Category: Sociology

In lesson 9, we learned about Garfinkel’s breaching experiments as part of ethnomethodology. Now you will complete your own. Review the article Making Something out of Nothing: Breaching Everyday Life by Standing Still in a Public Place. Using this as a model, create your own mini breaching experiment and write it up as a research paper using the article as a guide for both content and form. 
Remember that as sociology students, our breaching experiments should have extremely mild repercussions. No one should be harmed emotionally, psychologically, or physically, and no laws should be broken.
For ideas, check out Breaching Experiment: Definition & Examples-https://study.com/academy/lesson/breaching-experiment-definition-examples.html
Your paper should contain the following sections:
Introduction (1 page)
Theory (1 page)
Description of Breaching Experiment in detail (2
pages)
Analysis (2 pages)
Conclusion (.5 pages)
References (1 page)
Your paper should be double-spaced and 6 written pages, not counting references. You should use between 5 and 7 references, 5 of which should be readings from class. Make sure to cite readings using the Chicago Manual of Style.
1.    Introduction. 
In the introduction, the topic being analyzed should be presented in a succinct and efficient manner. State the purpose of your essay and explain how you will be achieving that purpose. In sociological writing, there are no surprises. State what the main point/finding of your analysis is.
2.    Theoretical Framework (about 2 pages)
This section is nothing more than a summary of the theory and the theoretical concepts you will be using to both conduct your breaching experiment and then analyze it. You will need to create a framework building on the introduction to which you can link the rest of your paper. Do not limit yourself to Garfinkel, but use other symbolic interactionists and any other theorists who may shed light on either the process or your analysis. Theory from Lessons 8 through 13 should be used.
3.    Description of the Breaching Experiment
In detail. The details are where the heart of a breaching experiment lies.
4.    Analysis
There should be 3 separate threads within this section of the paper. The first thread is the theory you set up in the theoretical framework. The second is the breaching experiment you conducted, and the third is the analysis of the breaching experiment, where you tie the theory and your experiment together and discuss what happened and why. Remember you are analyzing your experiment. I will specifically look for evidence that you are using the theory to both setup and analyze your experiment. 
For these to be visible, you must cite the appropriate readings from class. The way this should look is state the thing you are talking about from your experiment, then state the theory you are using and cite the theorist, then explain what the relation between the two is. This last part is you and your analysis. How can you show the reader how we can use these theoretical pieces to understand or analyze the experimental event?
5.    Conclusion
Tell me, the reader, what you have done and seen in your paper. What has the reader learned, and the big “so what”? Just like in the intro, tell the reader what sociological concepts have been addressed and how.
6.    References
Use the Chicago Manual of Style (posted on Blackboard) or the American Sociological Association style. On a separate page.
How to write?
My writing philosophy is shaped by my training in public policy. I was taught in college to write to the point: say what you need to say as clearly as possible so that the reader understands, nothing more, nothing less. I often say writing is about re-writing. At its best, writing is thought made perfect. Don’t be afraid to say something of your own. Take a stand! Share your spicy take! Students often write in a vague way, as if they fear making a point (perhaps the wrong point) or saying the wrong thing. And they err towards saying nothing, which is the worst mistake to make. Remember, I want to read your thoughts. And it always helps if you make it fun for me to read!
My writing style is developed from the classic “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. Earlier editions were co-written with E.B. White, the author of “Charlotte’s Web”. This is a web link to the 2011 edition of “The Elements” available on Project Gutenberg. I cannot recommend it enough. Good writing makes you stand out. Good writers are made, not born, and one only becomes a good writer by writing. This isn’t assigned to read but you’ll be better for it if you do.
As I grade your work throughout the course I will write more notes here on writing tips/guidance:
No contractions are allowed in formal writing. The following and anything like them should be written out. Can’t, I’d, Don’t, Won’t, Couldn’t, Wouldn’t, Didn’t, Weren’t, Wasn’t, Isn’t , etc.
As a rule of thumb each paragraph should have 1 to 2 citations minimum. Paragraphs consist of at least 3 sentences but are not generally an entire page long. Make sure to break the text up to flow naturally for the reader.
USE THE SITES BELOW FOR THE ESSAY
https://www.thoughtco.com/symbolic-interaction-theory-p2-3026645
https://www.everythingsociology.com/2014/03/socialization-george-herbert-meads-self.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-3026754
https://www.thoughtco.com/goffmans-front-stage-and-back-stage-behavior-4087971
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/29/718227789/all-the-worlds-a-stage-including-the-doctor-s-office

Ethnomethodology Theory: Definition & Examples

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0038026120940616

Task summary:
Imagine you are a new social worker at a school serving students in a suburban community. Your supervisor has tasked you with developing a group for students experiencing mental health challenges. Respond to the prompts for your initial post
Full order description:
Dear Freelancer,please complete the task
MAIN DETAILS:
Respond to the prompts below for your initial post:What is the age group of the participants in your group?Identify the mental health challenge your school-based group will address.List 3 objectives of your group. How many sessions will the group meet?
How will you recruit students to participate?How will you engage families? What would be important for them to know about their student’s participation in your group?
Additional information: Include any other pertinent information that you would like to share about your group.
300 words

Write a 6-8 page paper in which you summarize, review, and analyze the information you have found about a specific topic.
Frame a research question about the topic.
Define the concepts inherent in the topic.
Students will then explore the topic using credible and non-credible resources, and be able to describe the differences in quality of information.
Students must then also be able to explain what an appropriate, systematic method would be to get answers, or research, the research question.
Your final paper should be between 6-8 pages of text and, in addition, a cover sheet formatted in accordance with APA 7th edition style, and a reference page with references formatted in APA 7th edition style.
The final paper should be both a review of literature about your topic and an explanation of how your research question would propose to elaborate on this topic.
Do not forget to discuss the credibility (or not) of your sources!
How should this assignment be done?
This paper requires that you have collected, read, and reviewed the following sources:
5 newspaper articles
5 websites
5 peer reviewed articles from scholarly databases.
Please note this is the minimum required number of sources.
This brief literature review assignment will be graded in accordance with the rubric that accompanies this assignment:

Midterm 2, Question 1 (on Durkheim from Chapter 4)
Compare and contrast Spencer’s and Durkheim’s theories of social change and the problems of integration. How can they be integrated?
Midterm 2, Question 2 (on Weber from Chapter 5)
Compare and contrast Marx and Weber on the origins of capitalism. Can these theories be reconciled in any way? Do you think one is more correct than the other? Why or why not?

Please see attached directions and the topic of the week powerpoints to select an article that will coinside with the week’s topic
‘

From Private Troubles to Social Issues in Schooling: Invoking Your Sociological Imagination
Assessing your ability to analyze an aspect of your educational experience sociologically (PSLO 1) and to apply sociological theory appropriately and accurately to that experience (PSLO 2) while considering social justice implications (PSLO 4).
5-6 pages double spaced, proof for typos and grammar, must be a WORD document (available to all students
PROMPT:  Write a story about a profound experience you have had as part of your schooling experiences. Then analyze  your selected experience by applying: 1) Mills’ notion of the sociological imagination from Module 2 and other sociological theory/criticism/concepts from Module 2.
HINT:   C.Wright Mill’s sociological imagination is invoked when you identify a “personal trouble” as a “social issue.” Dig deep so that the personal trouble you identify can be readily understood as part of a larger social issue.  Your Forum 1 will help you to build toward this and after reading other students’ posts you will have some ideas from things they shared. Then draw, as well, from sociological theory/concepts to analyze this issue. 
Your paper must have the following two parts:  
1.  Tell the story: a brief narrative of the experience as a social  personal problem. You have already begun critically reflecting on your education. The first part of your paper may be dedicated to presentation of an issue or experience so that you have a focused (short one to two pages) narrative similar to the one written by Marie MyungOk Lee in “What I Learned in School.”  
2.  Analyze the experience theoretically/invoking your sociological imagination (from personal problem to social issue),  drawing from C. Wright Mills to reflect on how society shapes your experience. The second part of your paper also requires that you use concepts you read in Module 2 to examine the social issues that your private troubles indicate. As you consider the usefulness of each of your two theories to help you analyze your experience, think about Mills 3 questions: How does your experience sit/fit within the way schooling is happening in this particular society, respective to your particular place in society, and to the historical period in which it occurs so that your theorizing follows Mills’ suggestions for invoking your sociological imagination.

This assignment utilizes Turnitin. When you submit this assignment to the assignment drop box, it will automatically be submitted to Turnitin. You will receive an Originality Score along with an Originality Report that should be carefully reviewed. If revisions need to be made to your assignment, you will be able to submit your assignment up to three (3) times before the due date, and you will quickly receive updated Originally feedback. It is important to plan ahead so that you have enough time to review your originality feedback and make any revisions to your assignment before the final due date. Please see instructions for using Turnitin in the Course Welcome module under Useful Resources.
NOTE: In the event you must submit your assignment AFTER the due date (only with approval and consent of instructor), please note the following: Please refer Late Assignment Policy in the Syllabus for questions related to a request to submit a late assignment.
Turnitin will only provide ONE attempt for Originality Feedback for late submissions. Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to identify common patterns of social behaviors within a specific social event or a social setting. Your writing will illustrate your ability to interpret social interactions using the content from units 1-4. Activity: Conduct a participant observation procedure by observing a group/social event. The event could be a trip to a theme park, enjoying a play at a theater, or a dinner with family at a restaurant. It could also be attending a religious gathering, hanging out with friends at a coffee shop, attending a sports event like a baseball or a basketball game, celebrating a cultural holiday, or attending a meeting at your workplace. This is NOT a reflection of a past event. the observation of behaviors must be conducted within 2 weeks of the deadline.
First, write a few sentences about the activity itself including what the event was, how long it was, and why you chose it. Next, summarize your observations and describe any behaviors that stand out. Discuss your thoughts on the common social interaction patterns between the people. Your writing should illustrate how the observation activity facilitated your understanding of human behaviors. You should use 2-3 relevant concepts from at least two different chapters from Units 1-4. The paper should 2-3 completed pages, excluding the title and the references pages. Use APA format throughout the paper including for the Title page, and references and in-text citations.

I do not have instructions or the essay question. The instruction and essay questions will be given during the class time, which is Thursday, June 20. We will have two hours to complete the assignment. It is going to be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
I provided the chapters and the study guide.

Assignment Instructions:
In this week’s assignment, you will be describing an individual of your choosing from history (more than 50 years ago) that has made a difference in fighting for equality. It can be anyone from around the world in history; you are not limited to historical individuals in the United States. You will provide clues as to who you have chosen, but you will not give away the name until the end of your essay. Follow the directions below, and be sure to include ALL of the information in the prompt. Please see the ESSAY TEMPLATE located HERE for how to format your essay.
Essay Prompt:
Week Seven ‘Who Am I’ Essay: Begin this essay with an introduction that clearly defines the field of sociology and what we mean by global inequality. Include citations after citing them. Follow this with more of an introduction to the topic of your summary.
For the body, without giving away the individual you chose, provide details of the individual, such as birthplace, life growing up, and what made this individual fight for equality.
Write in either first or third person (NOT BOTH). Use phrases such as: “This individual…” (third person) or “I was born…” (first person)
Share theories and concepts that helped make this individual well known, whether in his/her time or currently.
Provide a conclusion on the individual’s life, and share (at the end) who you chose to write about, thus answering the question “Who am I?”
Assignment Instructions:
Answer the essay questions thoroughly in no fewer than 400 words.
Write in APA format according to the essay template (above) Include:
Title page with title, name, date, and class
Introduction; includes an overview of your main points
Include a heading that says “Introduction”
Conclusion; recaps main points, without presenting new information.
Body; complete paragraphs, each discussing one main point with support and details.
Include a heading. It can say “Body” or a unique title for your topic
Conclusion; recaps main points, without presenting new information.
Include a heading that says “Conclusion”
In-text and full citations are required in APA format.

The In Term Test consists of writing two short essays in response to two lists of questions, 
A) Class conflict
Describe Marx’s ideas about class conflict and
discuss how his ideas can be applied to the contemporary Australian workplace.
B) Discourse and power
How can Foucault’s concept of ‘governmentality’ be
applied to the use of social media in contemporary society?