Social Scientist Research and Presentation Assignment

There have been many important Social Scientists across the disciplines throughout history. Now that you understand what each subject represents, it is important that you are familiar with some of the major players. This assignment is intended to do just that.

Step 1: Groups and Topics
In small groups (2-4) select a Social Scientist from the list below.

Anthropology	Sociology	Psychology
The Leakey Family (Louis, Mary and/or Richard) Margaret Mead Franz Boas Ruth Benedict Marvin Harris Sherry Ortner Ed Spicer Franz Boaz Jane Goodall	George Herbert Mead Karl Marx Emile Durkheim Irving Goffman Max Weber Dorothy Smith Immanuel Wallerstein Marlene Mackie	Erik H. Erikson Jean Piaget B.F. Skinner Wolfgang Kohler Howard Gardner Sigmund Freud Abraham Maslow Alfred Adler Karen Horney Harry Harlow Ivan Pavlov Carl Jung

Step 2: Research and Creating a Presentation
In your groups, students will research and create a presentation (photostory, powerpoint, website) that contains the following:

· Where and when he /she lived

· Outline his / her field of research

· Contributions to the social sciences / insight that gained recognition among academics

· How he / she has helped to further the discipline (s) of sociology, psychology and or sociology

· Reflection and importance on the credibility / validity of the study to contemporary social issues

· Relevant images / graphics

Step 3: Presentation
a) Present your research presentation (photostory, powerpoint, website) to the class. This should be approximately 5 minutes.

b) Prepare a 3-5 minute infomercial or SGA designed to provide information about your chosen social scientist (infomercial= sell a fictional product that he / she could have used to assist in their studies). Remember to use music, costumes, visual aids and props!

*Note: presentations will be approximately 10 minutes in length.

Step 4: Reflective Response: Theorists and Theories Response

Consider the information that has been presented over the past couple of days. Use this information to compose a reflective response approximately 1-2 pages in length (double spaced).

Reflective Questions

1. Compare your theorist to another in the same discipline. How do their theories differ? How are they similar?

2. Consider which theories discussed still hold true today. Can they help to explain modern social situations? Give examples to support your opinion.

RUBRIC: Social Scientist Research and Presentation Assignment

Criteria	Level 4	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
A. Research & Content Knowledge / Understanding	- Exceptional research / content that is detailed, critical and intricately tells a story of the social scientist and his / her contributions	-solid research that is has good details and attempts to tells a story / give information of the social scientist and his / her contributions	- adequate research that is has some detail and gives preliminary information of the social scientist and his / her contributions	- research lacks depth. Did not extend past a cursory level of research.
B. Reflective Response Thinking Inquiry/ Communication	- exceptional written summary / reflection of the theorist and theories with excellent comparisons, analysis and applications to modern social trends	- well written summary / reflection of the theorist and theories with solid comparisons, analysis and applications to modern social trends	- adequate written summary / reflection of the theorist and theories but more critical comparisons, analysis and applications to modern social trends	- poor written summary / reflection of the theorist and theories -lack of comparisons, analysis and applications to modern social trends
C. Presentation (photostory, website, powerpoint) & Infomerical Application	- The presentation is exceptionally organized. - A superb blend of text, images and design. - Professional appearance. -infomercial is very creative and effectively showcases the social scientist’s contributions with music, props and costumes	- The presentation is well organized. - Good blend of text, images and design. - Clean organized appearance. -infomercial is creative and showcases the social scientist’s contributions with music, props and costumes	- The presentation has some unorganized elements - Lack of balance between text and images. - Appears elementary -infomercial is somewhat creative and attempts to showcase the social scientist’s contributions with some use of music, props and costumes	- The presentation is disorganized. - All elements not apparent - Information is lost in a poor design. -informercial lack creativity and planning and does not effectively showcase the social scientist’s contributions