Module 7: Final Project

Final Project

The final project for this course is an Analysis of a Social Problem. 

This project will help you to apply the concepts and theories you have learned throughout this course to a real world social problem in the United States that you have identified. You will need to make sure that the problem that you have identified is a social problem and not a personal problem and that the scope and the consequences of the problem are justified through research. You will also explain how the theoretical perspectives you have learned throughout this course relates to the social problem you have identified. Finally, you will develop a real world solution or social policy to the social problem and provide rationale as to why you think the solution would be effective. You will write a paper on your selected social problem and create a PowerPoint presentation to share your findings with your peers. 

Outline the social problem you will be analyzing in your final project. What is the problem? Why did you select it? Why do you think it is important? 

Describe why the topic is a social problem. In your response include the following:

Who does this problem affect (e.g., a specific culture or other group of people)?

Approximately how many people does it affect? Include your source that provides an estimate. 

Explain the methods your source used to make that estimate. Explain the consequences the social problem has for society. In your response include the following:

What are the consequences of this problem? Find an additional source besides the one that you used for your estimate of how many people your social problem affects that provides an explanation of the consequences. 

If the social problem is widely recognized explain why this is the case. If it is not widely recognized, make a case for why it should be more widely recognized. 

Explain how one of the major theoretical perspectives would apply your chosen topic. Include the following in your response: 

Identify your approach to the topic—how did you select your perspective? Such as are you interested in the big picture (macro) or how individuals (micro) are affected by the issue? 

Is there any classic explanation from the perspective you have selected that is addressed in the textbook (pre-1950)? If so, what is it? Who was the theorist associated with the explanation? 

What is the specific theory/theorist that you feel best addresses your chosen social problem? 

Analyze the strengths and challenges of the theoretical perspective. Include the following in your response: 

What is the strength of the perspective you selected in explaining your topic? What does the perspective do well? 

Where do you think this perspective could be improved in explaining your topic? What exactly could be improved? 

Develop a real world solution or social policy to the social problem based on the theoretical perspective you selected. Include the following in your response: 

What is your solution or what social policy would you implement?  

Explain the rationale as to why you think the solution would be effective. 

How would you know your real world solution or social policy is effective? What types of research methods might you use to understand impact? 

To successfully complete this assignment, view the Final Project document.