The purpose of this final Societal Commentary assignment is to build on what we have examined throug ...
The purpose of this final Societal Commentary assignment is to build on what we have examined throughout the course regarding social problems. It will also encourage you to envision creating social change. Make sure you have watched the video explanation (embedded towards the bottom of Module 10/11 Lecture Page) to see how the assignment fits with the final lecture's material. Paper Overview: Choose a specific contemporary social problem that is meaningful to you in order to analyze through the social problems process lens (Best and Monahan 2025). Your task is to explore how your chosen issue evolves from a personal or localized concern to a widely recognized social problem, propose your own concrete solution(s) or intervention(s), and then apply a social movement stages/framework to conceptualize how to call others to take action. Finally, you'll design a sample social media post that encapsulates your cause and mobilizes others to join! ---------- Type your responses in complete sentences edited for grammar and spelling, and have your name in the upper left corner of the first page. Write at a college level; minimize excessive spelling/grammatical errors (worth 1 point). Edit and spell-check! Make sure to use the specific headings in red below for your paper. DO NOT number your responses, use bullet points or include the prompt's questions in your responses (you will lose points if you do any of these). Write in complete sentences with paragraphs. Your paper will have a very specific length. The first three pages will be your "Social Problem Analysis" write up of the problem, analysis, solution/intervention strategy, and social movement framework. The fourth page will only be your "Sample Social Media Post." The fifth page will only be your "Works Cited" page for which you MUST use ASA citations. Remember, this type of citation is different than MLA or APA. Refer to the Welcome Module's ASA citation guide, the prompt below, or click on this link Download click on this link. Remember, it is not permitted nor necessary to use AI to write your paper. In fact, you all agreed to this in the form of academic integrity. We take time to create original, inspiring paper prompts with questions that get you thinking sociologically. We respect you and your learning as students in this class. Please respect this effort and do your own work with your own words when you are asked to do so. We care most about what YOU have to say. ---------------------------- Pages 1-3: Social Problem Analysis (7) These first three pages involve you 1) identifying and describing your chosen social problem, 2) analyzing it using the social problems process stages, 3) propose a solution/intervention/strategy to address the problem, and 4) organize a social movement strategy. Please include the following for each component but do not use headings or numbers for these components. Just write in complete paragraphs for each component: First, identify and describe the social problem (about ½ – 1 page) Define the social problem you have chosen. Explain why this problem matters to you personally, your community, and/or society as a whole. Discus how the social problem relates to what we have learned in class and what sociologists say about this specific issue (i.e., why is it considered a social problem?). Second, analyzing it using the social problems process stages (about 1 page) Refer to our Module 10/11 Lecture Page in order to reflect on and apply Best and Monahan's (2025) social problems process stages. Trace how your issue has (or would) developed throughout each stage. For instance, who are the claimsmakers, what kinds of framing or rhetoric are used, how have the public or media responded, what policies or official actions have (or would) address(ed) the problem, etc.? Remember to address all six stages in some capacity. Third, propose a solution/intervention/strategy to address the problem (about ½ – 1 page) Propose your own idea(s) for some type of solution/intervention/strategy to solve or ameliorate the issue. Be specific: What kind of policies, programs, local/community or national actions could be a part of your proposal? How realistic are your suggestions, what are your expected outcomes, and what is your estimate for how long it would take to implement your idea(s) and see results? What are two possible obstacles that may stand in your way to effect real change? Fourth, organize a social movement strategy (about ½ page) Describe how you would organize a specific type of social movement around this issue. What could you do to emerge and coalesce as a movement? What would your goal(s) be? What would your key frames be? What tactics would you use to mobilize people and gain supporters? How will you know that your social movement is a success (or a failure)? Page 4: Sample Social Media Post (2) Design a compelling and persuasive sample social media post (e.g., Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) that could be used to raise awareness and mobilize support for your movement. Include hashtags, a call to action, a catchy image and a slogan/rally cry. Think about your post's overall tone, clarity, and emotional appeal. You can use the entire page 4 for this portion of the paper. Page 5: Works Cited (1) You will probably use our course textbook as a resource for this paper, as well as Best and Monahan's book discussed in the Week 10/11 Module lecture page. As a little gift to you, here are the appropriate citations for each (you'll need to change the textbook citation to reflect whatever specific chapter you are referencing). Do not use any type of citation generator online as they are WRONG regarding ASA. You'll have to follow the example provided at the top of this prompt for accurate ASA citations for any other ones you use (there is not a minimum/maximum requirement for external citations). Make sure to list your citations in alphabetical order. Best, Joel and Brian Monahan. 2025. Social Problems. New York: W.W. Norton. Valdivia, Isabel Garcia. 2025. "Aging." Pp. 159-186 in Investigating Social Problems, edited by A. Javier Trevino. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ----------------------------------- As a reminder, please type your responses to these questions in complete sentences, edited for grammar and spelling, and have your name in the upper left corner of the first page. This paper is worth ten points (and 10% of your overall grade). Point values are listed as grey numbers for TA grading purposes, i.e. (2). Address each component thoughtfully and thoroughly and you will receive credit. Be as detailed as possible with your responses and write in complete sentences. You must use the three headings notated above (in red for your reference). Do not use bullet points or include the prompt's questions in your responses. Write at a college level; minimize excessive spelling/grammatical errors (1 point). Edit and spell-check! The grace period for paper submission is 48 hours after the due date. When the submission window is closed on Canvas, no further papers will be accepted. ???? Final Assignment Resource Packet for SOC 120 Assignment: Societal Commentary III (Final Paper – 5 pages) ? REQUIRED FRAMEWORK: BEST & MONAHAN’S SIX-STAGE SOCIAL PROBLEMS PROCESS (Source: Module 10/11 Lecture – SP10.40.jpg) Your analysis must include these six stages: Claimsmaking Who first raised awareness about the issue (e.g., activists, victims, media, researchers)? What types of framing or rhetoric did they use (e.g., data, emotion, storytelling)? Media Coverage How did media outlets present the problem? Was it framed with fear, sympathy, skepticism, or sensationalism? Public Reaction How did the public respond? Was there support, denial, panic, protest, or apathy? Policy Making What institutions responded with policies? Were there new laws, programs, or institutional shifts? Social Problems Work How is the issue addressed in day-to-day practice by frontline workers (e.g., police, teachers, doctors, caseworkers)? Policy Outcomes What were the effects of those interventions? Did they work? Were there unintended consequences? Note: You are required to address all six stages in your analysis section (pages 1–3). ? SOCIAL MOVEMENT STRATEGY CONTENT (Source: SP10.29–SP10.42) When writing the social movement strategy section (about ½ page of your paper), consider: Types of Movements: Reform, Revolutionary, Reactionary, etc. Movement Stages: Emergence (early awareness) Coalescence (group action begins) Bureaucratization (formal leadership, funding, tactics) Decline (movement ends, shifts, or becomes institutionalized) Tactics to Mobilize Support: Social media campaigns Petitions Protest rallies/marches Artistic activism (e.g., slogans, music, posters) Coalition building How to Measure Success: Policy change Shift in public opinion Growth in engagement/community support Lasting institutional impact ? ASA-STYLE CITATIONS (USE FOR PAGE 5 – WORKS CITED) Include at least these two required sources in ASA citation format: Best, Joel and Brian Monahan. 2025. *Social Problems*. New York: W.W. Norton. Valdivia, Isabel Garcia. 2025. "Aging." Pp. 159–186 in *Investigating Social Problems*, edited by A. Javier Trevino. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. If other sources are used, list them alphabetically in ASA format. Do not use citation generators. ? FINAL PAPER STRUCTURE OVERVIEW Page Content Notes Page 1–3 Full analysis: define the problem, apply the six stages, propose a solution, and outline a social movement No bullet points, no numbering, no copy of the prompt. Use full paragraphs. Page 4 Sample social media post Should include: slogan, image (or description), hashtags, and a call to action. Page 5 Works Cited (ASA format) Must include the Best & Monahan book and textbook chapters.
