SOC002 Age Transformation Assignment:

Paper (3 – 4 pages, double-spaced; no larger than 12 point font, one inch margins)

1. An Introduction to the paper in which you discuss briefly what you see as your central finding/main theme/most interesting social problem about aging and the life course that emerged from your interview. The introduction should include a brief description of the older person to give an idea of who this person is. Like any introduction, yours should provide an overview of what you intend to discuss in the paper. If you’d like to write about more than one social problem/theme experienced by your interviewee, that is fine.

2. Analysis/Theory: Analysis of the data and incorporating a sociological theory will form most of this paper. You should describe and discuss your understanding of the person’s life using examples from your notes to illustrate the general findings or themes (also known as social problems). You should focus on a theme/social problem covered in class or in your text. Suggested themes/social problems include: changing family roles over the life course (problems/struggles with transitions to retirement); experience with racism or sexism, changing social supports and social interaction (or lack of it); problems with gender roles and gender-role socialization/discrimination; experience with social inequality, alcoholism/drug addiction, experience with violence (or fear of violence), issues with medical care, experience with feelings of being marginalized as an older person/woman/minority, experience with ageism, perceptions of the aging process. You will then choose one (or more) of the three main sociological theories to explain your interviewee (your subject’s) experiences and perceptions of the social problem(s)/theme(s). Make sure to cite your sources (your textbook and notes will be invaluable to you for this portion):SOC002 Age Transformation Assignment

3. Ideas to Reduce/Eliminate the Problem: The next portion is the Policy Change component. Now that you’ve identified your theme /social problem, what do you believe can be done to lessen or eliminate the problem on a societal level? Come up with two policy changes/ideas. Remember, if you decide that it requires some sort of publicly funded program, you’ll need to identify another program that can be cut or identify where/how money can be raised for your program (i.e., taxation, etc.). You’ll need to justify your decision.

4. The Conclusion should very briefly summarize your interview experience. Focus this summary around evaluative questions. Answer the following questions: Do you feel this person is aging successfully? Why or why not? How has the interview experience affected your ideas and attitudes about aging? What might you differently if you were to complete another interview:SOC002 Age Transformation Assignment