Lehigh Carbon Community College American Society as A Meritocracy Essay

It is often argued that American society is a meritocracy in which every individual has an equal opportunity to succeed. From this perspective, those individuals who have talent and work hard end up in higher social classes; those individuals without much talent and who don’t work hard end up in the lower social classes. Each generation has a new chance to succeed, regardless of how well its parents did. The merit of individuals, then, would explain why society is unequal.

Basing yourself on the sociological arguments, data, and evidence we have studied so far this semester (not your personal opinions or experience), make an argument as to whether (or not)–or to what extent–our society is, indeed, such a meritocracy. What would be the position of Marxists and functionalists on this issue?ç

Required sources

In answering this question, you must make use of the articles by Lareau, Anyon, Engels, and Davis and Moore, and Tumin. You may also make use of other material covered in the class. You may not use anything other than the readings, activities, lectures, etc. covered in this course to write your essay. Do not go to About.com, Study.com, Wikipedia, or any other outside source to write your essay. Making use of non-class sources and/or plagiarism of any kind will result in a failing grade of zero.

Required concepts

Below is a list of concepts that you must use in writing your essay. The concepts must be used in an accurate and meaningful manner. When you use a concept in the essay, highlight it in bold.

Social structure

Marxism

Social institutions

Functionalism

Socialization

Social mobility

Class

Cultural capital

Organic solidarity

Social capital