Durkheim and You
Durkheim posited the existence of two social orders: one based on mechanical solidarity; the
other upon organic solidarity. For this assignment, you will think about the many groups of
which you are or have been a part. These could include: your family, your friendship network,
a social club, your workplace, a class (even Soc 300), a church, a volunteer group, a sports
team, or any other group. From these, choose one and decide whether it exhibits more
mechanical solidarity or more organic solidarity. It may be the case that your group represents
a mixture of these two forms of solidarity, and that is fine. Your essay will then have the
following sections, as you describe how your group works and what it feels like to be a part of
it. Tell me the following:
A- Overview. An overview of the group and how you came to be a part of it.
B- Division of Labor. What is the group’s purpose? Is there a division of labor in this
group?
C- Solidarity. How do members of the group relate to one another? How are they united?
D-Consciousness. For the group member (you), is the brain dominated by an individual
consciousness or a collective consciousness?
E- Law. What sort of rules and regulations are found in this group? Is anything defined as a
“crime”? What sort of punishment does it receive?
F- Pathological States. Is there any evidence that your group exhibits a pathology such as a
forced division of labor or anomie?
Also include a brief introduction and conclusion to your paper. The next page of this prompt
shows two sample outlines of a paper. (Sample Outlines)
Title: “My Job as Organic Solidarity”
Introduction (1 paragraph):
As an instructor at the U of A, I am a part of the university’s organic solidarity system.
Teaching as Organic Solidarity (4-6 paragraphs).
-Overview of my job at U of A.
-Division of Labor
-What is a division of labor, specialization, complementary differences.
-The division of labor between teacher and students.
-Example.
-Solidarity
-How Durkheim defines organic solidarity
-Describe how my relationships with students exemplify organic solidarity.
-Example.
-Consciousness
-The relationship between the division of labor and individual consciousness
-Why I feel like an individual when I teach.
-Example
-Law
– The relationship between the division of labor and restitutive law
-The many rules that structure my job are restitutive
-Example
-Pathologies
-A Forced division of labor at work
-Example
Conclusion (1 paragraph)
In this conclusion, I’ll share some reflections upon….
Title: “Being a Wildcat as Mechanical Solidarity”
Introduction (1 paragraph):
As a member of the U of A community, I am a part of a mechanical solidarity system. Being a Wildcat as Mechanical Solidarity
– Overview of my life at U of A.
-Division of Labor
-What is a division of labor. What does it mean to be a generalist
-Example.
-Solidarity
-How Durkheim defines mechanical solidarity
-Describe how my relationships with other Wildcats exemplify mechanical solidarity.
-Example.
-Consciousness
-The relationship between the division of labor and collective consciousness
-Why I feel like part of the group when I’m a Wildcat.
-Example
-Law
– The relationship between the division of labor and repressive law
-As a Wildcat, I can be punished or ostracized for being different.
-Example
Conclusion (1 paragraph)
In this conclusion, I’ll share some reflections upon… Appendix A:
Three Rules of Thumb for Essay Writing:
1) Keep your sentences under 30 words. Anything over 30 should raise a “yellow flag”:
Re-read, consider re-writing. Anything over 50 words should raise a “red flag”: it’s
quite possibly two sentences instead of one; re-write.
2) Keep your paragraphs to between 100-200 words. A minimum of 100 words
promotes sustained engagement; a maximum of 200 curbs the likelihood of waffling.
3) Use an average of 150 words per paragraph to determine how many paragraphs you
might need to use in your essay. Divide the word limit by 150, and that gives you a
rough range. For instance, 1000 ÷ 150 = 7 (rounded up). With one paragraph for the
introduction and one for the conclusion, that gives you five paragraphs for the body
to work with. Write it about joining a fraternity and how that is it’s own community. Also expand and say brotherhood and other things are valuable for the future. Use these readings for the quotes.
