So often, influential people make claims about the way things are (or should be) based on their own ideological beliefs and not on actual facts. This essay is all about finding and interpreting real data to "fact-check" such statements and learn the real truth, not what others want you to believe. For this exercise, you'll compare talk and reality around some aspect of work and money in America; then once you know the truth, you'll apply some sociological theory to go beyond the headlines and really explain what's happening.

1. A quote describing the American economy, American workers, or work in America. Your quote must fit all of these guidelines:
 
o Printed by a legitimate news source (major newspaper, magazine, news website) within the last 5 years or so.

o Spoken by a prominent "opinion leader" (someone many people listen to, like a politician, reporter, religious leader, famous businessperson, etc.).

o Makes a claim about something real that you can fact-check with a statistic (NOT a feeling, dream, thoughts on God or human nature, etc...)

2. A statistic printed by a legitimate source (news, academic articles/books, government report, etc.) or pulled from a database (like the World Bank, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census, etc.) that clearly relates to your quote.

3. Explain whether your statistic either proves or disproves what the quote said. (If neither, you need a new statistic, or quote, or both!)

4. Now that you know the truth, pick at least one major sociological theory (functionalism, conflict theory, interactionism) and use it to explain the meaning of your statistic.

5. An in-text citation following your quote and your statistic, and a separate "references page" detailing the sources of your quote and statistic.