Project 1: Sociology and Nine-Eleven Essay
Many generations are defined by impressive events that are remembered as drastically reshaping the society and time
period in which they occurred. This coming Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the events that we now refer to as “nine-
eleven.” Thanks to radio, television, and internet, everyone who was alive and aware on that day (this includes me and all
of you) was a witness to a dramatic moment in world history. Your children and grandchildren (if you choose to
procreate) will doubtlessly ask you about where you were on “9/11” and what it was like to live in the United States
during the years that followed.
So Far:
We have had a class discussion to bring out all of our memories and our prior knowledge about the events of September
11th and the years that followed. You have collected a hefty amount of notes on the topic. You have also been introduced
to the concept of the sociological imagination.
This Weekend:
Now, you are ready to apply this sociological concept to the events of September 11th. You will write a two to three
page paper that accomplishes three tasks.
First, you should remind your reader of the basic facts surrounding the events of September 11th. In this section, relate
some of your personal and family memories of the events of that day.
Second, discuss the lasting impact of the events of September 11th on the past nine years of American life. Explain the
connection between the attacks of September 11th and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Third, use your sociological imagination to answer the following question: What were the social forces that produced the
mentality and the actions of the hijackers that killed themselves and thousands of other people on that day?
RECOMMENDED WEB SITES
– The Internet Archive’s edited summary of news footage of September 11th.
– http://www.archive.org/details/television_archive_911_Summary
– CNN’s in-depth special on 9-11 and the War on Terror.
– http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/map.html
– President Bush’s speeches after the attacks.
– http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010911-16.html#
– Information and speeches from Osama bin Laden
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/
– Story of the Al Qaeda terrorists.
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/network/
– BBC’s collection of Osama bin Laden quotations.
– http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2827659.stm
PAPER SPECIFICATIONS:
– Frontline’s coverage of the War in Iraq. FONT: Times or Times New Roman
FONT SIZE: 12 point
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/
SPACING: 2 lines
– Frontline’s coverage of the War in Afghanistan. MARGINS: 1 inch on all sides
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/