I’m studying for my Sociology class and don’t understand how to answer this. Can you help me study?

Directions

What historical and/or demographic trend do you think most significantly influence youth today? In this paper, you will pick one topic (teenage pregnancy, obesity, economic restructuring, globalization, etc.) and one subcategory of youth (i.e., females, middle class, Hispanic) to form the focus of your analysis of the trend. Keep in mind that a trend is the rates of a topic over time. The essay MUST include an introduction, a thesis, body and conclusion and the following components:

1. Identify your trend and discuss its historical trajectory (increasing, decreasing, staying the same) and influences since the mid-twentieth century (1950’s). You are required to provide tables and/or figures with appropriate citations. Is it significantly different now or just a continuation of trends we’ve seen over the past couple of generations?
2. How does your trend affect where your youth group fits in today’s political and economic systems? Why do you think this is the case? Has it always been this way? Do you see changes for youth in these areas any time soon? Why or why not?
3. Think about how peers, families, and schools influence the thoughts and actions of youth. How might those different sources of influence reinforce or contradict one another? How do these influences affect this trend?
4. What are the major differences you see between how the media, popular culture, and parents portray youth and how they actually are? Since we are all youth at one time, why do you think these differences between adult/popular perception and youth reality arise and are perpetuated?
5. Project this trend out a generation in the future. What do you think it will look like and why?

Guidelines

• The paper must include 2500-3000 words plus tables and figures–All tables and figures should be cited.
• You must turn in an “outline” during week 7. Refer to the schedule to view the due date.
• Your essay should clearly define your chosen trend and youth demographic group, incorporate the scholarly (see below) literature at each point, and include a thorough analysis of the trend and its place in the larger social context.
• Each point should be carefully explained with sociological concepts, explicitly justified with reason and empirical scientific evidence, and illustrated through specific real-world examples.
• Your essay should be carefully proofread and edited.
• You should have a minimum of five outside sources of original peer reviewed-ACADEMIC research that conform to the applicable guidelines of APA format and include all citations and references. Failure to use five outside sources of original academic research will result in a 50 point deduction in your core assessment grade.
• You are also required to make use of the course materials (Hine, Milner, Males, Nichols and Good, etc.) by citing the reading a minimum of five times. References to the assigned books will not count toward the reference requirements of your essay.
• You may also include additional sources for examples or background information, but only reputable, peer-reviewed academic sources will count toward the reference requirements of your essays. This means that magazines, newspapers, or internet sources are only appropriate for examples and illustrations in this project — if you have any questions as to whether a specific source is acceptable for your essay, you should ask your instructor rather than guess.

• Also, focus on articles or books presenting original research or theories, not on those reviewing others’ works or editorializing about opposing approaches. Reference works, textbooks, and literature reviews are all excellent places to begin your search, but you must find and read the original in order to develop your own reaction. Ask your instructor for source approval if in doubt.

• You must use at least one source written within the past three years.