This paper is designed to develop your understanding of the sick role, its conceptual strengths, and its limitations through the lens of a personal experience. It should also demonstrate how illness is profoundly social.
KEY PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT: BE SURE TO DISCUSS BOTH PARSONS’ SICK ROLE (all four components) AND A CONCEPT FROM TRILLIN’S ARTICLE.
Read A.S. Trillin, “Of Dragons and Garden Peas: A Cancer Patient Talks to Doctors” (The Trillin article is reading 5 Download reading 5Preview the documentunder Course Documents.) Parsons’ sick role is a concept covered in the reading for the lessons. It is not a separate paper.
Being sick is a universal human experience. Think about a time when you, a family member, or a close friend was sick. Write a personal memoir along the lines of Alice Trillin’s “Of Dragons and Garden Peas.” What was it like to be ill, or to deal with the illness of someone close to you? Did you experience any socialization into the “Land of the Sick People”? How so? Were there any special rituals or talismans associated with illness? Consider whether you fulfilled the sick role as envisioned by Talcott Parsons. If so, in what ways? How did you deviate from Parsons’ model? BE SURE TO DISCUSS BOTH TRILLIN’S ARTICLE & THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF PARSONS’ SICK ROLE IN YOUR PAPER. I automatically deduct 4 points if either reading is missing.
As you write your paper, try to be as personal—but not colloquial—as you can. Try to reflect on your experience using your knowledge of sociology. You do not need to answer all the questions I have posed: They are merely starting points for your thinking. I am more interested in your interpretation of your experience.
Trillin’s article is Reading 5 Download Reading 5Preview the document; the sick role is a concept covered in your readings to date.
FORMATTING INFORMATION:
Your paper should be 5-7 pages long, double-spaced, Calibri 11 pt font (or Times Roman 12 pt font), 1 inch margins. Please do not manipulate the font size and margins to make your paper appear longer. If you do, I will return your paper and ask you to revise and resubmit.
If your paper has a similarity score 25% or higher, I will return your paper and ask you to revise and resubmit. (In that case you will need to state quoted materials in your own words.) Do not use quotes from outside sources when you can put these ideas into your own words. Quotes should be used sparingly at most.
Paper Rubric
Paper Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Paper is error free (i.e., no grammatical errors, typos, proper citation implemented, etc.)
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/ 4 pts
Paper aligned with formatting guidelines outlined in the syllabus
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/ 4 pts
Paper used requisite readings specified in the assignment
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/ 4 pts
Paper content aligns with assignment description (e.g., if assignment asks the student to include all four components of the sick role, the paper contains those elements)
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/ 4 pts
Paper demonstrates thoughtful reflection on the topic and requisite readings
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/ 4 pts
Total Points:
