Each paper should be 4-5 pages (not including references, double-spaced, typed, 12 pt. font). The first paper should be on a topic of student’s choice on a sociological issue related to childhood or adolescent development. The second paper should be on a sociological issue related to adult or older adult development. Please ask me if you are unsure if your proposed topic is appropriate.
Papers should consist of the following components:
(a) Find a recent newspaper or magazine article (2020 or later) from popular culture that illustrates a pertinent developmental phenomenon, concept, theory, issue, or research finding that is sociological in nature.
(b) Find an academic, peer reviewed article that relates to this topic as well.
(c) The first page of your paper should be an annotated bibliography.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Paper 1: Sociological Issue Related to Childhood or Adolescent Development
Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Development
Annotated Bibliography:
1. Popular Culture Article:
– Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. Newspaper/Magazine Name. Retrieved from [Link to the article].
– Summary: The popular culture article discusses how excessive use of social media among adolescents is leading to increased rates of anxiety and depression. It highlights the pressure faced by teenagers to maintain a certain image online and the negative impact it has on their mental health and self-esteem.
2. Academic Article:
– Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page range. [Link to the article].
– Summary: The academic article explores the relationship between social media usage and adolescent well-being. It presents findings from a longitudinal study indicating a significant association between high social media engagement and poor mental health outcomes among adolescents.
Connection to Developmental Phenomenon:
The phenomenon of adolescents’ engagement with social media and its impact on their development aligns with several concepts discussed in our course. From a socio-cultural perspective, the influence of social media platforms on shaping adolescents’ identities and social interactions is evident. The pressure to conform to online standards and seek validation from peers can affect adolescents’ self-concept and emotional well-being.
Furthermore, when viewed through the lens of Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the struggle for identity versus role confusion during adolescence is exacerbated by the constant comparison and validation-seeking behavior fostered by social media platforms. Adolescents may experience identity crises as they navigate between their real selves and curated online personas, leading to self-doubt and anxiety.
Moreover, the cognitive development of adolescents is influenced by their exposure to social media content, which can shape their perceptions of societal norms, body image ideals, and relationships. The constant barrage of information and images on social media may distort adolescents’ reality and hinder their ability to differentiate between authentic experiences and idealized representations portrayed online.
In addressing the social issue of negative outcomes associated with adolescent social media use, a possible solution could involve implementing educational programs in schools that promote digital literacy and critical thinking skills. By empowering adolescents to navigate social media platforms mindfully and discerningly, they can develop resilience against negative influences and cultivate healthier online behaviors.
References:
– Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Page range.
– Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. Newspaper/Magazine Name. Retrieved from [Link to the article].
– Include any other relevant sources utilized in class or the textbook following APA format.
