Questions and Topics We Can Help You Answering; 

Topic:  Max Weber, Power and the film 'Capitalism: A Love Story'

Please watch first: http://www.veoh.com/watch/v41581710hNCQ4Ayq

Class and status groups are considered by Weber to be associated with power, to achieve one's will, even in the face of opposition from others. Weber says that status and class is an important source of group social action. Status is a means of maintaining the position of a group that has privilege. The status group is closed, with privileges available only to those in the group, and denied to those outside the group. Status groups become the means by which power or authority is exercised (e.g. old boy networks, professional status groups and organizations, religious or ethnic groups). Social approval is a means of achieving the ends of the group while social disapproval is used as a means of disciplining those who do not behave.

Question - Weber defined power as when an individual in a social relationship is able to achieve his or her own will even against the resistance of others. Michael Moore's 2009 film is more relevant now than ever.

Below are some questions you may address in your reflection paper. There are no  right or wrong answers to these questions, but lots of food for your thought:

The film elaborates and mocks justifications for Capitalism. What were some of the claims for why capitalism is so good? What problems do you see with those claims?
The film focuses heavily on a moral condemnation of Capitalism. Do you agree with that approach? Is it effective in touching the experiences of working-class people?
Corporations repeatedly claim that cutting jobs will allow them to save money and stay in business. Why does this not seem to work much in the examples detailed in the film?
How does all of this figure in to person blame and system blame approaches??

Format:

1.5 space your paper and set the font to 12-point; Times New Roman. Indent each paragraph. Set the margins to one-inch all around. The paper should be left-aligned, with a "ragged right" margin. Type your title in the center of the first page. At the right top corner, type your name. Below your name, type Sociology 011. Below that, type the date.

First (I) Paragraph is an abstract so write a paragraph of 150 to 250 words summarizing the key points of what your 'critical thinking' is leading you to say.

Second (II) Paragraph is the main body of your paper; following the formatting guidelines in step one. In the Body,

a. Lay out for the reader what the topic is about;

b. Answer the question using fact from the documentary, video, film;

c. Use one or two examples.

In the Conclusion (Paragraph III) summarize your points, and use one more example to hammer home your thought on the topic.