Create a PowerPoint presentation on a key diversity issue, with at least 12 slides incorporating research and data.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria
- Competency 1: Describe theoretical ideas of power in relation to policy.
- Discuss how sociological theory can be used to understand disparities in political power.
- Competency 2: Identify historical and contemporary influences of discrimination in U. S. culture.
- Discuss tactics employed by political players to promote a cause.
- Describe the evolution of the social movements that have emerged as a result of a diversity issue.
- Competency 3: Analyze the effects of social policy using aggregated data.
- Address potential audience questions using supporting data and research.
- Competency 4: Analyze how laws are applied or created based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and social class.
- Analyze the evolution of anti-discrimination law to give context to current law or policy.
- Competency 6: Apply in text the standard writing conventions for the discipline, including structure, voice, person, tone, and citation formatting.
- Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format and with few errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Many of the current political, legal, and social debates in U.S. society center around diversity and its related issues. These debates, such as debates about the legality or morality of same-sex marriage or immigration policy, involve not only arguments regarding discriminatory treatment of particular ethnic groups or sexual minorities but also legal, economic, and religious questions and concerns.
Applying the sociological perspective to these debates is useful, because it requires researching these diverse perspectives and placing them in historical and contemporary contexts to gain a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the debate and current and proposed policy solutions. This also puts us in a position in which we can more accurately evaluate and critique the merits of comments made and policies suggested by politicians, leaders, and others with a stake in these debates.
As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your assessment.
- How and why has U.S. immigration policy changed since the mid-20th century? What are the similarities and differences between current immigrant groups and patterns of immigration compared to historical trends?
- What are the costs and benefits of immigration, whether legal or illegal, for the United States as a whole?
- What are the key arguments of the stakeholders in the debate about the morality and legality of same-sex marriage rights?
- How should disparities between state and federal policies regarding same-sex marriage be handled?
- What are key issues in the struggle to reduce discrimination based on gender, age, religion, and/or disability status?
This assessment requires application of a specific sociological theory to your analysis of a key issue in the study of diversity. Below are resources that discuss the three major theories in sociology.
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- This presentation reviews social-conflict theory (also called conflict theory), a sociological theory that focuses on power.
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- This presentation reviews structural-functional theory (also called functionalism), one of the major sociological theories.
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- This presentation reviews symbolic interaction theory, one of the major sociological theories.
Your task in this assessment is to first choose one of the following social issues related to diversity: immigration policy, same-sex marriage, gender inequality, disability rights, or age discrimination. If you have another diversity-related social issue you would like to focus on other than these options, contact your faculty for approval before you begin working on this assessment. Once you have selected a social issue to focus on, you will then create a presentation that would be delivered at a symposium on a college campus. You will need to place your social issue in historical context, which will involve researching the history of policy as it pertains to your chosen topic and the social movements that developed as a result (for example, the gay rights movement or women’s rights movement). You will also be asked to propose and address potential questions audience members might ask in this kind of situation.
Deliverable
Focusing on your social issue, create a PowerPoint presentation that addresses each of the items below. Include graphics with supporting data in the form of charts, tables, or graphs when appropriate, and include any other information that supports your message. Be sure to include extensive speaker’s notes to provide detailed explanation of each of the subtopics covered in the presentation. Notes should be typed in the Notes area below each PowerPoint slide.
Include the following components:
- Provide an overview and description of the central issue you have chosen to address.
- Describe the evolution of the social movements that are a precursor for or have emerged as a result of your chosen issue.
- Include a timeline with key events to provide historical context.
- Describe any milestones that have characterized the development of the social movement involving your issue.
- Briefly analyze the following for your selected topic:
- The evolution of federal legislation on the topic over the past 10 years.
- The current political landscape, including key political debates related to your central issue.
- Introduce the important political players (individuals or groups) in the national debate, and discuss the tactics these individuals or groups have used to call attention to or advance their position.
- Explain how sociological theory (such as conflict theory or symbolic interaction theory) can be used to understand your issue.
- Consider which theory might explain why some players have more power than others in this debate.
- Include a brief conclusion slide that summarizes your findings.
- Provide two questions (following your conclusion) that you anticipate that your audience might ask about your topic, including these questions on one of your slides.
- Provide answers for each question, typing your answers in the Notes area below the Questions slide you have created.
- Use data and information from your research to support your responses.
- For example, if you are discussing immigration policy, a potential question would be “Are immigrants taking the jobs of native-born Americans?” Similarly, a potential question about same-sex marriage might be, “How has public perception of same-sex marriage changed over the last few decades?”
