Reference no: EM133583835 , Length: word count:2000
Essay questions: How can sociological theory help us understand a specific social Issue? What policy response has the Australian government formulated regarding this issue?
Students submit a 2000-word essay (+/- 200 words) that has two parts. Firstly, students are asked to apply two sociological theories on a specific social issue identified in this unit (e.g., family violence, inequality, poverty, mental health, addiction). This essay demonstrates that students understand that there is never one complete explanation for social issues but that multiple perspectives may offer different understandings. You can choose a general approach to an issue or to narrow it by examining it in relation to a particular group based on for example, location (rural or remote), gender, age, non-English-speaking migrants, or Indigenous Australians. Secondly, students are asked to analyse the policy response of the Australian government to the chosen social issue. They should also consider the constitutional structure of government as it shapes, in part, the policy response.
In this assignment, students must draw on the required readings and 4 to 10 other academic or official texts (peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, government reports, etc. - see the marking roubric). Students may also use the information found on the websites of the Australian federal or state governments or Australian non-government or peak organisations identified in this unit
The paper will be written in academic style (formal English) and use APA 7th referencing including correct referencing for e-book titles, and online accessed journal articles and web sources.
Proposed essay structure:
1. Introduction (introduction of the topic, scope and aims of this essay, structure of the essay)
2. Body:
Part 1: Understanding a key social issue
- Introduce the social issue you chose from week 5-8 (background information on the history and/or current situation) - Describe two sociological theories and explain how they help us understand the social issue.
Part 2: Policy response to this issue
- Discuss the constitutional divisions of powers
- Identify the level of government that is constitutionally responsible for this social issue and the Commonwealth State arrangements for the associated social policy (is the social issue in the hands of the federal government exclusively? Does it fall under concurrent/shared power or residual state power? Which government department and which minister are responsible for this issue?
- Identify and describe one current policy response to that social issue
3. Conclusion (summary of the key ideas, concluding thoughts)
Assessment criteria
1. Demonstrated understanding of sociological theories and a social problem
2. Demonstrated understanding of government structures and social policy
3. Demonstrated literature search and use of all required types of literature
4. Academic style, writing, expression, referencing