Overview
Please read the instructions very carefully. Let me know if you have any questions. I will attach the sources and examples to this.
Workbooks provide opportunities to relate course materials to media, experiences, and supplemental resources in a personal/reflective manner. Full credit responses meet length requirements, adhere to format/citation specifications outlined below, and sufficiently address every component of each prompt - while citing at least two course concepts. Hence each prompt must include two citations, with 6 in total required. A typical paragraph includes 4-8 sentences. Length specifications indicate the minimum expected, but you will not be marked down for exceeding limits. Insights should be original, well thought out, and supported by materials.
Responses can either be elaborated on in a short essay that is 4 paragraphs long – or as short answers which address each prompt’s components (bullet points format) within the same approximate length. Overall, Workbook #1 should come out to a total of 3 prompt responses,
12 paragraphs, and 6 cited materials/concepts. No cover page or References section are necessary. When citing materials, only note the author(s), publication year, and relevant page numbers or resource details in the parentheses (i.e. Conley, 2015, p.202). To cite any concept from a lecture, review guide, or slides – just include my surname, the course number, and resource or date. For example: (Plaček, 2025 SOC 145 Lecture on High Control Groups) or (Plaček, 2025 SOC 145 Week #3 Guide). You can apply any relevant concept from any week's materials but do not reuse the same concepts. For example, do not cite "structural determinism" more than once. You may cite two different concepts from the same resource - hence, you can define/apply "essentialism" and "neoliberalism" as two concepts for prompt #1 even though both are drawn from the same resource (Plaček, 2025 SOC 145 Week #1 Guide). No credit will be awarded for any portion that appears to be AI generated, plagiarized, your own work submitted to another class, or insights already covered in this class. If there’s any prompt you’re uncomfortable with, discuss alternative options with me at least one week before the deadline.
You may type responses directly in this file or just type replies onto a single-spaced standard 12-point font on numbered pages with 1-inch margins. It should note your full name and ID number at the top, followed by your responses to each prompt. Make sure to follow these general directions and that components/rubrics for each prompt are removed. Upload as a doc or pdf file to the allotted section in the “Assignments” tab of Canvas by Monday 8/25 @ 11:59pm.
TOTAL POSSIBLE = 20 points
-0.75 points will be deducted for each missing or incorrectly applied citation;
-4.5 if there are no properly cited materials
-4 points for not adhering to format (normal font, numbered pages, single spaced, 1” margins)
-10% from any prompt with lengthy quotes, titles listed in responses, or redundant content
Unless there are documented/exigent circumstances, 3% (-0.6 points) will be subtracted from the overall score for each day it’s late. 30% (-6 pts) will be deducted if 10+ days past due
PROMPT #1 – NORMS & CONFORMITY (+6 points)
(#1) Choose a documentary, article, or news coverage which discusses some “deviant” individual/s and their participation in illegal activities. Then elaborate on the following aspects:
- Provide a citation for the article or resource that you analyzed (*note: even though you must select, cite, and reflect on a resource that was not assigned for this course, you must still apply two course concepts within this prompt’s response)
- What kinds of explanations does this resource suggest to account for the individual/s behavior?
- What framework/s (functionalist, radical, neoliberal, essentialist) do the explanations reflect?
- Why are the rationale/s presented most consistent with this framework/s?
- How are powerful/normative authorities, individuals, and/or institutions represented?
- What sorts of otherizing language or imagery are used to describe the deviant individual/s?
- Elaborate on at least three functions or implications of these representations
- functions/implication #1 of this source’s representations
- functions/implication #2 of this source’s representations
- functions/implication #3 of this source’s representations
…up to 6 points (+0.25 citation of the material analyzed; +0.75 explanations of behavior; +0.5 which framework/s these explanations reflect; +1 why the rationale/s presented are the most consistent with a given framework/s; +1 depictions of normative/authoritative individuals or institutions; +1 portrayals of deviant/s; +0.5 x 3 functions/implications of the representations)
***The framework/s used to present information about any person and/or issue will vary based on the source analyzed. But let's compare some general implications for depictions which are based on our major frameworks just so the last portion of prompt #1 is clearer.
An essentialist framework generally would attribute behaviors to physiological, genetic, hormonal, or neurological factors – thus an implication might be that solutions could be centered around medical interventions or rehabilitation.
A neoliberal framework could lead the public to believe the individual is just a bad person who is solely responsible for their behaviors and outcomes – thus ignoring contexts, institutional factors etc. This could lead people to minimize or ignore the roles of various institutions, while placing all of the blame on an individual. It could limit the compassion that people might have towards a person, or lead them to prefer interventions based on punishment/retribution. A radical framework is more likely to influence people to think about how inequalities and/or structural factors also influence that person's behaviors. We can still emphasize that someone is accountable for their own behavior while also attempting to understand the ways these were shaped by cultural/institutional/structural factors related to poverty, deficient education systems, and widespread underemployment. If the source you analyzed uses a radical framework, it would likely be more nuanced or compassionate, while additionally critiquing broader aspects such as laws/policies, institutions, culture etc. Implications of a radical framework may be that it emphasizes why only addressing/punishing the individual/s cannot be sufficient as a resolution. This would call for demanding changes like institutional liability, obligations, accountability etc.
PROMPT #2 – REGULATION SYSTEMS (+7 points)
(#2) First decide whether you want to write about marijuana policies in California over the past few decades or about sex work. If you analyze sex work, then please select a certain area to focus on where it’s government controlled – like the Bunny Ranch in Nevada or the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Then elaborate on each of the following components:
- Summarize each approach: criminalization, decriminalization, legalization, Nordic model
- What are some advantages of decriminalization?
- Why might some individuals whose lives and/or earnings are significantly influenced by this industry prefer decriminalization rather than legalization?
- What are some general economic, social, institutional, and/or personal/individual advantages offered by this particular legalization approach?
- In which sorts of way does this legalization system reinforce aspects of privilege or cumulative advantages? Who benefits from them, and respectively, who is disadvantaged? What kinds of structural barriers, inequalities or stratifications remain persistent or unchecked in this system?
- What are other limitations, weaknesses, or concerns do you have about this approach?
- What potential solutions would you recommend in order to address or resolve the inequalities, problems, limitations, and concerns that were presented in the previous two components?
***If your analyses in prompt #2 and/or #3 were influenced by any materials that weren’t assigned, then make sure to include citation information to identify these resources. However, your prompt responses should primarily reflect your own insights/analyses – not what other people have to say about the issues at hand - nor their potential solutions. Additional deductions may be imposed on the score of any prompt which mostly conveys points made by others***
…up to 7 points (+0.5 x 4 describe each approach; +0.75 advantages of decriminalization; +0.5 why some prefer decriminalization; +0.75 advantages of legalization; +0.5 x 3 types of cumulative advantages, inequalities, or problems; +0.5 other concerns; +1 solutions)
PROMPT #3 – SUBCULTURES (+7 points)
(#3) Familiarize yourself with a “deviant” subculture that was not already discussed in class (i.e. Riot Grrrl, grunge, punks, gangs, prisoners, sex workers, strippers, houseless communities, Slab City). Briefly describe this community as well as their core behaviors and values. Elaborate on three informal social control mechanisms which are utilized to regulate one another’s behaviors - and what purposes each tactic serves. Then present some ways this subculture has been commercialized, commodified, and/or coopted. Why do these processes occur and what functions did they offer? How did these processes influence this subculture and its members?
Some great examples of communities to consider writing about include:
*communities related to various music scenes – like metalheads, ravers, straight edge, or goths
*vampires
*witches, brujas, covens
*UFOlogists
*body modification artists or practitioners
*circus performers, carnival workers etc.
*auto racing groups
- Describe this subculture.
- What are this subculture’s core behaviors and values?
- Outline 3 informal social control tactics the group utilizes to regulate one another’s behavior, and what purposes each serves
- informal control tactic #1 & its purpose/s
- informal control tactic #2 & its purpose/s
- informal control tactic #3 & its purpose/s
- Explain some ways this subculture has been commercialized, commodified and/or coopted
- Why do commercialization/cooptation processes occur and what functions did they offer?
- In what sorts of ways did these processes influence this subculture and its members?
***Informal Control Sanctions/Mechanisms refer to practices which members of a given society or subculture use to regulate each other’s behaviors, reinforce collective norms, and enhance functionality/continuity within their practices. These are disciplinary mechanisms which do not rely on formal control methods like those deployed by police, courts, or other institutions. Methods generally vary by the frequency and/or severity of transgressions. Examples include warnings, interventions, fines/taxing, blacklisting, suspensions, banishing, or violent retaliations. Informal controls that are deployed will reflect the norms, values, objectives, and practices of a particular group. For example, prison gangs are more likely to impose violent retaliations in order to regulate their members. In a similar vein, unique groups like brujas/witches/covens may rely on specific tactics like hexes or spells whereas hackers often utilize doxxing.
…up to 7 points (+0.5 describe group; +0.5 core behaviors & values; +0.75 x 3 informal control mechanisms; +0.5 purpose of each informal control tactic +0.75 ways this community was commercialized/coopted; +0.5 reasons why commercialization/cooptation occurs & its functions; +1 how commercialization/cooptation influenced subculture & members)
GRADING RUBRIC
PROMPT #1 (TOTAL / +6)
/+0.25 list the citation details for the resource analyzed
/+0.75 explanations offered which account for the deviant/s behavior
/+0.5 which frameworks these explanations reflect
/+1 why the rationales presented are the most consistent with these frameworks
/+1 depictions of normative/authoritative individuals or institutions
/+1 otherizing language or imagery used to portray the deviant individual/s
/+0.5 x 3 functions and/or implications of these representations
PROMPT #2 (TOTAL /+7)
/+0.5 x 4 summarizes each: criminalization, decriminalization, legalization, Nordic model
/+0.75 advantages of decriminalization
/+0.5 why some prefer decriminalization instead of legalization
/+0.75 advantages of legalization
/+0.5 x 3 cumulative advantages, inequalities, or problems with this legalization system
/+0.5 other concerns or limitations
/+1 solutions recommended
PROMPT #3 (TOTAL /+7)
/+0.5 describe this subculture
/+0.5 group’s core behaviors and values
/+0.75 x 3 informal control mechanisms utilized by members to regulate each other
/+0.5 x 3 purpose of each informal control tactic
/+0.75 how this community was commercialized/coopted
/+0.5 reasons why commercialization/cooptation occurs & its functions
/+1 how commercialization/cooptation influenced subculture & its members
____citation penalties (-0.75 for each missing or incorrect citation; -4.5 if none; 6 total required)
____late penalties (-0.6 per day late; or -6 for 10+ days late)
_____ formatting penalties (-4)
_____-10% from any prompt with lengthy quotes, titles listed in responses, or redundant content