Understanding Society
Case Study: Coronavirus, social change and social inequality
As discussed in the week 12 module, the coronavirus pandemic and its effects can be understood as an example of rapid, global social change. This is well summarised in the following article from one of your week 12 online learning activities:
https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2020/04/15/1380013/how-covid-19-is-changing-the-world
In response to the serious health risks posed by the spread of coronavirus, people from around the world are experiencing an adjustment in their work and study practices, social interactions and capacity to travel. The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic, including national ‘lock downs’, have severely impacted employment and therefore social and national economies. Social change and how coronavirus is reshaping individual lives, communities, governments and broader society, are topics of interest for sociologists. So too is the data that reveals the differential ways that in which the impacts of coronavirus are felt. In short, coronavirus heralds social change, but it also highlights existing social issues and inequalities throughout societies.
With this in mind, students are asked to read the following articles, which form the basis of a ‘coronavirus case study’:
Question:
Having considered the issues raised in the above articles, which form the basis of the case study, and drawing on AT LEAST 4 ACADEMIC SOURCES, students will provide a 1000-word response to the following question:
What does the coronavirus pandemic reveal about power and/or structure and agency, and the enduring nature of social inequality?
Detailed Instructions:
- When writing you response, be sure to explain each of your chosen key concepts with reference to relevant academic literature (your readings from the unit are a good place to start).
- You might opt to consider power, structure and agency and social inequality; or you might choose to look at power and social inequality; or structure and agency and social inequality. The choice is yours.
- Once you have explained what each of the key concepts you have chosen to examine refers to, then you should apply them to the coronavirus case study. This means drawing on examples from the articles above and analysing them sociologically.
- In other words, you must think about what is presented in the media articles and then consider how the sociological reading you have undertaken, and the concepts and theories discussed therein, help you to make sense of what is observed.
- Your response should be written in an essay style, meaning it should contain an introduction, body and conclusion.
- Your response should be referenced using Harvard referencing.
- You must use a minimum of 4 academic sociological sources to support your discussion, which need to be cited in the body of your text and included in a reference list.
- Any of the empirical examples from the case study that you refer to or draw upon should also be referenced appropriately.
Length of submission: 1000 words (+/- 10%)
Value: 30%
Learning Outcomes:
This assessment responds to unit learning outcomes 3, 4 and 5, which are to:
- Identify relevant sources and assess approaches to and claims about social processes and institutions in contemporary society.
- Apply a sociological understanding of power, social inequality and social change to case study materials.
- Demonstrate reading, writing and referencing skills commensurate with university scholarship.
Major Written Assignment - The Slender Man
- Assessment task title: Major Written Assignment - The Slender Man
Due date: 1st June at 11.55pm
Details of task: Major written assignment - The Slender Man
You are required to write a 2700 word essay in response to the following provocation:
Fact or fiction. Truth and lies. Does it matter? Events like the Slender Man case are inevitable in the 21st century.
In preparing your essay you should:
- Choose two theorists you want to focus on. Theorists can be drawn from the unit, or can be other behavioural theorists you have become interested in (subject to teacher approval). Your aim should be to use several original works from the theorists you have chosen.
Theorist include:
Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Karen Horney, Carl Jung [bold one is which ones I want to pick]
2. Focus on the Slender Man case, but you may wish to branch out and consider other comparable occurrences.
3. Make an argument for why the events in the Slender Man case have occurred. Collapse of societal norms? Children not being supervised? Mental illness in society? Insecure attachment styles? Violence in the media? Study hard and be bold in finding your argument!
Word limit: 2700 words minimum (inclusive of referencing)
Value: 40%
Presentation requirements: Double spaced word document. Images may be included in submissions as long as they are embedded in the word document.
Estimated return date: June 5
Referencing requirements: Please use the Harvard referencing system.
To build your skills in citing and referencing, and using different referencing styles, see the online tutorial Academic Integrity: Demystifying Citing and Referencing at http://www.lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
Additional information: 2700 words is the minimum - students expecting to do well should not have less than 2700 words
A minimum of 10 sources should be used to prepare this assignment. Students with Distinction grades or better will likely use 12+
Psychology: Piagets development
PLEASE USE THE ATTACHED APA TEMPLATE TO DO THIS.
In preparation for this assignment watch the video “A Class Divided” located at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/class-divided/ (Links to an external site.).
Prepare a 750-1,000-word paper in which you address the following:
- What stage of Piaget’s development are the children in this video in? Give some evidence (other than the children’s age) to support that children are functioning in this stage. Is this a good way to teach children in this age group? Why or why not?
- How do you see self-fulfilling prophecy and learned helplessness portrayed in this video?
- How was the self-esteem of the children effected by participating in this study? Why do you think the children’s test scores rose after participating in this experiment?
- Give an example of how operant conditioning, classical conditioning and social observational learning were shown in this video. Be specific in your discussion. For the discussion of classical conditioning, please write out the process.
- How can you use Piaget’s theory and Kohlberg’s theory to explain the different reactions of the adults and children during this study?
- Which theory (theories) of personality can help us understand the behavior of the students in this video? Support your answer with a strong discussion of that theory.
Note: Your paper should follow APA format and include a title page and a reference page.
Select an example of community work in action and examine the fundamental values and philosophies that inform the work.
In your report ensure you answer the following questions:
1. Who is the community? What is the community work in action? What are its strengths and limiters? Max 300 words
2. What theories of community work are drawn on? 300 words
3. What ethics, attitudes or philosophies underpin the community work in this case study? 400 words
4. How did the collaborators go about facilitating change for the community? Describe the specific strategies or process to create change and development for this community. 400 words
5. What have been the outcomes or expressions of actions? 300 words
6. Through your analysis, what have you learned about community development? What reflections do you have about yourself engaging in community work? Max 300 words
Please ensure you use a professional report format in this assessment.