SOC 213

SOC 213: Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a sociological imagination PowerPoint presentation.

The presentation is designed to encourage students to think about social problems—past or present, local or global—using their sociological imagination, which involves looking beyond the traditional expectations or veneer associated with social problems. This sociological skill set is imperative in order for student’s to truly begin to grasp the relationship and distinction between individual biography and social structures. Social problems are aspects of society that communities of people are concerned about and want to change or improve. Because social problems are social creations, students will uncover structural and cultural variables that help explain how a current social problem has emerged and persisted, and students will ultimately develop a “sociological imagination”“—the ability to see behaviors socially and understand how they interact and influence each other. The objective is to submit, in a creative PowerPoint presentation, a compelling case for why a student’s chosen social problem is indeed a social and cultural problem and not simply the result of individual choices. Sociologists do not discount the role of personal responsibility within a certain context, but rather seek to understand the power of an environment in shaping personal choices and patterns.

For example, consider the social problem of youth unemployment. It is well-documented that in the last several years of America’s economy, young people have experienced unemployment in greater numbers. A presentation in this course about youth unemployment might be framed initially about how, in an American culture that is so focused on individual responsibility and achievement, an issue such as youth unemployment can be treated as purely an individual problem.

False information surrounding youth unemployment at large sounds like this: “Today's youth are self-centered and lazy, and they have a sense of entitlement.” “They are not willing to make the sacrifices that we did by working their way up the corporate ladder.” To more specifically understand this sociological problem, students would need to narrow its parameters by selecting a given time period and/or a specific geographic area for youth unemployment. If a student chose to understand unemployment as a result of the Great Recession, it would be easier to scope the range of factors that contribute to this ongoing issue. To better individualize this issue, a student might choose to share his or her own story or that of a family member or a friend who experienced losing a job. Or, a student could choose to share the narrative from a movie, such as The Pursuit of Happiness or another contemporary example. Following this, it would be important to highlight a particular sociological theory: conflict, functionalism, or symbolic interactionism.

Because theories are simply tools of understanding, students could use the theory of functionalism to show how youth unemployment fits into American culture and affects all parts of American society.

The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, Five, and Six. The final project will be submitted at the end of Module Seven.

This presentation will assess your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:

 Students will apply the three theoretical perspectives in sociology to the analysis of specific social problems locally and globally (Knowledge of Human

Cultures, Physical and Natural World)

 Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of social problems—premises, supporting and conflicting evidence, and potential responses

(Communication)

 Students will demonstrate the interactive relationship between groups, consumption patterns, resource development and use, equity, as well as scarcity

and risk (Integration, Application, and Reflection)

Your PowerPoint presentation (The final milestone) should answer the following prompt:

Illustrate an understanding of the context of social problems by creating a PowerPoint presentation outlining a specific social problem, incorporating personal biography and narrative (or that of another individual such as a family member, friend, or movie character), and applying a relevant sociological theory analysis.

Specifically the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Choose a particular social problem (divorce, ageism, workplace violence, racial discrimination, sex trafficking, child abuse, texting and driving, pollution, childhood obesity, etc.) of interest and locate it within a specific time and place.

a) Identify the social problem that will be studied and describe it from a local and global perspective.

b) Narrow down the problem to a particular time and location.

II. Explain false information around the social problem and use research to identify variables that contribute to the problem.

a) Outline false information that serves to stereotype the social problem and diminish the possibility of viewing the problem objectively.

b) Conduct research to identify two to three structural and cultural variables that contribute to the existence of this social problem.

III. Personalize this social problem by identifying a particular individual story or biography within this social problem.

This story can be from social media, a movie, a personal experience, an experience of a family member or friend, a news cycle, or any other medium that encourages the student to locate an individual acting as a result of or contributor to the social problem. This element of the presentation will help the student to take “the role of the other.”

a) First, share why this is an important issue to you personally. Your experiences can give rise to significant problems for investigation. Think critically about your own frustrations and/or opinions with a problem facing your country, your community, or your neighborhood. What is it about this topic that is compelling?

b) Introduce the biography of an individual who was or is impacted by this situation. This narrative can be derived from a student’s own experience, media, or a fictional character.

c) Why is it important to grasp the personal impact of this social problem on individuals?

d) What is missing from a sociologist’s analysis if he or she understands only the societal narrative about this social problem and not an individual’s experience?

IV. Apply one of the three theoretical perspectives. A sociological theory is a tool for helping to understand human behavior. One of the three core theories in this course will help you best explain why your selected social problem exists and persists.

a) Identify which sociological theory—conflict, functionalism, or symbolic interactionism—will serve as a “lens” for thinking more deeply about the social problem. Present your understanding of the theoretical perspective you chose. Then use this theory to analyze your chosen social problem.

b) Explain how your selected issue fits into the four stages of social problems (Henslin, p. 9).

c) Highlight the key thinking of two to three sociologists who have contributed to this particular theory.

d) Explain the advantage of using your selected theory to analyze the social problem. How does your selected theory help you better understand the reasons for the social problem’s existence?

e) Why are the other two theories not ideal for understanding the problem?

V. Conclusion: Solving the social problem

a) Highlight any solutions you have discovered in your research.

b) What are the potential limitations of solving this social problem?

c) Using your imagination and considering the context of the social problem, explain what social solution could be designed to solve it.

Milestones

Milestone One: Social Problem

In Module Two, you will submit a discussion board post in which you identify a scenario or current problem or personal and social concern and explain why you chose it. In response to your peers, comment on their selection of social problems. Do you see similarities to your own selection? Are there similar social locations or variables influencing the social problem? The required length of the post is two paragraphs. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: The Roots

In Module Three, you will explain the variables that contributed to the origin and persistence of this social problem. The format should be a 1- to 2-page Word document. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Two Rubric.

Milestone Three: The False Information

In Module Five, you will submit a discussion board post in which you will describe how people tend to define the source of this problem and its solution. In response to your peers, post your opinion, backed up by sociological insights. The required length of the post is two paragraphs. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Three Rubric.

Milestone Four: The Lens

In Module Six, you will describe the theory you will use to review and analyze this social problem and explain why it is the best “lens” with which to understand it. The format should be a 1- to 2-page Word document. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Four Rubric.

Final Submission: Sociological Imagination Presentation

In Module Seven, you will submit your completed sociological imagination PowerPoint presentation. Your instructor will have provided you feedback along the way for each milestone submission. The final project should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This milestone will be graded using the Final Project Rubric.