Section: Module 4: Lesson 4: Government and Economy | Intro to Sociology | NextGenU.org

  • Student Learning Outcomes:
    Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
    • Define and differentiate between power and authority.
    • Identify and describe the three types of authority.
    • Define common forms of government, such as monarchy, oligarchy, dictatorship, and democracy.
    • Differentiate the ways that functionalists, conflict theorists, and interactionists view government and politics.
    Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 2 hours and 54 minutes.

    Click here to start this lesson

    • Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Power and Authority URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire page. (14 minutes)

      2023

    • url icon
      Forms of Government URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire page. (15 minutes)

      2023

    • url icon
      Theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire page. (8 minutes)

      2023

    • Students must
      Mark as done
      Activities
    • forum icon
      Discussion Forum 4 (100 minutes)
      Students must
      View
      Start discussions: 1

      In this activity, you will reflect on the theoretical perspectives of functionalists, conflict theorists and interactionists pertaining to government and politics. You will discuss these views in terms of the political environment in your own country.

      Instructions: 

      Step 1: Review

      Review the required learning materials for this lesson.

      Step 2: Respond 

      Prepare a 250-300 word piece describing government and politics in your own country/setting. Your response should address the following KEY points: 

      • Describe the type of authority and form of government in your country.
      • How do these different theoretical perspectives inform your understanding of the political environment in your country?
      • Explain what aspects of government and politics these perspectives help us to analyze.
      • Discuss how these theoretical perspectives might help you better understand current political events and issues in your country.

      Step 3: Share 

      To share your work, click the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

      Step 4: Interact

      Evaluate and categorize the work of one of your peers based on items A - D of this rubric. Provide a rationale for the grade you have given and comments or suggestions for improvement. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback, and click “Post to forum.” You can use the list below as an example:

      Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
      Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
      Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
      Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

      OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

      If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”