Reference no: EM133769403
Assignment: Sociology
Paper - Mass Shootings in Our Society
Please write a paper about the phenomenon of mass shootings in our society. It is truly bizarre that we have had mass shootings with such a high frequency. Understanding the social dynamics that produce such frequent, horrifying mass murders is very important. Your job is to discuss mass shootings sociologically, trying to explain the dynamics and contributing causes for mass shootings in our society.
Whenever there is a tragic mass shooting in our society, most news media and their commentator guests or invited scholars or authorities often talk about how the murders were committed by a deranged person and that the killer was the lone person responsible for the brutal, heinous mass shooting. While the killer may have acted alone and while he/she may have been a deranged person, many social factors and dynamics must have been present and operative for this phenomenon to happen with such frequency. In the beginning of our course, we discussed the phenomenon of sociological imagination, suggesting that broader social forces or dynamics are often responsible for what seems to be a personal trouble or, in some cases, a tragic outcome or event.
In writing your paper, try to discuss the larger social forces that helped create such persons and how they encouraged a person to commit such crimes.
I would suggest that you review the material on sociological imagination in the beginning of the course. Also, you may want to read more about it by consulting other sources.
1. Explain how you think those forces and the person's life environment (social, cultural, political, technological, family, situational, institutional, etc.) encouraged and finally drove that person toward mass shooting. Crudely put, who is to blame? and why?
2. Do not discuss the details of how a particular mass shooting happened. If you need to share some information about how it actually happened on the tragic day, do so sparingly; keeping it it very short. Do not pad the paper with the details of the event. Talk about it only if it is necessary, but keep it very short. Don't tell the story of what happened that day. Write about it sociologically.
3. What do you think can be done to help reduce or end such horrendous events. Suggest concrete measures or efforts that can minimize or end such tragic events.
This is your opportunity to shine as a sociologist.