Deivance in the News
This assignment asks you to write a sociological analysis of a report about
deviance. The objective of the research is to determine the extent to which norms influence
behavior and how norm violation is perceived in our society. Thus, you will pay particular
attention on how the deviance was described in your chosen article.
This assignment involves core concepts that you find in Chapter 7. Make sure that you
have reviewed this chapter before writing your final report.
STEP 1: Find a current article about a deviant act that has been committed within the past few
weeks. These deviant acts could either be positive or negative. Examples of deviant actscriminal behaviors, heroic behaviors, hoarding, Samaritan acts, etc. You can also look at acts
institutions/ organizations have done that would be considered “deviant” acts.
Articles should be a minimum of 500 words, recent (within three-six weeks), relevant (related
to social conformity, deviance, and social control), and from a reputable news source (the
KSUTC library as well as your public libraries provide free access to national news sources).
You should not Google “deviance” to find a current events article; rather, check reputable
online news sources or an actual article about a deviant behavior. There are always major
deviant acts each week that make the national and local news.
STEP 2: Write a thorough summary of the article. This means that the summary should be at
quite detailed. Summary, however, should not be more than one page.
STEP 3: Using your sociological imagination, write an analysis of the article that connects the
main idea/s of the article to 5 specific key terms and 1 theory we have discussed in Chapter 7 –
Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control.”
Use the following outline for your analysis:
Format to use:
I. Write a thorough summary of the article (not more than one page)
II. Sociological Analysis of the report
A. What was the norm that was violated? Describe briefly how this norm helps one
determine how to act in a social setting. That is, what is the function of the norm
for society in general?
B. Which deviance theory do you think can best explain the public’s reactions to
this norm violation? Explain why.
C. Relate the article’s report about this deviance to at least FIVE sociological
concepts we have studied in Chapter 7. (*note: in this analysis, make sure to
highlight the key terms)
D. Write a conclusion for your paper by stating what you learned about how is
deviance perceived in society?
