Sociological Imagination Essay Guideline (NO PRESENTATION WILL BE DONE FOR THIS PAPER)
For this essay, you will need to read the selection of C. Wright Mills’ writing on the sociological imagination.
As should become apparent, the sociological imagination is a key element of the sociological perspective. Here is the idea in a nutshell: Social arrangements external to us affect our everyday lives in ways that are sometimes not obvious or immediately apparent. In other words, our personal biographies and ways in which we come to make sense of the world are shaped by social history. Yet, what does this mean? How have larger social and historical events had an impact on your own life?
In your essay, explain what Mills means by the sociological imagination to someone who has never heard of the concept before and detail how the sociological imagination helps you understand your thoughts, behaviors, and life circumstances. Then, using your data, describe how conditions and events occurring at the beginning of your personal biography (i.e., birth) affected the way you were raised, the values instilled in you, and the lasting effects these historical circumstances had on the person you are today. How did the sociological imagination help you understand how the social history at the time of your birth shaped who you are today? Remember, you are trying to understand the interplay between your individual life experiences and the larger social and political context of those experiences. This section is the heart of the paper and should demonstrate your ability to apply the sociological imagination to your personal biography. Make sure to explain yourself completely (avoid simply saying, “not really” or “a lot”). Also make sure to tie all your observations and analysis back to the Mills reading.
You may include any and all articles that you use in writing this assignment. Be sure to cite throughout your paper and on the reference page at the end (which does not qualify as one of your pages). Your writing will have to be concise and clear. Give some thought to how certain events impacted the quality of your young life, and what you came to value and expect as “normal.” Make an outline of ideas you want to include and then begin writing.
Formal Requirements for the Sociological Imagination paper
(failure to meet formal requirements will result in a minimum of one full grade drop)
1) The paper should be at least 5 full pages of written text. You should have a clear introduction with thesis, organized body of the paper and a conclusion. If you are uncertain about how to properly construct the paper, please visit the Writing Center.
2) Writing is to be formal, academic, and analytic and be well-edited. Do not submit your first draft. Be sure to edit for proper grammar, mechanics, syntax and style.
3) Include on the first page with your name, name of the class and the date. Include a title for the paper.
4) All papers must be typed and double-spaced. Use 12 point Times New Roman font. Each page should be numbered and all margins should be 1 inch.
5) Include a reference/Work Cited page. Use the MLA guide for citation style. Refer to https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/.