Extra credit

For the Extra Credit, you will need to either have attended a community event and be able to provide some sort of documentation/proof of attendance or you can watch an educational documentary/program. The event or program should specifically deal with one of the topics we have spoken about in class (i.e. social stratification, socialization, class, race, gender, etc.). As a couple of examples, you could choose to do a sociological analysis of a children’s show, which demonstrates socialization (Bill Nye: The Science Guy, Sesame Street, etc.) or of a more controversial documentary (such as “13” which deals with incarceration in America).

To get all 50 extra credit points, you will need to write a substantial essay (at least two pages) where you:

Determine and clearly articulate the event/program’s purpose (5 pts).
Locate, define and relate SEVEN terms that are both in the Chapter dealing with your topic area and discussed by the event/program you are writing about.And of course… identify the paradigm [conflict theory, functionalism, symbolic interactionism] whose theory fits best with your analysis of the event’s or program’s purpose. You will need to come up with a sound explanation for why that theory resonates with you (10 pts)
Note: The term does not have to be used explicitly in the event or program, but you should be able to recognize it and explain it. (Example: If you choose to watch “13”, you can discuss “Institutional Racism” which may or may not be said explicitly in the documentary, but is clearly foundational to the documentary’s ambitions (35 pts)