Due Date: Unit 5, Sunday by 11:59pm
Points: 100
Overview:
For written assignments one and two, students will choose from the below prompts to
answer in paper form. Each prompt will correspond to one of the chapter we will be
reading during the semester. You will choose one prompt for written assignmet one and
another for written assignment two.
Instructions:
All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the day it
is due. The grade for any assignment handed in late will be reduced 20% for the first
day it is late and 20% for each day it is late thereafter (see assignment guidelines for
more specific information). You will be evaluated by completing the following activities:
Students will be required to complete three written assignments during the module. The
first written assignment is due in Unit 3, the second is due in Unit 5, and the third is due
in Unit 7. Rubrics will be used to grade your work. Assignments should be written in the
format of the most current edition of the APA manual. Each written assignment must be
submitted via Blackboard and emailed copies will not be accepted. Policies in regard to
turning work in late also apply to these assignments.
Requirements:
• Written assignment will need to be in APA style
• All margins should be one-inch
• Times, New Roman 12-point font
• Double-Spaces
• Title Page
• Reference Page
• Please note, the title and reference pages do not count toward you page
requirements
• Written assignments should be 4-5 pages in length
• You must use a total of three additional scholarly, peer-reviewed sources
Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and
again after you write. Refer to the writing rubric for more details.
Below are the prompts to choose from:
SOC312 – Race and Ethnicity
Written Assignment Two
1. Why is it important to look beyond the United States when analyzing dominant–
minority relations? What can we learn by taking a global perspective? Besides
immigration, what other effects does globalization have on American dominant–
minority relations?
2. Define pluralism, and explain the ways it differs from assimilation. Why has
interest in pluralism increased? Explain the difference between and cite
examples of structural and cultural pluralism and cite examples of each. Describe
enclave minority groups in terms of pluralism and in terms of Gordon’s model of
assimilation. How have contemporary theorists added to the concept of
pluralism?
3. Explain the various causes of prejudice, including the theoretical perspectives
presented in this chapter. Explain and evaluate the research evidence that has
been presented. Which theories seem most credible in terms of evidence? Why?
Try to think of an incident—from your own experience, the news, or popular
culture—that illustrates each theory.
4. Explain the role of prejudice and racism in the creation of minority-group status.
Do prejudice and racism help cause minority-group status, or are they caused by
minority-group status? Explain.
5. What is modern institutional discrimination? How does it differ from traditional
institutional discrimination? Explain the role of affirmative action in combating
each.
6. Describe the differences between the southern Civil Rights Movement and the
Black Power Movement. Why did these differences exist? How are the
differences related to the nature of de jure versus de facto segregation? Do these
movements remain relevant today? How?
7. Compare and contrast the effects of paternalism and coercive acculturation on
Native Americans after the end of the contact period with the effects on African
Americans under slavery. What similarities and differences existed in the two
situations? Which system was more oppressive and controlling? How? How did
these different situations shape the futures of the groups?
8. Compare and contrast the protest movements of Mexican Americans, American
Indians, and African Americans. What similarities and differences existed in
Chicanismo, Red Power, and Black Power? How do the differences reflect the
unique experiences of each group?
9. Compare and contrast the Japanese relocation camps with Indian reservations in
terms of paternalism and coerced acculturation. What impact did this experience
have on the Japanese Americans economically? How were Japanese Americans
compensated for their losses? Does the compensation paid to Japanese
Americans provide a precedent for similar payments (reparations) to African
Americans for their losses under slavery? Why or why not?
10.Will assimilation for contemporary immigrants be segmented? After examining
the evidence and arguments presented by both sides, and using information from
chapter 10 and previous chapters, which side of the debate seems more
credible? Why? What are the implications of this debate? What will the United
States look like in the future if assimilation is segmented? How will the future
change if assimilation follows the “traditional” pathway? Which of these scenarios
is more desirable for immigrant groups? For society as a whole? For various
segments of U.S. society (e.g., employers, labor unions, African Americans,
consumers, the college educated, the urban underclass)?
11.Compare the development of dominant–minority relations in Brazil and the
United States. What important differences and similarities can you identify? How
do these differences and similarities affect contemporary relations?
Evaluation Rubric for Written Assignment 2
CRITERIA Deficient Development
Needed
Proficient Exemplary
0-23 Points 24-27 Points 28-30 Points 31-33 Points
Structure Organizational
structure and
paragraphing have
serious and persistent
errors. Directions
were ignored and
information provided
was insufficient to
meet assignment
guidelines.
Written work
inadequate for
college-level
work;
Paragraphing
and transitions
are inadequate;
inappropriate
guidelines
outlined for
paper were not
met with several
problems (see
directions).
Written work is
clear and
adequate collegelevel work;
Paragraphing and
transitions are
adequate;
appropriate
guidelines
outlined for paper
were met with a
few noted
problems (see
directions).
Written work is
clear and
excellent
college-level
work;
Paragraphing
and transitions
are clear
and appropriate;
appropriate
guidelines
outlined
for paper were
met (see
directions).
0-23 Points 24-27 Points 28-30 Points 31-33 Points
Mechanics Written work had
serious and persistent
errors in word
selection and use;
sentence structure,
spelling, grammar,
punctuation was
inappropriate and with
serious errors; APA
style was completely
unacceptable.
Written work had
serious and
persistent errors
in word
selection and
use;
sentence
structure,
spelling,
grammar,
punctuation was
inappropriate
and with serious
errors; APA
style was
completely
unacceptable.
Written work was
generally free of
errors in word
selection and
use; sentence
structure,
spelling,
grammar,
punctuation was
adequate; APA
style was
acceptable with a
few errors.
Written work has
no major errors
in
word selection
and use;
sentence
structure,
spelling,
grammar,
punctuation was
appropriate; APA
style was
acceptable with
no to few errors
0-23 Points 24-27 Points 28-30 Points 31-34 Points
Content Written work does not
cover the assigned
topic; assertions are
not supported by
evidence; paper is
seriously lacking in
Written work
does not do an
adequate
job of covering
the assigned
topic;
The length of the
written work is
sufficient to cover
the topic;
assertions are
The length of the
written work
provides in-depth
coverage of the
content and detail;
scholarly journals
were not used or used
properly.
assertions are
weakly
supported by
evidence; paper
is inadequate in
meeting the
page and
content area
requirements;
less than 3
scholarly
journals were
used.
supported by
evidence; does
not meet full
required number
of
pages and
content areas.
3 scholarly
journals were
used.
topics,
assertions are
clearly
supported by
evidence;
Paper meets
required length
of
pages and
content areas; 3
or more
scholarly
journals were
used.
