Sociology paper

Your second writing assignment is a short paper (2-4 pages) on subcultures vs. countercultures. In this paper you will introduce the reader to the sociological concepts of culture, subcultures, and countercultures. Then you will demonstrate your understanding of these terms by applying them to an example of a subculture or counterculture group.

Constructing your paper

• Introduce your paper by providing a very brief definition of culture and its relevance to sociology. (2-3 sentences)
• Define and explain the terms subculture and counterculture. (1 paragraph)
• Select and introduce one example of a specific subculture or counterculture. A list is provided of possible groups at the end of the instructions. (1 page)
• Identify the subculture or counterculture you have selected.
• Provide a brief historical review of that subculture or counterculture over time.
• Explain the unique elements of that subculture or counterculture. This might be anything from the group’s motto to their style of dress to their behaviors. Your focus should be on the things that make them different.
• Decide if the group should be considered a subculture or a counterculture. Explain why you chose that position. There is no right or wrong answer to this part. Your goal here is to demonstrate your ability to apply those terms in a logical real-world analysis. (2 paragraphs)

Note: I do not expect an exhaustive analysis of these broad social issues. Your goal is to introduce the topics and demonstrate your ability to apply sociological terms and concepts to a real-world issue. You should be concise and focused!

Formatting your paper

• Papers must be written in standard U.S. English.
• Papers must be in APA format, including standard fonts, double-spaced, and 1″ margins,
• See this resource for help.
• I will accept papers in MLA format for students who use that format in their degree program.
• Papers must include a MINIMUM of two references, one of which may be your textbook.
• References must be cited in proper APA or MLA format.
• See this resource for help.
• Papers must be uploaded as a Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF file.
• Papers will be submitted for SafeAssign originality analysis (i.e., plagiarism detection).

There is a one-week grace period for submission of this writing assignment. Papers submitted during the grace period will be subject to a 10% late penalty. Absolutely no papers may be submitted after the grace period closes.

POSSIBLE TOPICS LIST

You may choose from this list or you may write about a different subculture or counterculture. This is just a sample of groups.

• Alcoholics Anonymous – a group for recovering alcoholics
• Beatniks – The beat generation of the 1950s and 1960s
• Bikers – people interested in motorcycles and often form groups that travel together
• Bodybuilding – using certain exercises to build muscle
• Cosplay – a group involved with wearing costumes and role play
• Deaf culture – may include family members of deaf people and sign language interpreters
• Emo – started with the hardcore punk movement, attitudes and dress are melodramatic
• Fandom – can be fans of movies, a celebrity, or any shared interest
• Gamer – people who are dedicated to video games as a hobby rather than a casual past time
• Goth – characterized with dark hair, eyeliner, nail polish and clothes
• Grunge – includes fans of alternative rock prominent in the 1990s.
• Hip hop – started in South Bronx in the 70s, includes break dancing, graffiti, DJs combining two songs and rap music
• Military brat – children of parents in the armed forces
• New Age – a spiritual and metaphysical movement including holistic health and parapsychology
• Nudism – advocates both private and public nudity
• Otherkin – these people view themselves as partly or totally nonhuman
• Preppy – comes from college prep school attended by upper class children
• Pro-Ana- a group that promotes the lifestyle of anorexia.
• Rave – characterized by wild parties with loud music and possibly light or laser shows
• Rockabilly – rock-n-roll music incorporating country and western music and rhythm and blues
• Skater – a skateboarding subculture
• Skinhead – early skinheads were not politically involved. The subculture has evolved to include those who are racially motivated, as in white power
• Straight edge – these people like hardcore punk but refrain from recreational drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• Surf – lifestyle associated with those who surf
• Survivalism – people who actively prepare for disasters of all kinds
• Trekkie – Star Trek fans
• Vampire culture – alternative lifestyle based on vampires