Students will post their abstracts here
Students! I want you to know that this is not a requirement for the class but I think it will really help you in preparation for your final paper. What you post below will be on a public website. So, just please understand that it is an outside web page (managed by Professor Girdwood) and it is not required. Having said that, I encourage you to post your abstract here! This is what follows below: I will post my own “Journal Entry #1″ right here. Then, what I want you all to do (and you can view my sample, which is also below by sample Journal Entry) is I want you to post your ABSTRACT ONLY in the “reply” section of this web page. In other words, turn your “Journal Entry #1″ into an abstract and post your abstract as a “reply” on this web page. If you have questions, just email me! Thanks! Here is my sample Journal Entry #1 that I will turn into an abstract:
My main interest is wealth as it is conveyed from generation to generation. I will use that model as a representation of other social assets that could potentially be passed down from parent to child. For example, there are many college athletes right now whose parents were also high-level athletes. This trend is propagated somehow, either the athletic parents are natual athletes (DNA) or they are teaching their children how to perform better (nurture) or maybe the children just have better access to the things necessary to become great athletes (like open gym time and training).
Using the material we will cover in class during the American Dream, Parenthood, and Family Wealth sections, I will focus on obtaining resources, references, and tools to help me discover why “the rich get richer and the poor are getting poorer.” I will focus on things like:
- Transfer of wealth from parents to children
- Opportunities for wealthy children like access to college
- Barriers for poor children like no money for higher education
- Attitudes about wealth
- Social networks of the wealthy that enable them to accumulate more wealth for their children
- Social networks of the poor that disable them from showing their children how to get out of poverty
With all of these possible subjects in mind, I will make sure to refine my final paper to answer the following research question:
How do children of wealthy parents have more opportunities than poor children to becoming wealthy in America?
The quest to become wealthy is a very common interpretation of the “American Dream.” Wealth, conveyed from generation to generation, can be a representation of other social assets that are passed down from parent to child. Trends in social asset transfer will be shown. Citing prior studies and conducting my own interviews with Americans from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, I will prove why “the rich keep getting richer and the poor continue to get poorer.” I will focus on (i) transfer of wealth from parents to children; (ii) opportunities for wealthy children like access to college; (iii) barriers for poor children like no money for higher education; (iv) attitudes about wealth; (v) social networks of the wealthy that enable them to accumulate more wealth for their children; and (vi) social networks of the poor that disable them from showing their children how to get out of poverty. By the end of the article, the reader will have a clear grasp of how children of wealthy parents have more opportunities than poor children to becoming wealthy in America.
[file]http://johngirdwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/american dream.docx[/file]
Dannie, I read your abstract and strongly encourage you to cite research when developing your definition of the “American Dream.” It is very important not to have your paper be your own opinion. Citing academic sources is vital. There are many sources out there describing various definitions of the “American Dream.” Let me know if you’d like help with locating them.
The “American Dream” has many different meanings to different people. Americans who achieve happy and successful lives through hard work and equal opportunity varies by social class and economic status. The ideology behind this belief will be shown through actions of the news media, the majority group, and generations of people who inherit wealth and/or reach the glass ceiling. Citing prior studies, class materials, and statistical data from government sources, I will show “the American Dream cannot be attained by all who seek it.” I will focus on (i) generational wealth; (ii) access to a network of influential and/or wealthy people including corporations, lobbyist and politicians; (iii) tax breaks and incentives for the rich and wealthy (advantages/disadvantages); (iv) equating prosperity with happiness; (v) hope and the potential for change; and (vi) short and long-term consequences of systematic discrimination and the legal system on the nuclear family. As my paper concludes, the reader will have a clear understanding of what factors contribute to the attainment of the American Dream.
LaTonya, this is a very ambitious project! You have a good foundation. Make sure to let me see your progress because I want to ensure that you stay on the right track. This is quite an undertaking you’ve describe in your abstract and I commend you for taking this project on full force.
People chose whom they are going to form a union with, and why they want to form that union for several reasons. In our society, children are led to believe that the main reason to form a union is because you love that person. The trends in union formation will be identified. Citing prior studies and conducting my own interviews with Americans from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, I will prove why “couples who formed unions based on love have stronger relationships with each other than couples who formed unions based on other factors.” I will focus on (i) the various definitions of a union, and how it has changed throughout the years; (ii) types of bonds formed because of a union; (iii) opportunities that become available when a union is formed; and (iv) how tasks/chores are divided within the union. By the end of the article, the reader will have a clear understanding of why unions formed based on love are better than unions formed based on other factors.
Kaitlyn, great start. I caution you against using “better than” in your paper. Make sure to say something like “more opportunities” or “tend to have higher income” or whatever else you prove through research. But, “better than” is a problematic judgment. Great start and wonderful points to build support for your argument.
One of the the first things we notice when we look at someone is their smile. A smile can say a lot about someone. I would like to prove to you that a smile could quite possibly (i) define a person’s geographical location through access to healthcare; (ii) define a person’s oral care in conjunction with amount of income; as well as their (iii) socioeconomic status; (iv) ways to provide adequate oral healthcare to those in need; (vi) and determine if a child’s oral habits are essentially inherited from their caregivers. By the end of the article, the reader will have a clear understanding of how socioeconomic status affects oral health in American families through access, habits, and attitudes.
Brylea, I like the idea of examining dental care among families of different SES. However, your abstract seems to shy away from a direct correlation to family. Make sure that your final paper is 100% connected to issues of family and society, not just dental care, and you will do fine.
Everybody’s view of the “American Dream” is different, but how different are they in women from generation to generation? Also people commonly say “Like Mother, Like Daughter” but just how true is this statement? Citing previous studies and course readings, I will explore just that focusing on (i) how the mother defines the “American Dream” including her bases for this definition; (ii) the mother’s age at first child birth (especially that of her daughter) and if her daughter has had any children herself; (iii) the mother’s parental skills and how she treats/views her daughter; (iv) rather the mother was married when she gave birth and how that relationship displays to the child; and (v) the socioeconomic status of family and how they define wealth. At the article’s conclusion the reader will be able to fathom how the young woman’s American Dream view can be affected by her mother’s view and experiences.
Tiahna, this is fantastic substance for a final paper. Make sure to format and structure your abstract properly. It is a good idea to close with a research question, as opposed to opening with one. Also, it is not a good idea to include rhetorical questions that might get confused with the actual research question. Your foundation of substance is really good.
Mothers have a profound influence on their children, especially when they suffer from depression. Maternal depression is associated with socioeconomic status and affects many facets of their children’s lives. Citing prior studies I will focus on i) the effect of maternal depression and poverty on infant hospitalizations; ii) the attachment theory based on the mother-child relationship; iii) physical health of children with depressed mothers; iv) behavioral problems children with depressed mothers show as they grow older; and v) the cross-generational trend of depressive symptom transfer from mother to child. By the end of the article, the reader will have a clear understanding of how maternal depression is associated with poverty and the extent of its effects on child health and behavioral issues.
Nicole, this is pretty good. I look forward to seeing your progress.
A perfect family, consisting of a father, mother and children, is a common view of the ‘American Dream.’ However, with a divorce rate of over 50% in the US and the increasing number of single mothers, many young women are growing up without a father figure in their life. The trends in daughter problems will be shown corresponding to father absence. Citing prior studies and participating in my own interviews of women who grew up without a father figure in their lives, I will prove that the more absent a father is from his daughter’s life, the more problems his daughter may face growing up. I will focus on (i) the definition of a positive father figure; (ii) explanations of father absence, such as divorce or incarceration; (iii) the effects of father absence, such as emotional effects and education; (iv) the increased risk of teenage pregnancies and promiscuity for daughters lacking father figures; and (v) the lasting effects on a daughter’s self esteem and feelings towards men and relationships. By the end of the article, the reader will have a clear grasp of how lacking a father figure can be detrimental to a daughter growing up and increase her risk factor in various areas.
Corinne, really great start. This should turn out well.
One of the subjects I find most interesting is how a child’s academic success is affected by outside, indirect factors. In this paper, I will focus on the child’s family and their involvement and income. There have been a growing number of studies examining this indirect relationship between income, involvement, and children’s academic success. I will focus mainly on i) school readiness; ii) literacy; iii) success in school; iv) graduation rates; and v) college enrollment. By the end of the paper, the reader will have a good understanding of how a family’s income and involvement influence their child’s behavior in school.
Jennifer, I like the start. Make sure to clarify the connections you are making. For example, are you showing that higher income increases graduation rates? Or, do graduation rates lead to higher income? I think I know what you’re shooting for, but make sure to really clarify it as you move forward.
A successful family type is parents don’t need to worry about retire life and children doing very well in their careers. Family economic problem can make a decision about children development from personality to capability. Many wealthy children possess the independent ability due to good education and expanded horizon. Citing prior studies and comparing wealthy children with children through my interviews of children who are from different backgrounds. I will focus on (i) attitude of rich family and poor family (ii) Definition of wealthy family (iii) Comparison between children from rich family and poor family, such as their goals; (iv) the opportunity of wealthy children such as going to college or finding jobs.(v) how social network make a sense on changing poverty. By the end of the article, readers will have a clear understanding of how wealthy family affects children development and future career.
Jingyi, make sure to work on the vocabulary. As we’ve discussed during the course, “wealth” and “income” are very different things. So, make sure to be very clear on the argument that you are making or the reader will be left to guess.
Most of a child’s behavior is a direct result of how they have observed their parents acting. For this reason, the successes and failures of a parent are magnified. Morals and values are developed in the home and a child gets a sense of what is considered acceptable behavior. In addition, opportunities presented based on wealth also influence behavior of a child. I plan to prove, how decisions made by parents regarding a child’s home life and social activity can effect a child’s understanding of the community and desire to succeed. I will focus on (i) atmosphere of the home, (ii) social opportunities the child has, (iii) how parent’s jobs effect their children (effect of a babysitter), (iv) sibling relationships, and (v) how much family wealth effects child’s relationships. When finished, this article will prove to the reader that decisions made by parents are instrumental to the success of their child.
(Thoughts encouraged)
Chris, this is pretty good. I don’t see any major flaws in the start of it. Make sure to keep me informed of your progress. I can help you if you get off track. But, as a start, this is really sound.
My main interests are the reasons women decide to have children especially those with low social economic statuses. I will focus on the motives behind starting a family without the means to support them. For example I will examine the percentage of children conceived due to media influences, social pressures, desire to make a family etc. Citing prior studies and conducting my own interviews with women from the Women’s Resource Center and the local Goodwill Inn Shelter I plan to better understand why women choose to have children despite not being able to support them monetarily. I will focus on (i) media influences and portrayals of young mothers in the media (ii) social attitudes towards parenting in different social economic statuses (iii) the barriers children born to mothers with a low SES will face (iv) coercion from family members to start a family i.e. “I need grandchildren.” By the end of this article the reader will have a better understanding of what factors affect a woman’s desire to have children despite her low social economic status?
Whitney, good substantive beginning. Try to work on structure a little bit. You don’t have to discuss your “interests” and you should avoid trying to improve an “understanding” of the topic. Try moving toward some type of proof or conclusion. For example, “I will show why women choose to have children despite not being able to support them monetarily.” (See how I omitted the “understanding” part?)
Pet-ownership is a special relationship for many families. Although pets cannot provide human companionship the role of pets in family life is still significant. Pet-ownership is not a requirement or job that families must take on, it is a choice that families make. Often, pet ownership is incorporated into the “American Dream” that families strive to achieve. What role do pets serve in family life that makes this relationship so significant? After reviewing prior research of the costs and benefits associated with owning a family pet and conducting my own surveys to family members who are pet-owners, I will prove why the role of a family pet is significant. I will focus on different aspects of owning a family pet such as (i) benefits pets provide family members; (ii) therapeutic means pets provide for the elderly, abused, psychologically and mentally ill within the family; (iii) the bond between pets and family members and the significance placed on the relationship by family members; and (iv) the potential costs of owning a family pet and why these costs are outweighed by the benefits. After reading the article the role that pets have within the family will be evident and the significance of the relationship will be understood.
Trisha, really great start! As I’ve mentioned to other students, try to avoid going for an “understanding” and more toward a proof (almost really just semantics). I really excited that you’ve extended the family to possibly including mention of grandparents (elderly). That’s really great to see you doing that!