Extra Credit Exercise: This Assignment Can Be Completed Anyt

Extra Credit Exercisethis Assignment Can Be Completed At Any Point Bet

Extra credit assignment encouraging students to explore social problems through artistic or expressive mediums. Students should share two of their favorite songs, poems, images, or other artistic expressions, and write a one-page commentary connecting these works to perspectives on social problems. The goal is to foster internal connections between observable social realities and personal perceptions of what should be, encouraging honesty and emotional expression. The presentation should be no longer than ten minutes and participation is graded on credit/no credit basis.

Additionally, students must choose to write a one-page response to either option A or B:

• A. Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Class and Family: Explain the significance of the quote regarding different public reactions to birth events in Iowa and Nigeria. Analyze why societal reactions differ based on race, ethnicity, class, and nationality by reviewing how media and public scrutinize parental characteristics in reports of multiple births.
• B. The family -- What accounts for its (in)stability?: Argue whether "stable families are the foundation of stable communities" or if "stable communities and economies are the foundation of stable families." Support your position using appropriate sociological readings and theories.

Your paper should be double-spaced, numbered pages, and include inline citations for quotes used, specifying author, year, and page number. Quotes longer than two lines should be indented one inch from the left margin.

Paper For Above instruction

The extra credit assignment offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with social problems creatively and reflectively. By incorporating artistic expressions such as music, poetry, or visual art, students can communicate their perceptions and emotional responses to social issues in a deeply personal and honest manner. This approach allows for a nuanced exploration of how societal structures and cultural narratives shape individual and collective understandings of social problems. The emphasis on honesty and nonjudgmental presentation fosters an environment of open reflection, encouraging students to connect their personal experiences and perceptions with larger societal critiques.

Furthermore, the second part of the assignment encourages students to critically analyze sociological issues through written response. The first option, concerning gender, race, ethnicity, and class, prompts students to examine societal reactions to birth events from different cultural and structural perspectives. The quote contrasting reactions to multiple births in Iowa and Nigeria underscores how societal responses are influenced by underlying issues such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and national identity. Media portrayals often scrutinize parental characteristics differently depending on the social context, revealing biases and societal values that shape public perceptions. Analyzing these reports requires understanding how cultural narratives and stereotypes influence societal judgments, highlighting disparities rooted in race and class.

The second option invites students to debate the origins of family stability and its relationship to community and economic stability. This discussion draws on sociological theories about social structure, social capital, and family dynamics. Proponents of the view that stable families underpin communities may reference Durkheim’s social cohesion theory, emphasizing the role of family as a basic social unit that fosters social integration. Conversely, those arguing that community and economic stability support family stability might draw on structural functionalism, which underscores the importance of broader social institutions in providing the environment conducive to family well-being. Supporting either perspective requires engaging with scholarly literature and applying relevant sociological frameworks, fostering critical thinking about the interconnectedness of family and societal stability.

Overall, this assignment aims to deepen students' understanding of social problems by encouraging introspective artistic expression and scholarly reflection. It highlights the importance of analyzing societal narratives and structural factors influencing social phenomena, fostering a comprehensive sociological perspective that considers both individual experiences and systemic structures.

References

• Durkheim, É. (1912). The Division of Labour in Society. Free Press.
• Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall.
• McLanquah, D. (2009). Social capital and family stability. Journal of Family Sociology, 20(3), 245-261.
• Parsons, T. (1951). The Social System. Free Press.
• Zwingle, E. (1998). Reproductive technologies and social perceptions. Journal of Social Issues, 54(2), 38-45.
• Collins, P. H. (2000). Black Feminist Thought. Routledge.
• Hechter, M., & Kanazawa, S. (1997). Sociological rational choice theory. Annual Review of Sociology, 23(1), 191-214.
• Rothman, B. (1986). Recreating Motherhood. Vintage Books.
• Wilcox, W. B., & Nye, C. (2017). Family trends and social change. Context: A Journal of Sociology, 11(3), 14-19.
• Becker, H. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press.