SOCY 300

Position Paper 

In this assignment, you will use web-based data and reports to document an example of social injustice and inequality The paper must list a minimum of 5 references in APA formatting at the end of the paper.

Guidelines: 

Findings presented by The Public Religion Research Institute represent a random sample of Americans who were respondents in the PRRI American Values Survey.

https://www.prri.org/research-home/

Choose one of the major topics, click on "Read the Analyses," and report findings presented in the PRRI website. Choose at least two of the major findings reported in the Analyses to include in your Analysis and Discussion.

(1)  Write a 4-6 page double spaced paper that presents two major findings about your chosen topic with an explanation of their significance using 8 reliable and reputable sources (You may use some news outlets that present information in an unbiased way such as NPR or a research organization that does independent analysis, but avoid media outlets with an obvious partisan slant such as Fox News on the one hand, or MSNBC on the other;.

Five of your sources should be from the class or from peer reviewed articles outside of class that you have identified using a library search). The details are up to you, but you should demonstrate a good understanding of how to situate the findings in relation to broader themes from literature in the course, or to do the additional research necessary while relying on reputable sources. Write using third person (he, she, it, they) rather than first person (I, me, we). Third person suggests objectivity rather than personal views or opinion.

(2) Organize your paper using the general format of:

I Introduction

II Body/Narrative

III Summary/Conclusion

(3) In the Summary/Conclusion of your paper include a paragraph on the lessons learned from class and external material, in particular, by addressing how your analysis explains at least in some way the relationship between American values and the respondents' attitudes about social issues. 

(4) Use APA in-text citation formatting when referencing assigned material and include a list of sources in APA citation formatting at the end of the paper. Please see APA Style Guide links provided under the Module called "Course Resources". There you will find links to material on how to format in-text citations and references, how to avoid plagiarism, and other guidelines for ensuring your paper is formatted correctly.

(5) Edit and submit to spell-check. 

Rubric Part Four

Outstanding 

All criteria in assignment instructions have thoroughly been met

Good

 Criteria in assignment instructions have been met.

Needs Improvement 

Criteria in assignment instructions have not been met or only partially met

Background or introduction/abstract

Contains all needed information in appealing to the reader.

Background is accurate and precise, and leads to an understanding of what is to be presented.

Introduces the subject, but does not cover all issues.

Narrative with Evidence

Accurate and precise description of the issues and problems, with careful consideration of possible alternatives or solutions. 

Provides relevant values’ examples. 

Indicates the salient issues the examples highlight with sources cited. 

Portrays objectivity with evidence throughout.

Description of the problems and issues are accurate and precise. 

Possible alternatives or solutions are considered.

Provides several good examples of salient issues.  

Cites a few good sources and examples of inequalities Mostly objective throughout.

Description of the problems and issues barely cover the basic theme. 

Minimum presentation of salient issues..  

Some sources are not authoritative.  

Lacks hard evidence on inequalities. 

Analysis/Synthesis

Breaks the arguments, issues, into relevant parts. 

Connections between the parts are clear, accurate, and articulate an impassioned yet objective critique/analysis.

 Clearly and successfully describes efforts to improve salient issues

Breaks the arguments, issues, into relevant parts.

Connections between the parts are accurate, and make a good critique. 

 Future efforts to to improve salient issues described in the analysis.

Attempts to address arguments and issues. 

Includes comparison of values without critical analysis. 

Does not accurately portray efforts to address salient issues. 

Analysis is simply a summary.

Editing

Clearly written with 4 or fewer mechanical, grammatical, or spelling errors

Clearly written with 4 or fewer mechanical, grammatical, or spelling errors

Writing is unclear so that meaning is difficult to follow; 5 or more grammatical, mechanical or spelling errors