SOCI 101 Sociological Imagination
Sociology covers a very broad range of topics, such as culture, socialization, social interaction, social class and economic inequality, gender and gender inequality, race and racism, government, labor and the economy, family life, education, and more. For this assignment, I want you to think like a sociologist! Specifically, I want you to use your sociological imagination by selecting the topic that you find most interesting, and then thinking critically and writing a paper about how your lived experiences relate to some of the broad sociological patterns we have been discussing in class. Is there a particular topic that resonated with you as we discussed it in class or as you completed the course readings? Once you have chosen the specific topic you want to write about, I want you to provide a brief description of the major sociological concepts, theories, etc. associated with that topic. Then, I want you to apply these to your daily life experiences and/or to the larger social world as you see it, demonstrating to me that you understand the relationship between what C. Wright Mills called our “personal troubles” and broader “public issues.” In keeping with the course objectives spelled out in the syllabus, your paper should ideally: (1) identify and explain key sociological concepts; (2) apply these concepts and theories to real-world situations and current events; (3) critically examine how large-scale social institutions (such as the family, education, work, politics, etc.) have shaped your life and the society in which you live; and (4) demonstrate your comprehension of the course material. Simply stated, I will be looking for evidence that you have done the required reading, have paid attention in class, and have reflected upon how the reading and lecture material speak to your own life. (For an assignment like this, by the way, it is perfectly acceptable to write in the first person!) Your paper should be 5-6 pages long, typed, double-spaced, Times or Times New Roman 12-point font, and should have standard 1 ¼ inch margins. College-level writing is expected for this assignment. You must incorporate at least three references to our textbook. Outside references are also acceptable, but not required. Please include in-text citations and a separate list of references (which will not count towards the page total). Put your identifying information (name, date, class) on a separate title page (which will also not count towards the page total). When in doubt, simply follow ASA (American Sociological Association) style guidelines, which are nicely summarized at the following link: https://sociology.fas.harvard.edu/files/sociology/files/asastyleguide.pdf The paper must be submitted as an assignment on Canvas by Tuesday, July 3 at 6:30pm, as specified on the course syllabus.
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As stated on the course syllabus, this assignment is worth a total of 45 points. Here is the rubric (or scoring guide) I will be using to evaluate your work:
Identifies key sociological concepts (8 points) Briefly explains key sociological concepts and relevant theories (8 points) Effectively illustrates connections between aforementioned sociological concepts
and the author’s lived experiences and/or understanding of society (15 points) Incorporates three (3) or more references to the course textbook (6 points) Incorporates proper grammar / spelling / punctuation (4 points) Includes in-text citations (2 points) Includes a separate title page and list of references (2 points)
Late papers will NOT be accepted. As always, do not hesitate to contact me (hernan.ramirez@canyons.edu) if you have any questions or concerns as you work on this assignment. I’m here to help! Note: Plagiarized papers will receive a zero and the student will be reported to the appropriate ECC disciplinary board.