The objective of the essay is to write a sociological analysis of a topic related to the course subject matter using the textbook and lectures to frame the topic. Additional, 5 scholarly sources (e.g., books and journal articles) should be used to expand your analysis beyond the course material.

Essays must not exceed 7 double-spaced pages or 1600 words (whichever is shorter), using 12pt times new roman font and must include a minimum of 5 scholarly references.

While I discourage the use of websites in an academic paper, if you do use a website be selective and ensure the trustworthiness of the source. I understand that you may need to use these in order to frame current issues within media and pop culture. Whether you use website references or not, every essay must also contain library books and/or journal articles.

An example of a selected topic might include “How are normative identities reinforced through media representations in society?”, or “Are there normative and non-normative sexual minorities?”, “How is sex still being criminalized in society today”, “Are teachings of the church evolving when it comes to sex?”, “How is the issue of consent being addressed within pop culture?”. You would then be expected to relate how this fits into other sociological themes introduced throughout the course.

You may complete a sociological analysis of your own experiences, if you do this than you are to supplement your research with library books (secondary sources) and/or journal articles (primary research) to fully explore your topic. The important point is that you select a personal experience, describe it fully, and then expand it sociologically using books and journal articles from the research field. If you need help selecting a topic, come and see me to discuss options.

Please note that references that are NOT scholarly sources will NOT count as part of the required five scholarly sources. Examples of non-scholarly sources include the following:

– magazine articles (Maclean’s, Newsweek, The Economist, etc.)

– encyclopedia references (including Wikipedia [which you should never use in a paper])

– dictionary references (including Oxford Dictionary and other dictionaries)

– non-scholarly websites, blogs, etc.

– newspaper articles (i.e., The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, etc.)

Students should also note that government websites and statistical data are NOT scholarly sources and will NOT count as one of the five scholarly sources required for this paper. Government websites and statistical data provide information that is NOT scholarly and NOT analytical. Statistics denote a social trend but can be interpreted in numerous and contradictory ways. Statistics themselves are devoid of analysis. Simply stating a statistic does not explain or explore any critical sociological analysis. Similarly, government websites state government policy that is devoid of analysis, and usually reproduces mainstream stereotypes, assumptions and misconceptions. Critical sociological analysis provides a critique of mainstream stereotypes and assumptions. The use of government data requires critical sociological analysis. Please note that these government websites and statistics include, but are not limited to the following:

– Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship

– Government of Canada website

– Government of Ontario website

– Statistics Canada

Students should also note that the research paper is a SOCIOLOGICAL paper that requires SOCIOLOGICAL analysis. As such, you should try to focus on sociological sources.

Scholarly sociological sources that are ACCEPTABLE are the following:

– Race and ethnicity journals and books

– Feminist and Women’s Studies journals and books

– Queer Studies journals and books

– Sociology journals and books

– Mass Communications journals and books

– Criminology journals and books

– Sociology of Education journals and books

– Sociology of the Family journals and books

– Sociology of Work and Occupations journals and books

– Political science journals and books

– Political economy journals and books

– History journals and books