Course Paper Instructions

Overview: In this assignment you will write an analytic essay that examines a social institution using your sociological imagination and the theoretical perspectives learned in our class. Please choose one of the following social institutions and follow the directions below to write your paper: Religion, Medicine/Healthcare, Family, Education, Government, Science/Technology, Sports, the Military. Due to extensive coverage in our regular class meetings, you may not choose the Economy or the Media as your main topic, however, bringing them into your analysis is appropriate, as the economy and media are connected to all of our institutions in many ways.

Instructions: After choosing an institution, do some background research to solidify your knowledge of the institution and its general features. If you choose an institution that is covered in our class text, the information in related chapter is a good place to start. After your background reading and reflection on your institution’s place in our society, you will be analyzing your topic using your sociological imagination and theoretical perspectives. It’s important to keep this in mind, as your paper should not be a typical “research paper.” Though I like creativity and I’m flexible in how you present your work, your paper should contain many of the following elements and analysis:

1. Macro analysis of the institution from the Functionalist Perspective

• What societal need does this institution fulfill? Manifest functions? Latent functions?
• How is it integrated with other major institutions in our society? (Economy, Media, etc.)
• How does this institution promote things like order, stability, value consensus, norms?
• Provide and cite at least one media example in the above analysis to demonstrate application

1. Macro analysis of the institution from the Conflict Perspective

• Does this institution have internal conflicts or competing groups?
• How does this institution conflict with other major institutions in society?
• Does this institution support inequality, oppression, competition, or struggle?
• Is this institution a source of value conflicts, competing ideologies, or other “dysfunctions?”
• Provide and cite at least one media example in the above analysis to demonstrate application

III. Micro analysis of the institution from the Interactionist Perspective

• How does this institution shape groups/people’s behavior and reality constructions?
• What cultural scripts, norms, values, and statuses/role sets come from this institution?
• What are some common symbols/interpretations associated with the institution and its groups?
• Using theories of interaction like dramaturgy and exchange theory, how could you explain some of the

behaviors associated with this institution?

• Provide and cite at least one media example in the above analysis to demonstrate application

1. Summary analysis and concluding remarks.

Additional Requirements: In addition to using your text or other general sociological resources to analyze your institution, please use and cite a minimum of one media example for each theoretical perspective. News articles, documentary films, books, and realistic fictional sources are all acceptable examples. Real life, non-academic examples are preferred. Your paper should explain many of the above concepts as they apply to your institution, then it should demonstrate understanding of these concepts by applying them directly to examples in the articles. If you need clarification on this instruction and help selecting appropriate articles, please ask. You may use any standard citation format such as MLA, ASA, or APA. Papers should be 4 to 5 pages long, typed, double-spaced with an 11 or 12 font and 1? margins; your name and class info should be in the upper, right corner with a single staple in the left corner. No title pages or plastic protectors, please.