Paper requirements: 2500 (minimum) to 3500 words (approximately 8-10 pages) Five (5) outside sources regarding deviance: three (3) peer reviewed journal articles and two (2) Internet sites (you may use more than five but not less) Times New Roman, 12 pt. font Double spaced with one inch margins Microsoft WORD (files end in .doc or .docx) ASA style formatting; a link to the ASA formatting requirements is located in the Resources menu Note on sources: using the materials that we have covered, you are observing individuals in everyday situations in which their behavior may be defined as deviant.
Remember that it is just as important that you be able to identify acceptable (normative) behavior as unacceptable (deviant) behavior.
Your sources are evidence that scholars and other individuals share similar ideas, thus supporting your observation. As an example:
You are sitting in the mall observing people when you notice that many young people have tattoos buy rarely do older individuals especially older women. Think about body manipulation. What have scholars of culture reported about this phenomenon (peer reviewed journals)?
What do various Internet sites report about tattoos? Are tattoos normative for some members of society but deviant for other members? What about history?
Were tattoos once deviant for all of society members?
What motivates an individual to get a tattoo? Is one tattoo normal but total body tattoos deviant? What is the difference in tattoos and other forms of body manipulation i.e. piercings, cosmetic surgery. Any deviant or normative behavior that you observe can be analyzed with the same set of questions. Your sources will help you ask various questions and enhance your observations.
Be sure to address the idea of respecting others' choices. Should we respect all choices? How do we show respect? How would you describe being respectful but still disagreeing with the deviant behavior.
Note on sources: using the materials that we have covered, you are observing individuals in everyday situations in which their behavior may be defined as deviant.
Remember that it is just as important that you be able to identify acceptable (normative) behavior as unacceptable (deviant) behavior. Your sources are evidence that scholars and other individuals share similar ideas, thus supporting your observation. As an example:
You are sitting in the mall observing people when you notice that many young people have tattoos but rarely do older individuals, especially older women.
Think about body manipulation. What have scholars of culture reported about this phenomenon (peer reviewed journals)? What do various Internet sites report about tattoos? Are tattoos normative for some members of society but deviant for other members?
What about history? Were tattoos once deviant for all of society members? What motivates an individual to get a tattoo? Is one tattoo normal but total body tattoos deviant? What is the difference in tattoos and other forms of body manipulation i.e. piercings, cosmetic surgery.
Any deviant or normative behavior that you observe can be analyzed with the same set of questions. Your sources will help you ask various questions and enhance your observations.
Be sure to address the idea of respecting others' choices. Should we respect all choices? How do we show respect?
How would you describe being respectful but still disagreeing with the deviant behavior.
For complete formatting and grading guidelines, reference the Observation Paper Requirements link in the Start Here menu.
Your observation project should be completed at this stage of the course, and your Observation Paper should be 60-80% complete