Reference no: EM132157860
1. Pick a subculture. This subculture should be one in which you feel like you know the rules, have internalized the rules, could explain the rules to other people, and don't much have to think consciously about the rules to operate inside them.
As a example: for me, it might be paramedic subculture, food geek subculture, choral singing subculture, gym subculture, Bay Area subculture, white middle-class
subculture, crazy-cat-lady subculture, adjunct faculty subculture, sociology subculture, listener-of-my-favorite-podcast subculture, or long-time Santa Cruz resident subulture.
And that's just the tip of *my* subculture iceberg! You could pick subcultures based on race, class, ethnic identity, religion, extracurricular activities, employment, video games, sports...the possibilities are endless. In choosing the one you're going to focus on, think about the subcultures that you feel most connected to or invested in.
Like any research project for which you feel passion, these topics will tend to be the most interesting. There is no constraint on the size of the subculture you choose; it can be tiny (your intramural fencing team) or enormous (your race, class, or gender).
2. After you clearly identify and describe your subculture, please elaborate at some length on its rules, symbols, norms, linguistic quirks, or beliefs. Questions to consider:
o Who are members of this subulture likely to be?
o Is it open to anyone who is interested in being part of it, or is it limited to certain categories of people by virtue of their membership in specific social groups? Why and how?
o What exactly are the rules for engagement? What, as a member of this subculture, should you do or not do; say or not say; think or not think?
o What would would happen to someone in the subculture who deviated from these rules?
o If you broke the rules and got kicked out (literally or figuratively), to what lengths would you have to go to repair your reputation and relationships within the subculture? Would the possibility of re-acceptance exist, or would breaking the rules result in permanent censure/expulsion?
o What symbolic meanings do members of this subculture attach to adherence to or disregard for the rules? How is group membership legitimated?
o What visual, auditory, and verbal symbols exist within this subculture? How is consensus achieved with regard to the meaning of these symbols?
o Through what mechanisms do aspects of your subcultural's symbolic meanings shift over time? How, in other words, does social change take place at the level of your subculture?
3. Use vocabulary from at least 3-4 of our readings so far this quarter (BELOW) to frame your subculture in social-psychological terms. Please highlight each concept you choose in bold to make it easier for the reader to identify.You needn't define them explicitly in your writing as long as you can demonstrate your understanding through your use of the words/concepts in context.
4. Cite the readings you use in ASA (American Sociological Assocation) format. If you haven't used ASA format before, it's one of the more straighforward ones.
You'll need to know it for Soc 3A if you haven't yet taken that course, and for any formal research papers you write as a Socy major, so it is worth practicing any chance you get.
5. There is no need to include a title page, but please make sure that your first page does not fill up so much space with your name, class name, etc., that you only end up writing half a page worth of text.
6. Please keep in mind that this is inherently personal research. Be self-reflexive:
situate yourself within your writing; tell the reader explicity what is at stake for you, why you are invested in this subculture, etc. Use the first person throughout your paper when talking about your own thoughts and feelings.
Write in plain text, with attention to clarity and straighforward communcation that a non-sociologist could readily understand (in other words, do not over-write in an attempt to sound smart or to fill up space).
7. Let your passion and your inner geek shine through. If you are genuinely interested in what you are writing, the reader is more likely to be as well.
8. Ensure that the paper is strongly organized with a clear introduction, consistent transitions between body paragraphs, and a satisfying conclusion. Make sure the reader understands through your introduction what a subculture is, why it's useful to understand them as a concept, and what they can expect to get out of reading your paper.
9. Edit beautifully for grammar, spelling, writing mechanics, organization, and typos. If you really want to nail it, trade papers with someone else and allow another human brain to find the errors that your brain will miss.