1. Using the sociological imagination – Create a robust research question that you want to research. Choose a subject that is related to one of the chapters that we have covered in class – example – the family’s role in drug addiction and prevention or th

Mid-term Take Home Exam for Soc 100 – Introduction to Sociology –

Fall 2017

Needs to be uploaded on blackboard’s safeassign system.

Minimum Length for each essay question – 400 words minimum for each question.

Format – 12 point font, Times New Roman or Calibri, double spaced with default margins on top and bottom as well as the sides of the document.

Citing – any specific facts or quotes that are paraphrased or used directly must be cited using a MLA or APA parenthetical citations – similar to this (Smith, 1978, pages 58-59). If you have any questions about this I will show you how to cite.

1. Using the sociological imagination – Create a robust research question that you want to research. Choose a subject that is related to one of the chapters that we have covered in class – example – the family’s role in drug addiction and prevention or the impact of the work world on the family or peoples’ views on gender discrimination or racism. Use chapters 1 and 2 in guiding how you construct the research questions. Create a full explanation of why you choose the subject you choose, explain its importance to society as a whole, what social problems it is related to and whether or not you seek to create solutions based data – meaning by study the topic are you trying to reduce the negative impact on society of say poverty. Create a hypothesis and come up with some suggestions about how you think the data will turn out.

2. After you have constructed your research question – come up with at least two different methods you will use to study your question and explain in detail the pros and cons of each method and why each method is suitable for your study. Next, look over the Institutional Review Board standards on ethics in research and protecting human populations at - https://www.umflint.edu/humansubjects in your answer address the main question of what risks there are and whether or not the benefits to society outweigh the risks and why? Also, address how you will protect the identity of your subjects if you are research a sensitive issue from a legal standpoint or a personal safety standpoint.

3. After you have finished questions 1 and 2 – go to google scholar at - https://scholar.google.com/ or the electronic database of research articles on the library website at - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/jrnlallbooks/sub/socialsciences and find two scholarly articles specifically about your research question – compare and contrast them – tell me what the main research question of each one was, what methods they used and what conclusions they came too and finally how that was similar too and different from how you constructed your research proposal is question 1.

Rubric for the Take-Home Exams  – To make clear what I am looking for in your first test I have created the following guidelines to help you understand how I will grade the first take home test and everyone after this, too.  Rubric for an A paper: - meet and exceed the word minimum

- I encourage you to write as much as you can on each question as long as it is relevant and progresses your main points. - use extensive and detailed examples and definitions from the book and other material used  in and out of class. You must cite and use material in the book or your  grade will be lowered significantly. - write in a clear and coherent manner by using paragraphs to break up your main points and using quality transition sentences from one paragraph to the next - properly cite using parenthetical citations within the text for any  information not of common knowledge from the book, class lectures and  other material used to answer the questions. - use proper grammar and spelling - back up any personal opinion with facts and stats from sociological studies

Anything less will result in points being taken off – particularly for not meeting the word requirements – 10 to 30 points off out of 100 points depending on how far away from the word count you are.

· Lack of detail from the book – 10-30 points off.

· Improper citations – 10-20 points off

· Poor editing – 10-20 points off

· Lack of clarity and organization – 10-30 points off.