Overview: The final project for this course is the creation of a proposal to the potential funder, the Department of Health and Human Services. This is the first of two opportunities for you to submit a first attempt of a section for the final project due in Week Seven of this course. This assignment should represent your best effort to meet the critical elements outlined below. Once you submit this assignment, you will receive feedback from your instructor. It is imperative that you review and understand this feedback before you implement it into your final draft. Prompt: You will address the critical elements listed below which represent the first three sections of your final project. In the Module One discussion, you presented an idea for a social issue and how it presents itself in the local community. You will continue to use what you have learned in the first two weeks of the course so far to address the critical elements below. For this milestone your work will be graded using the rubric below, for your final submission in Module Seven your work will be graded using the rubric found in the Final Project guidelines and rubric document. The final project rubric adds a fourth column to the rubric which adds the expectation of a higher level of comprehension and writing. Therefore, if you receive a score satisfactory to you on your milestone assignments you will be expected to address any feedback from your instructor, as well as adding the depth asked for in the exemplary column in the Final Project rubric when you submit your final project. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Introduction: In this section, you will summarize your proposal. Explain the contemporary social problem that you selected and discuss the relevance for today’s society on a local scale. How does the issue present itself in the United States or in your local community? II. Problem Description: Determine the most influential social variables and determinants leading to the social problem and justify your selections with research. A. Explain the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem on a local level. B. Explain the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem on a global level. C. Describe the differences and similarities are seen between local and international influences of these social variables and determinants. Provide specific examples. III. Approach: In this section, you will sift through your personal biases, with the aim of limiting such biases in your later analysis. A. Describe how people generally tend to talk about this social problem and how these approaches are problematic, supporting with resources. What stereotypes, biases, and assumptions are at play? B. Identify and reflect on your own biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affect your analysis of the issue. Everyone has certain preconceived notions about social issues. What are yours, and how might they influence your analysis and interpretation? C. Explain how you will use sociological theory to limit your biases when you analyze the social problem. How can the theory help you limit your biases? Provide a specific example. Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Milestone One must be 2-3 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include at least 1-2 references cited in APA format. Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value Introduction Explains the social problem and discusses the relevance for today’s society on a local level Explains the social problem and discusses the relevance for today’s society on a local level, but response has gaps in detail or accuracy Does not explain the social problem and does not discuss the relevance for today’s society on a local level 10 Problem Description: Local Variables and Determinants Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence on a local level, supporting with resources Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence on a local level, but response has gaps in detail or accuracy, or lacks support Does not identify social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem on a local level 16 Problem Description: Global Variables and Determinants Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence on a global level, supporting with resources Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence on a global level, but response has gaps in detail or accuracy, or lacks support Does not identify social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem on a global level 16 Problem Description: Variables and Determinants Differences and Similarities Explains how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem vary, depending on if the problem is local or global, providing specific examples Explains how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem vary depending on if the problem is local or global, but explanation has gaps in detail, accuracy, or lacks examples Does not explain how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem vary locally and globally 16 Approach: Stereotypes Describes how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic, supporting with resources Describes how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic, but response has gaps in detail or accuracy or lacks support Does not describe how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic 16 Approach: Your Analysis Reflects on personal biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affect the analysis of the issue Reflects on personal biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affect the analysis of the issue, but response is cursory or illogical Does not reflect on personal biases and assumptions around the issue 16 Approach: Limit Biases Explains how to use sociological theory to limit bias when analyzing the social problem, providing a specific example Explains how to use sociological theory to limit bias when analyzing the social problem, but does not provide an example, or explanation has gaps in detail or accuracy Does not explain how to use sociological theory to limit bias