Assignment Instructions:
This document is intended to provide clarity to your writing assignments (Chapter(s) I, II, and III) per our discussions in class. The student is required to select a social problem from your text; however, the specific topic chosen is entirely up to the student. The student is required to select a topic that is of interest to them, and if one of the topics contained in the text does not match with student interest, he/she may request a different topic from the instructor. The final selection outside of the text must have prior approval of the instructor.
Assignment I
The first work of students will constitute Chapter I of the final document. In the first assignment each student will contrast the three theoretical paradigms outlined in Chapter I of the text. The frameworks are Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism Theory, and Systems or Structural Functionalism Theory. This section is mandated by the instructor.
Students must use all three frameworks. The discussion will clearly provide any similarities and the differences between theories, contrast theorists, and provide any historical background of the theory and author. Students will offer a theoretical framework that is the best fit for their future discussion. This discussion shall consist of not more than five APA formatted pages of text, in addition to the title page, abstract, and reference page. The student will provide three scholarly or peer reviewed references in addition to the text. The student text may be used one time as one of the three references. In other words after the first assignment, each subsequent assignment must have three additional references meeting requirements set forth, in addition to the students text.
Assignment II
The first chapter will be amended per instructor recommendations; the abstract is amended to adopt for Chapter II, and the reference page is amended to reflect new resources. Chapters I & II are then submitted collectively. The second assignment will constitute Chapter II of the final document. This research discussion will consist of not more than five additional APA formatted pages of text.
The student will articulate in writing a single broad based social problem outlined in the course text or topic approved by the instructor. The student will provide a critical analysis of the selected social problem. Remember: what is key here is NOT to silo information obtained during your college learning experience. In other words, “Don’t Park Your Brains At The Door.”
As an example, the student may select crime as a social problem applying appropriate rule, theory or principal conveyed in this course of study or other information obtained during the student research or college learning experience. In the second paper he/she, for example, will explain how a selected theory of crime is associated with criminal behavior. Students need not reflect frameworks in Chapter II. This discussion of frameworks is completed in Chapter I.
Chapters I & II after instructor review will be returned with corrections for final submission (Chapter III). Corrections made by the instructor may include formatting or sentence structure or the reference page construct. The instructor will provide corrections in a few examples sufficient for the student to make further amendments to their discussion. The instructor may recommend or refer the student to the Writing Center to aid in writing or APA formatting. This recommendation is for the student’s benefit, and is not a critical analysis of his/her work.
Assignment III
In the final submission, Chapter III, the student will provide the first two discussions (Chapter I & Chapter II) and narrow the scope of the social problem from a broad topic to a specific narrowly crafted topic. In this final section the student will synthesize researched materials to create their creative works to perhaps predict future issues resulting from the social problem; produce new solutions to existing problems, or generate new discussion and debate that may illustrate the issue in a light not yet advanced to name a few outcomes.
The crime problem, for example, may be narrowed to prostitution as a crime problem. The student may further analyze the problem by using additional theories researched. In this example, the student may select rational choice theory as part of their discussion. Crimes are largely the consequence of rational choices based on a cost benefit analysis (Cornish & Clark, 1986). The student in Chapter III will summarize his/her work defending the students selected theories or research with the narrowly selected topic. In other words, how does theory and topic selected fit with each other.
The final paper consisting of Chapters I, II, & III will be in APA format, between 13-15 pages of text, in addition to the title page, abstract, and reference pages. All writing assignments are only accepted in the My Learning assignment area unless prior permission has been granted by the instructor. The student must submit each chapter into Turnitin and then again into the assessment section denoted in the syllabus.
Any remaining questions please contact the instructor.
