Directions

In this assignment you will choose a media item to critically examine through a sociological lens. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate your ability to analyze media context using sociological questions and concepts. This assignment provides you the opportunity to both critically analyze a media item and develop a response or alternative version of this item that both incorporates your critiques and seeks an alternative representation. Your analysis and critique should incorporate theories and key concepts from this course including inequality, gender, race, class, social roles/socialization, etc.

1. Find a popular mainstream media item associated which represents race, class, or gender. This can be print or digital media that is one of the following:

• An advertisement
• An article in a popular/mainstream magazine
• A newspaper article
• A popular YouTube video
• A clip from a popular show on television
• A clip from a news program
• A social media page or profile

1. Using what you have learned in this course, critically analyze the social representations presented in the media content. Discuss how the media item reflects or challenges dominant values, norms, and social identities.

1. Write a 2-3 page analytic paper including an alternative representation of your media item.

800 word

issue related to the criminal justice system. Except (gun control, drug issues)

At least 3 full pages

APA or MLA formatted

Single-spaced sentences

Times New Roman font, size 12

Title page and bibliography/reference page with at least two peer-reviewed sources (journal articles, textbooks, or academic publications).

There is a penalty for anything less than three pages but no penalty for going over three pages.

Your paper must include the following:

An introduction, body, and conclusion like all papers. You may write in the first person.

For this assignment, begin by identifying a genre of pop culture you especially love. For example, I find myself drawn to science fiction literature. Your choices are limitless- you can pick from the field of music, movies, books, television programs, bands, even people- the list goes on. If you are unsure about what you pick, let me know via email and we can Facetime or Zoom to brainstorm together.

Introduction: Introduce that genre to your reader (me) and state why you are drawn to that genre. What got you started in that genre, when did you start, and what keeps you interested in that genre? Most importantly, what does your interest and passion for this genre say about you?

Body paragraphs: History of the genre, notable names and events connected with that genre, and its current impact on popular culture in the United States and/or the world.

Pick any one of the three sociological perspectives (Functionalist, Conflict, or Interactionist) to analyze why your genre is popular. At the end of each Sociological Perspective PowerPoint, I have posted questions. You may use those questions to get your analysis started. If you are confused, let’s talk!

Conclusion: Summarize the paper for me and add at least one new fact you learned about the genre.

For this assignment, students are asked to write a review of a research paper published on any academic journals of social science disciplines. (Note: Academic journals such as American Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology, Social Forces, Social Problems, Social Psychology Quarterly, Sociology of Education, Sociological Forum, Sociological Methodology etc.

The paper should be at least 4 pages long, typed and double-spaced. Use APA or MLA format. (Note: the above required items illustrating information need to be addressed in your paper, it should not be treated as questions to be answered. Your paper should be a coherently organized paper).

Option 2:

Write a paper to discuss the problem of crimes in American society. Students are required to apply the sociological theories (structural functionalist, social conflict, and symbolic interactionist) learned in class to illustrate the causes of criminal behavior and logically develop social policy solutions based on respective theories. The paper should be 4 pages long and include the following points:

1. Illustration of the 3 major sociology theories on the image of society, and how society works, and why problems such as crime occur.
2. Use existing data (for example, media source or research literature (textbook too) on the extent and types of crime in America society, or cite examples of criminal cases you obtained via different sources (case study), and relate the empirical evidences to the theories learned in Chapter 1 to discuss the causes of crime.
3. When recognized the causes of crime based on the theoretical perspectives, logically make social policy solution suggestions on the problem of crime in American society.

Choose one topic for your paper assignment. The paper counts 10% of course grade and is required. The submitted paper should be at least 4 pages long, typed and double-spaced. Use either APA or MLA format. (Note: the above required items illustrating information need to be addressed in your paper, it should not be treated as questions to be answered. Your paper should be a coherently organized paper).

Choose a food item (anything that is edible and commonly eaten by humans) and follow the “chain of production” of that item.You will be taking this product from “seed to plate” and tell us how it is produced.You should tell us what goes into the production of this item and trace ALL of the ingredients to the original plant source.

the food I want you to do the presentation on is Potatoes.