You can access your group by going to the class MyGateway site: select, "Group Areas."  You'll find folders for each group with a list of the students assigned to each group, a link to access your group discussion board, and your group wiki (Wiki Help and Tips; see also, http://support.learningobjects.com/help/campus_pack/2.9.1/wiki/wiki.htm).

Read all three parts of the project to understand what you will be expected to do. Be sure to document all your discussions in the group discussion board. You'll find a forum for each part of the activity.

This project entails an investigation the social reality of poverty in an urban community.

Group Project: Group Set-up due Thursday, February 4 end of day (11:59 PM); Part 1 due Tuesday, February 23 end of day); Part 2 due Thursday, March 25 end of day; Part 3 (final project) is is due Thursday, April 29, end of day. (125 points)

Group Project Grading Policy:

Hopefully, your participation and collaboration in these groups will be an important source of learning and support throughout the semester. Your group provides a forum for participation, discussion, and collaboration with other group members on class topics and the group project.

A few points:

• Your work, individual and group, should be presented in your group wiki as a series of inter-linked web pages. The wiki allows members of the group to share information and collaborate on the development of a “website.”
• There should be one report on the wiki for each part the project. This synthesis of group research and discussion can and should be supported with a set of inter-linked wiki pages documenting your group’s research on the individual components of the project and your group's discussion.
• Group members must document their individual contributions for group projects in the discussion forum (all individual contributions to the forum and wiki must be completed at least three days before the activity's due date to allow the group leader time to finalize the wiki site, and the group to add final comments and suggestions). Group members who complete some, but not all, components of an activity may be eligible for partial credit. Students will be evaluated for the work they contribute to the project. In effect, you will be building a web site that focuses on the details project.
• Group Coordinators are responsible for coordinating and finalizing group work on activities. Group Coordinators must post the full names of all the individuals completing the requirements for the activities.
• All group members are responsible for the final presentation of each part of the project. If a group coordinator is unable to complete an activity, another member of the group must be contacted so that the activity can be completed. For this reason, it is wise for groups to designate co-leaders or back-up leaders for each activity. Group Coordinators can earn up to 5 additional points per activity for the extra work they take on.
• Rely on reputable studies, articles, and books. Websites that meet the criteria for reputable work (or here ) can also be used.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information..

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Group Set-up: due Thursday, February 4 end of day (11:59 PM) (20 points)

• Begin Communicating on Group Discussion Board--you are expected to check the group discussion board and contribute ideas, provide information, and ask questions at least twice a week throughout the semester. All group related interactions must be documented in the group forums in order for credit to be assigned.
  • Find your group and open the group pages.
  • Click on the "Group Discussion Board" link.
  • Click on your group's discussion forum for Part 1 and post messages to get the group organized. 
  • Set up specific meeting dates for work throughout the semester--either face-to-face or online (all communications must be documented on the discussion board to receive credit for 'documented contributions'). Work together as a group!
• Decide group roles (2 or more people per role):  Coordinator, Synthesizer, Editor, and Webmaster
  • Coordinator's Role- In charge of overseeing assignment distribution for group work and setting deadlines for individual work; insuring each part of the project is completed according to the guidelines.
  • Synthesizer's Role- In charge of summarizing group work and discussion on the discussion board in an academic, organized, and clear manner; similar to a mini-paper with introductions, content, conclusion (in paragraph form) and provided a list of group members who actively participated in completing the work over the duration of the activity.
  • Webmaster's Role- Putting the synthesizer's work on the wiki and adding some flash (hyperlinks, images, etc.).  The content should be academic (including references) but the layout does not have to be traditional.
  • Editor's Role- Making sure the work is clear, organized and free of grammatical and spelling errors.  

Create Group Wiki Home Page: Should include a group name, list of individual names hyperlinked to their personal pages, list of group assignments for the semester hyperlinked to pages set up for each part of part of the assignment, and a list of group roles and who's going to do what for which assignment.  The pages designated for for part one should detail the family you've constructed.

Create Personal Wiki Page- providing a bit of information about yourselves and other interests you might have.  Experiment with the different features of the wiki--add external links, internal links (link back to your "home page") add an image or two--especially an picture of yourself. Update this page throughout the semester--adding links to your individual contributions to the project your group chooses.  Make sure to link all individual work here throughout the semester.  This is where the grader goes to access your part of the assignment.  Credit will not be given for individual work if it is not linked on the personal wiki page. For help creating a personal wiki page, see Prof. Keel's Wimba archive on "Creating a Personal Wiki Page" in the Wimba area of the class MyGateway site.

Scoring for this part of the project (20 points possible):

• 10 points for individual contributions (documented work on the group wiki and your personal page in the group wiki).
• 5 points for documented contributions to the group discussion via the group discussion forum. We are expecting regular and consistent communication--no matter what kind of interactions you have (phone, wimba, face-to-face) they all need to be documented in your group discussion board.
• 5 points for the group presentation. This includes the final wiki presentation (style, spelling, grammar, images, links to other resources, and overall quality of the presentation) and the content of your presentation (use of course materials, demonstration of sociological imaginations, and application of course concepts, theories, and other relevant materials).  

If you have any questions, contact either the class TA or Prof. Keel

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Part 1 "Getting Organized/Researching and Designing an Experiment" due Tuesday, February 23 end of day (11:59 PM). (35 points)

For 2009, the federal government's (Health and Human Services) poverty guideline was approximately $22,050 for an urban family of four, and is determined by multiplying the cost of a "nutritious" diet for this family by three. Working backwards, we can dissect this number to reveal that the government believes that any family that has more than $1.68 to spend per person, per meal, per day for food is not living in poverty ($22,050/3= $7,350 for food. $7350/365 days= $20.14 per day for food. $20.14/3 meals per day= $6.71 per meal. $6.71/4 people= $1.68 per person per meal).

Group Assignments

• Continue Communicating on Group Discussion Board--you are expected to check the group discussion board and contribute ideas, provide information, and ask questions at least twice a week throughout the semester. All group related interactions must be documented in the group forums in order for credit to be assigned.

• Construct "Your" family.   Include in your wiki presentation a discussion the following points:  Social Services, Residence, Work, School, Health status, Recreation, Ages, Race, etc., Adult Education, Networks, be realistic and typical.
• Construct a menu based on current nutritional standards that would  meet the nutritional needs of a family of four for a week. You must include a clear menu plan, and it must satisfy basic nutritional requirements. Detail the food (and quantities) you'll need to "purchase." Everyone will be using this same menu and food list.
• Design your experiment using the Scientific Method- (Lecture notes and text from Chapter 2 will be most helpful in this section.)
  • You'll be "shopping" in different stores (for part 2 of the project) in different communities (affluent and poor) to investigate the social and economic reality of poverty.
  • Make sure to include the following:  Research Problem, Controls, Hypothesis, Independent/Dependent variables, Demographic Information, Intervening Variables: time, location, population, Experimental Design, Hawthorne Effect, and Generalizibility. 
  • It will be helpful to design a data collection sheet so everyone's on the same page when they go into the field!
• Your group page for part 1 should include links to your menu and the description of your research design. There should be links to the literature reviews done by group members, too, along with a general synopsis of what you learned as a group from this part of the project.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Individual Assignment: (Everyone must do all of this!)

• Literature Review: Use 1 or 2 sociological sources focusing on the significance of poverty in American society: Sociology Books (not textbooks), Edited Books, Journals, Databases) Need help, ask TA or the local librarian!  The library has a handout on sociological resources.
• What's a literature review?  If you don't know, don't guess.ask the professor or TA before, during or after class (or do some investigation--here's one web site: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html)!  This assignment should have an introduction, body, and conclusion; should define key terms; and relate it to the experiment the group is discussing on the discussion board.  What are sociologists saying about living at or around the poverty line?
• Your literature review should be about 1-2 pages in length.  Create a new page in the wiki for each individual's review, and insure these pages are linked to and from the "Part 1" page and each individual's personal page.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Scoring for this part of the project (35 points possible):

• 15 points for individual contributions (documented work on the group wiki and your personal page in the group wiki).
• 5 points for documented contributions to the group discussion via the group discussion forum. We are expecting regular and consistent communication--no matter what kind of interactions you have (phone, wimba, face-to-face) they all need to be documented in your group discussion board.
• 15 points for the group presentation. This includes the final wiki presentation (style, spelling, grammar, images, links to other resources, and overall quality of the presentation) and the content of your presentation (use of course materials, demonstration of sociological imaginations, and application of course concepts, theories, and other relevant materials).  

If you have any questions, contact either the class TA or Prof. Keel

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Part 2 "Conducting the Research" due Thursday, March 25, end of day. (35 points)

Group Assignment- Discuss on the discussion board, utilize group roles, and provide insight and assistant to all as they conduct the experiment. Remember, you are expected to check the group discussion board and contribute ideas, provide information, and ask questions at least twice a week throughout the semester. All group related interactions must be documented in the group forums in order for credit to be assigned.

• Group page for part 2 should include a summary of activity, and explanation of which individuals/teams conducted investigations, where they did it, and why these locations/subjects were included.
• This page should also present a budget.  Your family has $282.24 a week to cover everything bedsides food.  Include the following discussion points:  Rent, Utilities (gas and electric), Phone, Taxes, Nutritional Needs, Social Support, Recreation,  Health Care, Savings, Emergencies, Transportation (gas, repairs, maintenance, or public?), Clothing, Cleaning, Toiletries, Celebrations/holidays/birthdays, Next Month?, the Future (how long can you keep it going?).
• This page should also contain links to the various individual/team descriptions.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Individual Assignment- Everyone must do all of this (teamwork is acceptable)!  Create a new page in the wiki for each individual's (or team's) report on their "shopping" experiences, and insure these pages are linked to and from the "Part 2" page and each individual's personal page. Make sure to include references and citations in ASA style documentation (local copy with web citation guidelines). Your report should be the equivalent of 2-3 pages.

• Go shopping. Go to two different types of stores, one in a more impoverished neighborhood and one in a wealthy neighborhood. Does $141.12 (21 meals per week X 4 people @ $1.68 per meal) cover the costs of your menu (everyone in the group should use the same menu and food list)?  Make sure to include the following:  description of store interior and exterior, employees, customers, neighborhood, Price totals, Price comparisons on selected items,
• Shopping difficulties, availability of products, problems sticking to menu, variety, nutrition (canned vs. fresh), transportation,
• Can you survive (why or why not: realistic??).
• Discussion of the significance of the shopping experience.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Scoring for this part of the project (35 points possible):

• 15 points for individual contributions (documented work on the group wiki).
• 5 points for documented contributions to the group discussion via the group discussion forum. We are expecting regular and consistent communication--no matter what kind of interactions you have (phone, wimba, face-to-face) they all need to be documented in your group discussion board.
• 15 points for the group presentation. This includes the final wiki presentation (style, spelling, grammar, images, links to other resources, and overall quality of the presentation) and the content of your presentation (use of course materials, demonstration of sociological imaginations, and application of course concepts, theories, and other relevant materials).  

Part 3 "Analyzing Your Results" due Thursday, April 29 end of day. (35 points)

Group Assignment: Discuss on the discussion board, utilize group roles, and analyze your experiment in detail. Remember, you are expected to check the group discussion board and contribute ideas, provide information, and ask questions at least twice a week throughout the semester. All group related interactions must be documented in the group forums in order for credit to be assigned.

• Analyze the observations recorded in part 3.
• Create a final wiki page to present your findings and conclusions.
• Focus on patterns, variations and consistencies in responses related to the situation (time and place), the various individuals involved (variables like gender, race, social class), and the impact of living life at the poverty line.  Make sense out of what happened.  Sociological sense!  Then connect to the sociological perspectives worked on individually.
• Include a summary discussion of the individual theoretical analyses and links to the individual (team) analyses.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Individual Assignment (Everyone must do all of this!).  Should be 2-3 pages in length. Create a new page in the wiki for each individual's (team's) report on their theoretical analysis, and insure these pages are linked to and from the "Part 4" page and each individual's personal page. Make sure to include references and citations in ASA style documentation (local copy with web citation guidelines).

Applying the Three Sociological Perspectives (Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Interactionism):

• Not everyone need focus on all three perspectives, but all three perspectives need to be addressed by the group.
• You need to focus on the significance of the Poverty from each of the three theoretical perspectives.  Make sure to define the three perspectives and their views on economic stratification and poverty, discuss main assumptions, list scope, and apply.
• Interactionist perspective:  Compare life at the poverty line to the "typical" American family. What insights would be relevant from an interactionist perspective? Include the following discussion points:  "Typical" family vs. reality   of poverty, "Looking-Glass Self?", "Self-fulfilling Prophecy?","Definition of the Situation?", Relativity of Poverty, Impact on attitudes, Impact on behavior.
• How do Functionalist and Conflict theorists differ in their analysis of the significance of this data?  You must discuss both the central issues addressed by the theoretical perspectives concerning inequality and poverty, and also analyze your research findings from the point of view of these three perspectives.
• Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Scoring for this part of the project (35 points possible):

• 15 points for individual contributions (documented work on the group wiki).
• 10 points for documented contributions to the group discussion via the group discussion forum. We are expecting regular and consistent communication--no matter what kind of interactions you have (phone, wimba, face-to-face) they all need to be documented in your group discussion board.
• 10 points for the group presentation. This includes the final wiki presentation (style, spelling, grammar, images, links to other resources, and overall quality of the presentation) and the content of your presentation (use of course materials, demonstration of sociological imaginations, and application of course concepts, theories, and other relevant materials).  

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Here are some guidelines for using the wikis:

Here's a link with detailed instructions for using the wiki: http://support.learningobjects.com/help/campus_pack/2.7.4/wiki/wiki.htm.  You can access this link from your group's wiki by clicking on the "?" button in the upper right-hand corner.

To Create (or edit) a page:

1. Do not edit any other student's page.  Pay attention to "where" you are when you do your editing.
2. From any page in the wiki, click on "New" (or "Edit" if you have already created it and are returning to edit).
3. Give your page a name.  Format: Your last name, Your first name: short page title.
4. You'll see a variety of "tools" to help you edit your page--you can choose different fonts, and font sizes, format your text, and add tables. You can also add images and links to other web pages (internal to this wiki, as well as to outside web pages). Click the Image or Link buttons, and follow the simple instructions).
5. There's no spell check in the wiki, so I recommend typing your essay in MS Word and saving it.  Then, copy the text.  Once you've copied text from a Word, come back to your wiki page (make sure you are in the "edit" frame), click to place your mouse cursor in the page, and then use the "Paste from Word" button.   
6. If you know html, you'll find a button that allows you to edit the source code.
7. Be sure to click the "Save" button when you are done!
8. You'll be evaluated for content, style, and presentation.
9. One member is responsible for editing the 'home' page (first page you access when you enter the wiki), and to go through and link all of the other pages together.

Rely on reputable studies, articles, and books. Websites that meet the criteria for reputable work (or here ) can also be used.

Be sure to correctly cite all information used from research resources (in-text citations and a list of references for each page) using the ASA style guide (local copy with web citation guidelines, full version)  Additional assistance with referencing online resources can be found here. Also, remember we are undertaking an academic activity, so please refrain from using opinion, unreliable or invalid resources, sensationalism, and other non-academic practices. See academic integrity statement and SafeAssign information.

Contact the class TA or Mr. Keel if you have any questions.

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URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/010/GroupActivities/ga.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel: rok@umsl.edu
Last Updated: Saturday, March 6, 2010 12:55 PM

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