Overview
You have taken the initial steps in the study of sociology by examining the current state of a social issue that is important to you and the social structure in which it exists. You also explored the complex social processes and social institutions within society that contribute to the social issue you selected. This process likely has helped you better understand your role in creating positive social change. However, you might be thinking, “How do I get from understanding my role to actually creating positive social change?” Your exploration of power and privilege likely has given you the insight that creating social change requires a collective commitment from like-minded individuals.
For this assignment, you will write a paper from the perspective of a TED Talk speaker, bringing together all the sociological concepts you have explored as they relate to the social issue you have examined throughout this course. You can think of this essay as the transcript to your very own TED Talk.
Click the link for Amanda Gorman’s poetry recital, The hill we climb:
- Gorman, A. (2021, January). The hill we climbLinks to an external site. [Video]. TED Conferences.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_gorman_the_hill_w...
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.
Compose a 3-page essay in which you:- Describe the title of your TED Talk and who you would like to see in your audience. Then address the following:
- Understanding the Social Issue
- Describe your chosen social issue from Week 1 and explain why it is important to address.
- Using your sociological imagination, explain what your chosen social issue “looks like” within society, who is affected by the social issue, and how they are affected.
- Describe which sociological perspective(s) “fits” with your social issue and explain why.
- The Role of Social Structure
- Explain which social institutions are involved in the social issue and how they are involved.
- Describe what social norms are involved and whether these norms should be challenged. Then, explain why or why not.
- Describe if and how the process of socialization has played a role in your social issue.
- Explain whether inequality is a contributing factor to your social issue.
- Creating Social Change
- In Amanda Gorman’s (2021, January) poetry recital, she offers a hopeful view to the problems within society, as she refers to “a nation that is not broken, but simply unfinished.” Describe how you might apply this perspective to your chosen social issue and explain what positive social change might look like in society.
- Considering what you learned about power from the Public Health Scotland (2017, August 16) video, describe how you might use the “power to,” “power with,” and “power within” from Week 4 to address your chosen social issue.
- Understanding the Social Issue
- Describe the title of your TED Talk and who you would like to see in your audience. Then address the following: