Homework

Essay #2

Overview: The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to think about the social construction of deviance with respect to a current event.

Requirements: Locate a news article published during the last 30 days prior to this essay's due date or utilize a podcast that speaks to a timely public issue. Identify and discuss the events/behaviors in the report/podcast as an example of the social construction of deviance. Drawing on course materials, offer an analysis of that which is reported in the paper. The key here is to achieve a balance between description (of your example) and analysis (drawing on relevant theoretical ideas). The latter should be informed by material presented in readings and lecture. The point is to demonstrate you can utilize course material to make analytic sense of things going on in the world and making news!

Format: The paper should be 2 - 3 pages in length and must be typed and double-spaced. Handwritten papers will not be accepted. Attach a copy of the newspaper article, but do not assume the reader will necessarily read it (thus you must summarize it in your analysis).

Due: In the dropbox assigned in the 8th week of class. Please make and retain a copy of your paper prior to submitting it.

A Final Note: You are encouraged to contact the instructor assistance if any of the above guidelines are unclear, or if you simply want to discuss your ideas. As indicated on your syllabus, 20% of your grade for this course is determined by your performance on this paper.