Keep in mind the paper will be structured around addressing the 3 provided guiding questions that ask you to focus on symbolic interaction, social psychology, and how relevant historical events or ideas relate to current observations. Be sure to clearly list each question in bold print before thoroughly addressing it.
1. What distinct symbols (both physical and amongst people) are apparent in these two neighborhoods, and how do they affect social behavior and interaction?

2. What various factors creating each individual’s mental construct (such as culture, age, education, gender, etc.) affect how people in these neighborhoods behave and interact with each other?

3. How do events from the past connect to current phenomena in these two neighborhoods?
You DO NOT have to interview people for this project (though you can if you like, of course); most writing on WHY people do what they do will be based on educated assumptions regarding their backgrounds (symbols will help determine this) and their unique mentally constructed perspectives.

our paper needs to include at least 3 (if not more) sources for your historical research. This material could be about the history of the groups you are observing, or the neighborhood, or anything else relevant to your observations. Be sure to provide IN-TEXT CITATIONS in the body of your work (MLA-style parenthetical citation) where you use researched data (this should match with a proper “Works Cited”page at the end of your paper).
Do not use lengthy quotes from your sources; it is better to paraphrase (citations are still necessary).
One of the major objectives for this paper is to research HISTORY for the neighborhoods and people you are observing (or any other relevant theory or occurrence from the past). Very importantly, you need to mention how this historical data is related to what you see going on today (how does the past connect to the present?). In other words, the history focus is MORE than just background information on your two areas (though you should include some of this); you need to focus on a couple of SPECIFIC historical factors for each of your districts, and there needs to be something remaining today (an old building, changing demographics, historical monuments or plaques, etc.). Again, how does the past connect to the present in these areas?

Formatting: Your paper should be formatted as a coherent, engaging magazine article that is illustrated with photos you have taken at your field sites (you can also mix in historic photos taken from the internet). If you like to draw, you may include sketches as well. Writing and grammar expectations should match those of an upper division college student. Blend academic formality with a personal, readable style. There is no required length, necessarily, but something like 4-5 single spaced pages before adding photos or other graphics is recommended minimum base.
KEY TERMS
Similar to the Midterm, your selected key terms from the word bank below must be in bold print and explained clearly to an imagined reader who has no understanding of sociological terms. These terms need to be relevant to your observations and should be integrated throughout the paper and not bunched up in the first paragraph or so.
Separate definitions should be either in footnotes, text boxes or endnotes.
Pull material from your class notes and assigned readings, or find more on the person through research. The names of these sociologists must also be in bold print.

Choose and employ 8 terms from this list, plus at least 2 sociological thinkers covered in class (names below key term list) for a total of at least 10 class terms/thinkers).
You can use more if you like, but at least 8 must come from this list. Again, they must be used logically and separately defined in your own wording (how would you explain the meaning of the term to a friend?).
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Structural Inequality
Social Institution
Socially Transmitted
Social Contract
Social Construct
Agency
Social Consensus
Social Determinism
Social Darwinism
Dramaturgical Perspective
Culture of Poverty
Broken Glass Theory
Looking Glass Self
Labeling
Social Control
Ethnic Enclave
Shadow Economy
Mental Construct
Use Significance
Social Stratification
Situational Determinism
Paradigm
Deviance
Mixed-Use Space
Social Norms
Symbolic interaction
Exclusion
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In addition to eight (8) key terms, you will incorporate the work of at least two (2) sociologists/thinkers (and explain how their ideas fit into your observations or research):

Jane Jacobs William Whyte Winifred Gallagher Erving Goffman Kevin Lynch
James Howard Kunstler Kelling/Wilson Charles Cooley Blumer/Mead Durkheim

Category: Essays