Sociological Imagination Essay
Objective: The purpose of this assignment is to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the sociological imagination as well as your ability to critically analyze issues and apply concepts. In this assignment, you are asked to write about what C. Wright Mills (in “The Sociological Imagination” from Unit 1, Module 1 in this class) calls the intersection of biography and history. Specifically, you’re asked to write about the ways a social structure has had an impact in your own life and consider the broader social impact of those structures.
Instructions: To understand peoples’ behavior, sociologists look at their social location in society. For this assignment, identify the corners in life that you occupy (the structures that shape you) by describing your jobs, class, income, religion, education, gender, age, and race/ethnicity. Describe and explain how two of these elements influence your self-concept, behavior, and life chances. How have you been “socially constructed?”
Then select the two elements you chose and change them (for example, change your ethnicity from Japanese American to Mexican American) and describe what differences might exist in your: self concept, behavior, and life chances if you occupied these social locations instead. So, how would your life be different? In your explanation be sure to identify ‘how you know this’; are you using common sense, past experiences, stereotypes, research, etc? Explain. If you use research, be sure to cite it.
By trying to imagine how someone who is different than you in one or more of these aspects, and by thinking about how they see themselves in the world, you are using your sociological imagination.
Format: Your paper should be about 3-4 pages in length, typed, and double-spaced. You must use 12 point, Times New Roman or Calibri font. If you cite any outside research or other course material, you should include a bibliography. You can use MLA or APA format.
You will be assessed on your ability to critically analyze issues and apply your sociological imagination to describe the way you have been “socially constructed.”
