SOCIOLOGY 4111 – DEVIANT BEHAVIOR - UGGEN

Paper Assignment – Choose one of four options

Papers due 11/8/05 at beginning of class

Option 1. Your deviant career [about 7 pages total]

Students selecting option #1 will analyze their own histories of deviant behavior.

(1) Introduce the topic in a paragraph. [half page]

(2) Describe the “social facts.” Use general concepts relating to deviant careers (e.g., entry, management, exit, cultures and subcultures, formal and informal social controls) and try to establish a clear timeline. [2 pages]

(3) Summarize the state of knowledge about this particular form of deviant activity based on course materials or other sources (in most cases, about 5 sources should be sufficient, most of which can come from your readings). [2 pages]

(4) Explain the social facts using at least two competing theories. Which one best fits the data? Explain why by specifically linking concepts from the theory to the people and events you describe in parts 1 and 2. [2 pages]

(5) Summarize and conclude by pointing out gaps between the theory and data or areas where future research is needed [half page].

Option 2. Random Acts of Kindness (A. Lewellyn Jones) [about 6 pages total]

(1) Perform four random acts of kindness toward strangers

(2) Aside from being a requirement for this paper, describe your motivation for choosing each of the acts (e.g., you could perform many kind acts, why did you chose the four you did?). [1 page introduction]

(3) Describe these experiences in a journal: what you did, how you felt while doing it, and the reaction you received. [about 3 pages, or about 1-2 paragraphs per act]

(4) Explain what happened and why using at least two competing or complementary theories of deviance. This section should provide an overall explanation of all four acts, rather than a separate analysis of each one. [about 2 pages]

Option 3. Service Learning [3-4 pages total, plus service work]

(1) Perform service learning in one of the agencies discussed in class.

(2) Write a brief descriptive summary of your experiences and explain how your experiences informed the course materials discussed in lectures or readings [e.g., if you are working with young gang members, does gang entry appear to operate in the manner that Sanchez-Jankowski describes?] [3-4 pages total]

Option 4. Independent Project [12-25 pages total]

Prepare an original research paper or grant proposal on a topic negotiated with the professor and teaching assistant. [12-25 pages]

NOTE: In a “working paper,” the polish is less important than the quality of your thinking and your ability to integrate abstract concepts with concrete reality. Nevertheless, you must communicate your ideas clearly to make an effective proposal. You will be graded on clarity and the specificity and appropriateness of the discussion, as well as the overall logic and internal consistency of your writing.