Sociological Insight The Coming Apart of a Dorm Society

Edward Peselman writes about social structure, social status, and social power in the essay The Coming Apart of a Dorm Society. The essay begins with the commencement of freshman year at college, when the narrator moves into his dormitory along with five other young men from different walks of life. Not only are the six freshmen from different backgrounds, but they also demonstrate unique personalities. Dozer and Reggie are the narrators two roommates. Eric, Mark, and Benjamin lived across the hall. Because they occupy the same geographic space, the six men develop a sort of pecking order. They create an artificial power structure in which some of the men, namely Erik and Mark, attempt to dominate the others. Ultimately, Benjamin buckles under the pressure and leaves the dorm: an act that the narrator lauds as being righteously subversive. Peselman constructs a logical argument in The Coming Apart of a Dorm Society. The author substantiates his claims with ample scholarly references, which are cited properly. He first defines his terms, enabling the logical structure of the essay. For example, Peselman cites Randall Collins, who is a sociologist at the University of California, Riverside, to define the exercise of power as the attempt to make something happen in society, (p. 1). The author repeatedly weaves quotes from Collins throughout the essay, rather than using an emotional appeal or relying on his personal credibility. Peselman also describes the scenario inShow MoreRelatedThe Coming Apart of a Dorm Society: An Analysis1462 Words   |  6 PagesThe Coming Apart of a Dorm Society by Edward Peselman offers insight into the environment that college students are subjected to if they choose to or are required to live in assigned dormitories on their school campuses. Peselmans analysis of the college dormitory environ ment is approached from a sociological perspective and provides scientific credibility into the points that he makes throughout his essay. In the essay, Peselman explores the power dynamics that are made present through habitationRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesor for worse, and these we have captured to add to learning insights. After so many years of investigating mistakes, and more recently successes also, it might seem a challenge to keep these new editions fresh and interesting. The joy of the chase has made this an intriguing endeavor through the decades. Still, it is always difficult to abandon interesting cases that have stimulated student discussions and provoked useful insights, but newer case possibilities are ever contesting for inclusionRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesFOCUS ⠝  Luthans, Rosenkrantz, and Hennessey (1985) †¢ 52 managers in 3 organizations †¢ Participant observation of skills demonstrated by most effective versus least effective managers ⠝  Curtis, Winsor, and Stephens (1989) †¢ 428 members of the American Society of Personnel Administrators in the United States †¢ (1) Skills needed to obtain employment †¢ (2) Skills important for successful job performance †¢ (3) Skills needed to move up in the organization Employment Verbal communication Listening EnthusiasmRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesconcluded that increasing the level of job specialization—the process by which a division of labor occurs as different workers specialize in speciï ¬ c tasks over time—increases efï ¬ ciency and leads to higher organizational performance.5 Armed with the insights gained from Adam Smith’s observations, other managers and researchers began to investigate how to improve job specialization to increase performance. Management practitioners and theorists focused on how managers should organize and control the workRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesSkills 19 †¢ Stimulating Innovation and Change 20 †¢ Coping with â€Å"Temporariness† 20 †¢ Working in Networked Organizations 20 †¢ Helping Emp loyees Balance Work–Life Conflicts 21 †¢ Creating a Positive Work Environment 22 †¢ Improving Ethical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most