Part 1- Writing Assignment: Identifying the Hypothesis
Consider a social issue in which you are interested. It could be human freedom, sexuality, deviance, crime, social mobility, poverty, education, aging, or another similar issue. Select a specific hypothesis that you will evaluate against the available evidence from your library / Internet research.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
a. Apply the sociological perspective to a variety of socioeconomic and political problems.
b. Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology.
c. Write clearly and concisely about sociology using proper writing mechanics.
Grading for this assignment will be based on how well you identify a specific hypothesis, using the following rubric.
Part 2- Writing Assignment: Outline and Preliminary List of References
Complete the outline after you have done library / Internet research for evidence that bears on your hypothesis. Provide information about all of the following components of the final paper:
1. Specific Hypothesis.
2. Applicable Sociological Concepts.
3. Practical Implications. Discuss the value of sociological research into your issue. Determine whether or not there are (or would be) practical implications of sociological inquiry into this issue.
4. Evidence. This is the most important part of the paper. Analyze at least two (2) lines of evidence that pertain to the hypothesis that you are evaluating. Does the evidence support your hypothesis? For each type of evidence, consider possible biases and alternative interpretations.
5. Conclusions. Draw conclusions based on the evidence that you have discovered. Does the evidence confirm or refute your hypothesis? Is the evidence sufficiently convincing to draw firm conclusions about your hypothesis?
For example, here is a generic example of what the headings of your possible outline might look like:
I. Specific Hypothesis.
II. Applicable Sociological Concepts.
a. Theory A
b. Concept 1
c. Concept 2
III. Practical Implications.
a. Implications for public policy
i. Education
ii. Taxes
b. Implications for employers
c. Implications for spouses of workaholics
IV. Evidence.
a. Line of evidence 1
i. The evidence and what it means
ii. Possible biases
iii. Alternative explanations of what it means.
b. Line of evidence 2
i. The evidence and what it means
ii. Possible biases
V. Conclusion(s): All available evidence refutes the hypothesis, but there are alternative explanations.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
a. Evaluate the various methodologies for sociological research.
b. Apply the sociological perspective to a variety of socioeconomic and political problems.
c. Critically examine how society shapes individuals and how individuals shape society.
d. Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology.
e. Write clearly and concisely about sociology using proper writing mechanics.
Part 3- Writing Assignment: Investigate a Social Issue Draft
Working from the outline and from the feedback of your professor, you will now develop a draft paper in which you formally write up your findings. Specifically, you will submit a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you address all of the following:
1. Specific Hypothesis. Introduce your paper by identifying the specific hypothesis you are evaluating in this paper.
2. Applicable Sociological Concepts. Identify the sociological theories and terminology from the text that apply to your social issue
3. Practical Implications. Discuss the value of sociological research into your issue. Determine whether or not there are (or would be) practical implications of sociological inquiry into this issue.
4. Evidence. This is the most important part of the paper. Analyze at least two (2) lines of evidence that pertain to the hypothesis you are evaluating. Does the evidence support your hypothesis? For each type of evidence, consider possible biases and alternative interpretations.
5. Conclusions. Draw conclusions based on the evidence that you have discovered. Does the evidence confirm or refute your hypothesis? Is the evidence sufficiently convincing to draw firm conclusions about your hypothesis?
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
a. Evaluate the various methodologies for sociological research.
b. Apply the sociological perspective to a variety of socioeconomic and political problems.
c. Critically examine how society shapes individuals and how individuals shape society.
d. Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology.
e. Write clearly and concisely about sociology using proper writing mechanics.
Part 4- Writing Assignmen: Investigate a Social Issue
Working from your previous assignments and from the feedback of your professor, you will now write the final draft of your paper. Specifically, you will submit a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you address all of the following:
1. Specific Hypothesis. Introduce your paper by identifying the specific hypothesis you are evaluating in this paper.
2. Applicable Sociological Concepts. Identify the sociological theories and terminology from the text that apply to your social issue
3. Practical Implications. Discuss the value of sociological research into your issue. Determine whether or not there are (or would be) practical implications of sociological inquiry into this issue.
4. Evidence. This is the most important part of the paper. Analyze at least two (2) lines of evidence that pertain to the hypothesis you are evaluating. Does the evidence support your hypothesis? For each type of evidence, consider possible biases and alternative interpretations.
5. Conclusions. Draw conclusions based on the evidence that you have discovered. Does the evidence confirm or refute your hypothesis? Is the evidence sufficiently convincing to draw firm conclusions about your hypothesis?