Journal 1: Current Event Paper
Students will examine a current event of their choice, this can be an article or a YouTube news clip. The current event cannot be older than a month. Do not use another paper from a previous class. After students review the current event, they will write a paper applying one of the three major sociological theories found in Chapter 1 of the textbook. These theories are functionalism theory, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism theory. Students will write a summary/definition of the chosen theory and then apply the theory to the analysis of the event. The student will prepare the assignment as described below.
The paper needs to be formatted as follow:
Paragraph One – A descriiptive narrative about the current event including specific details and citations. Don’t make this personal, just inform about the current event in this paragraph.
Paragraph Two – Review of the key assumptions and critical elements of the chosen theory to highlight in the paper – what is the gist of the theory? What assumption about people or society does it make? How does it explain social interaction? Don’t make this paragraph personal or do any analysis. Define the theory chosen in your own terms with as much detail as possible, this information will link with the analysis paragraph below. Paragraph Three – Analysis of the current event using the theory defined above. How would the perspective of this theory attempt to explain the current event sociologically (not personally)?
The Last Page – The Works Cited Page should only include the citation of the current event and the classroom textbook. No outside sources should be used, only textbook. Please make sure I can retrieve the document or video for me to read or view.
The current event paper should be in APA style. The paper should be a minimum of one and a half pages in length plus a Works Cited page. The paper should be typed with one-inch margins all around, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, with a proper header. The paper should also include a title page which includes the students’ full name, a title, as well as the course number. Make sure to proofread you paper. Even though this is not an English class, grammar is still important.
