Category: Sociology

Part One
For this section, integrate material from the lectures, videos, and additional readings with Off the Books discussing the relationship between race, class and community.
What infrastructural factors need to be taken into considered to fully understand the community in Marquis Park. What role did the state and federal governments play in creating Maquis Park? What role did capital play? Note: This will require some extrapolation on your part.
Part Two
For this section, consider the cultural (values, beliefs, norms) integral to holding the community together.
In what ways do the women’s understanding of the responsibilities they have toward their family and community relationships provide a foundation for creating a social network that strengthens and enriches their personal and community lives? What role do the men of Maquis Park play in family and community efforts? Compare the women’s and men’s role in Maquis Park to those in The Jungle. How are they similar? How are they different?
Part Three
For this section, drawing on Part 1 and 2, explore the dialectical (two-way) relationship between the infrastructure and superstructure.
Explain what the dialectical method means and demonstrate its movement using examples from Part 1 and 2. Where would you place the primary emphasis for change in Maquis Park? Note: The slides on the sociocultural evolution would be helpful here.
* * * * * * * * *
Paper Mechanics: 5-7 pages, 12-pt font, 1.5 spacing, and 1-inch margins.
Remember: It is important to use material (quotes and paraphrasing with appropriate citing) from your resources to back-up any assertions you may make. While you do not want to string a series of quotes together, you want to back-up the points you are trying to make; this means there should be at minimum one quote per paragraph.
Papers that use outside resources (those not assigned or discussed/viewed in-class will be penalized one grade point. No outside research is necessary.

The Directions are posted on the files of what my professor expects me to write about, I failed the first essay miserably because I was lost on this topic/class and I don’t want to fail another essay, I will also post the link to the textbook we are currently reading from the same chapters since she wants us to cite from the textbook as well.
Ch. 15 Introduction – Introduction to Sociology 3e | OpenStax (chapter 15-16)
for the title i choose the crime rate trend since its one of the topics on the files

This week, you read about the major theoretical perspectives in sociology (functionalist, conflict, feminist, queer, and symbolic interactionist).
Write an essay defining and interpreting each perspective. Paraphrase each perspective, using your textbook as a resource. Do not copy the definitions from the text, but rather paraphrase in your own words and provide citations in APA Style where necessary. Additionally, briefly explain the importance of the perspectives to the field of sociology.
Your paper should be 1–2 pages in length. Compose your paper in APA Style with a title page, introduction, conclusion, and reference list. Cite at least one scholarly reference in APA Style.
Points Possible: 40
Due: Submit by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) at the end of Week 1.
Your textbook reference, in APA format, is as follows:
In the references section: Schaefer, R. (2019). Sociology: A brief introduction (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
In-text citation: (Schaefer, 2019)

3. In what ways can Marxism help us make sense of the environmental crisis (compare
and contrast the articles of Angus, Huber, and Empson)?
4. Compare and contrast Michael Lebowitz, Sam Gindin, and Marx and Engels’
conceptualizations of Socialism.  
I will provide the readings, I just need a few (2-4) in total easy-to-read but scholar-like paragraphs. NO OUTSIDE SOURCES, JUST USE WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED

Assignment Details (100 Points Total):
Introduce Topic Selection (10 points): Minimum 50 words
Choose a specific social science topic that interests you and is sufficiently researched to find three relevant articles. Ensure the topic allows for you to explore social science research methods that we have learned about in class. 
Article Selection (20 points): 0 words
Find three scholarly research articles published in reputable journals or academic sources. Ensure the articles address different aspects or viewpoints related to your chosen topic.
Article Analysis (40 points): Minimum 300 words
Purpose/Goals: Summarize the main objectives or research questions of the study.
Methods: Describe the research design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques used by the authors.
Theory: Identify and explain the theoretical frameworks or concepts guiding the research.
Findings: Summarize the key findings, results, and conclusions drawn by the authors.
Synthesis [compare and summarize the articles together] (20 points): Minimum 200 words
Compare the three articles based on their purpose, methods, theory, and findings. 
Summarize all three articles together, creating a narrative of what they can teach us
Conclusion and Works Cited (10 points): Minimum 50 words
Summarize the insights gained from the literature review and discuss the implications for theory, practice, policy, or future research directions in the chosen social science topic.
Include a works cited page in APA, MLA, or ASA format.
Chosen topic: The research article I chose explored how parental involvement affects students’ academic achievement. Or how social media use affects the mental health of young people. or is homeschooling more beneficial 

Ethnographic Observation
An ethnography is a useful qualitative research tool in which data is collected about people interacting in a particular setting. In this exercise of ethnographic observation, you will be an unobtrusive researcher observing the social world of individuals and/or groups in a particular setting.
The goal of this exercise is to do a 90-minute observation in a selected setting and to document your observations using field notes. In ethnographic research, field notes serve as the central source of data and are used to capture, in detail, your observations while in the setting. More specifically, notes from the field should contain complete narratives and should provide “thick and rich description” of the setting so that anyone who reads your field notes will understand and experience the social setting without actually being there.
Preparation and Methodological Considerations:
Please review class materials relevant to ethnographic observation.
Ethnographic Research
Ethnographic Field Notes
Select a site to study. Sometimes it helps when the site contains a group of participants that are different from you in 2 out of following list of characteristics:
Ethnicity
Age
Socioeconomic status
Sex/Gender identification
Religious affiliation
Click here for ideas on groups or settings to observe.
Other ideas include observation/participant observation at a family gathering, sporting event, religious service, coffee shop, restaurant, club meeting, airport, concert, hospital, amusement park, gym, etc.
Choose a safe setting and gain permission to visit if necessary.
Jot down your DETAILED field notes.
Allow 90 minutes to observe a single setting where people interact.
Develop an observational protocol to help record detailed field notes.
Click here for an example of how your field notes should be organized.
Your field notes MUST have descriptive AND reflective notes.
Click here for more information on descriptive and reflective notes.
Record basic information about the setting as well as who, what, when, and for how long you observed particular events and activities. Field notes should include descriptive and reflective notes, and drawing(s) diagramming the setting and important features.
Note any patterns you observe, or point out any observations or patterns that particularly surprise you.
Your goal should be to identify patterns in the subculture: in the way it works, the values that its members share, the ways they communicate and interact, their patterns of behavior, or some more narrowly focused question (such as the different ways that male and female members interact).
Start with a description of the place itself. Map out the space. How does traffic flow? What’s the general atmosphere? What details create that atmosphere? What’s the lighting like? The floor? The furniture? Pictures on the wall? Of what? Remember that you have five senses. What do you smell, hear, taste, touch?
Pay attention to the people in your field site. What are their ages, genders, clothing? How do they interact? Record specific bits of conversation. Are they using any insider language, any unfamiliar words? Make sure to record objective, concrete details. Look for patterns. Ask questions.
YOU WILL BE SUBMITTING YOUR FIELD NOTES WITH YOUR WRITE UP.
Then, complete a write-up addressing the following questions:
Discuss the theme of your research and research question (What group are you studying? Were you interested in focusing on gender roles? stratification? cultural values?)
You may have discovered other themes during your observation, but what was your initial theme?
Discuss the setting – location, date, time of day
Discuss the participants
Discuss the patterns of behavior you observed and discuss the significance of your observations from a sociological perspective (Which sociological concepts did you identify? Which theories could be used to explain activities/behavior/situations?)
You MUST discuss at least THREE (3) sociological concepts AND TWO (2) sociological theories.
Discuss any questions that might have risen during your observation and analysis
IN ONE DOCUMENT, SUBMIT YOUR FIELD NOTES AND WRITE-UP.
Formatting:
Typed
Double-spaced
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
1.25″ margins
Simply write your answers in a numbered list.

-Address each part of the question and, in your analysis, cite a broad range of specific course materials (particularly reading and lectures; about 7-10 different sources from the course per question is typical), bringing in and citing reading, lectures, other course materials, and your own ideas.  Your use of evidence and argument should demonstrate you understand the course material and support your view well.  Number your pages and start each essay with the question number. 
-Proofread your work carefully for organization, coherence, grammar, punctuation, and spelling to clarify your points and eliminate errors.  Quote precisely, use quotation marks accurately, and give page numbers for all quotes and close paraphrases, e.g., (Text, p. 30). 
Citing outside references isn’t required, but you should provide full references for any outside sources on a separate References page, using the ASA citation style.
-Most of all your essays’ citations will be to our course materials, which you may cite within your paper’s text (without a separate References page) like this:
for Friedrichs text:  (Text, pp. 123-124)
for Taking Sides articles:  cite the specific article’s author, e.g., (Alito in TS, p. 232)
for lectures:  (lecture on property, March 26)
for films:  give the film title in quotes, e.g., (“Justice for Sale”)
group presentation (death penalty group) or discussion (copyright infringement discussion)
Advocacy groups, government officials, and the public have been debating possible legal changes designed to address significant social problems: (A) Improving water quality and addressing drought conditions by capturing rainwater to increase safe drinking water supplies, reducing trash and toxins entering waterways and beaches through stricter government regulation, and increasing penalties for polluters; (B) Allowing California cities and other local jurisdictions to enact or expand residential rent control laws; and (C) Increasing funding sources for local government services, public schools, and community colleges by raising tax assessment of commercial and industrial property and increasing taxes on firearm sales and tobacco products.  The California Senate called Dr. Communitarian (Dr. C) and Dr. Libertarian (Dr. L) to speak at a public hearing about how law designed to address social problems does—or does not—protect the individual and community—specifically regarding these three proposed ballot measures.
What would Dr. Libertarian’s and Dr. Communitarian’s perspectives on the three measures be, what would each say about the measures and ideas the other side favors, and what assumptions or evidence would they use to support their own view and proposals?  Both speakers should address (A) how each measure would or would not remedy the social problems they propose to remedy; (B) where the line should be drawn between what is appropriately “private” and “public” in a particular area of law; and (C) how individual rights and community interests should be respected in addressing positive and negative effects of “private” actions on the public or community. 
Also, discuss your own perspective on Dr. L’s and Dr. C’s arguments and the legal actions you think would be most effective to address increasing penalties for polluters to improve water quality and address water pollution and scarcity; residential rent control and housing and taxing commercial and industrial property, firearm sales, and tobacco products to support local government services, public schools, and community colleges.  What would be strengths and weaknesses of the legal actions you favor and what could address the weaknesses effectively?  Cite and discuss specific course materials in your essay.
2. What role does—and what role should—U.S. law play in relation to for-profit corporations in arenas, issues, and cases the course covers (e.g., regarding the legal profession, employment and labor law, free speech, equality and discrimination, privacy, security and military power, education and school facilities, file sharing and copyright laws, white-collar and street crime, property, torts and tort reform, prisons, interrogation and torture, monopoly and competition, civil procedure and due process, and contracts)? Does—and should—the law serve the private interest, the public interest, or both?  Explain how and why the law works the way you believe it does in serving the private or the public interest (or both).  Discuss arenas, issues, and cases the course covers (such as those above or others you choose) and cite specific course materials in your essay.
3. How does—and how can—the law advance or undermine justice and human rights? What is the place of law in achieving justice?  Some of our course materials address power issues and varying levels of access to and use of law by different social groups.  Drawing on specific course materials, discuss the routes to effective use of law by those who are relatively disempowered or disenfranchised, as well as by powerful groups.  Analyze the tension and possible conflict between progress and stability in the development of the law by using at least two cases as examples.  Discuss ways in which society contributes to legal change and ways in which legal change affects society.  Use specific concepts and examples from our course materials.
For each essay, we will evaluate four things:
1. effective and accurate summary of class material;
2. breadth and range: important points covered; inclusive—not too thin or short;
3. ability to apply, interpret, and criticize course material and use your own ideas (not just “parroting”); and
4. expression: organization, coherence, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure.
READING: 1. David Friedrichs, Law in Our Lives: An Introduction (third edition) (“Text”);
–  M. Ethan Katsh, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Legal Issues (eighteenth
edition) (“TS”);
– David Friedrichs, Law in Our Lives: An Introduction (third edition) (“Text”)
– Film: “Justice for Sale” 
– Film: “The House We Live In” 
Whether the Fourteenth Amendment Permits Race-Conscious Public University
Admissions Policies (pp. 307-319):
Film: “Eyes on the Prize: 

The Plea

– on Whether the Eighth Amendment’s “Cruel and Unusual Punishment” Clause
Bars Imposing the Death Penalty on Juveniles (pp. 197-207, 2 articles)
– on Whether a Facebook Poster Needs More Than “General Intent” for a Post to be
Considered a “True Threat” Under Criminal Law (pp. 183-196):
-John Roberts (Majority Opinion) and Samuel Alito (Dissent), Elonis v. United States,
U.S. Supreme Court (2015) (2 articles)

In your presentation, addresses the following question: 
What did I learn, in general (in addition to communication styles), about communication (include information from the eText/resources)?
What is my specific communication style(s) and how is it used in my life – give examples? 
How will knowing and understanding my communication style influence my future professional communications with others? 
You may choose among the following formats to present: PowerPoint (5 slides minimum, not including the title slide), Video (which you create, 4-5 minutes), Voice presentation/podcast (4-5 minutes) or a detailed and comprehensive Poem.  Please be as creative as possible and be sure to include information from the readings to fully answer the questions.  
Once you have created your presentation, attach it to this Week’s

(textbook) https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-3e
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to introduce Mills’ Sociological Imagination as well as to describe a personal situation that you select to serve as the main topic of the Sociological Imagination essay that you will submit in week 10. The topic is left to your discretion and is preferably a situation that stands out in your life, or about which you can write 4-6 pages.
This assignment is the first step to the essay that you will work to complete throughout the term. You are required to submit only the Introduction part, and should have the following:
Introduction: Write a paragraph introducing C.W. Mills’s Sociological Imagination and give a general overview of how you’ll be applying it to the personal situation that you will discuss in your paper. To do this, first, describe sociological imagination. Then, clearly specify your topic by providing a brief description (1-2 sentences) of the personal situation that you have selected. Next, identify three chapters that will be utilized to draw sociological concepts from that you will use to analyze your personal situation. Lastly, identify one sociological theory from the text that you will use to analyze your personal situation (e.g., conflict theory or symbolic interactionism).
Use APA format throughout the paper including for the Title page, and references and in-text citations.
For help with APA formatting and style, check out the assignment rubric and refer to the Purdue OWL website and the Academic Writer tool featured in Canvas.
Rubric
Sociological Imagination Essay – Introduction & Planning Grading Rubric
Sociological Imagination Essay – Introduction & Planning Grading Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTitle Page
5 pts
Achievement Level 4
Is formatted according to APA guidelines with no errors.
3 pts
Achievement Level 3
Is formatted according to APA guidelines with few/minor issues.
1 pts
Achievement Level 2
Significant issues present in the formatting of the title page
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
No title page submitted.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExplanation of Sociological Imagination
40 pts
Achievement Level 4
Provides a clear definition of CW Mills’s concept of sociological imagination (SI).
30 pts
Achievement Level 3
Provides a somewhat clear definition of CW Mills’s concept of SI.
20 pts
Achievement Level 2
Attempts to provide a definition of CW Mills’s concept of SI but definition lacks clarity.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Provides an inaccurate or unclear definition of CW Mills’s concept of SI or no definition provided.
40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentifying Personal Situation
20 pts
Achievement Level 4
Provides a brief description (1-2 sentences) of the personal situation.
15 pts
Achievement Level 3
Brief description of the personal situation is present but is missing some elements.
10 pts
Achievement level 2
Brief description of the personal situation is present but is missing major elements.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Does not provide a brief description of the personal situation.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSociological Concepts
20 pts
Achievement Level 4
Identifies three different chapters that will be utilized to draw sociological concepts.
15 pts
Achievement Level 3
Identifies two different chapters that will be utilized to draw sociological concepts.
10 pts
Achievement Level 2
Identifies one chapter that will be utilized to draw sociological concepts.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Does not identify chapters that will utilized to draw sociological concepts.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSociological Theory
10 pts
Achievement Level 4
Identifies the sociological theory that will be applied to explain the personal situation.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Does not identify sociological theory that will be applied to explain the personal situation.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA format
5 pts
Achievement Level 4
The paper, including references and in-text citations, is in APA format.
3 pts
Achievement Level 3
The paper, including references and in-text citations, is in APA format, but with minor errors.
1 pts
Achievement Level 2
The paper, including references and in-text citations, is in APA format, but with significant errors.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
The paper, including references and in-text citations, is not in APA format.
5 pts
Total Points: 100

pick ONE case Study : 1. CASE STUDY 1: Miss Evers Boys & Tuskegee Syphilis Study, you will reflect on the film Miss Evers Boys and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and four key concepts, theories, and/or ideas from the course thus far. When integrating key concepts, theories, and/or ideas, be sure to cite them properly and clearly define them.
Provide a clear introduction on what you will cover. Including how the Study was unethical
Provide your position on the following questions:
What ethical approach do you think was used to guide the researchers in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
How was the guideline of informed consent used in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
How did the guidelines of avoiding harm, doing good, and seeking justice play out in the Study?
While considering diversity, what aspects of assuring trust do you think were damaged as a result of the study?
Topic 2 : CASE STUDY 2: Stanley Milgram and the Experimenter,you will reflect on the film The Experimenter and the Stanley Milgram Obedience Study, and four key concepts, theories, and/or ideas from the course thus far. When integrating key concepts, theories, and/or ideas, be sure to cite them properly and clearly define them.
Provide a clear introduction on what you will cover. Including how the Study was unethical
Provide your position on the following questions:
What ethical approach do you think was used to guide the researchers in the Milgram Study?
How was the guideline of informed consent used in the Milgram Study?
How did the guidelines of avoiding harm, doing good, and seeking justice play out in the Study?
While considering virtue ethics, why did Milgram expect participants to do the “right thing”, and why do you think that number was so low.