Sociology Current Events Essay

Sociology Current Events Essay

The application paper is worth 200 points and will be 4 -6 pages. Don’t worry, I have provided a very specific rubric that will guide you through it (see rubric below on the computer version of Canvas)! Also know that I am okay with you copy and pasting from your discussion boards you may have used in prior week – as long as you meet the requirements stated in the rubric. Okay, let’s get into the instructions:
For this paper, you will pick one topic (i.e. current event, historical event, movement, law, policy, legislation, ruling, or person) to analyze. You will apply at least 2 semester themes to your chosen topic and explain how your topic is contributing to an equitable or inequitable state. In other words, is your topic contributing to the racism and inequity that currently exists? Or, is your topic fighting against racism and for an equitable society? To help you identify themes you can apply, take a look at how this course was organized. Every week is a different theme. Were there two weeks that stood out to you or that you particularly enjoyed? Identifying these themes is a good place to start! Then, identify what a good topic is for you within these themes. The purpose of this paper is for you to broaden their understanding of: social behavior, society, race, ethnicity, systematic and institutional racism and prejudice while also developing an understanding of community and individual agency. Therefore, the core of this assignment should be displaying your understanding of Sociology.

*Note: I am not looking for a “right” or “wrong” analysis/opinion. In other words, I am not grading you on your stance of a specific issue. To be more specific, let’s say the topic you choose is legislation that is working to decriminalize marijuana. Whether you choose to say that this legislation contributes to an equitable society OR an inequitable society is not what I am grading you on. What I am grading you on is how you use sociological concepts to defend your analysis AND that you hit all the points in the rubric.

Your paper will be broken down into 5 sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Analysis, and Conclusion. In the rubric, I have provided specific instructions on what you should include in each of these sections. I have also provided clear formatting instructions, and expectations on professionalism. If you have any questions, you can always message me or we can set up a zoom meeting to discuss any specific ideas you may have. I am also willing to review your paper in advance, if you would like, and I can tell you what can be improved to get the grade you want. The rubric might seem intimidating, but it’s detail and length is only to help put you at ease and for those of you who want to make sure you are hitting all the points I look for in an A+ paper.

For those of you who are passionate about race and ethnic relations, you may already have a topic and mental outline ready to go! For those of you who might not have a topic in mind, don’t worry! Here is a list of topics you might want to write on, along with some links (that address multiple perspectives) for you to do some preliminary research.

Specific Topic Ideas/Links

Marijuana Reform:

9 Questions About Marijuana Legalization you Were Too Embarrassed to Ask (Links to an external site.)

The Case Against Marijuana Legalization (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

Roe vs. Wade (“Pro-Choice” vs “Pro-Life”):

Roe’s Race: The Supreme Court, Population Control, and Reproductive Justice (Links to an external site.)

ACLU History: The Roe v. Wade Era (Links to an external site.)

The Racist History of Abortion and Midwifery Bans (Links to an external site.)

Justice Clarence Thomas Likens Some Abortions to Eugenics in 20-Page Supreme Court Opinion (Links to an external site.)

Three Strikes Law:

10 Reasons to Oppose “3 Strikes, You’re Out” (Links to an external site.)

Pro & Con: Three Strikes Law Has Been Effective – Why Change? (Links to an external site.)

Gun Laws:

The Racist Origins of US Gun Control: Laws Designed to Disarm Slaves, Freedmen, and African-Americans (Links to an external site.)

The Discriminatory History of Gun Control (Links to an external site.)

We Can’t Advance the Goals of Black Lives Matter without Addressing Gun Control (Links to an external site.)

Additional topics you can explore:

The Death Penalty

Types of Justice and their Efficacy on Different Types of Crimes

The Creation and/or the Privatization of Prisons/Immigrant Detention Centers

Institutional Neglect Regarding Contamination of Water (EX: Flint, Michigan)

The Opioid Crisis vs. The War on Drugs

Mass Incarceration

Historical Occurrences of Institutional Neglect that Challenge Understandings of Crime (ex: Hurricane Katrina/New Orleans; Hurricane Maria/Puerto Rico; The Housing Crisis, International Trade Agreements/Global Inequality)