Soc 2 Social Problems
Essay Guidelines
Prof. Thea S. Alvarado
Your essay is worth 20% of your final grade.
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Your paper must be:
Typed
In 12 pt. , Times New Roman font
With 1 inch margins
On white paper, in black ink
5-7 FULL pages (5 pages recommended)
Double-spaced evenly throughout
Your heading must be single-spaced, and include only your name, the date, and the assignment title. Do
not skip lines between paragraphs. You must include a Works Cited page with your paper, which is not
included in the page limit. You must incorporate a minimum of 5 sources, from 3 different types of
sources (text, internet, books, and articles). Websites must end in .gov, .org, or.edu. The use of Wikipedia
is prohibited.
Prompt:
Research a social problem currently affecting the United States. For example, you might wish to explore
health care, prostitution, drugs, alcoholism, poverty, crime, urbanization, war, or environmental problems.
In your essay, answer the following questions:
How does this issue fit the definition of a social problem presented in the text?
Give me a history of the issue in the United States. How did the issue go from being defined as a social
condition to being defined as a social problem?
What does this problem currently look like in our society? How does this issue affect different groups
within the United States?
What role do family, education, and government play in our society in regards to your social problem?
How would the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives view this social problem?
Lastly, propose several solutions to your social problem. What are the pros and cons of each solution?
Who would be winning and losing with each possible solution?
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A successful paper will:
Show that you can incorporate theories and terms from the course
Have good readability, flow, and coherence
Contain proper grammar and use of in-text citations
Provide evidence with strong supporting detail
Be appropriate in the quality and tone of the paper
Use appropriate academic sources
Present a clear and effective introduction, analysis, and conclusion
Please also email me your questions. LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The following website may be useful in helping you format your Works Cited page and in-text citations:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/