SOC 320 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a position paper to illustrate the position of a social advocacy group on a gender-related issue. You will assume the role of a researcher for a social advocacy group that focuses on issues related to gender. You will assume that your manager has tasked you with writing a position paper that clearly articulates the group’s stance on a given gender-related issue in an attempt to justify the ultimate goal of the social advocacy group. You will select an issue from the options provided or submit your own issue for instructor approval. You will then analyze the issue through the incorporation of evidence and the application of sociological theory.
You are encouraged to choose your own topic to address in the position paper and will be guided through this process in the early modules of the course. Some gender-related issues to you might consider focusing on in this project include the following:
• Fraternity hazing
• Equal pay for women
• Allowing children to transition to their self-identified gender
• Adoption rights for same-sex couples
• Gender-neutral bathrooms in the workplace
The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to provide you opportunities to conduct research and work on elements of your paper. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.
In the position paper, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
• Analyze views of gender from a historical perspective for their impact on today’s societies and individuals
• Challenge current stereotypes of various gender expressions using evidence from observations and other resources
• Determine how reactions to expressions of gender and gender identity have evolved over time supported by sociological theory
• Communicate results of analyses on gender issues adhering to ethical requirements and other best practices regarding sociological research
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Prompt
For your position paper, you will represent the position of your social advocacy group on a specific issue related to gender and support that position through the application of sociological theory and evidence. Your position will challenge preconceived notions around this issue by investigating its history and how it has evolved over time. The goal of this paper is to promote awareness around your chosen issue and encourage support for your social advocacy group.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: In this section, you will introduce your audience to the gender issue you have chosen. You will develop a statement that establishes your position on your chosen issue. Be sure to employ appropriate ethical considerations and best practices when communicating your introduction.
A. Provide a brief overview of your chosen gender issue. Explain the impact of the issue related to social roles within social institutions.
B. Based on your chosen issue, discuss the focus of this position paper in terms of how it aligns with the ultimate goal of the social advocacy group. In other words, what are you trying to accomplish by exploring this gender issue?
C. Briefly discuss the evidence that you will use in the analysis of the issue.
D. Briefly introduce the theory that you will use in the analysis of the issue.
E. Develop a statement that communicates your social advocacy group’s position on the issue.
II. Analysis: Now that you have identified a gender issue, analyze evidence and apply sociological theory to communicate and support your position. Be sure to employ appropriate ethical considerations and best practices when constructing your analysis.
A. Articulate in detail your social advocacy group’s position regarding the issue. Your description should be written in a way that leads into your evidence and theory application.
B. Evaluate prevalent stereotypes regarding the issue. Be sure to address the validity, effects, and persistence of these stereotypes.
C. Describe recent social change regarding the issue and support your response with examples.
D. Analyze historical interpretations of the issue within relevant social structures (i.e., social institutions and culture) and support your analysis with evidence.
E. Analyze modern interpretations of the issue within relevant social structures (i.e., social institutions and culture) and support your analysis with evidence.
F. Apply appropriate sociological theory to historical and modern interpretations of the issue to support your overall analysis.
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III. Conclusion: In this section of the position paper, you will summarize the key points of your analysis while adhering to appropriate ethical standards and best practices.
A. Describe the ethical challenges in analyzing the issue, supporting your response with examples.
B. Review the key points of your analysis and make a universal statement about your position regarding the issue. Consider summarizing insights and perspectives that were gained through the incorporation of evidence.
C. Determine possible solutions that would be effective in lessening the negative impact of the issue on society.
D. Communicate your final position on this issue, supported by the findings of your analysis.
Milestones
Milestone One: Mapping the Issue Worksheet
In Module Three, you will submit a worksheet that includes the gender-related issue you selected for the project, a brief description of the social advocacy group, three or four research sources that you will use to present sociological evidence, and the theoretical lenses you may apply to your analysis. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Detailed Outline
In Module Five, you will create a detailed outline for your final paper, synthesizing all of your work in the course to date. This includes the following:
• Your position statement on the issue
• Identification of stereotypes that may need to be challenged in order for others to accept your position
• A list of historical events from the last decade that have affected perceptions on this issue (historical interpretations)
• Identification of the social changes these historic events have caused
• Explanation of current perceptions related to this issue (modern interpretations) within the family, the media, educational institutions, and organized religion
• Description of the theoretical lenses that you will use to support the analysis of the historical and modern interpretations
This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Final Submission: Position Paper
In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
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Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your position paper should be 6 to 8 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include at least three references cited in APA format.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Provides a brief overview of the Provides an overview of the issue Does not provide an overview of 6
Issue demonstrates a nuanced issue and explains the impact of and explains the impact of the the issue
[SOC-320-01] understanding of the impact of the issue related to social roles issue related to social roles within
gender on social roles and within social institutions social institutions, but overview is
institutions unclear or lacks key details
Introduction: Meets “Proficient” criteria and is Discusses the focus of the position Discusses the focus of the position Does not discuss the focus of the 6
Ultimate Goal exceptionally clear and paper and how it aligns with the paper and how it aligns with the position paper
[SOC-320-01] contextualized ultimate goal of the social ultimate goal of the social
advocacy group advocacy group, but response is
cursory
Introduction: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Briefly discusses the evidence that Discusses the evidence that will be Does not discuss the evidence that 6
Evidence uses sociological jargon to will be used in the analysis of the used in the analysis of the issue, will be used in the analysis of the
[SOC-320-02] establish expertise issue but evidence chosen does not issue
support the topic
Introduction: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Briefly introduces the theory that Introduces the theory that will be Does not introduce the theory that 8
Theory choice of theory is well supported will be used in the analysis of the used in the analysis of the issue, will be used in the analysis of the
[SOC-320-03] and plausible issue but theory chosen is inappropriate issue
for topic
Introduction: Meets “Proficient” criteria and is Develops a statement that Develops a statement that Does not develop a statement that 6
Statement exceptionally clear and communicates the position of the communicates the position of the communicates the position of the
[SOC-320-04] contextualized social advocacy group social advocacy group, but lacks social advocacy group
detail or is misaligned
5
Analysis: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Articulates the social advocacy Articulates the social advocacy Does not articulate the social 6
Position description offers a comprehensive group’s position on the issue in group’s position on the issue, but advocacy group’s position on the
[SOC-320-01] perspective of the social advocacy detail response lacks detail issue
group’s position on the issue
Analysis: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Evaluates prevalent stereotypes Evaluates prevalent stereotypes Does not evaluate prevalent 6
Stereotypes draws comprehensive connections regarding the issue, addressing the regarding the issue, addressing the stereotypes regarding the issue
[SOC-320-02] between stereotypes and validity, validity, effects, and persistence of validity, effects, and persistence,
effects, and persistence said stereotypes but evaluation is cursory or
overlooks relevant factors
Analysis: Social Meets “Proficient” criteria and Describes recent social change Describes recent social change Does not describe recent social 8
Change description is exceptionally clear regarding the issue and supports regarding the issue and supports change regarding the issue
[SOC-320-03] and contextualized response with examples response with examples, but
description is cursory or examples
are inappropriate
Analysis: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Analyzes historical interpretations Analyzes historical interpretations Does not analyze historical 6
Historical offers nuanced insight into the of the issue within relevant social of the issue within relevant social interpretations of issue
Interpretations relationship between historical structures and supports analysis structures and supports analysis
[SOC-320-02] interpretations of the issue within with evidence with evidence, but analysis is
relevant social structures cursory or evidence used is
inappropriate
Analysis: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Analyzes modern interpretations Analyzes modern interpretations Does not analyze modern 6
Modern offers nuanced insight into the of the issue within relevant social of the issue within relevant social interpretations of issue
Interpretations relationship between modern structures and supports analysis structures and supports analysis
[SOC-320-02] interpretations of the issue within with evidence with evidence, but analysis is
relevant social structures cursory or evidence used is
inappropriate
Analysis: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Applies appropriate sociological Applies sociological theory to Does not apply sociological theory 8
Sociological application demonstrates a theory to historical and modern historical and modern to historical and modern
Theory sophisticated understanding of the interpretations of the issue for interpretations of the issue for interpretations of the issue
[SOC-320-03] connections between sociological supporting the overall analysis supporting the overall analysis, but
theory and interpretations of the chosen theories are inappropriate
issue or application is cursory
6
Conclusion: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Describes the ethical challenges in Describes the ethical challenges in Does not describe the ethical 6
Ethical description is exceptionally clear analyzing the issue and supports analyzing the issue and supports challenges in analyzing the issue
Challenges and contextualized response with examples the response with examples, but
[SOC-320-04] examples used are misaligned or
description is cursory
Conclusion: Key Meets “Proficient” criteria and Reviews key points of the analysis Reviews key points of the analysis Does not review key points of the 6
Points summarizes insights and and makes a universal statement and makes a universal statement analysis
[SOC-320-04] perspectives that were gained of position regarding the issue of position regarding the issue, but
through the incorporation of review lacks detail or overlooks
evidence relevant factors
Conclusion: Meets “Proficient” criteria and Determines possible effective Determines possible solutions that Does not determine possible 6
Possible solutions are well supported and solutions that would lessen the would lessen the negative impact effective solutions to lessen the
Solutions plausible negative impact of the issue on of the issue on society, but negative impact of the issue on
[SOC-320-01] society solutions are inappropriate or lack society
detail
Conclusion: Final Meets “Proficient” criteria and is Communicates final position on Communicates final position on Does not communicate the final 6
Position exceptionally clear and concise the gender issue supported by the gender issue, but is not position on the gender issue
[SOC-320-04] findings from the analysis supported by the findings of the
analysis or lacks detail
Articulation of Submission is free of errors related Submission has no major errors Submission has major errors Submission has critical errors 4
Response to citations, grammar, spelling, related to citations, grammar, related to citations, grammar, related to citations, grammar,
syntax, and organization and is spelling, syntax, or organization spelling, syntax, or organization spelling, syntax, or organization
presented in a professional and that negatively impact readability that prevent understanding of
easy-to-read format and articulation of main ideas ideas
Total 100%
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