Sociology of the body

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SOC3350 Sociology of the Body (Asynchronous)

Fall 2024

Paper Guidelines The course paper is worth 10 points. Due Date, No Extensions It is due noon, Friday November 15. As students have the entire semester to complete the paper, no extensions will be granted. Formatting Papers should be typed in 12-point Times font, page numbered, and single-spaced with 1” or 1.25” margins. They should be between 1,500 words (about 2.5 single-spaced pages) and 1,750 words (about 3 single-spaced pages). Papers should have a title that captures the essence of the paper; however, students should not include a title page. Objectives This course introduces students to a social constructionist perspective of the body and embodiment. Through course materials, students learn how bodies are not neutral but instead are signifiers that carry meaning—objects onto which people project judgment and about which they have preconceived notions. Via the study of embodiment as they pertain to several axis of social identity (e.g., gender, sex, ability, race/ethnicity, and class), as well as two special topics (medicalization and body modification), students explore meanings about embodiment and how these meanings are important for understanding the self, life experiences, and social outcomes, including embodied inequalities. For this assignment, students should write a reflection paper, a sort of autoethnography, where they reflect on how their personal embodiment and experiences connect to wider social, cultural, and political meanings about the body and embodiment. Students are welcome to select any of the concepts, topics, and issues covered in the course and write about their personal embodiment experiences as they connect to these course materials. How do dominant meanings about the body and embodiment shape your life? In your reflection paper, you should draw upon the assigned readings, lectures, and videos, etc., to support your discussion and show that you are actively dialoging with the course materials. References and In-Text Citations In their papers, students must engage a minimum of three scholarly readings from the course. They are also encouraged to engage the required videos and lectures; however, no minimum has been set for these videos and lectures. To avoid plagiarism, all references and in-text citations must be properly cited. Students should follow the American Sociological Association Style Guide (ASA). A “Quick Tips for ASA Style” sheet (PDF) is posted in the Paper Guidelines and Submission link.

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Academic Honesty and the Use of AI Students are expected to practice academic honesty and abide by the UH Academic Honesty Policy. As indicated on the syllabus, the use of Artificial Intelligence is not permitted in this course. The instructor reserves the right to pursue an academic dishonesty case should she suspect the use of AI to complete any coursework, including this paper. Evaluation Papers will be evaluated as follows: Content Thoughtful and analytical reflection of personal embodiment that incorporates three scholarly readings from the course

8 points

Writing Organization, logic, clarity, spelling, and grammar 1 point Formatting and References ASA in-text citations and references; page numbering; font; spacing; margins; appropriate length; title but no title page

1 point

Total 10 points