Sociology 101
Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2002
Dr. Scott SchafferThird Pop Culture Assignment - The Rebel Angels
Due Date: With the rest of your portfolio on the date of the final exam (101.00 - Weds May 8/2002 at 245pm; 101.01 - Fri May 10/2002 at 1015am). No late papers will be accepted. In the event of an unforeseeable absence, please e-mail your paper 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 ("Second Paper Assignment" is simply not creative enough), your name, 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 Rebel Angels an adequate sociological representation of issues surrounding the university and university life?
In developing your clear and direct response to this question, be sure to do the following:
Utilize at least three sociological concepts discussed in the Newman reader (not the textbook) and in Dandaneau as a way of talking about the plot of The Rebel Angels;
Utilize The Rebel Angels as evidence in support of your argument about the university and university life;
Do not merely present a plot summary of The Rebel Angels - be sure that you develop the conceptual argument first and use the novel and the sociological texts as support for that argument;
And clearly and directly respond to the assigned question, both in the closing section of the essay and in a shorter form as your thesis statement.
Remember - The Rebel Angels, all else aside, is about the university, the people in the university, and in part you. Look for the sociological issues and the elements of the book that speak to you and you'll do just fine on this.