This assignment draws on Chapter 10 (Best 2017) to help you see the value of comparing constructions.
By looking at how different situations tend to produce or support different constructions, you will practice separating the influences of culture and structure on the social problems process.
In this assignment, you will apply your knowledge of the concept of diffusion. You will also use your expertise in your topic to find an example where your condition is constructed in a different forum.
Look for information on how your condition is constructed in a forum that is different from the one or ones you have been looking at. Your goal is to find a comparison group. Here are a few possibilities (feel free to think of something outside of these two examples):
Geography construction: Since we have been focusing on the United States, you could look at how the problem is discussed in some other part of the world. Or, if you have been focusing on a specific geographic area within the U.S., you can look at how your issue is discussed in a different city or region.
Claimsmakers construction: Compare the way information is presented by the media and by experts. If before you looked at doctors and web-based media, for this exercise, you could compare researchers and science writers. What are the primary differences you see between the ways the two groups package their claims?
Write about the major differences between how the condition is constructed in different forums. Be sure to include information on:
the major ways the constructions are different and similar;
why you think they differ in the ways that they do; and
how likely you think diffusion of each construction is.
Be sure to provide specific examples (and citations). Use the website format to your benefit and include multimedia. Add the new sources you find to the appropriate sections of your Annotated Bibliography.
Make a new page of your website titled “Constructions” for this assignment.
Your analysis should be approximately 500-700 words.
Strong assignments will:
Clearly explain using plain language;
Compare two cases of your social problem;
Include examples, evidence, and citations.
Instructions for peer review for this assignment are located here: