Sociology 101
Introduction to Sociology

Spring 2002

Dr. Scott Schaffer

First Pop Culture Assignment - The Matrix

Due Date: Monday Feb 25/2002, with the rest of your portfolio, at the start of the midterm exam session. No late papers will be accepted. In the event of an unforeseeable absence, please e-mail the written elements of your portfolio to scott.schaffer@millersville.edu as a Microsoft Word attachment; no other file format will be accepted.

Rules of the Game: This paper must be a minimum of three (3) full and complete pages in length. There is no maximum length for this paper, so you should write until you've completely answered the question. Your paper must be typewritten, double-spaced, on 8 1/2" by 11" paper. Your paper must have a cover page, on which a creative title ("First Paper Assignment" is simply not creative enough), your name, the number of the topic to which you're responding, and any other pertinent information should appear; your name should not appear anywhere else in the paper.

Your paper must be spell- and grammar-checked; papers that have copious errors will automatically lose one full letter grade. Receiving two "spelling and grammar" deductions during the course will translate into a zero (0) on the second assignment and any further assignments after that. You should follow all guidelines in the "How to Write a Schaffer Paper" handout; these guidelines will serve as the basis for my evaluation of your work. And finally, no direct quotations are permitted in this paper; any materials you use to support your argument must be paraphrased and cited following to guidelines in the paper-writing handout.

The Assignment: You should write a well-argued paper that answers the following question:

To what extent is The Matrix a film of sociological consciousness?

In order to do this, you need to discuss The Matrix through at least two of the issues we've talked about in class during this segment of the course (theoretical perspectives, levels of analysis, social constructionism, roles, culture, social order) - that is, you need to discuss each of these issues and then use them to understand The Matrix in a particular way. After that, you need to use what you've said to develop a clear response to The Big Question, showing how you got your answer out of what you'd written before. Don't simply write a summary of the movie; instead, analyze the movie in terms of the concepts and ideas we've used in class.

Be sure that your paper contains the following:

• A very clear thesis statement (response to The Big Question) in the introductory paragraph;
• A "thesis statement" to open each paragraph in the body text to ensure that your reader knows what you're going to talk about in that paragraph;
• A logical progression within each of the paragraphs and within the paper as a whole;
• Citations for each reference to or mention of one of the texts we've read this week;
• And a conclusion that helps go beyond the limits of the paper topic at hand.

Doing all this and doing it well (and cleanly) will help you achieve the best grade possible. Please email me if you have any questions.