Online focus questions

The first assessment for this unit consists of two short answer questions that in total will amount to 40% (each question will be weighted 20%). A total of three questions will be set across teaching weeks 2, 4 and 6 with one question set during each of those weeks. You will be asked to answer all three questions and then choose which two you wish to submit for the assessment and the third question in an appendix. The questions will encourage you to apply key sociological concepts relating to deviance. This will provide you with important foundational knowledge in sociology and engage you with key, contemporary debates occurring in society around deviant behaviours. 

There will be three different formats for these short answers. The first question will require you to respond in the format of a short answer exam question.The second question will require you to respond in a formal letter in which you are taking the role of an advocate for another person. The third question will require you to respond in film review format. Each short paper has a word limit of 250 words. So, a 500 word submission in total.

The Academic Learning Centre (ALC) has numerous resources on its Moodle website to assist you with your study and writing skills.

You will be assessed on: your ability to apply sociological concepts and theories to key debates and controversies related to identified forms of deviant behaviour; your use of critical thinking skills in considering both the positive and negative dimensions to deviant behaviour and your ability to draw on contemporary debates around deviant behaviours. and contrast beliefs and attitudes to contemporary views of behavioural social norms and deviance.

For focus question 1:

• 30% of the marks will be awarded for history (chose a behaviour that was once considered deviant but today is considered normal) 
• 30% for pros and cons (outline societal beliefs about the past negative and present positive consequences of the behaviour) 
• 40% for theory (apply the concept of social norms and rule breaking to explain why the behaviour is deviant).

For focus question 2,

• 20% of the marks will be awarded for pros and cons (acknowledge positive effects and contrast with the negative effect of a label) 
• 30% for apply theory (apply the theory of deviance amplification) 
• 50% shifting norms (apply your understanding of how social norms shift in time in ways that impact social deviance).

For focus question 3:

• 30% of the marks will be awarded for argues relevance (argues the movie is about the positive and negatives of social deviance) 
• 30% for applies theory (applies a sociological concept or theory of social deviance to the chosen movie) 
• 40% for recognises alternative (defends against an alternative reading of the movie that argues deviance is not the central theme). 

A detailed marking rubric (for each focus question) and further information sheets will be available on the Moodle site.

This task consists of the design of four Powerpoint slides with accompanying speaker notes. This assessment provides you with the opportunity to develop an argument for how particular deviant behaviour (chosen from 3 topic areas covered in the unit) needs to be understood in a cultural context, how it is expressed in an interpersonal context and how it can be critiqued through an understanding of the contemporary literature on the topic 

it is expressed in an interpersonal context and how it can be critiqued through an understanding of the contemporary literature on the topic. 

Each slide has a word limit of 100 words. Words are counted on both the slide and the accompanying speaker notes. For example, if you use 10 words on your slide you cannot use more than 90 words in your speaker notes. Your notes should be written in full prose NOT in note form. So, a 400 word submission in total. 

Each slide has a specific task attached. These are detailed below.

SLIDE 1: Clearly identify a form of deviance that is non-trivial but also not classified as criminal behaviour. [For the slide, this is your title slide so as well as any images it needs to include your name, assessment No. and unit code a title].

SLIDE 2: Detail a negative consequence of the deviant behaviour that is linked to a folkway.

SLIDE 3: Present an argument for why the behaviour should be declassified as deviant. This should detail the positive consequences of doing so and link that to a folkway that contrasts and co-exists with that which you have detailed in slide 2.

SLIDE 4: Explain what existing or emergent folkway might assist in that deviant behaviour becoming viewed as normal and what cultural and social structural factors might contribute to that shift.

The Academic Learning Centre (ALC) has numerous resources on its Moodle website to assist you with your study and writing skills.

You will be assessed on how well you:

• Identify the form of deviance and how it links to the theory of deviance amplification (25%)

• Compare and constrast the positive and negative consequences of the deviant behaviour, linked to a folkway (50%)

• Apply your understanding of how social norms shift across time, linking Folkways to culture and social structure (25%).

A detailed marking rubric and further information sheets will be available on the Moodle site.

This task is a piece of reflective writing. This assessment gives you the opportunity to show how you can apply unit learnings to one of two central topics – disability and mental illness. By this point in the unit, you should have obtained a good appreciation of how the culture in which we live is abundant with media that present examples of mainstream deviance. This task provides the opportunity to apply learnings about deviance and engage in self-criticism of prior assumptions, values, and beliefs. Thus we hope you can shift your mode of thinking from the mainstream to a critically informed sociological perspective on deviance.

You must use a minimum of 3 references that have been supplied either in the unit reading list, or in the lecture and/or tutorial presentations. Additional 'outside' references can be used but be mindful of the tight word count.

Standard requirements: As this work requires a component of personal reflection, you are advised to use the first person in the writing of your personal reflection. The word count limit is 800 words. Presenting good standards of spelling and grammar are essential requirements for this written assessment. 

Title, Reference list and Appendices (if relevant) are not included in the word count. Further guidelines for this assessment will be made available during the lectures and tutorials.

The Academic Learning Centre (ALC) has numerous resources on its Moodle website to assist you with your study and writing skills.

You will be assessed on how well you:

1. Make a concise argument as to why the topic is of interest to sociologists studying social deviance (20%)

2. Distinguish between mainstream and critically informed sociological understandings of your chosen topic (30%)

3. Engage in self-criticism in a way that reveals how you have identified and engaged with new modes of thinking about the topic and about social deviance (50%).

A detailed marking rubric and further information sheets will be available on the Moodle site.