ASSIGNMENT : SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL INTERACTION

You've learned how important groups, roles, statuses, and social networks are in the structure of society.

In this assignment, you'll demonstrate what you've learned by identifying and describing examples from your own life. You will also have a chance to practice some smart strategies for managing your digital presence in your own "online" social networks.

Instructions: Complete both parts of the assignment by following the instructions below

PART A: YOUR STATUS SET, ROLES, AND ROLE PROBLEMS

1) Status Set:

a) List a status set that includes at least five statuses that you currently have.

• Remember: A status is simply a position you fill in society. It may be a job title, but it could also include a position you fill within a family
or a community. For more information, review Section 4.3 in your webtext.

b) Label each status in your status set as ascribed, achieved, or master.

• Remember: An ascribed status is one you're born with and have no control over. An achieved status is reached through your own efforts or simply good or bad luck. A master status is so important that it overrides your other statuses. For more information, review Section 4.3 in your webtext.

2) Roles:

a) Choose one status from your status set.

b) Describe the role that is associated with the status.

c) Describe how you learned that role.

• Remember: A role is the behavior expected of someone with a certain status. For more information, review Section 4.4 in your webtext.

3) Role Conflict:

a) Choose two statuses from your status set.

b) Describe a time when you experienced a conflict because of the demands of your two different roles associated with those statuses.

c) List at least two different ways you could have resolved the conflict. For example, could you ask someone for help? Or could you go online to research a possible solution?

d) Describe the approach you took to resolve the conflict. What was the result? Would you do things differently next time?

PART B: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS

1) Social Networks:

A social network includes all of the relationships that link you to other people and groups. Through social networks, you can connect with people who may be able to offer you valuable advice, introductions, or opportunities.

a) Identify an area of interest that you would like to pursue, either professionally or personally. It could be a job or industry, a volunteer position, or a social group.

• Examples: accounting, volunteering with the elderly, joining a book club

b) Identify and describe three people in your social network (people you know personally) who have a connection, or might know someone
connected to your area of interest. These three people may be work colleagues, family members, or close friends.

• Remember: For privacy reasons, do not list their names in this assignment. Instead, identify them as Person A, B, and C.

c) For each person, write a brief description of why you selected them, and how they are connected to your area of interest.

d) Identify the person who you think is the best contact for you to communicate with about your area of interest. Why did you choose that
person?

2) Positive Impressions:

When you interact with other people in your social networks, you usually want to make a positive impression on them. Online, you can do that by using certain strategies when you create profiles.

a) Read this beginner's guide to using LinkedIn, a professional social network:

b) Imagine that you are creating an online profile on a professional social networking site, such as LinkedIn. The first person who will see your profile is the person in your social network that you identified above. Write a detailed description of the type of impression you would want to create with your profile.

Identify five components of a professional networking profile that others will use to get an impression of who you are.

Create a headline for your professional networking profile that targets the job, opportunity, or industry you're interested in. (See "Headline" section of article above).

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Use Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.

• Use section headers (Status Set, Roles, Role Conflict, Social Networks, and Positive Impressions) and write left indented paragraphs under each corresponding section.

• References are not required for this assignment as you will use the assigned article and your webtext.

• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date.