Sociology

Social Problems Paper – Option B Grading Rubric (Dr. Hamill) Student Name: __________________

Category Value Professor’s Score Opening Paragraphs: Student identifies 2 specific areas of the ACA of interest and briefly explains what each is about. By brief I mean a sentence or two for each. Also, student provides a brief 1 to 2-sentence overview of the paper. Opening paragraph is no longer than ½ page.

10%

Subjective Concerns: In at least two separate paragraphs, student identifies and explains a specific subjective concern trying to be addressed by each of the 2 ACA areas identified in the opening paragraph. In other words, what is it that people are concerned about and want changed in the health care system? Why were the two elements you selected included in the law? What problems were they trying to solve? Also, student identifies a concern for each that is being expressed by those who oppose it? A simple in-text citation is used for each*. The opposing concerns can be in separate paragraphs if that makes sense in terms of your organization.

20%

Cultural Values: In a brief separate paragraph, student identifies and explains at least 1 American cultural value reflected in the debate over the 2 selected areas of ACA, or the ACA as a whole.

5%

10 Essential Health Benefits: In a separate paragraph student identifies 10 essential health benefits required of insurers by the ACA.

5%

Objective Data: In three separate paragraphs, student identifies: a) percentage of Americans with health insurance coverage prior to the ACA and as of 2017, b) percentage of Americans, by race and ethnicity, with health insurance coverage prior to the ACA and as of 2017, and which racial-ethnic group had highest decrease in being uninsured, c) 2 other pieces of objective data about the ACA that you think are compelling, or that relate directly to the topics you selected in #1 above, and d) how the data you selected is useful in understanding the social problem of health insurance/care via the ACA overall.

15%

Application of Theory: Essay includes one or two paragraphs that applies and contrasts the functionalist and conflict theoretical approaches to health- care/ACA.

20%

Student Perspective and Social Location: 10%

Essay includes a concluding paragraph expressing personal feelings and reactions to the ACA. Paragraph must include an examination of how student’s social location influences their take on the ACA. Race, social class, gender and other elements of a student’s social location must be identified and briefly discuss in relation to views of the ACA. Mechanics/Grammar: Grammar, punctuation, spelling are accurately employed. Writing is in active voice. Consistent verb tenses are employed. There is subject-verb agreement. Colloquialism and redundancy is avoided. Sentences are direct and clear. *Are in-text citations included? If sources outside of the assignment instructions were used, was a bibliography included in APA (or MLA) format?

10%

Organization: Essay flows and is presented in an order that makes logical sense. There are clear transitions from one idea and paragraph to the next. Is the argument or line of reasoning fully and coherently developed? Are paragraphs well developed, focused on one point, and sequential?

5%

General Comments (for Professor Only):