Norms and socialization
Choose a group you are a part of (cultural group, gender, athletic team, workplace, etc.), and explore the norms and socialization process of that group. In your paper you should:
Identify as many norms as you can (behavioral, interactional, etc.) held within that group. Be sure to think about both formal and informal norms, and identify them as such. It is sometimes difficult to see norms within a group you are a part of — challenge yourself to really think about some of the things you take for granted.
Discuss how you learned these norms. What was the process of socialization? Formal or informal? Who/what were the agents of socialization? How is adherence to the norms enforced through sanctions and/or rewards? (Be specific here — different norms will have different answers to all of these questions.)
Papers should be five pages, typed, double spaced.
Papers will be graded according to the following criteria:
- Demonstration of original thought and engagement with course material
- Thoughtful identification of norms beyond the most obvious ones
- Correct identification of formal and informal norms
- Clear examples of socialization (how norms learned and from whom)
- Clear examples of sanctions and rewards for formal and informal norms
- Organization and overall writing quality
- Grammar and spelling
