![Bookmark and Share](http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/sm-plus.gif)
Guidelines for Write-up of
Breaking a
Social Norm Assignment
(With thanks to Eells and Unnithan in Kain and Neas, 1993, pp. 55-56.)
The following format is to
be followed as you write up this exercise.
Please note that this is a skeletal outline and is intended to help you
decide what information to include in your report. Be sure to cover all of these points, but
don’t feel that you are limited to them.
Elaborate and be creative where you can.
Incorporate as much as you can from your learning about sociology in
everyday settings.
This report should be 2-5
pages in length, typed and double-spaced.
Good grammar and sentence structure are expected.
The format to use:
1.
Statement of
the Problem
A.
Define the
norm you will violate.
B.
Describe
briefly how this norm acts as a mechanism of social control.
C.
Describe what
you will do to violate the norm.
2.
Hypothesis
A.
Describe the
range of possible reactions others will have to the violation of this norm.
B.
What do you
predict the major reaction will be?
3.
Describe the
setting
A.
Physical—where
is the norm violation taking place?
B.
Social—How
many and what types of persons are observing?
4.
Describe the
incident—tell what happened.
5.
Summary and
Interpretation
A.
How did you
feel as you were violating the norm?
B.
Why did you
feel the way you did?
C.
Did people
react the way you expected? Explain.
D.
Did you
encounter any difficulties in carrying out your assignment?
E.
What, if
anything, did you learn about how norms exercise social control?
F.
Any other
pertinent observations.