Goal: Throughout this class, we have studied a lot of sociological concepts, many of which are social problems in our society. Although this can be an enlightening experience, it can also be extremely disheartening. This assignment is designed to counter feelings of powerlessness that are sometimes associated with studying social problems from a structural vantage point. I am challenging you to do something to advance social justice in our society. Your paper will explain what you did and relate it to the course material. Choosing Something to DO: Given the pandemic, please make sure that your choice of actions observes current health recommendations and guidelines! Get involved in our campus community, in your neighborhood, through your religious affiliations, get politically active, become engaged, become educated, help your neighbor, or help yourself: this is the challenge to you. You do not have to advocate for any particular definition of social justice. You may get engaged in anything that you feel advances social justice according to your version of inequality and social justice. In order for you to be able to effectively connect your activity to the class materials. (I chose POVERTY). Writing it Up: After you have done something to advance social justice, then write a paper describing the social problem, what specifically you did to address it, why it matters to the cause you selected, how your social problem relates to the course materials, and how your participation relates to concepts in collective action and social movements. You will be graded on your essay and the extent to which you can link it to the issues we have discussed in class. Can you articulate a social problem (using your sociological imagination) and can you find a way to connect yourself to being part of the solution? Paper Format: (please label as Part A, Part B, and Part C) Part A: Describe the Activity (approximately 1 page, double spaced) ? What did you DO and why is it important? ? Include 1-2 selfies of you doing something that do not show any other people aside from yourself. Part B: Explain how the Activity Relates to Collection Action/Social Movements (approximately 1 page, double spaced) ? Drawing explicitly on the course material, describe why your actions should be considered a collective action and/or a social movement (or at least the start to collective action and/or a social movement). Make direct links to the course materials, citing those that are relevant. ? For example, you might explain what type of collective behavior and/or social movement your activity fits into, what stage of social movement mobilization this movement is in, and/or how it fits into why people act collectively. Part C: Explain how the Activity Relates to Social Justice (approximately 1 page, double spaced) ? Drawing explicitly on the course material that focuses on social justice (stratification, social class inequalities, poverty, gender inequalities, or racial or ethnic inequalities), analyze the problem that you addressed in light of the course materials (lectures, readings, etc.). ? For example, if you “did something” to address the issue of race relations, you should reference the course materials in an analysis of race relations and how they are a problem in today’s society. ? Be as specific as possible. Make direct links to the course materials, citing those that are relevant. ? Conclude your paper with a statement of how you could expand or continue your activity in the future. If you get ideas from our readings, you need to refer to the authors in your text. The same can be said for the times when you quote authors in your paper. You can cite the authors by referring to the author and page number. This can be done in two ways. You can refer to the author after the idea or quote in parentheses: (Aronson, p. 25). Or you can refer to the author in the following way: As Aronson (p. 25) points out . .. If you are referring only to the course assignments (the expectation for this assignment), you do not need a references page. You are not required to cite outside sources.Show more
