I’m working on a social science writing question and need a sample draft to help me understand better.
Step One: Read the following story:
Bob and Mary Smith have three children: Joe 16, Jenny 13, and Melissa 9. Bob is a construction worker who stops off most days at Ernie’s tavern with his friends on the way home from work. Mary is a part-time home day-care worker. Bob’s brother Frank always has extra money that he apparently earns as a low-level numbers runner and drug dealer with the local crime organization. Mary is deeply religious and very much involved with the Baptist church.
Joe has recently begun having problems at school and now has been arrested for stealing a car. Jenny has begun staying our past curfew and came home last week with a tattoo on her stomach. Melissa gets much of Mary’s attention and focus in her ballet pursuits. In fact, Mary calls her “my little ballerina.” Finally, just yesterday Mary discovered a shoe box full of money in Bob’s part of the closet. When she asked Bob about the money, an argument ensued which culminated in Bob growing angry and striking Mary.
Step Two: Use one of the theoretical perspectives from the following (you will be assigned a theory):
- Strain Theory
- Labeling Theory
- Control Theory
- Differential Association
- Conflict Theory
Step Three: Analyze and speculate:
For the first section of each theory write up, explain how this theory can help us to understand the situation of this family.
- No single theory will help us understand everything about this family, so you do not have to try to explain every little thing. By your explanation, you’re letting me know the types of behaviors the theory might be helpful in explaining.
- Also, beware of drawing too many conclusions from the story. Be very aware of what the story tells us is true vs. what it doesn’t say (and things we might assume, but do not truly know).
This brings us to the second part of the assignment, and probably the more important and interesting part. In the second part, imagine you are researching this family from the theoretical perspective you’ve been assigned. What types of questions would you ask, and what other areas of these family members’ lives would you investigate?
- For example, if you were working from the perspective of Differential Association, you might want to investigate Joe and Jenny’s behavior by examining their social circles (or home lives). If you’re coming at this from the Conflict perspective, you might want to ask questions about an economy that forces dual-earner families, and the impact on child rearing.
- Your paper should be no fewer than 2 pages, but probably keep it under 3.
Also… I cannot stress this enough: watch your assumptions. The story lulls you into a false sense about things that have happened or are happening. Don’t fall into the trap. Only what the story directly tells you is true. Everything else is speculation. It’s this speculation and how you research it that should provide the material for the second part of the paper.
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