In this assignment, you will (1) locate and describe a news story about punishment, (2) describe three sociological theories of punishment, and (3) apply each of these theories to the news story.
(1) News Story
Select a news story on punishment/social control in modern society. The news story that you select should cover some pertinent issue or controversy about punishment. Describe the story.
(2) Theory Summary
Then, you will summarize three (3) sociological theories on punishment. In your summary, describe the basic assumptions of the theory, the overall arguments made concerning variation in punishment, and the causal mechanism connecting societal characteristics with societal variation in punishment.
· You can choose any three (3) theories from this list:
o Durkheim; Rusche & Kirchheimer; Weber; Foucault; Elias
(3) Theory Application
After describing each theory, apply the theory to the news story. How would each theorist attempt to explain the dynamics of the punishment described in the news?
After applying each of the three perspectives, conclude this assignment by describing which theory best “fit” the details of the news story. (Be sure to describe ‘why’ this theory was the most applicable.)
