Write an essay contrasting the lifestyles of the rich and the poor in American society. Give some relevant examples.

What is the relationship between poverty and social stratification? Define class stratification. What did Marx mean by the term lumpenproletariat?

The text points out that poverty is a deceptively simple term to define. What is meant by this statement? Be sure to include some discussion of what the federal government means by the "poverty line."

Write an essay addressing the question, "Who ARE the poor?" Be sure to include single-parent families, minority groups, geography, immigration, and the "working poor" in your answer.

Write an essay on the concomitants of poverty: health care, education, housing and homelessness, and justice.

Compare and contrast structural versus cultural explanations of poverty.