Write an analytical paper on a specific social issue under one of the following
general topics:
• Gender inequality and sexism
• Ethnic inequality and racism
• Education and inequality
• Crime and deviance
• Religion and cultural change
• Family and socialization
• Ageism in the aging society
Your paper should be 8-10 pages (12-point font; Times New Roman; and double-spaced) in
length. You must provide a bibliography, including references to all sources of information that
you draw upon in your paper.
It is to be an analytical paper in the sense that you will be providing information that not only
describes the issue with which you are dealing, but in addition, you will be working towards an
explanation of the problem.
The process that you should follow in developing your analysis can be outlined as follows:
1. Develop a specific title for your paper. Define your problem or research question: What
are you trying to find out, and why?
2. Indicate the possible ways of answering the question: Which theories, approaches or
explanations can be used, or have been used by others, to answer the question of a
similar nature? Identify, briefly, the strengths and limitations of each approach.
3. Identify your argument: Indicate how you are going to answer the questions (i.e., which
approach will you take or which set of factors will you conclude are most important to
explain your problem), and justify why.
4. Provide your empirical evidence (your own experience/observation or secondary data)
and analysis: Organize and present your information. Your findings must be set up in
such a way as to show how and why you have answered your question in the way that
you have. You may use your textbook as a source of information, but you should also
incorporate other books and articles.
5. Conclude your analysis: Provide a brief concluding section to summarize your analysis
and to indicate its importance.
