Sociology 101 Creative Writing Example

Sociology 101

Question 1: Arguments For and Against Structural Functional Approach in Schooling
Structural-Functional theory or functionalism is a theoretical approach in socialization of people in the society. Functionalism brings people together in common nationality, language and cultural understanding. It is also concerned with efforts to ensure that certain basic standards of literacy and sociability are realized in the society (Chris, 2013). This approach relies on training that brings people together and nurtures their skills by grouping them according to shared characters, aspirations and interests. Functionalism as a theory applicable in education has both strengths and weaknesses.
One of the reasons why functionalism can be favored in education is that it brings together people of similar interests, skills and aspirations. This arrangement is important in ensuring that new generation learners are nurtured by their more seasoned counterparts. New learners can rely on earlier research by people in their group to advance their own knowledge. They are able to excel in school and improve their prospects of better socio-economic status.
The theory has been criticized for encouraging social mobility among the wealthy and privileged in the society. Because the theory groups individuals who share similar characteristics and skills together, it is likely to bring together individuals of the same social class leading to inequalities related to human capital formation.

Question two: Definition of Migration and How it Affected Population Centers Throughout the United States

Migration can be defined as the physical movement of people from one geographic area to another. For migration to be deemed to have occurred, the people in question must have moved to the new place with an intention of settling there permanently. Migration usually occurs over a long distance, mostly from one country to another but there can also be internal migration where populations move from one part of a country to another.
The United States has had to grapple with the problem of migration for a long period of time. Hundreds of migrants cross the United States border with Mexico every year (Borjas, Grogger, & Hanson, 2010). The problem of immigration in the United States has been compounded by immigrants from other parts of the world who believe that they have a prospect of better life in the country.
Immigration has had a number of social, economic and political effects on the United States. It has led to population growth as well as economic growth as immigrants in the United States contribute in a number of ways to the economy of the country. Migration has also lead to considerable religious diversity in the United States. Migrants from all over the world have brought with them different religions that today thrive in the United States. Immigration has also lead to various problems such as unemployment and increased rate of crime in the United States.

Question Three: Environmental Deficit and Impacts of technology and population growth on the environment

Environmental deficit has many components. Simply put the impact on the environment that is realized from increased interaction between human beings and the natural environment. As populations increase and technology advances, the environment in which we life bears the brunt of human activities most of which lead to the destruction of the environment. Human beings depend on natural resources for their survival. These natural resources are part of the natural environment.
As different industries take shape in the society, the need to exploit natural resources increases. Industries established require supply of raw materials most of which are extracted from the environment. Minerals, timber, agricultural products and many other raw materials are usually obtained through processes that affect the environment in one way or another. Where strategies have not been put in place to ensure sustainable use of natural resources, exploitation of minerals, timber, water sources and other natural resources can have dire consequences on the environment.
As human population increases and swells to such numbers never imagined before, the effect on the environment has become adverse. It is estimated that this will only worsen as the world population increases. As the environment is increasingly getting depleted, several sectors of the environment have suffered. Water pollution has presented numerous public health challenges. Human activities have resulted in poor sanitation with millions of people dying every year as a result of complications related to unclean water. The effects of air pollution have also taken toll on the population (Don & Bryant, 2012). Respiratory diseases have become common. Heavy metals discarded in the environment have led to increased cases cancer which kills thousands of people every year.
The increasing population has also put pressure on available land resources as the demand for food to feed the growing population increases by the day. The world population is growing faster than the food supply. As a result, hundreds of hectares of forest land have been cleared to give way for farming activities. This has had immense effect on the ecosystem and affected water resources. Trees have been cleared leading to dissertation. This has affected rain patterns in many parts of the world leading to droughts and increasing desert cover.
The destruction of forests and other natural habitats for wild animals has created big problems with respect to biodiversity. Biodiversity is important in medicine and agriculture. As a result of destruction of the environment, numerous animals and plants have been condemned to extinction.
Technology has had grave effects on the environment. Industries release chemical substances that have contributed immensely in the destruction of the environment. One of the most serious effects of industrialization on the environment is global warming. Emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the environment has led to global warming which has had grave consequences on the environment. Chlorofluorocarbons have depleted the ozone layer exposing plans and animals to harmful ultraviolet light from the sun.
Human activities have also resulted in the depletion of non-renewable energy resources as the rate and intensity of exploitation of such resources is increase due to population explosion. The rising global population has thus altered and destroyed the environment.

References

Borjas, G. J.; Grogger, J.; Hanson, G. H. (2010). "Immigration and the Economic Status of African-American Men". Economica 77 (306): 255–282. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0335.2009.00803.
Chris, J. (2013), Benefits and Disadvantages of Functional Organizational Structure, Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-disadvantages-functional-organizational-structure-11944.html on 21st February 2015
Don, H., & Bryant R., (2012), Population and the Environment: The Global Challenge, Retrieved from http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/hinrichsen_robey.html on 21st February 2015.