Overview
This essay requires you to evaluate two sociological theories of deviance and related concepts you have learned in this course and apply the concepts/theories to a real-life story of deviance.
To begin, find a story from a news magazine or a biography book, such as a story on a notorious person like Scott Peterson, Kristin Rossum, Mary Kay Letourneau, Aaron Hernandez, Bernard Madoff, Jeffery Dahmer, etc. You may also use a movie that is based on a true story, such as Goodfellas, The Basketball Diaries, and American Me, etc.
Write a coherent essay using the theoretical tool you have acquired from Modules 1 & 2 (Please review the lessons). Your discussion must address five sections shown in the underlined subheadings below. Include these subheadings in your essay layout.
Introduction
Begin your paper with an introduction section, where you discuss the aim of your paper (what you intend to achieve) and relevance of your study to social policies/programs/intervention.
Deviant Story
Give a brief description of the story you have chosen. Discuss how the person(s) are deviant according to the normative definition of deviance. Illustrate norms, means of social control, deviant roles and role-related concepts, and management techniques as demonstrated by your story.
Theories
Pick two out of the four sociological theories as listed: 1) Anomie and/or General Strain theories, 2) Social Bonds and/or Self-Control theories, 3) Differential Association and/or Social Learning theories, and 4) Labeling theory. Describe the theories of your choice in full detail. Paraphrase rather than using extensive quotes. Discuss the origin of the theories, major concepts, and theoretical propositions/arguments.
Analysis
Discuss how each theory explains AND fails to explain the story (relating to the story). Compare and contrast the 2 theories in reference to the story (how they are similar and different). Address how the theories complement each other. Use the details of your story to support your claims.
Conclusion
Summarize what you have done in your study, address the strengths and limitations of your study, and discuss what you could do or could have done to improve your study.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
See below: Items 1 & 2 are citation instructions for the body of the paper, and Item 3 is about the style and format of the reference list.
As Kotlowitz (1991, p. 13) reported, "There was little sense of community at Horner.”
When paraphrasing, omit the quotation marks and reference it with a bracket.
Family disruption may contribute to criminal involvement by reducing informal social control (Sampson and Groves 1989).
3. List references alphabetically in a separate page titled "References."
a) Referencing a book:
Author’s Last name, First name. Year. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publishing Company.
Kotlowitz, Alex. 1991. There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up In The Other America. New York: Anchor Books.
b) Referencing an article (with more than one author):
Author #1’s Last name, First name and Author #2’s First name Last Name. Year. “Article Title.” Journal Title volume #: page #.
Hirschi, Travis and Michael Gottfredson. 1983. “Age and the explanation of crime.” American Journal of Sociology 89: 552-584.
c) Referencing an Internet source:
Author’s Last name, First name. Year. “Article Title” Journal Name. Vol.#. Retrieved Date from http://address/filenameLinks to an external site..
Currie, Elliott. 1999. “Reflections on crime.” Western Criminology Review 2. Retrieved Aug. 2, 2015 from http://wcr.sonoma.edu/cur.htmLinks to an external site..