Sociology 1B: Managing Normality – Essay questions

Choose JUST ONE of the following questions, to be answered in an essay of approximately 1500 words:

•    How and why does moral panic occur? Discuss with reference to examples of your choice. (Please choose original examples, rather than focusing on those used in the lecture and reading, and check with your tutor if you are uncertain about your choices.)

•    Some studies seem to show that women are far more likely to experience mental illness than men. However, from a sociological perspective the picture looks different. How might a sociologist approach the claim that women experience more mental illness than men?

•    What might the labelling perspective contribute to understandings of physical disability?

•    As part of the exercise set we explored the idea of the death of the sociology of deviance. What role might the labelling perspective have played in bringing the sociological study of deviance back to life?

note carefully:
– You must submit your  essay twice, in hardcopy via your tutor’s pigeonhole and in e-copy via VUCollaborate.

– You must attach a signed coversheet to your hardcopy, which you can find here: http://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/student-forms/pdfs/college-arts-assignment-cover-sheet.pdf
– The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate your engagement with the ideas and material explored in the unit, so your task is to draw in as much as possible to formulate your work. It is absolutely essential to base your essay on the material provided in your unit reader. You will probably also need to do additional research for this essay. Make sure you use sociological sources and feel free to refer back to readings from Sociology 1A. Please do not quote or reference lecture notes.
– Please ensure that the essay you submit is all your own original work. If you have any queries about academic integrity or plagiarism, you will find this link helpful: http://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/campuses-services/pdfs/asd-academic-integrity.pdf
– While the essay questions may require you to present examples to support your argument, you are being assessed mainly on your ability to think sociologically – so be sure to present a sociological argument supported by examples (not lots of examples connected by a few lines of sociology)!
– As with all sociology assessment, your essay must be fully referenced using Harvard Style with a bibliography provided at the end of the set showing all texts used.
– It will be very helpful for you to pick a question and create an essay plan as soon as possible so that you have plenty of time to develop your ideas and clarify anything you do not understand.
– Students tend to write and think best when they are interested in what they are researching. Try to choose a question, some examples and an angle that you find interesting!
– If you need an extension, make sure you discuss it with your tutor before the due date so that there is time to negotiate a new submission date.
– We really look forward to reading your work!