists in Study Unit 1:

Week 1 – Parsons, Merton, Mills
Week 2 – Goffman, Hochschild

[LET’S GO WITH MILLS]

You are to role play your favourite or preferred sociologist from your first two lessons (choose any ONE theorist from either Week 1 or 2)! Imagine you have been invited to Singapore to write an op-ed or to give a public lecture, to offer your insights into a problem you observe young adults face about work or the employment landscape today.

To give you initial guidance, think about one concern you personally hold (or have experienced) about your work today or in the future, or have observed sociologically about changing work and employment conditions Singapore or the world face. Alternatively, you may take some reference from the following article from the Financial Times, to give you some ideas:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/education-work-training-children-housing-mental-health-5467676

Be sure to adopt the sociological lens of your chosen theorist. Better yet, also adopt the voice of the theorist (you have access to extracts of their original writings in the assigned textbook readings).

Reflecting on work situations and environments in the context of global competition, rapidly changing industries and economies, and changing occupational structures, as some factors that shape job environments today, what do you think – depending on your choice of theorist – Merton, Mills, Parsons, Goffman or Hochschild would say?

Bear in mind that some of these theorists come from a structuralist while others from a micro-sociological, interactionist background. Remember that you are now your chosen theorist.

Include in your address some of the following (you are not limited by these):

• Identify the sociological nature of the problem surrounding work, employment and society that you are focusing on.
• Articulate the above against the backdrop of your body of work. In this regard, you will express your contribution to sociological theory, and why you think your unique standpoint or framework adds an important perspective to the problem. (Tip: you could even select a quotation of a few lines from your chosen theorist’s actual work to showcase this.)
• Your observation of the local situation concerning work, employment and society in Singapore – e.g., you can briefly hypothesise the contributory factors and suggest a solution from a public or social policy standpoint, while assuming the position of your chosen theorist. You could then ponder aloud how your observations lead you to appraise your own theories.

The ones marked with an asterisk (*) are especially important to include in your op-ed (or address).

Be sure to signpost your points clearly and elaborate on them in depth. You may bring in as many points as you like, but bear in mind the impact on the depth and quality of your piece.

Student notes

Here are some pointers for you to keep in mind for a better response:

• Despite these ‘thoughts’ of the theorist being hypothetical, this assignment allows you to appreciate the ideas of your chosen thinker more deeply by wearing their hats. You may examine their key ideas, appraise the thinker and their theoretical orientation in light of current scholarship and evidence. Do their ideas stand the test of time, especially as you evaluate them from the standpoint of current times in which we live?
• You may do brief research on Singapore in the area of work, employment and society (e.g., relevant labour and manpower statistics, structural changes in economy) to identify empirical points of interest.
• Do try to bring in your own insights about the theorist’s work, using your own understanding, examples and critical reflection; avoid resorting to web searches for ready-made opinions.

Write your answer in 1,000 words. Please remember to provide the word count, and list of references. Be sure to use appropriate and academic sources, including your course materials.

Usefull Resourse

• Mills – StructurePowerAmerican-1958.pdf
• Population Development Rev – 2005 – Appold – The Weakening Position of University Graduates in Singapore s Labor Market .pdf
• fpubh-11-1082581.pdf
• yeung-yang-2020-labor-market-uncertainties-for-youth-and-young-adults-an-international-perspective.pdf