1. Read the posted chapters from Educated in Modules 1-3
2. Draft a 4-6 page essay that summarizes the memoir and then examines Tara’s story from a sociological perspective.
The learning goals of this assignment include:
· Applying the sociological perspective and concepts to lived experiences.
· Communicating sociological insights in written format.
Essay [worth 100 points]
Directions
First, read the memoir written by Tara Westover titled Educated. Next, write an essay that summarizes the memoir and examines Tara’s story from a sociological perspective.
How Many Pages Should I Write?
Your essay should be no shorter than 4 pages long (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, normal 12-point font), but no longer than 6 pages. NOTE: Your summary should not be longer than two pages and your sociological examination should be at least two pages.
What Should I Write About?
After you succinctly summarize the memoir in two pages or less, examine Tara’s story from a sociological perspective. To examine Tara’s story from a sociological perspective, focus your analysis on the following questions:
· How does Tara’s story demonstrate an interplay between individual agency and societal constraint?
· What cultural socialization did Tara experience?
· How did Tara’s experiences come to form her sense of self?
A sociological examination means that you are defining and applying sociological theories and concepts from the module lectures to examples from the memoir.
How Do I Cite Course Material Within the Text?
The only materials that you need to use for this essay are the module lectures (PowerPoints and lecture videos) and the chapters from Educated.