SOC280 Sociology
Week 1
Discussion
Discussion Prompt 1: 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.
Discussion Prompt 2: 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
Discussion Prompt 1: 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.
Discussion Prompt 2: 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
Discussion Prompt 1: Read, listen, or watch the media listed
below.
Listen to the audio file, “Defending and Attacking Polygamy
in Saudi Arabia.”
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.
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?
Discussion Prompt 2:
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
Discussion Prompt 1: 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.
Discussion Prompt 2: Describe a highly publicized trial
using the sociological concepts you studied this week.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 5
Discussion
Discussion Prompt 1: In your own words, define
discrimination and prejudice and provide at least two examples of each. Include
both institutional discrimination and institutional racism.
Discussion Prompt 2:Review the following website, which
provides statistics if the world were 100 people.
http://100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics
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?
SOC280 Sociology
Week 6
Discussion
Discussion Prompt 1:Discuss how the institutions of
government and economy may affect the healthcare institution. Support your
response with evidence from your readings or other sources.
Discussion Prompt 2: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
Discussion Prompt 1: 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?
Discussion Prompt 2: Describe how sociologists define mental
illness. Use the major theoretical perspectives in your response.
SOC280 Sociology
Week 8
Discussion
Discussion Prompt 1: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?
Discussion Prompt 2: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: Next generation virtual reality
HoloLens: Holographic computer that allows you to interact
with hologram
Active Worlds: 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 2
Assignment
Research Paper Topic Approval Blog
Possible Research Paper Topics
Alternative treatments
Narratives of health and recovery
Disability (mental and physical)
U.S. healthcare policy
Nationalized healthcare systems
Healthcare access and barriers
Additional at-risk populations
Additional illness experiences
Public health interventions
Metaphors and illness
Gender and the body
Race and the body
Social structure of medical education
Medicine and activism
Historical models of illness
Health education
Sexual and reproductive health
Health and social justice
Chronic illness
Bioethics and medical decision-making
Death and dying
End-of-life care
Genetic testing and diagnosis
Assisted reproductive technologies
Illness branding
Illness in literature and film
Medical experimentation
Developmental illnesses
Caregiving
SOC280 Sociology
Week 3
Assignment
Research Question and Literature Review
Submit your research question and a review of the literature
for your research paper.
Recommended: Before you begin, review the Writing Resources
area of the Student Resources tab located in the top menu on your main
Blackboard page.
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.
Recommended: Before you begin, review the Writing Resources
area of the Student Resources tab located in the top menu on your main
Blackboard page.
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/
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:
http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/
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
2 Adults, ages 60 and 62
0 children
Total annual income of $25,000
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
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/02/23/3625706/doctors-racism-health-system/
Four Ways Racism Continues to Influence Modern Medicine
http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/a/Four-Ways-Racism-Continues-To-Influence-Modern-Medicine.htm
The Hidden World of Medical Racism in the United States
http://theconversation.com/the-hidden-world-of-medical-racism-in-the-united-states-9113
Bias, Black Lives, and Academic Medicine
https://westcoastuniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/5802903425
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)?
