Category: Sociology

What do the Shmoos really represent?
Why are the Shmoos so important and why does the current economy depend on destroying them?
What are the complexities of the middle class?
Why do governments tax the poor and not the rich?

This is the second of three case studies analyses that provide an opportunity to develop your skills in assessing an organizational situation and providing support for a particular course of recommended action. These assignments will be in the form of a memo addressed to the executive director of the focal organization, not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages. The memo must identify the problem as you see it, recommend solutions, and provide support for your perspective. An analysis memo is a short document designed to communicate essential information about an issue to a busy decision-maker. State major problems in the case and briefly explain the context in which key decisions must be made. Next, describe and assess proposed solutions to the problem, which you believe is the best course of action, and your reasons. Identify the next steps if your proposed solution is adopted and outline a “Plan B” in the event that your proposed solution fails. Show how the readings informed your understanding of the case and influenced your decision-making. Do not attempt to address every issue in the case, focus on your analysis of the problem and propose a potentially viable solution. Please use the outline below: Open with a brief one-paragraph summary (labeled Executive Summary) What is the context, key issue(s), and your recommendation? Background Why are we facing these issues? Identify root causes. Recommendations What are your specific recommendations? Rationale? Alternatives? Next steps How should your recommendations be implemented? What are the priorities? the case is the file below

Concerning Durkheim and Merton, please address the following in a brief essay: 1) analyze in detail the basic tenets of the functionalist perspective, and compare this to at least one other perspective in sociology; 2) although Durkheim and Merton did not write during the same era in sociology, explain where their ideas are similar, and both contribute to a functionalist understanding of society; and 3) utilizing and citing one recent case in the media through television or radio broadcast, newspaper, and so forth, provide one key example of a social issue that shows how the functionalist perspective can be used to make society better.

Students will be expected to write 4 analytical reaction papers designed to have students synthesize the main ideas of each week’s reading. Reaction papers (2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12) based on the week’s readings should be submitted on Blackboard. These papers should analyze critically one or two important issues in the reading assignment, issues which you find thought-provoking or problematical. Analyze in some detail an important issue of interest. Stay focused on that issue and present your analysis logically. (Outlining is recommended.) Some suggested approaches: 1) Develop a logical critique of the arguments you analyze (e.g., Does the evidence support the arguments?); 2) Compare and contrast material in one reading assignment with that in another; 3) Compare material in readings with theoretical or research material presented in class; or 4) Use material in reading assignment to assess other significant research or issues you have studied, including your own. The point of the papers is to demonstrate that you’ve thought through and analyzed one or two important issues in the reading assignment. Your papers also provide a basis to support your participation in class discussions. reading attached below
https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465135047
https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igx002

Animal liberation is the movement.
FIRST:
what social movement are you researching?
what is the research question?
Statement of the Problem–Why is this an important social movement?
What theoretical position might you use to help explain your social movement and its activities?
SECOND:
thesis statement.
THIRD:
SOURCES: APA FORMATED IN-TEXT CITATION.
Pellow, D.N., 2014. Total liberation: The power and promise of animal rights and the radical earth movement. U of Minnesota Press.
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/25/1178287217/animal-liberation-now-and-the-case-for-more-humane-treatment-of-animals
https://aldf.org/article/laws-that-protect-animals/
https://www.nal.usda.gov/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare-act

The steps for this module including writing an original (non AI-generated) post that answers Question 1 and then either Question 2a or 2b. Then, you should write your original (non AI-generated) response to another student. Please note that you need to post your complete first post before you will be able to see other students’ posts–that is the only way you can be eligible for full credit. Original Post (7 possible points)
Write a two-paragraph original discussion post (min 275-word min.) that uses learning theories and concepts to analyze three specific observations you made about the American Juggalo ( https://vimeo.com/29589320) documentary by replying to my question thread.As always, explicitly cite course materials such as lecture and your assigned reading for Module 3 in your analysis. For example, you might write, As outlined in the chapter by Inderbitzen, Bates and Gainey (2019), “…quote…” (page number) or you could paraphrase ideas and you will not need a page number.If you cite the lecture you can write something like, As discussed in Lecture Module 3 “add quote…” or paraphrase (Swan 2024). Finish your analysis with a sentence or two reflecting on why it is important to withhold judgment on the people we are observing in the documentary if we are coming to our work with an ethical, social justice perspective.
Answer either the questions listed in the first paragraph of the Deviance in Popular Culture textbox (the questions about your own learned “deviance”) in Chapter 6 of your textbook (100-word min.),
OR
Share a recent (first released in last 2 years–after Jan. 1, 2022) song, film, tv show, or post/video on social media that you think could be analyzed in terms of concepts from any of the theories we have covered in the class so far. Link your classmates to your example online if possible (i.e., a video or website related to your choice). Explain the reasoning behind your choice (100-minimum)
Response (3 possible points)
Respond to someone in your group who does not yet have any responses to their original post. Compare and contrast your analysis of Question 1 (the Juggalo documentary). Did you have similar analyses or did they differ and how? Explain why. Then address Question 2 (either their response to the learning chapter textbox questions or the relevance of the theory they linked to a song, film, tv show, or social media post/video). Be sure to bring at least one new point from the reading or lecture into your response and cite it fully so I know you did it e.g. (Inderbitzen, Bates and Gainey 2019: 4). This response should be a minimum of 150-words long.

Go back and review the last 6 modules.
Select at least 2 key concepts from each module that you believe are important.
It might be helpful to review your 3-2-1 Reflection Journal when selecting your concepts.
Second
Choose your favorite pre-writing activity. This could be a Thinking Map, a Ven Diagram, or any other method of analyzing the concepts that you have selected as important.
Analyze the relationships between the concepts that you have selected.
Example: Domestic Abuse is often times made worse when a parent uses substances because substance use is known to lower inhibitions. If a parent′s inhibitions are lower, they are more likely to behave violently and may be less concerned about whether or not the children witness their violent behavior against the other parent. Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence have the following risk factors in common: …
Write an outline which organizes your thinking and the points that you want to make in your presentation. You must include at least 1 concepts from each module in your presentation for a total of 6 concepts.
If you are doing the Vlog with the Powerpoint you must have a minimum of 12 slides including 1 title page, 1 reference page and 10 slides with content.
Vlog Format – Required
Introduction to your concepts and how they relate to each other
Briefly tell us:
What 5 concepts did you choose?
Why are they important in child welfare?
What are the main points of the Unit?
How do they help us understand child welfare better/more deeply?
Important information in the from the Unit
5 important points of important information from the unit which you will discuss in your synthesis.
Here you want to discuss what the concepts are, what they mean, provide a context, demonstrate you mastery of the concepts
Synthesize the the information above, discussing how the concepts when understood together, extend and deepen our understanding of Child Welfare
Consider other how the concepts relate to each other and differ from each other
Discuss how these concepts relate to those relationships and increases our understanding of the material
Conclusion
Summarize what you have told us in the introduction and body of your presentation
Summarize your synthesis

1 – Write a column with a list of personal events that you consider to be defining and important in your life. Develop another column with a list of historical events that you have experienced in your life or past events that you consider relevant in the way they have affected you.
2 – Describe how you would do research on one of the topics you have identified. What is your research question? Who is your population/sample? What would be your hypothesis? and what research methods would you use for your research? What would be your contribution to the field of sociology?

Between Biography and History
1- Read C. Wright Mills Essay,(1959) Appendix On Intellectual craftsmanship from his book: “The Sociological Imagination.” NY: Oxford University Press. [*PDF Included*]
2- Write a short two-page summary of the main ideas from the essay. Discuss what C. Wright Mills means when he discusses biography and history. What is, in your own words, the sociological imagination?

Overview
The purpose of the fandom assignment is to provide a critical analysis of a fandom that you are a part of. You will be required to provide a minimum of two (2) pages analyzing such things as the background of the subject that you are a fan of, your biography tied to the fandom, what it means to be a fan, and what it means to be a fan of this subject, excentric fandoms of this subject, etc. Within this project, you should utilize sociological understandings and terminology to discuss the topic. Your paper should also include an overview of your topic and explain the theories you are utilizing in depth. Remember that this is a formal paper that requires correct punctuation, grammar, citations, thesis statement, etc.
Requirements
Title page with appropriate APA formatting
***Three (3) academically sound sources
APA in-text citations
References Page
Two (2) FULL pages of content
Double-spaced
1-Inch Margins
Times New Roman
12-point font
Page numbers
Headers (not required but can be utilized and might be helpful)
You do not need an abstract
*Please utilize the attached documents for the paper
The paper should include how hip hop challenges racism, authority and theories that go along with it (please review attached documents)