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SOC 1167 PANEL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT Worth 25% of your
Final Grade
Research Questions: Students must select one of the following research questions:
1. Health Care and/or Housing (Chapter 7 & Chapter 11): From a cross-cultural perspective
compare Canada’s health care (or housing) policies/outcomes to those of another country and
make recommendations for improving the health care/housing of Canadian seniors. OR From a
subculture perspective examine the health care (or housing) needs of seniors from a particular
Canadian subculture and make recommendations for improving the health care/housing of this
subgroup of Canadian seniors.
2. Finances and Economics (Chapter 8): From a cross-cultural perspective compare Canada’s
pension policies/outcomes to those of another country and make recommendations for improving
the income security of Canadian seniors. OR From a subculture perspective examine the
financial needs of seniors from a particular Canadian subculture and make recommendations for
improving the financial status of this subgroup of Canadian seniors.
3. Retirement and Work (Chapter 9): From a cross-cultural perspective compare Canada’s
retirement/work policies/outcomes to those of another country and make recommendations for
improving the retirement/work options of Canadian seniors. OR From a subculture perspective
examine the retirement/work needs of seniors from a particular Canadian subculture and make
recommendations for improving the retirement/work options of this subgroup of Canadian seniors.
4. Leisure and Recreation (Chapter 10): From a cross-cultural perspective compare Canada’s
leisure/recreation policies/outcomes to those of another country and make recommendations for
improving the leisure/recreation options of Canadian seniors. OR From a subculture
perspective examine the leisure/recreation needs of seniors from a particular Canadian subculture
and make recommendations for improving the leisure/recreation options of this subgroup of
Canadian seniors.
5. Family Life &/or Social Support (Chapter 12 & 13): From a cross-cultural perspective
compare Canada’s family support policies/outcomes to those of another country and make
recommendations for improving the social support of Canadian seniors. OR From a subculture
perspective examine the family support needs of seniors from a particular Canadian subculture
and make recommendations for improving the social support of this subgroup of Canadian seniors.
6. Death and Dying (Chapter 14): From a cross-cultural perspective compare Canada’s death/
dying policies/practices to those of another country and make recommendations for improving this
practice for Canadian seniors. OR From a subculture perspective examine the death/dying
traditions of a particular Canadian subculture and make recommendations for improving the
practices of this subgroup of Canadian seniors.
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Written Assignment: Required Sources
Sources:
You are expected to make use of 3 different sources:
1. One sociological journal article from a reputable academic source published in the last 10
years and a minimum of 3 pages in length. This article should serve as the primary basis for
your paper.
2. Your textbook, which will provide you with the sociological concepts and theories that
you will need to use when answering your research question.
3. A current article from popular media (newspaper, magazine, or the internet) published
within the last year that discusses current sociological trends relevant to your research question.
**The sociological journal article and current article from popular media must be accessible
through a working link or URL**
Note that you may not find the perfect article that addresses all points of your research question, such
as a cross-cultural comparison of your topic. However, by combining your text book and the popular
media together with your article, may provide you with the necessary information for a cross-cultural
comparison.
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Assignment Guidelines:
The expected page length for your paper is 4-5 pages. In those pages you must do the following:
1. Summarize the sociological journal article (1-2 pages or 275-550 words)
• Using your academic, peer reviewed journal article, which addresses your research
question, begin your summary with a brief introduction. Then, address the following
questions in your own words: What was the purpose of the article? How does the author
situate their research in the context of others who have written about this topic? What is
the author arguing? What are the main points of the author’s argument? This may
involve going beyond the stated facts and seeing the whole picture or thesis. For example,
Durkheim’s study on suicide is not just about comparing suicide rates between Catholics
and Protestants, but it is on how one’s social context influences individual behavior.
2. Critically Analyze the sociological journal article (1-2 pages or 275-500 words) Address
the following sections:
• Evidence. Analyzing an article involves looking at the nature of the evidence. The
evidence used may be scientific/scholarly (refer to your textbook or lecture notes for
guidance here) or non-scientific/anecdotal (refer to your textbook or lecture notes).
Make sure that you clearly state and describe the evidence being used to make the
author’s argument.
• Point of View/Perspective. All social scientists have a point of view or perspective. It
may be stated explicitly or it may be implied by their argument. One way to identify
their point of view or perspective is to consider the following: What is their level of
analysis (e.g. macro/micro)? What theoretical approach has the author taken (e.g. socialconflict, structural-functionalist, symbolic-interactionist)? Keep in mind that a point of
view/perspective is not the same as a hypothesis or a thesis. Nor is it the same as a bias,
which implies looking at an event solely from one point of view. All perspectives have
their shortcomings; they allow us to ‘see’ certain aspects of social life whilst being ‘blind’
to others.
• Strengths and Weaknesses. Consider the research methodology used and its inherent
strengths and weaknesses. Was any empirical evidence presented; was it collected by the
author or other social scientists; did it adequately support the author’s conclusions?
Consider the author’s assumptions, was it reasonable? Consider the author’s bias, point
of view, or theoretical perspective; was it fair and reasonably objective; did it adequately
explain the research question? Be sure to clearly describe both the strengths and
weaknesses of your article. Did the article succeed in achieving its overall purpose or
add to the body of knowledge for this particular issue?
• Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why or why not? Here is your chance to
give your perspective on the research. Be sure to clearly describe your point of view and
your reasons for that position.
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3. Sociological Theory & Social Issues/Trends (1-2 pages, or 275-550 words)
• You are expected to demonstrate your understanding of the broader issues represented
by your research question and article. You will begin this by:
a. Applying a sociological theory (the one that best fits in explaining your journal article
and the social issue being considered) to your research.
b. Discuss social trends and current events within Canada or the global community
that apply to your research question. Here you will integrate the current article from
popular media (be sure to provide enough content here by summarizing the article and
explaining how it ties into your journal article and broader social issue).
Numbers 1, 2 and 3 should appear as subheadings in your paper. You may or may not include and
introduction and conclusion. I recommend doing so for the sake of practice, but it is not mandatory.
Submission Guidelines:
• Your written work, along with the URL for your sociological journal article, and
your current article from popular media must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on
the assigned due date.
• They may be submitted in the following way:
• Electronically (using the drop box on Canvas – go to ‘modules’ (left side of the tool
bar), scroll down and find the heading ‘Research Article Assignment’, then click on
‘written assignment’, and finally ‘upload’ the file and ‘submit.
• Be aware that once you have uploaded your written work to Canvas it will
automatically be submitted to Turnitin.com
* See the student sample assignment on Canvas for a better idea of the length & format of the
written assignment
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List of Deplorable Errors for Sociology 1167
Below is a list of deplorable errors that can significantly affect your grade. If you have carefully
read the assignment guidelines, these errors can easily be avoided.
• Do not let this list intimidate you; instead, use the checklist on page two to insure your
written assignment does not contain any of the deplorable errors.
• If you have left your assignment to the last minute, this list will clarify the consequences
of taking shortcuts.
| Error | Consequence |
| Malicious Plagiarism (cheating) | Automatic failure (0%) |
| No in-text citations | Automatic failure (0%) |
| No references page | Automatic failure (0%) |
| No valid (peer reviewed) journal article | Automatic failure (0%) |
| Accidental plagiarism | Loss of grades (varies, can be significant) |
| Not addressing the various sections of the assignment (including the specific questions laid out in the assignment guidelines) |
Loss of grades (varies, can be significant) |
| Ignorance of APA style | Loss of grades (varies, can be significant) |
| Lack of proper paragraph structure | Loss of grades (varies, can be significant) |
| Under required word count | Loss of grades (% under) |
AssignmentTutorOnline
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Deplorable Errors Checklist
I have three references on the references page.
I have a cited all three of my sources throughout my written assignment (in-text
citations).
I have not plagiarized maliciously by way of copying work from elsewhere and not citing
it. I am not handing in work that I have completed for another class. In short, I have not
cheated.
I have offered research that is peer-reviewed, academic research. My main source is a
journal article. I have sent links of general web sources to my instructor to ensure that
they are valid. I understand that most sources from the general web have a good chance
of being deemed invalid.
I offer factual information or statistical analysis whenever possible, mostly in the form of
paraphrasing/summarizing. If I use quotations, there is a clear reason for doing so.
I have read and understand the APA guide. My references are formatted correctly so that
my instructor can easily access cited documents. If I have provided links, I have clicked
them to be sure that they work and take me to the exact information I am citing.
I have provided the required word count and understand that if I am under the required
count, I will be penalized the percentage I am under.
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Grading Rubric:
| Excellent (5 pts) | Proficient (4 pts) | Satisfactory (3 pts) | Below Expectation (0-2 pt) |
|
| Summary of the academic peer reviewed journal article |
Identifies the author’s argument, situates the argument in the context of larger questions/issues, and summarizes the main points |
Identifies the author’s argument and summarizes most of the relevant points |
Identifies the author’s argument and summarizes some of the relevant points |
Summary is missing most of the relevant points or is unclear |
| Critical Analysis of the academic peer reviewed journal article |
Identifies the type(s) of evidence used, the main theoretical approach (and if possible, the specific theory), the strengths and weaknesses of the article, and states their own, reasoned, point of view |
Fairly good attempt at addressing the foregoing |
Minimal analysis in all four areas, or an in-depth response to one or two areas only |
Weak or no analysis |
| Sociological Theory & Social Issues/Trends |
Does a great job of integrating sociological theory, relating the research question to current social issues/trends in Canada and (if applicable) globally |
Does a fairly good job of the foregoing |
Makes a minimal effort to integrate sociological theory and relate the research to current social issues/trends |
Weak or no effort to complete this section |
| Requirements and Formatting |
Fulfills all requirements for the paper along with proper use of APA formatting guidelines |
Fulfills all requirements for the paper and APA formatting guidelines are mostly adhered to |
Some stated article requirements are missing and APA formatting guidelines are mostly ignored |
Stated article requirements are almost entirely unfulfilled and APA formatting guidelines are largely ignored |
| Organization and Writing Style |
The paper is written in clear, formal language, and the argument flows logically |
The paper is written in fairly clear, formal language, and the argument flows fairly well |
The writing is unclear and/or informal with little flow |
The writing is very unclear with very little logical structure |
Grade ___/25