Sociology 1 Paper 2: My Playing Field Application and Analysis
Instructions For Paper 2
The assignment is to apply the course material to your specific playing field/your life and analyze your playing field/life from a sociological perspective. Make sure you have reviewed your notes from the online lecture titled “The Family” as the concept “playing field” is introduced in that lecture and that you understand the concept “playing field” before you begin this assignment (review online Family lecture).
The assignment is to discuss three main characteristics of your playing field and explain how each has affected you. You are required to include family as one of your main topics and must choose from the following main topics for your other two main topics: gender, social class, education, race and ethnicity, or religion. Your paper must include one very lengthy paragraph for each of the three main topics you have chosen.
You will apply the course material and subtopics covered in the course materials on each main topic to examples of your specific playing field and your specific experiences; directly relate the material and subtopics presented in the course material on each main topic to your specific experiences. Each main topic section must include at least six subtopics. In terms of subtopics, each of the topics covered in the lectures, chapters in the textbook, assigned articles, and films/film clips for each main topic are considered subtopics. For example some of the subtopics associated with the main topic gender are: gender socialization, gender role expectations, gender inequality, patriarchy, pay gap (data), glass ceiling, male privilege, glass escalator, second shift, gendered division of labor, gender and the media/Kilbourne research, feminization of poverty, feminism, etc. You are required to discuss your specific experiences on each of the subtopics you include in your paper, directly apply the material.
You must apply the terms/concepts, research data/findings, and social theories related to the main topics to your playing field/your experiences. Go through the chapters in the textbook, online lectures, and articles/other course material provided in the lessons on each of the main topics you are including in your paper and apply the relevant material to your playing field/your experiences (this is the way you will go about working on this assignment).
It is required that you utilize the online lectures material, textbook material, and articles/other course material for each main topics included in your paper.
A minimum of six instances of application of terms/concepts/research data is required in each main topic section (application of the material with each subtopic); a minimum of eighteen instances of application of terms/concepts/research data throughout your paper. Clear and complete application and analysis required. In some instances a subtopic is a key term (for instance, patriarchy is a subtopic and a key term), in other instances this is not the case (divorce is a subtopic for a family section, however, it is a common word, not a key term…you would need to apply the research data on divorce – causes and effects – to be considered application).
It is also required that you apply a minimum of one social theory in each main topic section; a minimum of three social theories are required throughout your paper. It is required that you utilize at least three different theories throughout your paper and that at least one of the theories included is one of our three main theories. Apply the social theories presented in the course material: structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, social learning theory, or theories of deviance. Theories must be directly applied to your specific playing field/experiences. Do not discuss the theories in general, directly apply them to your playing field and your experiences and explain application. Explain the theory and explain application. Social theory can be applied to a specific example or can be applied to the overall theme of the main topic section. Clear and complete application and analysis is required.
In some instances students will need to predict the long term effects of particular experiences, predict according to the research data/findings on the topics. In terms of predictions ask yourself, how, according to the data presented in the course, the events have affected you or will affect you in the future. If the effects presented in the research/study findings for a particular issue do not apply to you then you can state what the effects generally are (according to the research data/findings) and then discuss what the outcome(s) were for you and explain why.
It is not required that you include sensitive issues if you are not comfortable doing so. In this case it is suggested that you focus on other aspects of your playing field.
Important information on how to work on your outline for this assignment
The best way to go about working on your paper is to go through the course material for each main topic you have chosen to include in your paper (online lectures, chapters in the textbook, and articles/other course material from the lesson plan on the main topic) and make a list of the subtopics and material/data/key terms/theories that you will include in each main topic section. You should not write about your life and then try to place terms within your paper after.
Paper Organization and Format
Papers must be in essay format (no bullet points or subheadings).
Paper must be typed, double-spaced, and 12 font.
Name and course information must be on the upper left-hand side of the first page of your paper (there will be some space on the right-hand side of the top of your paper for me to type in comments/feedback).
Paper title should be centered on the first page of your paper (there will be some space on the right-hand side of the top of your paper for me to type in comments/feedback).
All use of application must be bolded (bold theories, terms/concepts, and use of research/study data or statistics; do not bold entire sentences.).
Introduction: Begin your paper with an introduction which explains the nature of the assignment, a thesis statement (a few sentences that state the focus of your essay/paper and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about). Explain the concept “playing field”. Explain that this paper is about your playing field/your experiences. Include key terms and concepts where necessary in your introduction. State the three main topics your paper will focus on (list the topics in the order in which you will address them in your paper).
Body of your paper: One lengthy paragraph per main topic. Therefore, the body of your paper will include three main topic-focused paragraphs. Lengthy paragraphs are expected.
Conclusion: Conclude your paper with a conclusion, summarize the concept of playing field, restate your thesis, and reinforce the main idea. Include any final thoughts on the topic. Include key terms/concepts as needed.
In-text citations required throughout your paper (when quoting any material and when applying statistics and research data).
Works cited: Works cited page must be the last page of your paper (your paper and your works cited page must be saved as one document; you will not be permitted to upload two separate documents). Cite each of the lectures you utilized for your paper (you should be utilizing the lecture material on each of the main topics you are including in your paper), the textbook (utilize the material from the chapters in the textbook on each main topic you are including in your paper), and articles/other material (utilize the assigned articles/other material from the lessons on the main topics you are including in your paper). You must cited correctly (see resources on citing posted on in Canvas. Cite each lecture utilized separately by lecture title. If your paper does not include a works cited page your paper will be considered plagiarized per the rules of plagiarism and you will not earn any points for this assignment.
Your paper should be approximately eight pages in length (excluding your works cited page); however, there is not a page maximum).
Other Requirements
All information must be stated in your own words.
Turnitin is used to detect plagiarism and use of AI (artificial intelligence) programs. I will also utilize other AI detectors. Review class policy on plagiarism (syllabus).
Paper must be saved in the correct format (.doc, .docx, or .pdf; if you have a Mac computer or are using Google Docs you will need to save your paper in pdf format).
You will write in the first person for this assignment (I, my, me). Do not write in the second person (you, your).
Proofread your paper! Read your paper aloud to yourself to notice errors or unclear statements. If needed, visit the Writing Center on campus for assistance with your paper.
APA or ASA format should be utilized for citation purposes.
Grading
Grading will be based on adherence to the requirements, use of application (application of theories, terms/concepts, and research/study data; application of online lecture material, text, and other linked materials), use of examples of personal experiences, direct application, clear and complete application and analysis, grammar and spelling, writing format/skills, and comprehensive coverage. Make sure you read the grading rubric for this assignment before you begin the paper assignment and that you refer to the paper instructions and grading rubric often while working on this assignment. Utilize the grading rubric to complete a self-assessment of this assignment.
Instructions For Submitting Your Paper
Use Chrome as your internet browser and upload your paper from a computer (not your phone). You must upload your paper to the Turnitin link provided via on our Canvas course website by the due date and time (do not attach your paper in the gradebook; you must upload your paper the Turnitin link). Click on the Turnitin link and upload and submit your paper. Go to the “Grades” to verify that there is an icon under “paper 2” indicating that your paper was submitted. It is your responsibility to ensure that your paper is fully and properly submitted.
Discussion Board
It is also required that you post a portion of your paper on the discussion board. Please see the discussion board for specific requirements. The discussion board portion of this assignment is worth additional points (separate from the paper itself) and the discussion board forum will not be available until after the due date/time for the paper assignment.
Final Note
This paper is time consuming and is considered a comprehensive and final assignment for the class. Please take the time to be thorough with this assignment. Your paper will not be accepted unless it is uploaded to the Turnitin link by the due date and time. Please do not wait until the last few minutes to begin the process of submitting your paper. This paper is worth 100 points.
video link https://youtu.be/FbeaG1tUOIY?si=7SKxxQCxYN1uo_ow
