This Sociology Research Guide: Research Paper assignment, Project 4, addresses course outcomes 1, 3 and 4. This assignment will require you to think about key sociological concepts, such as race, gender, social class and social change. You will need to think about social institutions such as the economy and education using the sociological perspective. Finally, you will begin to understand how sociological knowledge influences the way we interpret the world. As your text book points out, everyone collects data in their daily lives and uses it to inform their understanding of the way society works. Sociologists collect data to determine how society actually works. In this assignment you will revisit M1A1: Project 1.

In module 1, you were asked to select a topic and discuss what you knew about that topic from the perspective of your experiences. Project 4 requires you to revisit that topic from the perspective of what you have learned over the term, now as a practicing sociologist. While the first paper was a thought paper, Project 4 is an academic research paper. You are required to add two academic resources to support your analysis and arguments. These can be found through the Excelsior library. If you are not sure how to identify an academic source, the librarians can assist you with this.

Before beginning this project, please be sure you have thoroughly read and reviewed all of the content in this first module. Pay special attention to the terms and concepts from your reading material that help you understand the way that sociologists look at and make sense of the world. In module 1, you were asked to select a topic and discuss what you knew about that topic from the perspective of your experiences. As you revisit your prior work in Project 4, you are to expand on what you have learned across the course. Project 4 is an academic research paper, and you are required to find and use two academic resources to support your analysis and arguments. These can be found in the Excelsior library and specifically using the Sociology Research Guide.

Sociology Research Guide: Research Paper

You will write a research paper on the topic that you chose in Module 1. Please write an approximately 1,000 word research paper (4 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font of text) addressing the following question prompts. A references list should make up an additional page.

Summarize the arguments that you made in your first paper on this topic.

Using the information that you have learned across this term and a minimum of two academic resources, explain how and why this situation exists. Explain what sociologists argue about the topic. For example, which sociological terms or concepts speak to your now deeper understanding of this topic (e.g., does the sociological imagination differ from analysis you draw as an everyday sociologist)?

Summarize how your expanded knowledge differs from what you wrote in your first paper.

How were you surprised and enlightened by what you learned?

Your essay will be evaluated in terms of how thoroughly you: answer the questions above; use resources to document your main points; and properly cite referenced work. Your essay should address all of the questions above and should consist of approximately 1,000 words (4 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font of text). Citations and a references list will likely make up an additional page.

To successfully complete Project 4, you will need to organize your responses to the questions and then craft a formatted essay that includes each of the following:

A title page;

Well-developed introductory paragraph explaining the purpose of the essay and briefly referencing some of the main points/contentions offered in the essay;

The body of the essay should consist of your effort to best answer the primary questions from the assignment prompt and should consist of approximately 1,000 words (4 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font of text). Though the method by which this is done is largely up to you, it is essential that the responses to the questions in the prompt be based upon scholarly readings and should remain at all times defensible (in an academic sense). You have a great deal of information to draw from in creating your essay, including the assigned readings and hyperlinked sources in the module notes. As is the case with every assignment in SOC101, presenting any unsubstantiated, illogical, or indefensible position will have an adverse effect on the final grade. Please direct any questions regarding these expectations to the instructor;

A concise concluding paragraph that briefly restates both the purpose of the essay as well as some of the primary argument offered by you, the essay’s author. Be sure the concluding paragraph does not introduce new information;

A list of all sources consulted the preparation of the essay. The essay should be formatted according to APA-style documentation. This includes the format of the list of references.

Sociology Research Guide: Research Paper-Project 4 is due at the end of Module 7.

Use the Excelsior OWL and EC Library Sociology resources for research assistance and to properly cite your work:

Sociology Research Guide

Plagiarism & Copyright

Excelsior Library Writing Help

APA Citation Help

Excelsior College Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Sociology Research Guide: Research Paper

Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you upload it. When you are ready to submit your work, click “Browse My Computer” and find your file. Once you have located your file, click “Open” and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Submit.”

Before you submit this assignment to the dropbox below, be sure to upload a copy to the “Final” dropbox for this assignment on Turnitin. A “Draft” dropbox is also available so that you can use the originality report provided as a learning tool to improve your work prior to final submission.

Sociology Research Guide: Research Paper Evaluation

Project 4 is worth 14% of your overall course grade. This assignment will be graded using the SLA Writing Rubric. To view the Rubric click the View Rubric button above. Review the rubric carefully so you understand how you will be graded.