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Paper on Norms and advise in tackling sociological research topics

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Please help me to complete these paragraps. I am not american. I am just international students, so that is a little bit hard to me. Please think about what I am international students, when you write these papragraps. Thanks.
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The assignment will be 2 -4pages in length, typed, 12 point font and standard margins. Each of the possible assignments will strive to connect you (the student) with sociology in your everyday environment. Most of the assignments require you to do some research, experiment or reading but all require your thoughtful response. Please use these assignments as an opportunity to use what you are learning in class to analyze society and relationships, not just your personal experiences.
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OPTION 1: CREATE A RESEARCH MODEL
This will include a research question, literature review, hypothesis, research design review and obstacles you think could inhibit your research.
1. RESEARCH QUESTION: PLEASE LIST ONE QUESTION THAT YOUR RESEARCH WILL STRIVE TO ANSWER. PLEASE INCLUDE A SHORT SUMMARY (NO MORE THAN 1-2 PARAGRAPHS OF WHY YOU THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO RESEARCH)
2. LITERATURE REVIEW: PLEASE LIST 5 ARTICLES THAT DEAL WITH YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION (USE THE STYLE OF CITING YOU ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH) AND 1-2 SENTENCES FOR EACH OF WHY YOU THINK THIS ARTICLE MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOUR RESEARCH
3. HYPOTHESIS: SHOULD BE WRITTEN AS A STATEMENT THAT CAN BE PROVEN OR DISPROVEN.
4. RESEARCH DESIGN: INCLUDE HOW YOU PLAN TO TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS AND GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF QUESTIONS YOU PLAN TO USE IF YOU ARE PLANNING INTERVIEWS OR SURVEYS
5. OBSTACLES: LIST OBSTACLES THAT COULD INHIBIT YOUR RESEARCH (FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE RESEARCHING INCREASED SHARK BITES BEING DUE TO PEOPLE FEEDING THEM, ONE OBSTACLE COULD BE THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE NEAR AN OCEAN TO CONDUCT YOUR RESEARCH)
OPTION 2: MUSIC ANALYSIS
Pick 1 song from the American Top 40 website at http://www.at40.com/. Listen to the song and look up the lyrics to the song. Then, answer the following questions.
1. Why did you pick this song?
2. What themes are found in the lyrics?
3. Examine the norms that the lyrics promote and discuss.
4. Do you think this music may have a cultural impact on Americans? Why or why not?

OPTION 3: "BREAK A NORM" DAY
Pick 1 "norm" that you can break (nothing that is against any University policy or against any law). Summarize your experience and tell what "norm" you chose to break and why. Indicate when, where and how you carried out this task. Then, answer the following questions.
1. How did you feel while breaking a "norm"?
2. What were the reactions of those around you?
3. Did others do anything that reinforced what your behavior should have been (reinforcing the "norm")?

OPTION 4: BOOK REPORT
Pick one book listed in your text (or another book approved by the instructor). Summarize the book and indicate how it relates to Sociology. Use concepts and/or perspectives from the text to show your understanding of this linkage.
The book is
SOC 2011. Jon Witt. 2010. McGraw Hill

OPTION 5: RESEARCH SUBCULTURES & CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Pick one subculture, found within the United States to research. Research the history of the group and where the group is today. Learn about current practices, beliefs and rituals of the group.
Then, research the frequency of crime committed in that subcultural group. Discuss how socialization processes may affect their incidence of deviance and crime.

OPTION 6: GENDER ROLES
Visit a store that sells items for children. Go to the children's department (clothing or toys) and observe the environment. Answer the following questions:
1. Describe the environment, such as: store name, location, what department, items sold, color of items, characters on items, department decorations/colors, etc. Observe and note any children in the department and their actions.
2. Describe how you think the store and/or children's items sold do or do not teach children gender roles/expectations.
3. How does what you have seen link back to concepts learned in Sociology.

OPTION 7: AGING AND ARTHRITIS
Take popsicle sticks and tape them to your fingers to make splints. Wear the splints for a period of time (determined by your own comfort level and activities planned). Answer the following questions:
1. Research arthritis and summarize what it is.
2. Describe when and where you wore the splints and how the splints made your hands feel.
3. Describe how the splints affected your daily activities
4. Describe your thoughts and perceptions on aging and how people may be discriminated against due to their age/physical limitations related to age. Give examples.

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Solution Summary

This solution is particular in that it was written for a non-English speaker. The problem asks the student to choose a number of tasks to undertake. This solution takes a sample task, explains to the student how it can be done (the Break a norm a day paper) and then provides a sample essay on this topic based on a suggested outline. Additionally, advise is provided on how all the other options can be tackled. Resources that can be used are also listed to allow room for further research.

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Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using Brainmass. I understand how difficult it is for students like you whose first language is not English to write a paper in sociology that explores social phenomenon and giving an Analysis of this in a complex way. I have thought English in Thailand for some years and while it is difficult, my Students have been successful in that they follow these rules -

1. Create an outline of the paper.
2. Present the main ideas and support these main ideas in each paragraph.
3. Spell check and grammar check the paper afterwards.

As long as you follow these, the language will not be a barrier in your essay or paper writing challenges. Now, to me, it seems as if you are asked to chose only one option. In this solution, I have chosen to Option 3 as for me this is going to be easier for you to relate. This is the option about reporting on 'Break a Norm Day' and all of of us, whatever country of culture we come from are always exposed to norms and to stay on the good side of things, we respect the norms and live by them. But there are people who always break the norm and this is a study of the subject of being one to break them side by side with the perspective of those who uphold them.

If you have any questions, just let me know via the feedback system. I will try to clarify things for you to help you further. Please note below that I have written this solution in a an academic format so that this will provide you a basis/sample when you write or put together your own future papers in sociology. Good luck with your studies. You can do it!

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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Break A Norm Day

Norms are those formal and informal rules of behavior expected in members of a particular social group or culture and they are influenced and influence beliefs. values, behaviors, views and actions within that group. They are the standard by which an action is judged inappropriate or appropriate, right or wrong. They are formal when they are officially written as in the code of conduct in organizations or informal when it is expected as part of a wider social understanding due to shared history (i.e. the influence of religious beliefs). Norms can be far reaching as one shared by society or limited as one expected in a small social group. What is important is that it is shared by a group of people because they see themselves as members of a particular society, community or group either by their own choice (i.e. as members of a university) or by circumstance (i.e. being born into the American society). Now, norms are important in that they help keep social order. All members of the group look to the norms to keep the peace, quiet and order of things and those who break norms are punished formally or reprimanded informally plus sanctions. Those who break the norms are naturally seen as people who disturb the peace and are putting everybody else at risk via their behavior therefore they are usually shunned after reprimand and they lose positive standing and earn negative ones which is not good in terms of earning social currency (i.e. respect). It is for this reason that I chose to explore this particular problem so I can explore this topic further.

Noise in the Dorm during Exam Period

I understand how important it is for students to have a place of peace and quiet so that they can concentrate on their study materials when they are preparing for exams to revise and review. As a student, I find that this is very important for me because by studying efficiently it will be possible for me to learn more and become effective in absorbing information which will allow me to pass my classes and earn my degree. My studies is very important to me because I believe it is my foundation for my future. I take it very seriously. This is why I take the expected norms of my Dorm in relation to noise quite seriously too. I believe that by practicing the norm of expected noise levels, of keeping things down will help others as their own respect of the norm will also help me. With noise at minimal, we can all concentrate on our studies without the distraction of loud music, loud hallway conversations, loud TV and any other noise that distract, annoy and invade the privacy of others. There have been a number of students who break this rule and I am one of those who think very little of them and look down on them because of it. I feel that they have violated my space when they do and I voice out my complain to the Hall Manager so that it will not happen again.

Prior to doing this particular action, I spoke with my Hall Manager about what I plan to do. I still felt it important to let the authority in the hall know that what I was going to do was ...

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  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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