Critical Essay

The primary goal of the Critical Essay assignment is to demonstrate your ability to use the sociological imagination to do a critical analysis of a social problem of your choice. There is no restriction on the social problem you select, but it must fit the definition of what constitutes a social problem (see Best, p. 17-25 in Intersections). The problem can be one we read about in class, or another issue that we have not covered. You can use any of the articles assigned during the semester, but you must use two additional sources and cite your sources at the end of the paper in full bibliographic reference. (You can use any style you wish, but MLA is the most common. If you need help with this, take this assignment to the Writing Center, LIB 308.)

Unless you intentionally choose an unreliable source or sources so that you can critique their use of evidence (as we did in Group Project 1), you should use the JCCC Library's Databases, found at this web address: http://library.jccc.edu/dataref/db-index.html .  If you use the library databases, I recommend the Expanded Academic ASAP, LexisNexis Academic, Proquest Historic New York Times, JSTOR (selecting sociology journals), or Sage Sociology. You can, of course, use internet search engines like Google, but make sure you apply your critical assessment of any internet sources found that way. Because it is a volatile and often incomplete and unreliable source, Wikipedia is not acceptable as one of your main two sources.

Objectives: Your essay should show that you have successfully used the sociological method of critical analysis to discuss the social problem you choose. This is the model we have used all semester, and worked on in parts in each of the Group Projects. Specifically, you should address the following elements:

• the evidence presented by claimsmakers in your articles in supporting their construction (frame) of the social problem. As we did in Group Project 1, assess how reliable the facts are; are they anecdotal (based on personal experience or hearsay alone), or have they been collected "avoiding sentimentality" and using sound sociological techniques and theories, as Becker recommends? Do they use logical fallacies in their claims? (10 points)
• the social formation (social structure and historical context) in which private troubles and public issues are linked. As we did in Group Project 2, discuss how the issue is affected by structures of power and wealth, the power elite, and major historical developments.  How has the issue been framed by the mass media? Do any of the critiques of the media you read about apply in this case? (10 points)
• causes as claimed in the problem frame: As in Group Project 3, assess how the problem has been framed by a significant number of people (social movement) or number of significant people (elite), including the media. What does the framing group see as the causes of the problem and what evidence has been presented to support their claims about causes, effects, and extent of the problem? (10 points)
• values of the framing group or individual As in Group Project 4, assess who the framing group is and who they represent; i.e., the significant group, class, organization, or social movement that have defined the problem. What values have they used to frame the problem? (10 points)

• the policies or solutions promoted by advocates in response to the problem, as assessed in Group Project 5. Do they advocate a reform of the existing system or radical changes from the current social formation? Present your critique of these policies and any alternative solutions you can propose. (10 points)

  

  The essay should be 900-1500 words in length (equivalent to 3-5 pages, typed and double-spaced), and can be emailed to me as a PDF or Word attachment (I am not able to access other formats, such as Works for Windows). You can also place a hard copy of the paper in my campus mailbox (OCB 261) by 5:00 on the due date, but this is not required.

  Essays will be graded on the objectives outlined above; completeness, organization, and clarity of the presentation will be the evaluative criteria. Points possible: 100 (50 points for preparation, organization, and presentation, 50 points for critical analysis).

  Deadline: Essay due date: Saturday, Dec 6.