For the final paper you will be able to choose a number of options to explore social stratification: the structures of social inequality.  As you will notice from the following options, each one of them is based on one of the previous sociological paper options.  Although the assignments are similar, for the final paper you will have to complete a more comprehensive examination of social inequality, paying particular attention the intersections. 

Each paper should be 8-10 pages (double-spaced) and should include extensive references to the course materials, news analyses, and possibly your book review.  This means you MUST have a works cited page with ASA-style citations (or a citation style you are most familiar with for your discipline.)  Your paper should indicate which final paper option your chose in the heading and does NOT require a title page.  In addition, if you are building on a pervious paper you submitted during the semester, please attach that paper as well. 
For the second sociological paper option you will be required to watch at least two episodes of The Wire or alternatively the film 13th.  The Wire is HBO series that uses Baltimore as a case study to highlight the social problems within our social systems and institutions.  Although this may not have been the creators original intention, many sociological themes emerge in each and every episode.  David Simon, creator of The Wire, says:
We are a culture without the will to seriously examine our own problems.  We eschew that which is complex, contradictory or confusing.  As a culture, we seek simple solutions.  We enjoy being provoked and titillated, but resist the rigorous, painstaking examination of issues that might, in the end, bring us to the point of recognizing our problems, which is the essential first step to solving any of them (taken from a longer finale letters, see reverse for entire letter). 
In this paper, I would like you to analyze the story in the episodes you have chosen to watch and then relate it to the different social institutions that we have covered in part II of the course.  The social institutions for assessment include: Family, Education, Work and Economy, The State and Public Policy, Media, and Language and Culture (although we have not yet covered it in this section, you may also discuss Violence and Social Control).  In assessing these institutions you should pay particular attention to the structures of difference and inequality that are created, maintained, perpetuated, and possibly challenged; specifically issues of race and ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.  Additionally, if you notice other social institutions that are touched upon in the episodes please address them as well. 
Needs to include work cited page