The purpose of this essay is to apply C. W. Mills’s Sociological Imagination concept to explain a personal situation. The essay will demonstrate the student’s ability to use sociological concepts & theories learned in the course, to describe a personal situation. The topic is left to the student’s discretion.
The Essay paper should have the following 5 content areas:
1. Introduction: In this first content area, write a paragraph introducing C. W. Mills’s concept of sociological imagination, and give a general overview of how you will be applying it to the personal situation that you will discuss in your paper.
2. Personal Explanation: In this second content area, describe your personal situation/topic. Based on whether the situation is a current one or a past one, describe how you dealt or are dealing with it. You can also pick a situation from a person’s life who is closely related to you or whose experience affected you. You should know the person well enough to write the essay.
Describe what caused the problem, who were involved, what were others’ and your roles in the situation, and if a resolution was reached. This section is all about your account of your situation and should be no longer than four paragraphs (3/4 – 1 page).
3. Sociological Imagination: In this third content area, analyze your personal situation by applying sociological imagination, i.e., examine how society and social forces affected your situation. This section should be the most substantial portion of your essay. You should use terms and concepts from at least 3 different chapters from the textbook, and one sociological theory.
4. Data/Stats: Utilize at least 2 statistics or research studies from the textbook or outside sources such as the Galen College online library. The references should be scholarly and should be relevant to your situation (E.g., Inclusion of divorce rates in the US if the topic is on Divorce; inclusion of poverty rates, crime and victimization rates, or suicide rates if the topic is either on Poverty or Crime). Citing at least one outside source is required.
5. Conclusion: Write a wrap-up conclusion summarizing the major finding/themes in your paper. This should be no more than a paragraph.
Your essay should be 4-6 pages in length (excluding the title page and the references page) and should be double-spaced. You will lose points if your essay is shorter than 4 full pages of content. The font should be 12-point Calibri or Times New Roman. Use APA format for your entire essay, including for references and in-text citations and edit your work carefully for spelling and grammar.
Your essay should be 4-6 pages in length (excluding the title page and the references page). It should be double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5” x 11”) with a 1” margin on all sides. The font should be 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri. Use APA formatting throughout your essay and cite any sources you use.
For help with APA formatting and style, refer to the Purdue Owl website and the APA Style Central tool featured in Canvas.
Rubric
Applying the Sociological Imagination Essay Grading Rubric
Applying the Sociological Imagination Essay Grading Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction
CSLO1
threshold: 10.0 pts
10 pts
No issues present with the introduction to C.W. Mills’ concept of Sociological Imagination, overview of how the concept will be applied, and descriiption of the topic
8 pts
One or two issues present with the introduction to C.W. Mills’ concept of Sociological Imagination, overview of how the concept will be applied and/or descriiption of the topic.
6 pts
More than two issues present with the introduction to C.W. Mills’ concept of Sociological Imagination, overview of how the concept will be applied and/or descriiption of the topic.
4 pts
Multiple issues present with the introduction to C.W. Mills’ concept of Sociological Imagination, overview of how the concept will be applied and/or descriiption of the topic.
0 pts
Introduction section is missing, or the assignment is not submitted.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePersonal Explanation
CSLO1
threshold: 15.0 pts
15 pts
No issues present with the descriiption of the personal situation/topic, how the situation was handled, who were involved, roles in the situation, and the resolution, if any.
13 pts
Few/minor issues present with the descriiption of the personal situation/topic, how the situation was handled, who was involved, roles in the situation, and/or the resolution
11 pts
Multiple issues present with the descriiption of the personal situation/topic, how the situation was handled, who was involved, roles in the situation, and/or the resolution.
9 pts
Significant issues present with the descriiption of the personal situation/topic, how the situation was handled, who was involved, roles in the situation, and/or the resolution
0 pts
Section not included or assignment not submitted.
15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSociological Imagination
CSLO1
threshold: 20.0 pts
20 pts
No issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using terms and concepts from at least three different chapters in the course text.
16 pts
Few/minor issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using terms and concepts from at least two different chapters in the course text.
12 pts
Multiple issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using terms and concepts from at least one chapter in the course text.
8 pts
Significant issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination, but no attempt to use terms and concepts from the course text.
0 pts
Section not included or assignment not submitted.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSociological Theory
CSLO2
threshold: 15.0 pts
15 pts
No issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using a sociological theory.
13 pts
Few/minor issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using a sociological theory.
11 pts
Multiple issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using a sociological theory.
9 pts
Significant issues present with the explanation of the situation through the application of the sociological imagination using a sociological theory.
0 pts
Sociological theory not included, or assignment not submitted.
15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeData / Statistics
CSLO 2
threshold: 15.0 pts
15 pts
No issues present with the application of data from at least two different sources or statistics relevant to the situation. At least one of the sources is from an outside source
13 pts
Few/minor issues present with the application data from at least two different sources or statistics. Both the sources are from textbook.
11 pts
Multiple issues present with the application of at least of two different sources or statistics. Only one source is listed
0 pts
Section not included or assignment not submitted.
15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusion
5 pts
Achievement Level 5
No issues present with the summary of the major findings and themes.
4 pts
Achievement Level 4
Few/minor issues present with the summary of the major findings and themes.
3 pts
Achievement Level 3
Multiple issues present with the summary of the major findings and themes.
1 pts
Achievement Level 2
Significant issues present with the summary of the major findings and themes.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Section not included or assignment not submitted.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA Formatting & Writing
15 pts
Achievement Level 5
No issues present with spelling, grammar, and APA formatting, including in-text citations, and references.
13 pts
Achievement Level 4
Few/minor issues present with spelling, grammar, and/or APA formatting, including the, in-text citations, and references.
11 pts
Achievement Level 3
Multiple issues present with spelling, grammar, and/or APA formatting, including in-text citations, and references.
9 pts
Achievement Level 2
Significant issues present with spelling, grammar, and/or APA formatting, including in-text citations, and references.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
APA formatting not used or assignment not submitted.
15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePage Length
5 pts
Achievement Level 5
Submission is 4 to 6 pages, double-spaced, not including the title page and references.
0 pts
Achievement Level 1
Submission has less than 4 pages of content, or no assignment was submitted.
5 pts
Total Points: 100
