Category: Sociology

Please choose ONE of the following “Data Workshops” from The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology  where you submit a formal essay that reports and analyzes your findings.  Be sure to read the detailed description and instructions in each data workshop in order to better understand the assignment.
NOTE:  You must select one of the options below.  If you complete the other data workshops, you will not receive credit.  Page numbers are not listed because they change depending on the edition you’re using.  However, the titles are the same. 
Chapter 7: Advertising and the American Dream
Attachments: Ads
Chapter 8: Does TV Reflect the Realities of Race?
Attachments: Informal Notes
Chapter 9: The Second Shift: Gendered Norms and Household Labor
Attachments: Questionnaire and notes/transcript from interview.
As the “Do-It-Yourself” option states, you are writing a 3 – 4 page essay along with an attachment that provides your images, informal notes, or questionnaire/notes.  The page requirement of 3 – 4 pages does not include your attachments.  Please double space your essay and use a 12-point font.
Here are some tips on how to complete this assignment: 
Carefully read the entire description of the workshop before gathering your data and spend extra time reviewing the questions that are being asked. By having a good handle on the questions, you will be able to keep your observations focused.
Once you collect your data, begin answering the questions posed in the textbook as a way to gather the possible “pieces” that you want to include in the essay. In other words, even before starting the essay, jot down answers to the questions posed in the data workshop.  By answering these questions in a thorough manner with specific examples for your observation, you have identified what will be the “body” of your essay. 
Your next task will be to arrange these pieces into one cohesive narrative that includes a thesis, main points that support the thesis, and a conclusion. In other words, how will you arrange the pieces of your essay to tell an “organized story”?  Simply answering all the questions and stringing the paragraphs together will NOT be considered an essay! 
When submitting your essay, please upload it as a PDF or Word file.  You can submit the essay separate from the attachments or as one file. 
Your writing assignment will be graded upon:
Defining the appropriate key concepts relevant to your data workshop.
Using your example to illustrate the key concepts.
Integrating course material to develop your analysis.
Organization and grammar of essay (i.e. introduction, thesis statement, topic sentences for paragraphs in body of essay, conclusion)
Inclusion of attachments

Cultural Case Study Assignment
Due Friday June 28 @ 11:59pm
Objective
A key take away from this course is that popular culture is not separate from society. Popular culture is not just a niche thing we engage in when we have “free” time. It actually has a lot to teach us about who we are (or want to be) as a society, and whom and what we value (or don’t).
The final paper assignment is an opportunity for students to see how course content can help make sense of recent controversies in music, sport, and film. The paper also challenges students to see how recent controversies in popular culture are not isolated incidents but exemplars of more generic sociological processes.
Case Study Options (Choose 1):
Beyonce, Cowboy Carter, and country music 
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift effect in the NFL 
The Barbie film and its presence at the 2024 Oscars
A selection of commentary from popular media have been uploaded to Avenue To Learn for each case study. These articles are meant to serve as some background context for people who are unfamiliar with the case study. They also serve as examples of how each issue are being discussed.
Your Task: 
Choose a case study. These case studies were chosen because they are well-known and have sparked significant cultural coverage and public debate and are relevant to the themes of our class. Familiarize yourself with the controversy and content of debates. Examples of media discourse on each issue have been uploaded to Avenue to Learn. You can limit yourself to the articles provided – but are welcome to draw upon other relevant and legitimate media commentary as well.  Just make sure to cite whatever you use.
Get some perspective using the classical toolbox: In the first half of this course, we examine the unique features of sociological approach to culture including how key theoretical frameworks (namely, functionalism, critical perspectives, and symbolic interactionism) help us understand different facets of our shared culture. Consider how each of the classical theoretical perspectives we learned about in class to your chosen case study.
How would a functionalist, critical theorist, or symbolic interactionist study or explain that cultural controversy you’ve chosen? For example, if I were to write a paper about debates regarding banning TikTok, I might think about what would a functionalist say about the purpose social media in maintaining social ties? Are people making functionalist arguments when saying that TikTok should or should not be banned? Or how would a critical theorist see the entire debate? Would they be for or against a ban? And how would a symbolic interactionist makes sense of the controversy.
Assess what’s at stake: In the final half of the course, we learned how popular culture helps us to understand society: specifically, how many forms of social inequality are not only reflected in popular culture, but also reproduced in popular culture. How are cultural status beliefs showing up or reflected in the case study, if at all? Are there any types of inequality being invoked, challenged, or reproduced in the way the case plays out? What are some potential consequences of this controversy for how people behave or understand one another – especially as it relates to race, gender, or class differences? 
Question the cultural significance: Drawing on insights from the above, why do you think your case study such a big deal? Famous people date and break up every day. Lots of albums get released. And many more people never get awards, or even nominations, than the people who do. So why did these events become such huge stories in our culture?
Hint#1: It’s not because these cases involve extremely famous people.
Hint#2: These stories are about something bigger than the characters involved.
Technical Details:
Length and Format: Your paper will be approximately 10-15 double-spaced pages in standard 12-point font.  This does not include the bibliography.  An electronic copy of the assignment must be submitted via Avenue to Learn and Turnitin.com. 
Paper Organization: The task breakdown above suggest something about how best to structure your paper. It seems most efficient to include an explanation of the case study, and a section that explores central tenets of functionalist, critical, and interactionist schools and how they apply to the case study.  The 3rd and 4th tasks could then be addressed in the final sections of the essay. These are suggestions, and not requirements.
Evaluation: This writing assignment will count for 40% of your final grade. Students will be graded on the following criteria: 
Demonstrating an in-depth comprehension of course concepts and content; 
Effectively making connections between case study details and relevant course concepts; 
Generating critical insights when applying course content to analyzing key concepts; 
Originality and Writing style. 
Submission: The paper is due Friday June 28 @ 11:59pm via Avenue to Learn. Late submission will lose 5% per 24 hours of lateness, with the clock beginning to tick at 12am on Saturday June 29.
Note: There are restrictions on using MSAFs for course requirements worth more than 35%. Please consult the relevant MSAF policy for more details. 

Throughout this course you will read scholarly work on questions of diversity, exclusion and inclusion. You will write a weekly blog reflecting upon those issues, but rather than offering an unsubstantiated opinion on these matters, you’ll be expected to offer a unique but informed opinion supported by scholarly research and empirical evidence.
You will have freedom to choose the topic and the particular angle of the issue as you wish to explore it, but there are some clear parameters you’ll need to follow.
Each blog entry must have:
Minimum 500 words (15% penalty for falling short of the word count)
1 citation from academic source materials read that week in class. This must be cited with a page number and author. Sources may not be reused week-to-week.
1 citation of an academic source (a relevant peer-reviewed article) from outside of class.  Hint: Wikipedia is not an academic source. Sources may not be reused week-to-week.
1 citation of a news media article relevant to the topic.
At least 1 audio or visual element that adds substantial content to support your argument. This could be a link to a video, pictures, etc.

This is actually for a Ph.D. in law application, but I’d like to explore socio-legal studies.
5.
Literature Review
You
should refer to the key articles and books in the proposed area of
research, showing on the one hand how they will support your research, but also
demonstrating that there is a need for your research. 
(Suggested word count: 500)
This is from another part of my application:
The proposed research emerges from a significant academic context
characterized by extensive scholarship on environmental law, indigenous
rights, and biodiversity conservation, particularly in the Amazon region of
Brazil. While existing literature provides valuable insights into legal
frameworks and their application, there remains a notable gap in
understanding the effectiveness of these laws in protecting the Amazon and
its inhabitants, specifically in Brazil. This research seeks to address this
gap by offering a comprehensive evaluation of legal protections and
enforcement mechanisms, focusing on both theoretical and empirical
contributions.
Theoretically, this study adds to the discourse by critically analysing
the implementation and enforcement of existing legal frameworks within the
unique socio-political context of Brazil, with potential implications for
other Amazonian countries such as Suriname and Venezuela. By synthesizing
insights from multidisciplinary sources, including legal documents,
international treaties, academic literature, and expert interviews, the
research aims to develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities
in safeguarding the Amazon ecosystem and indigenous rights (especially in
Brazil).
Empirically, the proposed methodology, which includes case studies
and expert interviews, offers a novel approach to examining the real-world
application of laws and regulations. By selecting representative case studies
from Brazil, the research will provide concrete examples of the successes and
shortcomings of legal protections, particularly concerning indigenous land
rights, environmental regulations, and enforcement practices. This empirical
evidence will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complexities
involved in protecting the Amazon and its inhabitants, especially in Brazil.
The anticipated outcomes of this research, including a comprehensive
understanding of legal frameworks, identification of key challenges, and
recommendations for policy reforms, hold significant implications for
academic scholarship, policy discourse, and advocacy efforts. By shedding
light on the gaps in legal protection and enforcement, this study aims to
inform decision-making processes, shape policy agendas, and catalyse action
towards preserving the Amazon rainforest, conserving biodiversity, and upholding
indigenous rights (with a focus on Brazil). Ultimately, this research seeks
to make a meaningful contribution to addressing one of the most pressing
environmental and social challenges in modern times.
My primary research question is:
What laws protect the Brazilian portion of the Amazon
rainforest and the people and animals who live in it?
Two
sub-questions are:
Are these
laws being applied?
If not,
why not?

How does Charlotte Perkins Gilman in “The Man-Made Family” say that history led to the exploitation of women? What does she mean by “too much manness”? What does it do?

Instructions:
Provide 1-2 paragraphs with the information listed below and be sure to include a cover page.
1.) List one PERSONAL situation. It can be your problem or about someone whom you are close to. (1-2 sentences) Examples of this can include debt, body image, divorce, etc.
Introduction:
1.) This should include the definition of Sociological imagination (cite) and then your interpretation of what it means. (Take a look back at your week 1 discussion forum). Also, in this section you should include the general overview of your problem/issue that you will discuss in your paper.
For example, In this paper I will discuss debt and how it has impacted my life.
2.) You must include a minimum of 3 sociological concepts. Please provide the names (i.e. socialization, gender roles, family) of the three concepts, the chapters in which you will retrieve the concepts from, and define the concepts.
3.) You must include 1 sociological theory (see below). Provide one sociological theory (i.e. Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theory, and etc.) You should define this theory as well. 
Reference
Conerly, T. R., Holmes, K., & Tamang, A. L. (2022). Introduction to sociology 3e.
OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-3eLinks to an external site.

How has new media affected literacy and information consumption? How is this different from older forms of media? 

Instructions
1) After reading Chapter 6, think of an act or instance of deviance in current events. First, define deviance using our book. 2) Then, briefly describe a deviant act covered in the news– current or historic (such as an odd disturbance, a crime, protest, etc.). 3) Which social norm(s) did the act break? Was a law broken? Did the act bring about a change in the expected behavior (may be challenge any existing laws)? Or, did the act and the response to it reinforce these existing sanctions?
The book is authored by Dalton Conley (2021), and is titled You May Ask Yourself.  It’s the 7th edition, published by W.W. Norton.

I would like you to choose an event that has been covered in the news recently and do an analysis of the way it was covered in 4 different news outlets. In the spirit of what we’ve been doing all term, I would like you to find multiple narratives for the story you choose. Talk about how the issue is being presented from multiple perspectives. The news story can be anything you choose, but you must relate it to one or more of the sociological concepts we’ve been learning about this term. Stronger papers will relate the story to more than one sociological concept and integrate their analysis with their outlining of the narratives constructed about the event.
Your paper must be roughly 4-6 pages in length (double spaced, 12 point times new roman font, 1-1.25” margins) and include a description of the current event in detail, what news sources you chose to analyze, what those news sources are saying about it (Include as many disparate articles as possible from at least 4 different news outlets).
You must use concepts of media literacy to back up your analysis. Talk about the reasons that news outlets might have for constructing narratives differently. Refer to class discussion and/or outside sources from the library for your discussion of media literacy and critical reading of news.
You must also discuss how the coverage of the issue, and the issue itself, relate to the sociological concepts we’ve covered this term in class.
You will be graded on detail, structure, critical analysis, and connection to class material. The paper is worth 100 points, roughly 22% of your final grade.
You will be graded on:
1: The Level of detail and Thick Description (What were the articles saying? How were they saying things differently? What might the outlet’s political and economic motivations be for telling the story the way that they do?) (60 Points)
2: How you relate the event you’re discussing to specific concepts of media literacy and from any other concepts from class discussion and the readings/text/any other sources/articles you find. (30 Points)
3: Organization and quality of writing (10 Points)
PAPER FORMAT:
1 Introduction (Includes Thesis Statement)
2 Review of the literature (Media Literacy, critical reading of news, content analysis.)
3 Data (Talk about the articles you found. How do they construct the narrative of the event you chose? How are the narratives constructed differently across the 4 articles you’ve chosen to analyze?)
4 Analysis (Relate what you found to the media literacy theories you outlined. Relate the event itself to any of the sociological concepts from class that you find to be relevant.)
5 Conclusion (Wrap it up-Tie it together.)

All researchers must define the terms or concepts they plan to use in their research question. For example, if your research question was, “How do new hires into an organization become socialized into the organization?” you would need to define what you meant by “become socialized”. Do you mean how are new employees oriented to their jobs? Or do you mean how do new employees learn the unwritten rules of the organization? Whatever you mean, you will have to explain this concept and why it is important to your research question. To do that, you will need to turn to the authorities, or seminal theorists, in the field and see how they have defined these concepts. By combining your own definition of the concept/construct (using logic and reasoning) and the contributions of experts, you will be able to define your concept/construct quite specifically.
Write a 1-1.5 page paper defining a concept/construct in your research question.
Use scholarly or high quality non-scholarly sources to craft your definition(s). Do not use dictionary definitions. If the term you have chosen to define is best defined using a dictionary definition, choose a different term to define.
This assignment is worth 100 points.
How does this assignment relate to your future?
Many misunderstandings and mistakes have been caused by inexact definitions of abstract concepts. You need to be able to narrow down the topics and develop in-depth areas of expertise that can be acquired through writing meaningful academic papers.
As a career professional, you will be expected to act on your superior’s directions. This means you need to know when to ask questions and gain clarity on an unfamiliar task. Perhaps some of the most valuable questions you can learn to ask more frequently are what do you mean or can you explain that.
The purpose of extended definition papers is to inform and clarify complex and abstract topics into clearly defined terms using examples and making an unfamiliar topic more familiar.
This assignment must conform to APA style requirements.
Why should you learn how to format your papers in APA style? APA style…
Teaches you to pay attention to detail.
Jobs require attention to detail.
Requires you to follow directions.
Teaches you how to write objectively and present evidence.
Jobs require employees to present information using facts, statistics, reasoning, and examples; not “I think, I feel, or I believe”.
Teaches procedural compliance.
Employers want workers who know how to follow a procedure because most jobs require procedural compliance.
What should you pay attention to when completing this assignment?
Organize this paper just like you would organize a good essay: introduction, body, conclusion.
Develop each paragraph with specific examples from the source material and use logical reasoning to develop and make your points. Well-developed paragraphs should be between 3-5 sentences. If you are unsure of how to write good paragraphs, consult an English Composition textbook, or work with the Student Success Center or online tutoring.
When crafting your extended definition, be sure to incorporate the definitions provided by researchers, preferably scholarly researchers or research produced by high quality non-scholarly sources. Do not copy definitions into the body of your paper. Use your words to create the definition, then cite and reference.
Where to find guidance on how to complete this assignment:
Read the Babbie text, specifically the chapter that discusses conceptualization (chapter 5 in the 7th edition). Also pay attention to the articles in your article collection and check for how those researchers define important concepts.
Read the resources provided in this week’s module.
Ask your instructor if you need help.