1 SOC 320 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a position paper to illustrate the position of a social advocacy group on a gender-related issue. You will assume the role of a researcher for a social advocacy group that focuses on issues related to gender. You will assume that your manager has tasked you with writing a position paper that clearly articulates the group’s stance on a given gender-related issue in an attempt to justify the ultimate goal of the social advocacy group. You will select an issue from the options provided or submit your own issue for instructor approval. You will then analyze the issue through the incorporation of evidence and the application of sociological theory. You are encouraged to choose your own topic to address in the position paper and will be guided through this process in the early modules of the course. Some gender-related issues to you might consider focusing on in this project include the following: • Fraternity hazing • Equal pay for women • Allowing children to transition to their self-identified gender • Adoption rights for same-sex couples ******************* • Gender-neutral bathrooms in the workplace The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to provide you opportunities to conduct research and work on elements of your paper. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven. In the position paper, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: • Analyze views of gender from a historical perspective for their impact on today’s societies and individuals • Challenge current stereotypes of various gender expressions using evidence from observations and other resources • Determine how reactions to expressions of gender and gender identity have evolved over time supported by sociological theory • Communicate results of analyses on gender issues adhering to ethical requirements and other best practices regarding sociological research 2 Prompt For your position paper, you will represent the position of your social advocacy group on a specific issue related to gender and support that position through the application of sociological theory and evidence. Your position will challenge preconceived notions around this issue by investigating its history and how it has evolved over time. The goal of this paper is to promote awareness around your chosen issue and encourage support for your social advocacy group. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Introduction: In this section, you will introduce your audience to the gender issue you have chosen. You will develop a statement that establishes your position on your chosen issue. Be sure to employ appropriate ethical considerations and best practice.

1. 1
SOC 320 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a position
paper to illustrate the position of a social advocacy group on a
gender-related issue. You will assume
the role of a researcher for a social advocacy group that focuses
on issues related to gender. You will assume that your manager
has tasked you with writing a
position paper that clearly articulates the group’s stance on a
given gender-related issue in an attempt to justify the ultimate
goal of the social advocacy group.
You will select an issue from the options provided or submit
your own issue for instructor approval. You will then analyze
the issue through the incorporation of
evidence and the application of sociological theory.
You are encouraged to choose your own topic to address in the
position paper and will be guided through this process in the
early modules of the course. Some

2. gender-related issues to you might consider focusing on in this
project include the following:
• Fraternity hazing
• Equal pay for women
• Allowing children to transition to their self-identified gender
• Adoption rights for same-sex couples *******************
• Gender-neutral bathrooms in the workplace
The project is divided into two milestones, which will be
submitted at various points throughout the course to provide
you opportunities to conduct research and
work on elements of your paper. These milestones will be
submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be
submitted in Module Seven.
In the position paper, you will demonstrate your mastery of the
following course outcomes:
• Analyze views of gender from a historical perspective for their
impact on today’s societies and individuals
• Challenge current stereotypes of various gender expressions
using evidence from observations and other resources
• Determine how reactions to expressions of gender and gender
identity have evolved over time supported by sociological

3. theory
• Communicate results of analyses on gender issues adhering to
ethical requirements and other best practices regarding
sociological research
2
Prompt
For your position paper, you will represent the position of your
social advocacy group on a specific issue related to gender and
support that position through the
application of sociological theory and evidence. Your position
will challenge preconceived notions around this issue by
investigating its history and how it has
evolved over time. The goal of this paper is to promote
awareness around your chosen issue and encourage support for
your social advocacy group.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: In this section, you will introduce your audience
to the gender issue you have chosen. You will develop a
statement that establishes your
position on your chosen issue. Be sure to employ appropriate
ethical considerations and best practices when communicating

4. your introduction.
A. Provide a brief overview of your chosen gender issue.
Explain the impact of the issue related to social roles within
social institutions.
B. Based on your chosen issue, discuss the focus of this position
paper in terms of how it aligns with the ultimate goal of the
social advocacy group.
In other words, what are you trying to accomplish by exploring
this gender issue?
C. Briefly discuss the evidence that you will use in the analysis
of the issue.
D. Briefly introduce the theory that you will use in the analysis
of the issue.
E. Develop a statement that communicates your social advocacy
group’s position on the issue.
II. Analysis: Now that you have identified a gender issue,
analyze evidence and apply sociological theory to communicate
and support your position. Be sure
to employ appropriate ethical considerations and best practices
when constructing your analysis.
A. Articulate in detail your social advocacy group’s position
regarding the issue. Your description should be written in a way
that leads into your
evidence and theory application.

5. B. Evaluate prevalent stereotypes regarding the issue. Be sure to
address the validity, effects, and persistence of these
stereotypes.
C. Describe recent social change regarding the issue and
support your response with examples.
D. Analyze historical interpretations of the issue within relevant
social structures (i.e., social institutions and culture) and
support your analysis with
evidence.
E. Analyze modern interpretations of the issue within relevant
social structures (i.e., social institutions and culture) and
support your analysis with
evidence.
F. Apply appropriate sociological theory to historical and
modern interpretations of the issue to support your overall
analysis.
3
III. Conclusion: In this section of the position paper, you will
summarize the key points of your analysis while adhering to
appropriate ethical standards and
best practices.

6. A. Describe the ethical challenges in analyzing the issue,
supporting your response with examples.
B. Review the key points of your analysis and make a universal
statement about your position regarding the issue. Consider
summarizing insights
and perspectives that were gained through the incorporation of
evidence.
C. Determine possible solutions that would be effective in
lessening the negative impact of the issue on society.
D. Communicate your final position on this issue, supported by
the findings of your analysis.
Milestones
Milestone One: Mapping the Issue Worksheet
In Module Three, you will submit a worksheet that includes the
gender-related issue you selected for the project, a brief
description of the social advocacy group,
three or four research sources that you will use to present
sociological evidence, and the theoretical lenses you may apply
to your analysis. This milestone will be
graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Detailed Outline
In Module Five, you will create a detailed outline for your final
paper, synthesizing all of your work in the course to date. This
includes the following:

7. • Your position statement on the issue
• Identification of stereotypes that may need to be challenged in
order for others to accept your position
• A list of historical events from the last decade that have
affected perceptions on this issue (historical interpretations)
• Identification of the social changes these historic events have
caused
• Explanation of current perceptions related to this issue
(modern interpretations) within the family, the media,
educational institutions, and organized
religion
• Description of the theoretical lenses that you will use to
support the analysis of the historical and modern interpretations
This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Final Submission: Position Paper
In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should
be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical
elements of the final product. It should
reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the
course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project
Rubric.

8. 4
5
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your position paper should be 6 to 8
pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and written
in APA format. Use double
spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch
margins. Include at least three references cited in APA format.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs
Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction:
Issue
[SOC-320-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced

9. understanding of the impact of
gender on social roles and
institutions
Provides a brief overview of the
issue and explains the impact of
the issue related to social roles
within social institutions
Provides an overview of the issue
and explains the impact of the
issue related to social roles within
social institutions, but overview is
unclear or lacks key details
Does not provide an overview of
the issue
6
Introduction:
Ultimate Goal
[SOC-320-01]

10. Meets “Proficient” criteria and is
exceptionally clear and
contextualized
Discusses the focus of the position
paper and how it aligns with the
ultimate goal of the social
advocacy group
Discusses the focus of the position
paper and how it aligns with the
ultimate goal of the social
advocacy group, but response is
cursory
Does not discuss the focus of the
position paper
6
Introduction:
Evidence
[SOC-320-02]

11. Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses sociological jargon to
establish expertise
Briefly discusses the evidence that
will be used in the analysis of the
issue
Discusses the evidence that will be
used in the analysis of the issue,
but evidence chosen does not
support the topic
Does not discuss the evidence that
will be used in the analysis of the
issue
6
Introduction:
Theory
[SOC-320-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and

12. choice of theory is well supported
and plausible
Briefly introduces the theory that
will be used in the analysis of the
issue
Introduces the theory that will be
used in the analysis of the issue,
but theory chosen is inappropriate
for topic
Does not introduce the theory that
will be used in the analysis of the
issue
8
Introduction:
Statement
[SOC-320-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and is
exceptionally clear and

13. contextualized
Develops a statement that
communicates the position of the
social advocacy group
Develops a statement that
communicates the position of the
social advocacy group, but lacks
detail or is misaligned
Does not develop a statement that
communicates the position of the
social advocacy group
6
6
Analysis:
Position
[SOC-320-01]

14. Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description offers a comprehensive
perspective of the social advocacy
group’s position on the issue
Articulates the social advocacy
group’s position on the issue in
detail
Articulates the social advocacy
group’s position on the issue, but
response lacks detail
Does not articulate the social
advocacy group’s position on the
issue
6
Analysis:
Stereotypes
[SOC-320-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and

15. draws comprehensive connections
between stereotypes and validity,
effects, and persistence
Evaluates prevalent stereotypes
regarding the issue, addressing the
validity, effects, and persistence of
said stereotypes
Evaluates prevalent stereotypes
regarding the issue, addressing the
validity, effects, and persistence,
but evaluation is cursory or
overlooks relevant factors
Does not evaluate prevalent
stereotypes regarding the issue
6
Analysis: Social
Change
[SOC-320-03]

16. Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description is exceptionally clear
and contextualized
Describes recent social change
regarding the issue and supports
response with examples
Describes recent social change
regarding the issue and supports
response with examples, but
description is cursory or examples
are inappropriate
Does not describe recent social
change regarding the issue
8
Analysis:
Historical
Interpretations
[SOC-320-02]

17. Meets “Proficient” criteria and
offers nuanced insight into the
relationship between historical
interpretations of the issue within
relevant social structures
Analyzes historical interpretations
of the issue within relevant social
structures and supports analysis
with evidence
Analyzes historical interpretations
of the issue within relevant social
structures and supports analysis
with evidence, but analysis is
cursory or evidence used is
inappropriate
Does not analyze historical
interpretations of issue
6

18. Analysis:
Modern
Interpretations
[SOC-320-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
offers nuanced insight into the
relationship between modern
interpretations of the issue within
relevant social structures
Analyzes modern interpretations
of the issue within relevant social
structures and supports analysis
with evidence
Analyzes modern interpretations
of the issue within relevant social
structures and supports analysis
with evidence, but analysis is
cursory or evidence used is

19. inappropriate
Does not analyze modern
interpretations of issue
6
Analysis:
Sociological
Theory
[SOC-320-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
application demonstrates a
sophisticated understanding of the
connections between sociological
theory and interpretations of the
issue
Applies appropriate sociological
theory to historical and modern
interpretations of the issue for
supporting the overall analysis

20. Applies sociological theory to
historical and modern
interpretations of the issue for
supporting the overall analysis, but
chosen theories are inappropriate
or application is cursory
Does not apply sociological theory
to historical and modern
interpretations of the issue
8
7
Conclusion:
Ethical
Challenges
[SOC-320-04]

21. Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description is exceptionally clear
and contextualized
Describes the ethical challenges in
analyzing the issue and supports
response with examples
Describes the ethical challenges in
analyzing the issue and supports
the response with examples, but
examples used are misaligned or
description is cursory
Does not describe the ethical
challenges in analyzing the issue
6
Conclusion: Key
Points
[SOC-320-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and

22. summarizes insights and
perspectives that were gained
through the incorporation of
evidence
Reviews key points of the analysis
and makes a universal statement
of position regarding the issue
Reviews key points of the analysis
and makes a universal statement
of position regarding the issue, but
review lacks detail or overlooks
relevant factors
Does not review key points of the
analysis
6
Conclusion:
Possible

23. Solution
s
[SOC-320-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
solutions are well supported and
plausible
Determines possible effective
solutions that would lessen the
negative impact of the issue on
society
Determines possible solutions that
would lessen the negative impact

24. of the issue on society, but
solutions are inappropriate or lack
detail
Does not determine possible
effective solutions to lessen the
negative impact of the issue on
society
6
Conclusion: Final
Position
[SOC-320-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and is

25. exceptionally clear and concise
Communicates final position on
the gender issue supported by
findings from the analysis
Communicates final position on
the gender issue, but is not
supported by the findings of the
analysis or lacks detail
Does not communicate the final
position on the gender issue
6
Articulation of
Response

26. Submission is free of errors related
to citations, grammar, spelling,
syntax, and organization and is
presented in a professional and
easy-to-read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact readability

27. and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4
Total 100%