SOC280 Sociology
Week 1 Discussion
DQ1 Discuss how the sociological imagination may be helpful to someone who pursues a career in health care. Think of your current or future profession within this context and describe how your perspective may change now that you know how to use your sociological imagination to examine the workplace situation.
DQ2 What if you worked on research for a year and spent over a billion dollars, and then you discovered that some of the data did not support your hypotheses. Do you think it is all right to report on only the data that supports your hypotheses? Why or why not?
SOC280 Sociology
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 How do the concepts of role, role conflict, culture, and subculture apply to those who work in the healthcare field? Support your response with evidence from your readings or other sources.
DQ2 Discuss the social roles we acquire throughout our lives; be sure to differentiate between role conflict, role strain, and role exit. Explain how status relates to social roles and discuss the role examples you give in terms of ascribed, achieved, and master status.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 Discussion Prompt 1:
Read, listen, or watch the media listed below.
Listen to the audio file, “Defending and Attacking Polygamy in Saudi Arabia (Links to an external site.).”
Read the article, “Adoptive Gay Father Families: Parent-Child Relationships and Children’s Psychological Adjustment.”
Watch the clip from the movie
She’s the Man. (Links to an external site.)
What different interpretations of family and gender roles are voiced in the materials you reviewed?
To what extent do these differing viewpoints correspond or clash with Western notions of family?
DQ2 Think back on your life when you experienced a change, such as a graduation or a change of job. Discuss your experience with anticipatory socialization and resocialization. Describe how these concepts could apply to your next transition in the healthcare field.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 Discuss social mobility in the United States. Be sure to discuss open versus closed stratification systems as well as the different types of mobility. Also, specifically think about the factors that affect occupational mobility and discuss how these may or may not affect you.
DQ2 Describe a highly publicized trial using the sociological concepts you studied this week.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 In your own words, define discrimination and prejudice and provide at least two examples of each. Include both institutional discrimination and institutional racism.
DQ2 Read the following
What is your reaction to this? Discuss this project in terms of global inequality, which you studied in this week’s materials.
How could the different sociological perspectives explain global inequality?
If the World Were 100 People
Sometimes it is hard to understand how big, complicated, and interconnected the world is.
In the early 1990’s, Donella Meadows presented a framework for understanding the world as a fabric of physical, economic, or social relationships that determine world development. If we look at the world population as a village of 100 people, it is easier to know our world neighbors and we can often gain a greater understanding of some of the issues that affect the planet we all share, as well as learn more about what it means to be a global citizen.
The world population has now reached 7 billion people and the statistics have been updated from the original. The changes over the past five years are remarkable. In 2006, only 1 person out of 100 would have had a college education - today that number has jumped to 7 thanks in part to advances in higher education in Asia.
If we look at the world population as a village of 100 people, today:
50 would be female 50 would be male
26 would be children There would be 74 adults,
8 of whom would be 65 and older
There would be:
60 Asians
15 Africans
14 people from the Americas 11 Europeans
33 Christians 22 Muslims 14 Hindus
7 Buddhists
12 people who practice other religions 12 people who would not be aligned with
a religion
7 would have a college degree 22 would own or share a computer
Resources:
· 100 People: A World Portrait
12 would speak Chinese 5 would speak Spanish 5 would speak English 3 would speak Arabic 3 would speak Hindi
3 would speak Bengali
3 would speak Portuguese 2 would speak Russian
2 would speak Japanese
62 would speak other languages
77 people would have a place to shelter them from the wind and the rain, but 23 would not
87 would have access to safe drinking water 13 people would have no clean, safe water to drink
1 would be dying of starvation 15 would be undernourished 21 would be overweight
83 would be able to read and write; 17 would not
SOC280 Sociology
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 Discuss how the institutions of government and economy may affect the healthcare institution. Support your response with evidence from your readings or other sources.
DQ2 Is it more important to focus on improving the economy or the environment? Explain your answer referencing both the conflict and functionalist perspectives.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 Discuss how the institutions of religion, health care, and education may be intertwined. Are any of these institutions used to maintain social control? If so, how?
DQ2 Describe how sociologists define mental illness. Use the major theoretical perspectives in your response.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 8 Discussion
DQ1 Choose a social movement that you are interested in researching. What was the role of communications in the movement? Which sociological theory best explains this movement: relative deprivation or resource mobilization? Would you describe the movement as a new social movement?
DQ2 Think about a new technology that you encountered in school or the workplace and analyze it from a sociological point of view. What do you think this technology contributes? Are there any negative effects of using the technology? Have you noticed any resistance to it? If so, why do you think this has occurred?
SOC280 Sociology
Week 1 Assignment
Sociology Major Theoretical Perspectives Essay
This week, you read about the major theoretical perspectives in sociology (functionalist, conflict, feminist, queer, and symbolic interactionist).
Write an essay defining and interpreting each perspective. Paraphrase each perspective, using your textbook as a resource. Do not copy the definitions from the text, but rather paraphrase in your own words and provide citations in APA format where necessary. Additionally, briefly explain the importance of the perspectives to the field of sociology.
Your essay should be 1–2 pages in length. Compose your essay in APA format with a title page, introduction, conclusion, and references section. Cite at least one scholarly reference in APA format. An abstract is not necessary.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 2 Assignment
Virtual Environments
A virtual environment is an online environment where things can be posted, participated in, and manipulated by the users. Virtual environments encompass things like virtual reality, multi-user games, shared communities or similar. When you complete this week’s assignment, think about what virtual environments you spend time in. Below are some links to examples of virtual reality environments.
Oculus Rift: (Links to an external site.) Next generation virtual reality
HoloLens: (Links to an external site.)Holographic computer that allows you to interact with hologram
Active Worlds: (Links to an external site.) Users create their own worlds and custom 3D content
Write a 2- to 3-page paper in APA format that describes the pros and cons of this type of environment. Make sure to include the following information within your paper.
Describe what virtual environments you use (e.g., World of Warcraft, fantasy football, Second Life).
Share how long you spend in these environments. Fun fact: The average American spends nearly eight hours a day staring at screens (computer, phone, TV, etc.).
Is new virtual reality technology, such as Oculus Rift, the same as an environment such as Fantasy Football or Facebook? Why or why not?
How might you apply the functionalism theory to explain the virtual environment experience for someone with social anxiety issues?
Include how each of the perspectives explains the concept of virtual reality/environments. Try to view the problem from each perspective by asking the kinds of questions a theorist would ask if they were a functionalist, conflict theorist, or symbolic interactionist. For this this assignment, you could ask yourself:
What is the function of virtual reality/environment? What role does this play in our culture? (Functionalism)
What conflicts arise because of virtual reality/environments? How do you feel about the technology gap? Is there inequality present? (Conflict theory)
What does virtual reality/environment mean to us as a society? When we interact on the Internet, explore virtual environments, and make connections online, what do these relationships mean? (Symbolic interactionism)
SOC280 Sociology
Week 3 Assignment
Research Question and Literature Review
Submit your research question and a review of the literature for your research paper.
Write a literature review that includes the following:
Your problem statement (thesis)
Your hypothesis
The research question you intend to address with the sources you chose
A list of 3 to 5 key words/phrases used to search the research question
The APA reference for the sources you chose
A review of the literature that includes:
A comprehensive analysis of the data (include in-text APA citations as needed)
A review of the validity of the data and the findings
An assessment of the relevance of the source in addressing your problem statement (thesis)
Your unique contribution: Identify ideas not addressed, gaps in the data or analysis, or new problems that emerge from your review of the literature
SOC280 Sociology
Week 4 Assignment
Research Paper Rough Draft
The purpose of this assignment is to draft and submit a comprehensive and complete rough draft of your research paper in APA format. Your rough draft should include all of the research paper elements required in the final draft.
Include the following in your rough draft:
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Tables
Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 5 Assignment
How Does Society Deal With Inequality
Examine the website: http://www.eeoc.gov/ (Links to an external site.)
Write a 1- to 2-page paper in APA format that answers the following questions:
How does this website relate to what you read this week? Make sure to explain the purpose of the organization’s website. You may want to look at the About EEOC page. Copying from the page will not be tolerated.
What does this site allow someone to do? How does someone do this? What ways are there of doing this?
For which types of discrimination can someone file a complaint?
Do you think having this site online and accessible to anyone is a good thing? Why or why not?
Do you think you might use a site like this if the situation arose? Why or why not?
According to the site, which U.S. law or act is responsible for preventing discrimination and is responsible for the creation of this organization?
SOC280 Sociology
Week 6 Assignment
What Is the Role of Government, Politics, and the Economy in the Healthcare System?
Go to this website: Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator (Links to an external site.)
Use the following data in the subsidy calculator to research the cost of a policy for a family with these characteristics. Submit a response that answers the listed questions.
New York zip code 10001
2020 Dollars
Total Annual Income $55000
Available Coverage: No
Number of people in family: 4
Which members of your family are enrolling in Marketplace coverage? Two parents + children
What percentage of the Federal Poverty Level is this couple’s income? Give your answer in percentages and explain what the percentage means.
What percent of your total income do you need to pay for health care?
How much would you have to pay per month for health care if you did not receive a subsidy?
What would your subsidy be in dollar amounts and how much would you have to pay per month after the subsidy?
Now change the state to Alaska and keep everything else the same. What changes? Why do you think this happens?
What happens if the couple’s income goes up $1,000? Or $10,000?
What is the connection between government, economy, and politics? Examine your personal data and then answer the following question: Do you think the costs of insurance in this program are manageable?
Finally, describe the website and its overall purpose. How did you feel about navigating the website to obtain the needed information?
SOC280 Sociology
Week 7 Assignment
Education and Health Care
Read the following blogs and consider the author's opinions:
Challenging Medical Racism and Physicians’ Preference for White Patients
https://archive.thinkprogress.org/challenging-medical-racism-and-physicians-preference-for-white-patients-59bec589df88/ (Links to an external site.)
Four Ways Racism Continues to Influence Modern Medicine
http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/a/Four-Ways-Racism-Continues-To-Influence-Modern-Medicine.htm (Links to an external site.)
The Hidden World of Medical Racism in the United States
http://theconversation.com/the-hidden-world-of-medical-racism-in-the-united-states-9113 (Links to an external site.)
Bias, Black Lives, and Academic Medicine
https://westcoastuniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/5802903425 (Links to an external site.)
After you read the author's opinion blogs, write a 1– to 2–page paper in APA format that includes a brief explanation of the overall problem discussed throughout these blogs. Find your own academic sources using the WCU library that helps you explain why this problem might exist. Come up with a five-point action plan to reduce racism in the field of medicine. Justify your plan. Make sure to explain how you would teach each of the five points to those currently working in the health care field. (When you do this, think about what you have learned throughout the course about education, racism, and other areas that may affect your program.)
SOC280 Sociology
Week 8 Assignment
Research Paper Final Draft
This week, you will submit the final draft of your research paper.
Your paper must be minimum 8–10 pages, not including your title or reference pages. You should include at least five recent references (published within the last five years), and the paper must be presented in APA format (see rough draft requirements in week 4).
General Requirements:
The paper must be 8–10 pages, not including a title page, and should include an abstract, acknowledgements (if any), references, and tables.
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Tables
General Writing Instructions:
Once your proposal has been approved, you can begin the task of researching and writing a thorough literature review of your topic. Remember to use scholarly sources and APA style throughout your paper. You should continue to develop your outline as you find more articles. Your outline will help to keep your thoughts and your writing organized. I will be happy to review your outline as your paper topic develops. You must start your paper early and work on it gradually throughout the course.
Responding to all the comments from your rough draft will help to ensure success on the final draft of your paper. Do not lose momentum. Continue to work consistently on your paper; you may turn it in before the due date. The final paper will include a well-developed introduction, body, and conclusion. It will be at least 8–10 pages in length (of text) and include at least 5 scholarly references. Your final draft should be free of grammatical errors, and APA style errors should be corrected at this point. You should have a good grasp of your subject matter, and your writing should convey that. Keep your writing clear and concise. Long and awkward sentences are not impressive; good and clearly expressed ideas are. Again, checking the grading criteria will help to ensure that you earn a good grade on your paper.
Checklist for your Paper
I. Organization
Does the paper have (in this order) a Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References?
II. Style
1. Is everything (yes, everything!) double-spaced?
2. Are all measurements and units in metric?
3. Are the units abbreviated (m for meters, mg/l for milligrams per liter, etc.)?
4. Use italics where needed (please see http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/italics/)
5. Is everything correctly spelled?
III. Content
1. Does the title strike a balance: general enough to interest readers but specific enough to describe the contents?
2. Does the abstract adequately present the goals, methods, key results (with some actual data such as counts, averages, etc.)?
3. Does the introduction set the stage for the topic as a whole?
4. Does the introduction end with an explicit description of the hypothesis and the objective of the study?
5. Have I kept results from sneaking into the Methods section?
6. Are the methods sufficiently described so that someone else could repeat the study, or fully evaluate what we did?
7. Are all the important results expressed in words (that is, not hidden in a table and merely referred to in the text)?
8. Are all results expressed in the past tense?
9. Have I kept speculation and interpretation out of the results section?
10. Does the discussion review and interpret the key results rather than reviewing only other published studies?
11. Make sure you discuss the inadequacy of the study in the discussion?
IV. References
1. Are all papers cited in the text found in the references (and vice versa)?
2. Have I limited my use of secondary sources and used primary sources?
3. Are all references formatted in APA style?
4. Have major points been backed up with appropriate references rather than forcing the reader to take my word for it?
V. Tables and Figures
1. Are all tables and figures necessary? Could the information be easily expressed in the text? Is there duplication between tables and figures?
2. Are the tables and figures organized to minimize space?
3. Do all tables and figures have fully self-explanatory captions? That is, could a reader understand the figure or table without reading the rest of the paper (and vice versa)?
