Overview
Writing Assignment #1
Sociology of Gender
Make sure to reach out to the videos and PDF’s provided for the information
https://radiolab.org/podcast/gonads-xy
https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/content/two-sp...
1) Using any popular, class-appropriate, template make a meme1showing something you have learned in class so far. You must make your own meme or alter an existing meme. One way to find a meme to alter is to google “meme” and then select “images.” The meme must be an image, not a video. You must put the image into your assignment that you upload onto Canvas. We will not click on a link to get to your meme2.
Please put two images into your assignment in the following order: (1) the original meme or image that you altered to make your meme (2) your meme showing something you learned in class so far. Please label both images clearly so we know which is which. (Made your own meme or altered an existing meme and have clear documentation of both steps: 0-10 points; Class appropriate template: 0-5 points; Clear image, easy to read: 0-5 points)
2) Your meme must be relevant to class content in an interesting way. Your meme must reflect an understanding of class material and must not, itself, reproduce gender inequality or the gender binary. (Meme is relevant to class content: 0-10 points; and in an interesting way that does not reproduce gender inequality or the gender binary: 0-10 points)
3) Write a 1-3 paragraph description of how to interpret your meme’s template. Please be detailed in the description. Do not assume that your reader is familiar with the meme, or the meme’s concept. Professor and the TA are older than you and do not share many of your cultural references. Pretend you are explaining the template to your parent, or even your grandparent. There is no word count in each paragraph, but the number of words you use should be reasonable and use college-level writing. The paragraphs should be clear, well-written, and address a complete thought or idea. (Has a description of the meme’s template at all: 0-10 points; Excellent description of the meme’s template: 0-5 points)
4) Write a 5-8 paragraph discussion of the course-related concept expressed in your meme. Your discussion must draw on class concepts, theories, and terms. There is no word count in each paragraph, but the number of words you use should be reasonable and use
1Internet “memes” are images, sometimes combined with text, shared between internet users with the purpose of inspiring a particular response—usually involving humor. “Successful” meme exchange can be understood as occurring when the sentiment or recognition intended by the distributor is, in fact, experienced – or at least comprehended – by the recipient. This typically requires both 1) a shared understanding of any meanings represented in the meme template (i.e., the layout of the image demonstrating its belonging to such a template), and 2) a shared understanding of the content matter laid upon this template.
2If your meme is behind a link, we will not click on your link. Instead, we will grade your assignment as if you did not submit a meme at all and you will get a very poor grade.
college-level writing. The paragraphs should be clear, well-written, and address a complete thought or idea. These paragraphs should be written so that a sociology undergraduate student or professor NOT in our class could read them and understand them perfectly. Therefore, you should fully define terms learned in our class (for example, “gendered”, the “multi-level model of gender”, “deceptive differences”, etc.). When you define these terms, make sure you cite them in the proper ASA style. (Has any discussion of course related concepts, theories and/or terms at all: 0-5 points; excellent discussion of course related concepts, theories and/or terms: 0-10 points).
5) Imagine that you are going to post the meme on Instagram and you want the meme to be educational for viewers who have not taken the class. Write a 50-125 CHARACTER caption for your meme that would explain the meme, and its associated class concept, to someone who is not in our class. This caption should be a caption that you could imagine posting as a caption, with the meme, on social media. It is ok if the content of the caption overlaps with the content of the previous paragraphs. Do not use ASA citation style, since you would not do so in a social media post. (Has any 50–125-character explanation of the meme that could plausibly explain the class concept to someone not in our class: 0-5 points; excellent 50-125-character explanation of the meme to explain the class concept to someone not in our class: 0-5 points).
6) You must have a list of references after the assignment. All ideas and evidence that are not originally your own should be properly cited using the American Sociological Association citation style, each time you use such an idea in #4 of the assignment (that is, in the 5-8 paragraph discussion). You must use the ASA citation style in the text in the #4 part of your assignment as well as in the reference section. You do not need any outside references, but you must properly reference class materials. To see how to properly do references and citation using the ASA style see the PDF called “How To Do ASA Citations” at the top of our Canvas page. (Cites material in text where appropriate using ASA style: 0-2.5 points; Has a correct list of references using ASA style: 0-2.5 points)
7) Write a one sentence note at the end of your assignment, letting us know if it is ok to, anonymously, share your meme with others. We may use it for future class lecture slides if you give us permission. It is ok if you don’t want it shared, just let us know one way or the other. (5 points for letting us know one way or the other).
8) Other criteria you will be graded on:
a. Follows the formatting instructions excellently (proper font size, number of paragraphs, etc.): excellent spelling, grammar, and punctuation and has page numbers: 0-5 points
b. Assignment is excellently written: it is clear, cohesive, interesting, and easy to read and understand. There are no awkward, confusing, or overly informal passages. Assignment is well-organized, concise, and written for a college-level audience: 0-5 points
9) You must refer to class readings and concepts, however, you do not need to refer to sources outside of what we read in class (though you can if you want to).
10) Extra points can be earned for particularly insightful thinking, superior writing, or a really great meme or caption. We reserve the right to deduct points for problems with your assignment that are not listed above, but will almost never do so.
11) Your meme cannot be sexist, racist, transphobic, ableist or otherwise discriminatory. If your meme is discriminatory in any way, we will deduct points from your grade.
12) Please turn in a double-spaced, document, using Times New Roman Font, size 12. Create a word document that has your full name at the top, your meme, your discussion of your meme’s template, your discussion of your meme, the caption for your meme, and your list of references—in that order. Each section of the assignment must have a heading, and each heading must be bolded. You do not need a title or a title page. Please upload a word or a PDF document onto Canvas. Please have the file named like this: YourLastName_YourFirstName_Assignment2_SOC155. There is no page length maximum or minimum, as long as you follow the rest of the instructions of the assignment.
Some examples of memes students have made for this assignment in the past are below.
