Culminating Writing Assignment | Sociological Analysis: Para…

If you need to review concepts, refer to the Sociology in Action eBook textbook, the appropriate Major Field Test assignment, and/or other appropriate course assignments and materials. Be sure to organize your work so that I can clearly see your responses. A good rule of thumb is to type the question in boldface and your response under the question (response is not in boldface). When you use examples from Parable of the Sower to support your responses, be sure that those examples are specific ones that Butler included in the novel.

Question 1: TED Talk: The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Sociological Imagination

Video Citation – closed caption and transcript are available

TEDTalk. 2009. The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Retrieved October 10, 2024 (

).

After viewing the video, please respond to questions below. Please note that this TEDTalk is one of my favorite ones because I think that it helps us to be mindful of creating and/or clinging to single stories, particularly those single stories that are inaccurate and/or stereotypical.

1a. How would you define “a single story?”

1b. How can “single stories” be dangerous?

1c. How do you think that the application of the sociological imagination assisted you with not embracing a single story about characters’ lives in Parable of the Sower?

1d. Do you think that the application of the sociological imagination assisted Lauren in Parable of the Sower with not embracing a single story? Why or why not? Be sure to support your response with a specific example from the book.

Question 2: Social Institutions in Parable of the Sower | This question should have five responses. | Very Helpful Note: In the Sociology in Action eBook, the authors discuss social institutions under the Understanding Theory section in chapter 2. It is a good discussion. Chapters 10-14 focus on specific social institutions.

2a: Define social institution.

2b. Identify two social institutions that were influential in the characters’ lives in Parable of the Sower.

2c. How did each social institution that you identified in question 2b influence one of the character’s life? Be sure to use one example from the book to support your response for each institution. For your 2c question response, you should have two responses, one for each institution identified in question 2b.

Question 3: Status, Role Conflict, and Role Strain in Parable of the Sower

3a. Choose one character and discuss how he/she/they experienced role conflict. Be sure to use one example from the book to support your response.

3b. Choose one character and discuss how he/she/they experienced role strain. Be sure to use one example from the book to support your response.

Question 4: Visionary Fiction, Radical Imagination, and Parable of the Sower

4a. Using two specific examples from the book, discuss how Lauren employs radical imagination to envision a more just society.

4b. How do you think that the discipline of sociology supports using radical imagination to envision a more just society?

If you need a refresh about the radical imagination and visionary fiction concepts, review the podcast episode content for the PS1 assignment that we completed in week 1.

Question 5: Character Education and Parable of the Sower

5a. During weeks 3, 6, 9, and 10, we focused on various components about character education. Using two examples from the book, discuss how the virtues of courage and empathy provide the foundation for Lauren to engage in social justice work. You should discuss an example about Lauren that focuses on courage and an example about Lauren that focuses on empathy.

5b. The setting timeline for Parable of the Sower is between 2024-2027. This timeline is our present time. The book was published in 1994. Think about the essay content written by Dr. King (published in 1946). During week 6, we read Dr. King’s essay.

If Lauren and Dr. King had opportunity to converse with each other, what two topics do you think would take priority in the conversation? Why did you choose these two topics? You should have four responses for this question: 2 topics and a reason for why you chose each topic. Your responses should be rooted in King’s essay and in Parable of the Sower. Be sure to include specific commentary from Dr. King’s essay and specific content in Parable of the Sower.

Question 6 | Coming Full Circle with Octavia Butler | A Few Rules for Predicting the Future: An Essay

Essay Citation and Essay Link | Click on the link below to access the article.

Butler, Octavia. 2000. “A Few Rules of Predicting the Future: An Essay.” Common Good Collective [originally published in Essence Magazine May 2000]. Retrieved August 9, 2025 (

).

6a. Why do you think that the student did not print Ms. Butler’s full response to his question?

6b. As sociologists, how can we learn from the past so that we can engage in effective social change?

6c. How do you think that Lauren in Parable of the Sower learned from the present and past in the novel to engage in effective social change? Be sure that you use one example from the book that clearly supports your response.

6d. Why do you think that it is important to respect the law of consequences?

6e. How does Ms. Butler’s statement about being aware of your perspective align with Adichie’s presentation about the danger of a single story?

6f. Ms. Butler encouraged us to “count on the surprises.” As sociologists, how do you think that we can use our sociological training to engage in the ebb and flow of surprises in society?

SAGE Vantage: Sociology in Action

Kathleen Odell Korgen, 3rd Edition

ISBN-13: 9781071890738

Parable of the Sower

Octavia E. Butler, N/Ath Edition

ISBN-13: 9781538765494