Sociologists talk about the importance of the “sociological imagination.” This is the connection between your own individual life and
larger societal influences. This paper asks you to analyze your life from a sociological perspective. For your paper, you should develop a
core issue or theme from your life that you will focus on using a sociological lens. Here are some suggestions:
– An experience with discrimination you have experienced because of a) race/ethnicity, b) gender (not being masculine or feminine
enough), c) sex (being male or female), d) sexual orientation, e) age (being too young or too old), f) being disabled, g) your religion,
h) your social class, or i) your weight or appearance or j) any other social status not listed
– An experience with education.
– An experience with social media and online communication.
– A discussion about socialization in your life: family, teachers, peers, religious counselors, bosses, coworkers, etc.
– An experience of a loss (relationship, death, job, etc.)
– An explanation of your membership in a group (whether it is formal or informal, i.e. skaters, punks, preps, sports team,
fraternity/sorority, church group, choir, gamers, etc.)
– A description of your experiences at a place of employment.
– A description of traveling someplace and experiencing a different culture.
– A description of a run-in you had with the law or an experience of victimization.
– A discussion about defining family and your family.
– An experience where you believed you were labeled, either good or bad. Did it lead to discrimination? Did you get things you
didn’t deserve?
– Something else – talk to me first to make sure it is okay.
HOW TO DO THIS PAPER:
1. Introduce the topic and provide a brief summary on the core issues you are going to talk about. This is your chance to share part
of your life – be descriptive and set up the story. (10 points)
2. Next, analyze your story using sociological concepts. This means you must think about the situation sociologically. You must bring
up THREE sociological concepts for full points. It’s hard for me to tell you what exactly to write about here because it will be up to you
based on the topic you are writing about and how you are framing your experience. (45 points (15 points per sociology issue) )
a. It might be helpful to revisit the chapter where we discussed the topic you are writing about, but here are some general ideas for
inserting sociology. These are merely suggestions:
i. culture (material culture, nonmaterial culture, ethnocentrism, culture relativism), socialization (agents of socialization,
resocialization, total institutions, development of the self), social inequalities – social class, race, gender (prejudice, types of
discrimination, impact on life chances), groups & organizations (social networks, role/status, role conflict & role strain,
bureaucracies), Durkheim’s – anomie, Webers’s – verstehen, Marx’s – alienation, social construction of reality, relativity of deviance,
labeling, self-fulfilling prophecy, social institutions
Next, you need to have a section about a theory or theoretical perspective (for example – Functionalist, Conflict, Symbolic
Interactionist, Rational Choice, Feminist Theory, Labeling Theory, Differential Association Theory, Strain Theory) that helps you think
about the issue or experience. This means you need to present the theory or perspective and tell me how the ideas are helpful for thinking
about the topic. You need at least one paragraph providing a description of the theory (in your own words). Next, you need to discuss how
you would apply this theory to your life experience. (25 points: 12 points for description of theory & 13 points for how it applies to
your topic).
3. Finally, I would like a conclusion summarizing what it means to view your topic from a sociological perspective. If you are
discussing a personal experience – has it made life clearer or more complex? Has it challenged you to see things differently? (10 points)
4. This paper should be typed, double-spaced, with 11-12 point font. It should be at least 4-5 pages in length. Please proof-read
your paper for grammar & spelling mistakes. I will take off a total of 10 points (10% of the grade) for grammar & spelling. Make sure you
include at least THREE course concepts in your paper plus a sociological theory.
You should be able to write this paper using your textbook, lecture notes, and videos from class. Cite the page number and author or
lecture and chapter for course concepts. (Ballantine, Roberts, & Korgen 2018, p. 300) or (Notes Chapter 7) or (Single Story video). I know
I show a lot of YouTube clips in class and if you want to take from one of those, but you do not remember the clip you can just reference
it as part of your notes. If you take from any other sources beyond what is noted above you need the full citation. Please check out the
following website for guidelines on citations:
http://www.newark.osu.edu/students/student-life/the-writers-studio/
5. Include a reference page at the end of the paper that includes course materials cited, as well as any other sources that you use.
** You may find that breaking the paper down into the different sections makes it easier. Feel free to label the different sections if you
wish.
** Just a reminder: any type of plagiarism or cheating will result in an F in the class and filing of charges with Academic Misconduct. As
noted on the syllabus, “Please be aware that all papers for this course will be submitted through Carmen with the originality checker
activated. This means your papers are processed through turnit.com which is a site that assesses for plagiarized work. A high percentage
does not necessarily mean plagiarized work depending on the type of paper you are writing. For instance, a literature review might have a
relatively high percentage of material found in other sources because you are summarizing other people’s work. However, a paper you write
about your own life experiences should have lower percentages.”
Exemplary
Good
Acceptable
Unacceptable
Introduction – brief description of the project
10% (10 points)
Great! This is an introduction that makes the observer want to read more and includes clear summary of what the paper will be about –
adequately guides the reader so the reader knows what to expect.
9-10 pts.
Good enough. The introduction is present but is not as well written as the “exemplary” introduction. Key areas are addressed but the
introduction isn’t as clear as the “exemplary” paper
7.5-8.5 pts.
Describes the paper and/or issue, but leaves the observer yawning. Provides a mediocre introduction.
6-7pts
Nope. Review the instructions.
< 5 pts.
Thoughtful sociological analysis: Issue 1 of Sociology
15 % (15 points)
Thoroughly and thoughtfully analyzes the chosen topic. Seems to have an excellent grasp of the sociological concepts used.
13.5-15 pts.
Good. You discuss a sociology issue in your paper, but did not do so in as thoroughly as the “exemplary” paper. You may have only
mentioned the concept without expanding on it in a thorough manner.
11.5-13 pts.
The requirements were almost completely fulfilled … You did not illustrate critical thinking in regards to your topic and the sociological
issue at hand. Did not show you had a thorough grasp of the topic you mentioned.
9-11 pts.
You are missing the majority of the components for this section.
< 8.5 pts.
Thoughtful sociological analysis: Issue 2 of Sociology
15% (15 points)
Thoroughly and thoughtfully analyzes the chosen topic. Seems to have an excellent grasp of the sociological concepts used.
13.5-15 pts.
Good. You discuss a sociology issue in your paper, but did not do so in as thoroughly as the “exemplary” paper. You may have only
mentioned the concept without expanding on it in a thorough manner.
11.5-13 pts.
The requirements were almost completely fulfilled … You did not illustrate critical thinking in regards to your topic and the
sociological issue at hand. Did not show you had a thorough grasp of the topic you mentioned.
9-11 pts.
You are missing the majority of the components for this section.
< 8.5 pts.
Thoughtful sociological analysis: Issue 3 of Sociology
15% (15 points)
Thoroughly and thoughtfully analyzes the chosen topic. Seems to have an excellent grasp of the sociological concepts used.
13.5-15 pts.
Good. You discuss a sociology issue in your paper, but did not do so in as thoroughly as the “exemplary” paper. You may have only
mentioned the concept without expanding on it in a thorough manner..
11.5-13 pts.
The requirements were almost completely fulfilled … You did not illustrate critical thinking in regards to your topic and the
sociological issue at hand. Did not show you had a thorough grasp of the topic you mentioned.
9-11pts.
You are missing the majority of the components for this section.
< 8.5 pts.
Theory: clear understanding of theory
12% (12 points) Shows you have a clear understanding of the sociological theory. You were able to summarize key ideas of theory and do it
in your words.
11-12 pts.
Provides a definition of the theory (but not in own words).
9.5 – 10.5 pts.
Provides a section for theory, but does not put theory in own words and misses some key ideas pertaining to the theory.
7.5 – 9 pts.
Missing major parts of this section.
< 7 pts.
Theory: application of theory to specified topic.
13% (13 points)
Provides a very thorough application of the theory. Clearly shows you understand sociological theory.
12-13 pts.
9
You provide an application of the theory. However, it is not clear you fully understand all aspects of the theory and how it pertains to
your topic.
10-11.5 pts.
OK…theory application attempted, but major parts wrong or missing.
7.5-9.5 pts.
Ummmm, not sure. Lacking a discussion of theory.
<7 pts.
Conclusion –
Summarizing what you learned. How has this experience affected you? 10% ( 10 points)
Excellent wrap up of paper and discussion of what you took from this experience in a sociological way.
9-10 pts
Good discussion, but not as well done as the “exemplary” paper
7.5-8.5 pts.
Adequate discussion of what you learned, but not earth shattering
6-7pts
Nope. Fails to meet criteria and/or does not convey understanding of the overall task here.
< 5 pts
Overall: Completeness, organization, style, and clarity, correct citations, includes reference page
10% (10 points) Excellent. Well organized and presented, fewer than 2 technical errors.
10-9 pts. Good. 3-5 technical errors and/or other omissions.
7.5-8.5 pts.
Not so much. 6+ technical errors.
6-7pts
What happened? More than 7 technical errors.
< 5 pts.
Total