Comparing Contexts

For this assignment, you will conduct participant observation in two different places ("fieldsites") in order to analyze how sociological concepts can be applied differently depending on aspects of social context. First, select two groups, places, or organizations that you would like to compare and at least two sociological concepts from lecture or the textbook in weeks 12, 13, 14, or 15 to watch for (for example, you might look for examples of: deviance, power, gentrification, or risk). The contexts you select should be groups or places that you can easily access, but at least one should be a place that you are not very familiar with. The contexts should be broadly similar, with some meaningful difference. For example, you might compare two street corners, one suburban and one urban; or two student clubs, one democratic and one republican. Feel free to tell the people that you are working on a paper for our class. Then, conduct at least 30 minutes of participant observation at each of your two research sites, taking fieldnotes on key aspects of what you observe. As soon as possible after, write fully detailed notes of everything that happened in chronological order. In your notes you might consider the following questions: What are the taken for granted expectations of everyone there? What things keep happening? What did you expect to happen that didn't? Who is there and why? I won’t collect these, but it will make for a smoother paper-writing process and a much better paper. You can also participate, which provides data as well. In your paper, analyze your fieldnotes for differences and similarities in the way theories can be applied in the two contexts, drawing on excerpts from your fieldnotes, including quotes, anecdotes and observations. Rubric (100 total possible points): Application of theory (25 pts): Show that you have a clear and nuanced understanding of two specific key concepts and that you can apply them to the dynamics of your specific fieldsites. Think past the most basic or shallow application of a concept. Sociological analysis (25 pts): Concentrate on writing an analysis that uses your sociological imagination. You are looking at and for evidence of particular social processes in the material of everyday life. Be sure that you provide an analytic description of what you are studying: focus on drawing an overall conclusion about the cases you are looking at; choose details that relate to the points you are making (rather than trying to say everything about it); and organize your presentation so that the relationship between the details and your overall point is clear. Use of evidence (25 pts): In order to support your points describe specific pieces of evidence, such as patterns of behavior, specific quotations or meaningful moments. Be precise. Show that you were physically there and that you paid attention and took detailed notes. Writing (25 pts): The paper should be no more than three pages, double-spaced, 12-pt times new roman font, with one inch margins. Put your name, the date and a title at the top. The paper should be engagingly written and well edited. The best papers will pack a lot of thoughtful material into the allotted page limit. You do not need to site the course textbook or lecture. If drawing on outside sources, use parenthetical references, including the last name, year of publication, and page number for any direct quotes (for example, Brown 1999: 2). Any widely used citation format is acceptable (e.g. Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.). Some advice: Outline your paper before you write it. Think hard about what you want to say and why it matters. Once you have written a draft, re-read it out loud and trim it down. Have others read your work to make sure you are communicating the message you intend to efficiently. A note on generative AI: You are allowed (though not required) to use generative AI on this paper as long as your use is acknowledged, even if only to generate ideas rather than usable text. Note that the material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. Beware that their use may also stifle your own independent thinking and creativity. If you are using generative AI, please write a paragraph explaining how you applied the tool to your work - your prompts, how you revised it, and your own assessment of how useful generative AI was in that application. You do not need to quote the AI as you would any other source.