Shopping for Perspectives at Walmart

Project description
Option #A: Shopping for Perspectives at Walmart
Background to this assignment:
In this data Workshop, you will be answering theoretically driven questions about a familiar social institution: Walmart. Walmart, the highest-grossing company in the

United States, is part of a widespread retail phenomenon called the “big box.” Big-box stores are huge, warehouse-like buildings that feature just about every

imaginable commodity under one roof.
Walmart seeks to be all things to all people—and judging by its position at the top of the fortune 500 list it seems to have succeeded. Walmart’s success, though, has

driven out of business thousands of local “mom and pop” stores, which just can’t compete with the low prices and huge selection of the big box. When Walmart moves into

a town, independently owned businesses often soon go under. Also, the company has been criticized for underpaying and exploiting its low-waged workers, union busting

and engaging in sex discrimination in hiring and promoting. There are at any given time, multiple lawsuits pending against this corporate giant for its labor

practices.
Instructions:
For this data workshop, you will first read an article entitled: “Operation Rollback: Walmart’s World of Business,” and then you will conduct a first-hand observation

of a Walmart near you. Using the questions below, you will produce three analytical paragraphs—one utilizing the functionalist perspective, one utilizing the conflict

perspective, and one using symbolic interaction perspective (make sure to review these theoretical perspectives in your sociology text prior to beginning this

assignment). Below are instructions for both of the “parts” of this assignment:
Part 1–Article analysis: Before visiting a Walmart near you, take the time to read the article “Operation Rollback: Walmart’s World of Business.” This article is

actually a review of a book recently written about the giant retailer and it provides multiple perspectives through which we can think about the role and the impact of

Walmart on our society. Before you read the article, read the functionalist and conflict perspective questions below and keep them in mind as you read. Access the

article by clicking on this link:

http://www.thenation.com/article/operation-rollback-wal-marts-world-business

Functionalist Questions:
1. What are the functions of Wal-Mart, for society?
2. What might be some dysfunctions of Wal-Mart for society?
3. How might these dysfunctions eventually serve as a catalyst for social change?
Conflict Questions:
1. How does Wal-Mart perpetuate the inequalities (of gender, race, class, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, etc.) in our society?
2. Does Wal-Mart affect every group in society in the same way? If not, what are the differences?
3. How does Wal-Mart contribute to conflict between unequal groups in our society?

After reading the article, write 1 paragraph answering the functionalist questions and 1 paragraph answering the conflict perspective questions above. Make sure to use

evidence from the article to support your points in the article.

Part 2–Observation: Visit your local Walmart. On your visit, you will have the opportunity to observe Walmart through the lens of symbolic interaction. Take

observational notes on the following things during your visit.
• Observe signage, advertisements, and the use of flags or other symbols. Note how and where goods are displayed. Does the placement of products convey a message? Do

the kind of products sold convey a certain “image” for Walmart? If so, what is it?
• Note how shoppers interact with the products; how they interact with employees, and how they interact with each other.
• View several of Walmart’s television commercials as well. What major messages (values, beliefs, assumptions) do you find in them?
After writing down your observation notes, review them and use them to write your 3rd paragraph that addresses the following questions:
Interactionist Questions:
1. What is the effect of signs and symbols inside of Wal-mart for its shoppers? What message do these signs and symbols convey? What kind of “symbolic world” do they

create for shoppers, workers and the society in general?
2. What are some of the values imbedded in these symbols?
3. How does Wal-Mart influence our inter-personal interactions?
4. How do interpersonal interactions between Walmart employees and shoppers shape the Walmart experience for shoppers? For workers?
Summary of what you are turning in: Altogether, you are submitting three paragraphs—one for each set of questions above. You are also submitting your written

observation notes from your visit. For tips and help on producing your best writing for this course, review the “3 C’s Guide to Writing” section of the “Succeeding In

This Course” resource link located in the Getting Started section of the course.

The 3 C’s Guide to Writing

(adapted from Dr. Ronald Takaki, UC Berkeley)

College level writing is characterized by 3 C’-words: Clarity, Conciseness and Cogency. Often, students think that in order to sound intelligent, they must write

lengthy and flowery passages or use jargon or large vocabulary words. Effective writing is clear and to the point. Effective writers usually assume a tone similar to

their written voice and use professional and academic language. Below are some questions to ask yourself when writing for this or any other college level course.

I. Clarity:
Do you have a clear thesis statement? The thesis statement is a sentence or a group of sentences that tell the reader what you will be arguing/addressing in the paper,

and how you will be addressing it. For short papers (2-3 pages), the thesis statement should be located within the first two paragraphs (preferably the first

paragraph).

Do your paragraphs include a topic sentence? Your paragraph should start with a sentence that states the idea that you will elaborate on in that paragraph.

Are you making concrete and defined statements? Avoid using passive and non-descriptive language. Passive: In 1924, mass immigration was halted with the passing of the

National Origins act. Active: In 1924, Congress halted mass immigration by passing the National Origins Act. Use specific, concrete nouns when you write. For example,

instead of writing “They did not want to relinquish their power,” try “The planter elite did not want to relinquish their power.”

II. Coherence
Are you organizing your different ideas into separate paragraphs? Paragraphs help to organize separate ideas or points that you are presenting. You can start a new

paragraph in order to: shift to a new idea, indicate an important shift in time or space, emphasize a point, highlight a contrast, provide readers with a pause, and to

break up text that looks too dense or passages that are too long.

Do you use transitional words or phrases to switch from one idea to the next? Transitions are best when located at the end of paragraphs going into the next paragraph,

or at the beginning of the new paragraph containing a new idea. Transitions should tie together the separate ideas of the separate paragraphs in order to create a

“flow.”

Are your sentences complete? Avoid fragments; your sentences should have a defined subject (the noun or “doer” of some action) and predicate (the verb or action).

Does your argument follow the thesis you provided at the beginning of the paper? Use your thesis as your guide when writing your paper. When you feel like you are

loosing focus, revisit your thesis to see where your argument should be heading. For the most part, your ideas should be presented throughout the paper in the same

order that they were presented in the thesis.

III. Cogency:
Is your argument effective and convincing? Use specific examples from the text or real life in order to illustrate concepts that are new or vague. If you will be using

quotes from your readings remember to cite your sources and also make sure the quote is really relevant to the general idea that you are arguing.