Your paper will be clearly structured around addressing the three provided sociological guiding questions. Each will be listed in bold print and then separately addressed with material obtained through observations, research, class material and interviews. The more data you accumulate, the easier it will be to compose a thorough, informative paper. Further information on formatting and other criteria for the project will be provided in the modules and other project information threads.
Introduction: (Describe why you selected these two neighborhoods for your research project and what methods you employed trying to learn more about them.)
What kinds of symbols (among individuals as well as the physical surroundings) can be identified in these two neighborhoods and how do they influence the way people interact with each other and their environment?
What perceived background factors (such as culture, income level, etc.) and social psychological theories could explain how individuals behave in these two neighborhoods?
What are a few noticeable artifacts from earlier periods in history that are still apparent in these two neighborhoods today and how do they connect the past to the present?
Conclusion: (Describe what you learned after completing your research and field site work. Summarize your important findings.)
At least eight (8) key terms from the provided list and two (2) sociologists / thinkers covered in class need to be incorporated into your paper, resulting in a minimum of ten (10) terms and names all together. Similar to the Midterm, your selected key terms (and thinkers) from the word bank must be in bold print and used in a logical manner that demonstrates clear understanding. You are also assuming an imaginary reader who has no comprehension of these sociological terms, so they must be separately defined (in footnotes, endnotes or in a text box) in your own phrasing. Lastly, key terms should be integrated throughout the paper and not bunched up in one or two paragraphs.
Sociological and urban thinkers covered during this course include:
Jane Jacobs, William Whyte, Lynn Lofland, Erving Goffman, Kevin Lynch, James Howard Kunstler, Kelling/Wilson, Charles Cooley, Blumer/Mead, and Emile Durkheim.
LIST OF KEY TERMS
You can find terms in Modules by using the “search” feature.
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| Structural inequality | Social institution | Environmental determinism |
| Social contract | Socially constructed | Agency |
| Social consensus | Social determinism | Social Darwinism |
| Dramaturgical perspective | Culture of Poverty | Broken Windows Theory |
| Looking glass self | Labeling | Social control |
| Ethnic enclave | Shadow economy | Mental construct |
| Use significance | Social stratification | Situational determinism |
| Sympathetic introspection | Deviance | Mixed-use space |
| Social norms | Symbolic interaction | Exclusion |
One of the major objectives for this paper is to analyze how the past connects to the present in your two selected areas of investigation, and not just simply provide a historical background to the neighborhoods (though you can write about this as well). As mentioned earlier, look for historical symbols, such as old building or even “themes” an area may have the pays homage to what happened there in the past. When you return from your field site you can conduct historical research to learn more about the observations you made.
Your paper needs to include at least three (3) sources for your historical research. Be sure to provide in-text citations in the body of your work (according to MLA guidelines) where you use researched data. These in-text citations should align with the full bibliographical information listed in your “Works Cited” page at the end of your paper.
