Sociology

Overall, the course papers will require you to: Revisit and review the various theoretical ideas from the material, Focus in-depth on a particular set of ideas or insights within the theory, Find textual evidence (e.g., quotes) from primary source material to support your interpretation of the theory, Apply the work to the social world around you or a contemporary example, and Demonstrate critical thinking in making arguments beyond the textual sources. The purpose of each paper is to demonstrate your comprehension of the various ideas studied in a given unit. You will be required to demonstrate this comprehension through three strategies within your paper:  Provide a brief summary (in your own words) of the theorist’s main argument, drawing from two primary source readings from the unit. You may include context information or refer to the secondary textbook (Bratton and Denham) as needed. Be sure to synthesize across readings to arrive at an understanding of the theoretical perspective.  You must find textual evidence from the primary sources to supplement your summary, with at least one quote per reading. These selected quotes should fit into the larger argument of the paper. Quotes must be cited and documented with page numbers, and should be integrated into the paper’s narrative. Standalone quotes are not acceptable.  Draw from a contemporary example or instance from your life and apply the theory, linking the example to the concepts from review (above). If the theorist were to look at your example, what conclusions would he or she likely draw? How does the theory contribute to our understanding, and what can we gain from this new perspective? Your paper should be organized to carry a distinct argument across the readings. While I do not expect you to cover every reading or point addressed in class, you must draw from at least two different excerpts from the unit. For this assignment, I would rather you focus on reviewing and writing about one or two sets of ideas than covering everything we reviewed in class. You should aim for comprehension, synthesis, and analysis over surface-level engagement with the material. Your papers will be graded on the quality of the work, not the quantity of the pages submitted. Shorter papers with substance count more than lengthier essays without argument. All papers must be 3-4 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font. Include a title page and works cited page (see primary source citation information in the Course Reader). You may wish to consult the paper resources posted on Canvas, including a grading rubric, sample paper outline, and tips on college-level writing style.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How does the context in which deviance takes place affect whether a behavior is defined as deviant? In the reading, the authors describe how college students frame their cheating behavior. While they recognize and acknowledge that cheating is ‘wrong,’ their statements are heavily qualified: “Yes, it is wrong, but…” “I know it’s not OK, but…” The authors argue that these statements serve to add context to the behavior, context that is meant to ‘soften,’ ‘reduce,’ or otherwise lessen the relative ‘wrongness’ of the behavior. For this discussion, respond to the following points: What sort of factors did the students point to in their efforts to ‘neutralize’ the deviance and stigma associated with cheating? How do these change the context of the cheating? Are there people you would openly discuss cheating with but others you would not? What is different about these groups? Can you think of other actions or behaviors that are viewed differently depending on context? What is different about the social settings or contexts where a behavior is considered ‘deviant’ and ‘not deviant’? (e.g., buying marijuana is legal in some states, not in others; smoking marijuana is acceptable among some friend, but not others; etc.)

Write an essay exploring (ONE) an idea or theme across TWO of the thinkers we have studied so far. For example, you can discuss how Machiavelli and Vitoria understood the purpose of war, Vitoria and Hobbes’ views on natural law, the role of gender in Machiavelli and Hobbes, how Vitoria and Hobbes understand injury, the state of nature in Machiavelli and Hobbes, etc. Essays should contain: A clearly stated argument. What do we learn from the comparison of these thinkers? Do you believe one is more persuasive than the other? Do they hold the same views or assumptions and what is significant about that? A demonstration that you understand the thinkers. This is not the same as summarizing all of their arguments. Focus on the particular issue you are exploring and show how it relates to the thinker’s work more broadly. Between three and seven direct quotes from each thinker. Quotes should function as a jumping-off point for you to make your arguments. You should therefore include relevant passages in your essay but be sure to explain in your own words why they are relevant and what we should take away from them.A consideration of alternative arguments or explanations. What are some potential objections to your argument? How can you address them? Include a works cited page with all of your references at the end of your essay. Machicavelli- The Prince [8-96] Machicavelli – Discourses (Selections) [190-318] Vitoria – On the American Indians [231-292] Hobbes – Leviathan (Part 1) [3-115] DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources. DO NOT use any outside sources.

After re-reading Chapters 8, 9, 10 in Kraybill’s The Upside-Down Kingdom, answer the folowing questions in 300-325 Words: (NOTE-This forum is NOT for discussing questions posed in your Kraybill paper) “In what sense might Christians today be Sadducees?  Pharisees?” “What types of persons in our contemporary world might represent the Samaritan in the parable of the Good Samaritan?” “In what ways does the “birds of a common feather” principle operate in your own life?”

Skin and Money Source: © Thinkstock/iStock 503702571http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/image/stock-photo-the-dancer/503702571/popup?sq=men sexy dancers/f=CPIHVX/p=2/s=DynamicRank In the mid-1980s in Los Angeles, Somen “Steve” Banerjee and his friend Nick DeNoia pooled money to start a new kind of strip club: men baring it for women. Since they had no idea what they were doing, it didn’t go well. What finally helped was a couple of showmen from Las Vegas. Steve Merrit and his partner (professional and romantic) Mark Donnelly came aboard and hatched the idea of a Vegas-type song-and-dance show wrapped around the disrobing. To find performers, they cruised the muscle beaches outside LA. They brought the guys back to a studio, applied some Village People–style outfits (policeman, fireman, construction worker, and so on), and ran the group through a line-dancing routine. Their idea was simple but innovative: sex sells; but instead of making the show lustful, they made it entertaining. Drawing on their Las Vegas experience, Merrit and Donnelly understood how to do it, how to produce a fun theatrical fantasy instead of a crude flesh show. The general concept made sense and the execution was professional, but on opening night, no one knew what would happen. Chippendales exploded. Women went crazy for the performances, first in the United States, then Europe, and then everywhere as Banerjee and DeNoia rushed to form multiple traveling versions of their production. The time they didn’t spend together mounting the shows they spent in court fighting over who was entitled to how much of the profits and who really owned the suddenly very valuable Chippendales name and concept. The dispute ended in 1987 after DeNoia was shot dead in his office. One major problem Chippendales faced is that it wasn’t a hard show to copy. Get some muscled guys, some uniform-store costumes, a pop music soundtrack, and pound it all together into a dance routine with a little teasing; you don’t need a genius to do it. So others started. Michael Fullington was a junior choreographer for Chippendales. He struck up a friendship with some of the showguys, and they split away into a group called Club Adonis. The original choreographers—Merrit and Donnelly—also got in on the act, forming their own traveling revue called Night Dreams. Unhappy with these copycat acts, Banerjee hired a hit man to go around killing the whole bunch. The hit man, it turned out, was an FBI informant. Banerjee ended up in jail. The ensuing investigation led to more charges. There was arson (he’d burned down one of his own clubs for the insurance money some time back) and also another count of conspiracy to murder since it was Banerjee who’d arranged to have his original partner shot. The case never got to trial. Banerjee agreed to plead guilty, absorb a twenty-six-year sentence, and give up his rights to Chippendales along with nearly all his money and real estate holdings. While the lawyers worked out the details, Banerjee’s wife Irene worked feverishly to organize a group of character witnesses. By bringing a parade of people to testify about her husband’s good side at the sentencing hearing, she was hoping to get the jail time reduced. Or, maybe she was hoping to hold on to more of the money and real estate they’d accumulated. No one got the chance to testify. On the morning of the hearing, Banerjee hung himself in his cell. Because the trial was never completed, the plea deal never went into effect. And because the guilty man was dead, there was no one left to charge with any crime. Chippendales and all the money and property associated with it went to Banerjee’s wife Irene. QUESTIONS Is being a Chippendale’s dancer honorable work? Use the perennial ethical duties to justify—in ethical terms—the decision to become a Chippendale’s dancer. Ethically, how does this job compare with working for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, an outfit that calls itself “a vibrant home for the world’s most creative and talented artists working in opera”? Leaving aside the legal issues and using only the perennial duties, what ethical case could be made in favor of Banerjee getting a hit man to eliminate the people who were copying his show? Should he have hired someone or done the job himself? Explain. What’s a difference, in ethical terms, between hiring a hit man and hiring a beefcake dancer? The Club Adonis group worked for Chippendales before splitting to do the same thing elsewhere. Make the ethical case that their copy-catting was wrong. How can the copy-catting be justified in ethical terms? Did Banerjee do the right thing by hanging himself in the end? Justify in ethical terms. Is there an ethical argument against suicide, no matter what the situation is? When Banerjee hung himself, he lost his life, but he did manage to preserve his life’s property and wealth for his wife. Can a libertarian ethics be used to show that Banerjee did the right thing? Expla

For this assignment propose a scenario where you or someone you know are confronted with a moral dilemma relating to cultural diversity and multiculturalism. It cannot be the same as what was covered in the week one discussion. Cultural diversity refers to religious, sexual, racial, and other forms of social difference. A moral dilemma is a situation in which one must make a decision between two or more options such that the options involve seemingly ethical and/or unethical conduct. Address the following questions: What was the situation? What did the dilemma involve? What would a subjective moral relativist say is the right approach to the dilemma? Why would that kind of relativist say that? What would a cultural relativist say is the right approach to the dilemma? Why would that kind of relativist say that? Is that approach correct? What did you the person confronting the dilemma decide to do? What moral justification did they give? Is that approach morally correct? Was there an objective moral truth (the objectively right thing to do) in this situation? Why or why not? Remember, the dilemma should be detailed with description and dialogue. Regard the questions as requirements. This is an essay, so rather than simply providing a list of brief answers to questions, provide an in-depth reflection regarding a difficult ethical situation.. Cite the textbook and incorporate outside sources, including citations. the book is the elements of moral philosophy by James Rachels and Stuart Rachels. Chapter 1 and 2.   Writing Requirements (APA format) Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or references page) 1-inch margins Double spaced 12-point Times New Roman font Title page References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)

What to consider: concepts related to the assessment of risk and probability, and the influence of these assessments on decision-making. For this paper I would like you to apply what you have learned to analyze your perception of the probability of some event, and compare it with the actual probability of that event occurring. Choose an event of interest to you (risk of contracting/being diagnosed with some medical condition, risk associated with particular financial investments, risk of being a victim of crime, etc.) The event you choose is completely up to you, but that event should have some easily accessible numerical data available for helping you to assess your risk in the second part of the paper. (i.e., it should be easily Google-able.) Briefly describe the event in question. Discuss your perception of the event’s likelihood: How likely do you think it is that this event will occur? Explain why you think you have that perception. Explicitly connect to, and describe, relevant factors and concepts that we’ve discussed in class. Cite at least one reading that we’ve covered in this class. See the reading list  for easy copy/paste reference sections. Consult the Resources folder for APA for inline citation. Favor summary and paraphrasing over direct quoting. Then, discuss the actual likelihood of the event. Was your perception accurate? Why or why not? Explicitly connect to, and describe, relevant factors and concepts discussed in class.

Describe and explain at least four unique characteristics of virtue, according to Aristotle. Each characteristic should include one short quotation from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Each quotation should be no more than one sentence. Also, each characteristic should be supported by a valid or strong argument( your argument, not Aristotle). If you choose to include secondary sources, you may use: the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the chapter on Aristotle by Samuel Stumpf and James Fieser and The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. No other secondary sources may be used. You should primarily focus on Aristotle’s text. All sources should be cited. All essays must be formatted properly.

Imagine you have been hired as a consultant for the United Nations. You have been asked to write an analysis on how global population growth has caused the following problem and how it affects a developing country of your choosing: A growing global population that consumes natural resources is partially to blame for the release of greenhouse gases since human consumption patterns lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and farming (overturned dirt releases CO2). However, the critical issue is the burning of fossil fuels (hydrocarbons) such as coal oil and natural gas to produce energy that is used for things like electricity production, and vehicle, heating, and cooking fuels. Instructions The U.N. has asked that you choose a developing country from the World Bank Classifications for Developing Countries list: Mali The U.N. ?has also given you the following guidelines. ****************Content The U.N. ?has asked that your paper contain three sections. It has asked that each section be one page (or approximately 300 words) in length and answer specific questions, identified in the outline below. It also asks that you use examples from your developing country when answering the questions. Introduction ***********************Provide an introduction of half a page minimum that addresses points points 1–?5 below: Explain the problem the U.N. ?has asked you to address in your own words. Identify the three sections your paper will cover. Identify the developing country you will consider. Telly the U.N. ?which causes of greenhouse gases you will explore. ********************Provide a one-sentence statement of your solutions at the end of your introduction paragraph. Section I. Background What are greenhouse gases? How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming? Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World Which countries produce the most greenhouse gases? What are the economic challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? What are the security challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? What are the political challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? Section III. Causes and Solutions of Greenhouse Gases Name two causes of greenhouse gases. What are potential solutions to address each of the causes you identified? What is the relationship between population control and greenhouse gases? Conclusion **********Provide a conclusion of half a page minimum that includes a summary of your findings that the United Nations can use to inform future policy decisions. Success Tips ************In answering each question, use examples from your developing country to illustrate your points. The U.N. ?needs facts and objective analysis on which to base future policy decisions. Avoid personal opinion and make sure your answers are based on information you find through research. Formatting Requirements Make sure your paper consists of 4–6 pages (1,200 words minimum, not including the cover page, reference page, and quoted material if any). *******************Create headings for each section of your paper as follows: Section I. Background. Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World. Section III. Causes and Solutions for Greenhouse Gases. *************Use and cite at least five credible sources in your research. A list of potential resources is available below. This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing  Potential Resources Opinion: The Pernicious Climate Dictum—?Don’t Mention Population. The Five Mass Extinctions That Have Swept Our Planet. Does Population Growth Impact Climate Change? A Very Grim Forecast. The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is as follows: Evaluate the global impacts of, and potential controls for, population growth. Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills.

Imagine you have been hired as a consultant for the United Nations. You have been asked to write an analysis on how global population growth has caused the following problem and how it affects a developing country of your choosing: A growing global population that consumes natural resources is partially to blame for the release of greenhouse gases since human consumption patterns lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and farming (overturned dirt releases CO2). However, the critical issue is the burning of fossil fuels (hydrocarbons) such as coal oil and natural gas to produce energy that is used for things like electricity production, and vehicle, heating, and cooking fuels. Instructions The U.N. has asked that you choose a developing country from the World Bank Classifications for Developing Countries list. The U.N. ?has also given you the following guidelines. Content The U.N. ?has asked that your paper contain three sections. It has asked that each section be one page (or approximately 300 words) in length and answer specific questions, identified in the outline below. It also asks that you use examples from your developing country when answering the questions. Introduction Provide an introduction of half a page minimum that addresses points points 1–?5 below: Explain the problem the U.N. ?has asked you to address in your own words. Identify the three sections your paper will cover. Identify the developing country you will consider. Telly the U.N. ?which causes of greenhouse gases you will explore. Provide a one-sentence statement of your solutions at the end of your introduction paragraph. Section I. Background What are greenhouse gases? How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming? Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World Which countries produce the most greenhouse gases? What are the economic challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? What are the security challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? What are the political challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)? Section III. Causes and Solutions of Greenhouse Gases Name two causes of greenhouse gases. What are potential solutions to address each of the causes you identified? What is the relationship between population control and greenhouse gases? Conclusion Provide a conclusion of half a page minimum that includes a summary of your findings that the United Nations can use to inform future policy decisions. Success Tips In answering each question, use examples from your developing country to illustrate your points. The U.N. ?needs facts and objective analysis on which to base future policy decisions. Avoid personal opinion and make sure your answers are based on information you find through research. Formatting Requirements Make sure your paper consists of 4–6 pages (1,200 words minimum, not including the cover page, reference page, and quoted material if any). Create headings for each section of your paper as follows: Section I. Background. Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World. Section III. Causes and Solutions for Greenhouse Gases. Use and cite at least five credible sources in your research. A list of potential resources is available below. This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Potential Resources Opinion: The Pernicious Climate Dictum—?Don’t Mention Population. The Five Mass Extinctions That Have Swept Our Planet. Does Population Growth Impact Climate Change? A Very Grim Forecast. The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is as follows: Evaluate the global impacts of, and potential controls for, population growth. Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills. By submitting this paper, you agree: (1) that you are submitting your paper to be used and stored as part of the SafeAssign™ services in accordance with the Blackboard Privacy Policy; (2) that your institution may use your paper in accordance with your institution’s policies; and (3) that your use of SafeAssign will be without recourse against Blackboard Inc. and its affiliates. Institution Release Statement