Sociology 1101: Community Analysis

Points possible: 100 (90 for paper, 10 for group discussions)

Page limits: 6-8 pages

For this exercise, you will conduct a analysis of a community that you have lived in for a
significant period of time (e.g., at least 2-3 years, preferably longer). This community
can be a small town, a rural community, or a section of a city or suburb. The sections
below will help you organize and write your paper. Please use each section heading
below for writing your paper, which should be written in essay format. Please refrain
from simply providing large lists of what is available in your community, or lists of
demographics. Everything should be written in a way that is conversational and relates
the data or information to what is asked of you in each section.

The paper will need to follow the following formatting and writing guidelines:

1. 12 point font, you may use either Times New Roman or Arial
2. Standard double spacing
3. One inch margins
4. Use a citation style such as APA, MLA, ASA, Chicago style, etc., and be
consistent
5. ANY reference to any resource, whether it is the book, class lectures,
newspapers, websites, etc., must be CITED in your paper. Failing to cite your
sources is plagiarism and can result in dramatic consequences such as failing
the paper, the course, etc., depending on the severity of the case.
6. Since this paper is about your community, it makes sense that sometimes you
will refer to yourself in relation to the community, e.g., “My community.”
This is perfectly fine and preferable, since part of your research relies on your
own experience living in the community.

For this assignment, you will need to address as thoroughly as possible all of the
following sections:

1. Introduction (10 points)

Tell me about your community. What is the name of the community, and where is it
located? What is the history of your community, and what are some interesting things
about it? This section should spark my interest in your community and should include
information that won’t be covered elsewhere necessarily. This section should also
include your personal perspective of living in the community. Do you feel a sense of
belonging in the community? Why or why not? What aspects of the community do
people take pride in? What aspects of the community do people view as needing to
change? Why? The introduction should also include a brief overview of what will be
covered in the paper.
2. Geographical and demographic information (20 points)

Is your community considered urban, suburban, or rural? What are the main
geographical features in the area, and what function do they serve in the community?
(e.g., rivers, ponds, lakes, ravines, etc.). What are the main built (man made) features of
your community, and what function do they serve in the community? (e.g., parks,
historical sites, recreation facilities, dams, etc.). What are the demographics of the
community? Include population size, racial/ethnic composition, gender, class
composition (derived from income, occupations, etc), number of renters vs. owners,
family households, a general occupational overview, levels of education, crime rates, etc.
Don’t provide lists of this data. Use this data to DESCRIBE your community
demographically. Tell me how these demographics help shape your community.

3. Social Institutions (30 points)

What are the major social institutions represented in the community that meet community
needs? What types of functions do these social institutions have in the community?
Identify ways in which they play out on your local level. For example, here are some
questions you could think about for various social institutions:

Is your community more family oriented, or is it mostly young professionals or students?

What percentage of families are single parent headed? (family)

What types of businesses are found in your neighborhood, and what types of jobs do they
provide? Do you see businesses closing or new businesses opening? Home forclosures?
Is it easy to access quality foods in your area? Are there healthy options available?
(economy)

What is the predominant religion in your community? What types of religious

institutions are available and what function do they have in the community? (religion)

What is the relationship between the community and law enforcement? Is there a lot of
crime in your community? How is the crime dealt with by legal officials? (legal)

Do you have hospitals or clinics in your area? How are healthcare needs met in your
community? (healthcare/medicine)

What types of educational opportunities are available in your community? How are the
schools ranked, and what is their quality? Do the educational resources in your
community adequately prepare students for further education or living in society?
(education)

What types of government facilities and services are available in your area? How
important are they to the community? Could be art museums, cultural sites, parks, social
services, town hall, parent teacher organizations, community organizations, neighborhood
watch, etc.) (Government)
4. Social problems in and future of the community (MUST provide evidence of
these social problems from crime stats, newspaper articles, interviews, etc.) (20
points)

Discuss any major social problems or challenges that the community faces (economic
problems, crime, class strife, educational issues, out-migration, etc.). Utilize material
from the class (or additional material) to explain why the social problem may be an issue
for the community. What are some of the possible solutions to the social problem in your
community? What available resources are there, as discussed in your social institutions
section, to assist in countering the social problem/problems, and how specifically might
they help? Given these social problems, what do you believe to be the future of this
community (is it bright or bleak, questionable or uncertain, and why)?

5. Map your community (10 points)

Either create or utilize a map to illustrate and label major areas of your community, such
as:

a. Business districts or prominent businesses (factories, financial services,

corporate headquarters, etc.)
b. Residential areas, whether there is a "wrong side" or "right side" of the tracks
c. Major government or social service institutions
d. Historic or significant landmarks that help define your community
e. Natural or manmade features, such as mountains, rivers, lakes, highways, etc.,
that influence your community's ecology