Paper 1 For Ras

Sociology 3255: Youth in Today’s World

Due: February 12 at 11:59 pm via Blackboard Assignments

Media Paper

For this paper, you will choose a current news article or story (within the last year) and connect the content to course concepts. For Paper 1, you will use at least one author covered from weeks 1-4 of the course, selecting the applicable terms to analyze your piece. You will demonstrate your critical thinking skills and show that you understand course concepts by using the sociological imagination to analyze media representations of youth.

*You will be graded on how well you explain the concepts and use the concepts to describe your piece.

Choose your piece based on how youth is/are being represented. Ask yourself how one or more of the authors from the course might describe this piece. One way to approach this is to explain how youth are being portrayed or reported on from a sociological perspective. Another way is to consider if course concepts illuminate why a problematic view of youth is being utilized in your piece.

Introduction: The introductory paragraph should provide the reader with a road map for the paper. Your introduction should give a succinct overview of the paper and include each of the concepts you are to cover and a thesis statement that provides your overall argument. Be specific rather than general.

Body of the Paper: Use course concepts to analyze the piece that you have chosen. Define each concept that you are using. Explain fully how these concepts relate to the piece you have selected in as much detail and using as much of the course material as possible.

Use at least 2-3 concepts from course readings and lecture material. You should rely mostly on the required readings although you may use additional course material to supplement.

Conclusion: Conclude with a paragraph that succinctly summarizes your argument and main points while providing the reader with food for thought. “Food for thought” may be your personal insights and may include the impacts of the media content on youth or the ways that history, policy, the media, etc. have contributed to the content of your piece.

In other words, why is the piece you have chosen significant; why should we be interested in the content; why are your arguments relevant for the study of youth?

Quotes: You should have 3 or more direct quotes. When you are using a direct quote, you should use quotation marks and a page number. Paraphrase long quotes or use a block quote for something important that you feel cannot be cut down without taking away from the integrity of the passage.
Subheadings: The body of your paper should be organized by sections that can be divided by either the concepts or each course reading, if you are using more than one.

References: You must have a page which lists each of the readings and media sources in alphabetical order.

Quick guide to the American Sociological Association citation guidelines:

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: The first time you mention the author in your paper give the year of publication. For example:

In her path breaking study, Julie Bettie (2014) researches working-class girls in a rural California town.

PAGE NUMBERS: Following this, whenever you directly quote the study, always use quotation marks and add the page number at the end of the sentence --after quotation marks and before the period--like this:

Bettie explains that performance “refers to agency and a conscious attempt at passing” (52).

BLOCK QUOTES: Direct quotes within your paragraph should be less than 40 words. If you feel that a longer passage must be quoted in full to retain the authenticity of the author’s statement, you may use a block quote. Indent the text 5 spaces (both sides) and you will not need quotation marks. (You should only use one or two block quotes as necessary.) Here is an example:

Bettie (2014) explains:

My goal was to learn how these young women experience and understand class differences in their peer culture and how their and their parents’ class location and racial/ethnic identity shaped the girls’ perceptions of social differences at school and the possibilities for their futures. (P. 7) OR

The aim of this research is described in the following passage:

REFERENCES PAGE:

ONLINE NEWS ARTICLE: Author Last, First. Year of Publication. "Title." Newspaper Name, Month Day of Publication.

COURSE READINGS: The correct citations in ASA are found on the syllabus.

Here are links to assist you in citing other sources: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/583/03/ http://lib.trinity.edu/research/citing/ASA_Style_Citations_4.pdf

Paper Requirements:

3-5 pages, double-spaced, standard font, 1-inch margins.

References: in-text citations and “References” page (ASA style).
These papers should be submitted along with links to the article on Blackboard under “Assignments”.

Grading Rubric:

A-Level Paper:

The paper is clear and descriptive. The student makes a strong argument to explain how youth are represented in their piece from a sociological perspective. Sufficient evidence is used to defend students’ arguments. At least 2-3 concepts are used to explain the piece chosen. Each concept or theme is defined or described in detail. It is evident that the student understands the individual concepts as well as the overall arguments made by the authors drawn from.

The piece used was appropriate for the assignment as stated above or upon approval by the instructor or teaching assistant. The paper is clearly organized (with an introduction, transition sentences to connect major ideas, and conclusion) and has few or no grammar, punctuation or spelling errors. The authors’ work is cited correctly using ASA. Paraphrasing in the student’s own words was utilized for the majority of the paper with at least three direct quotes being used appropriately and as necessary. The paper does not have an excess of direct quotes. The paper is at least three full pages long.

B-Level Paper:

The paper is less clear and descriptive than the “A-Level” paper described above. An argument is made regarding how sociological concepts can help explain the piece chosen, but it is not as strong as in an “A-Level” paper. The required number of concepts and themes are used but one or more could use more detailed description. It is evident that the student is familiar with the course material but it may be unclear whether they have given significant thought to the ways that the research findings describe or explain current news or popular media phenomena.

The piece used was appropriate for the assignment. The paper is clearly organized but the introduction or conclusion may not meet the criteria described above. The paper may need more attention to transitional sentences. The authors’ work is cited correctly and the writing contains few grammar or spelling errors. The paper may have an excess of direct quotes including block quotes. The paper meets the page requirement.

C-Level Paper:

The paper is less clear and descriptive than the “A-Level” paper described above. An argument is made regarding how course concepts are reflected in the piece chosen but may not be as clear and strong as in an “A-Level” paper. There is insufficient evidence given to support the claims made. Concepts and themes identified by the authors are used to explain the piece, but it may be unclear whether the student has a thorough understanding of the concepts or the authors’ overall arguments. One or more of the concepts or themes identified are not defined or explained. The concepts may not be the most appropriate for the piece chosen.

The piece may be inappropriate for the assignment. Course materials are cited correctly. The paper may have either significant organizational or grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors, but not all of these. The paper may have an excess of direct quotes including block quotes. The paper does not meet the page requirement.

D-Level Paper:

The paper is unclear and undescriptive. The paper does not have a clear thesis. The concepts may not be appropriate for the piece chosen. The concepts or themes are minimally defined or explained. There are less than two concepts or themes used to explain the piece chosen. It seems unclear whether the student understands the concepts or the author’s main arguments.

The piece was not appropriate for the assignment. The paper reflects significant organizational difficulties and grammar, spelling, punctuation or citation errors. There was an excess of direct quotes including block quotes. The paper is two or fewer pages in length.

F-Level Paper:

The paper is missing a significant amount of required content. The paper is unorganized and contains multiple grammar, spelling, punctuation and citation errors. If direct quotes or material from outside of the course are used without citation, the paper will receive a failing grade.