When selecting a topic, consider the following questions
I recommend starting thinking about your topic early in the semester. When selecting a topic, consider the following questions: Why you want to explore this topic? What information do you need to collect? How do you plan on collecting the data and which sources will you use? Why is this topic important to you? What have you learned throughout the semester and which sociological perspective are you are using? It is important to use the chapter readings, eLessons, assignments, and online videos, as a starting point for exploring your topic of special interest. You will be expected to create a draft of the final project, which will be due approximately during weeks 9-11 (instructor determined. As a follow up assignment to the draft, you will be asked to provide feedback to fellow classmates’ drafts of the final project, which will be due one week following the submission of the draft. And lastly, the final project will be due during week 15 of the semester. All due dates will be listed on the when things are due page in the course overview tab of eLearn.
The final project provides you with the opportunity to relate real-life matters to the ideas and techniques discussed throughout the semester. The assignment is designed to follow the tasks required of skilled sociologists as closely as possible. The assignment asks you to examine social issues from a sociological perspective, understand how stratification is involved, and apply sociological theories that attempt to explain aspects of social issues. It is expected that throughout the final project you will learn to evaluate, gather understanding and recognize social issues related to stratification and technology from a broad perspective. The main topic of the final project is “how does technology replicate inequality in terms of social structure?” There will be an emphasis on how stratification- social class, gender, race, sexual orientation- may play a part.
Keep in mind that you are free to select your own specific topic that you are interested in exploring further, as long as it is related.
There are two parts to the final project. Part I is a written research paper and Part II consists of a visual presentation, such as an infographic, or video presentation. Details of the required components for both parts of the final project are below.
Final Project Part I- Written research paper
Components for the FINAL PROJECT Written research paper should include:
a. Introduction: Tell what the overall paper will focus. Briefly outline the main points of the paper. This section of the paper should include:
• Description, discussion and analysis of a selected social subject/topic related to how technology may or may not reinforce inequality in society (examples are above)? This section should also examine the ways in which, stratification might exist and how at least one social institution shapes the design and consumption of the selected technology topic might affect social structure, cultural and social experiences (think sociologically). The introduction should end with a 1 to 2 sentence thesis or research questions (described in section b).
b. Thesis statement or Research question: Think about the your selected topic area and develop a specific question or thesis statement that you intend to research for the final project. Examples of possible research questions based upon various topics include: how ideas of gender and sexual identity are implanted in technological artifacts? How does technology impact intellectual property, online learning, etc.); how might virtual engagement (recreation, games, dating, family, etc.) be impacted by gender, race, social class, etc; How is technology used in law enforcement that impacts certain neighborhoods (ex. tracking, DNA, crime detection, GPS etc.)? Does technology impact the quality or accessibility of health care; or music and entertainment (availability, production, ownership, etc.)? This section of the paper should include:
• a 1 or 2 sentence thesis statement or research questions that intend to research
c. The Body of the Paper: Conduct a review of relevant social scientific literature, based upon your topic selection, research question or thesis statement. Select at least 2 articles from social science journals and at least 2 articles from other reputable news sources. (See Sinclair’s Library for your social science journal resources on the selected topic). These main 4 articles and resources should be different than any that may have been included in the course materials. NOTE: Many sources can be found online, but not all are acceptable to use as sources in your college career. If you are not sure as to whether or not a website you found is a reliable source, send me an email with the URL and I will check it out for you as soon as I can. You are not limited to 4 sources. Citations should be included.
Discuss the significance of the topic and theoretical analysis within the body of the paper that clearly provides history, data, statistics, and facts that help interpret the topic. The main points of your paper should be clearly stated and have examples, details, and explanations to support. Be specific in your explanation: what did you learn from each reading. You will also clearly state how each sociological perspective (Structural-Functionalism, Conflict, Symbolic Interactionism) applies and relates to the topic that you have selected. This section of the paper should include:
• Clearly present the main points of the paper as listed in the thesis
• Give strong examples, details, and explanations to support the main points
• Clearly present the sociological perspectives – (structural-functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism) that apply to the thesis
• Consider any counterarguments and refute those arguments
• Use strong evidence from sources—paraphrases, summaries, and quotations that support the main points
• Include in-text citations to support sources used in this section
d. CONCLUSION: You will need to include a general conclusion will tie everything together. This section of the paper should:
• Restate your thesis from the introduction in different words
• Briefly summarize each main point discussed in the body of the paper (avoid going over 2 sentences for each point)
• Give a statement of the consequences of not embracing the position
• End with a strong clincher statement: an appropriate, meaningful final sentence that ties the whole point of the paper together (may refer back to the attention grabber in the introduction).
e. REFERENCE LIST page: Include full citations for all resources using ASA formatting.
Other requirements for the written, research paper include:
• The research paper should be written in paragraph form and comprehensively address all of the required parts which are stated above.
• The research paper should be use ASA formatting for all sections of the paper
• The research paper should be typed (double spaced, 1″ margins) and proofread for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
• The research paper should be submitted to the dropbox by the due date
Grading will be based on how well you fulfill the requirements. You should review the final project writing assignment grading rubric.
Final Project Part II – Presentation – Infographic or Video
For part 2 of the final project, you will develop a visual presentation that summarizes the key issues of the topic that you researched. The presentation can be in the form of an infographic or video (3-6 minutes) presentation of the topic and should be timely and interesting. Examples and templates to make videos and infographics are included in the final project resources. The video or infographic must to be uploaded and/or the link to the presentation has to be posted in the dropbox in the eLearn course shell. Avoid paying any subscription fees to use various sites. There are plenty of free software/services that can be used. You can always provide the link if you are unable to upload the presentation to the dropbox.
Your visual presentation (video or infographic) should demonstrate:
• An authentic (original) application of your topic
• Key research aspects of your topic
• Highlights statistics that will seize people’s attention
• A strong theoretical base for the topic
• A strong stratification base for the topic
• Insight you gained from having read related material
Grading will be based on how well you fulfill the requirements. You should review the final project infographic presentation grading rubric.
Image preview for when selecting a topic, consider the following questions
APA
159 words