Adelle Monteblanco
January 14, 2022
... stops (e.g.,
the character dies due to a drug overdose). Inflicting cruelty, like physical pain, should only
be included if it is informed by our readings.
• Write with intention, in a meaningful manner, and make it evident that your writing is
informed by your reading and our classroom discussions. In other words, your story needs
to be consistent with the strengths, limitations, and barriers that are detailed in the
residents’ lives in the Evicted book.
• When appropriate, interconnect your plotlines.
• Proofread carefully – for spelling and grammar.
Words of Caution
• This will be more challenging to write than you initially assume. Not only are you writing a
general story, you are also writing numerous endings!
• Stay organized: as the writer you will have to juggle numerous plotlines and decisions as
well as numerous endings. Remember, each choice multiplies your story. To keep track of
your story and its many possible outcomes, I suggest using a flow chart, an outline, a
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spreadsheet, a map, and/or a decision tree with numerous branches. The internet
recommends a variety of internet sources or apps (none of which I have verified):
SimpleMind+ and/or Graphic Organizer on GoogleDraw.
FAQs
• Is a Pick Your Path story different from a traditional novel?
o Yes. A traditional novel typically remains a linear story, but a PYP will not.
• Do I need to know how to code or use an app to write this story?
o No, you are welcome to simply use a word processor like Word or GoogleDocs.
• Are images or illustrations required?
o They are not required. However, I welcome them, based on your own illustrations
(sketch, watercolor, etc.) or through google searches that are appropriately cited.
• Do we create a new character or follow a tenant from the book?
o Good question. Either is fine. But if writing a new character, write imagined
situations that are informed by the readings and your sociological imagination, and
write character details that make sense for the context (time, geography, etc.)
• How many branches/decision points do we need to write?
o Three at minimum.
• Can we make it like an actual book?
o If you are eager to do so, yes. For those who want to have fun with this—and/or
have the skillset—beautiful or cool visual presentations are welcome.
• What skills will this assignment develop?
o Among many other skills, sociological content development and critical thinking are
part of every assignment. Unique to this assignment is creativity—a top skill that
employers are looking for in new hires.
• How long should it be?
o I envision 5-7 pages (double-spaced). I doubt you need to write more than 10 pages.
• May I write about “deviant” behaviors?
o Certainly, many of your peers have written about topics such as drug use, for
example. However, let me be clear, having your character try heroin for the first
time, overdose, and die is not realistic nor informed by our readings.
• Where do I incorporate citations into a story?
o This is a social science course and this assignment will not rely on or reinforce
stereotypes. Rather, the writing will be informed by your sociological textbooks
(Introduction to Sociology 2e and Evicted) and other peer-reviewed sources you
need. For example, if your resident gets evicted, cite a resources that documents the
eviction rate in the city, like the Princeton Eviction Lab. Or, if you write about a
person’s low wage, you can explore and cite the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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• Will we get feedback on this assignment prior to our final submission?
o Absolutely. I have included a date in the syllabus in which you will submit a full
introduction and your first branch/decision. This offers you the chance to receive
feedback. Although it is a draft, the document will be graded (for many less points
than the final). In addition, you are always welcome to bring drafts to office hours or
make an appointment.
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Pick Your Path Rubric
Excellent Above
average
Satisfactory Needs
improvement
Absent
Sociological
Thinking
An excellent
submission:
-communicates the
character’s relationship
with elements of
history, biography, and
broader social context
-includes character
emotions, choices,
actions, and dialogue
(when appropriate) that
reflect sociological
understanding of
context and characters’
intersecting identities
-explores multiple
themes evident in
Evicted (e.g., no cause
evictions, constraints of
poverty, social capital)
-explores multiple
themes evident in
Introduction to
Sociology 2e (e.g.,
norms, institutional
racism, feminization of
poverty)
-cite peer-reviewed
material repeatedly
throughout the PYP
story to indicate that the
situation and outcomes
reflect broader patterns.
Story
Content
An excellent
submission:
-includes a story
introduction and three
branches/decision
-includes a setting,
characters, and plot that
are developed,
dynamic, linked, and
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sequenced
appropriately
-has a story that is
logically organized,
clear, and easily
followed with smooth
transitions
-incorporates decision-
making that is relevant,
logical, and purposeful
-concludes effectively
and appropriately
Creativity An excellent
submission will:
-offer imaginative (and
authentic) descriptive
details throughout
introduction and
branches/decisions
-evoke strong emotions
-develop complex
character(s)/story
through dialogue,
narration and/or action
-story is engaging and
interesting
Conventions An excellent
submission will
include:
-correct spelling and
capitalization
-appropriate
punctuation
-smooth sentence
structure with attention
to variety and
complexity
-a professional format
and presentation (TNR
or Calibri), 11 or 12
size font, double spaced
text, and page numbers
-a reference page if
necessary
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Student Name: _________________________________
Student Grade: ____________
Additional Notes:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Pick your Path Peer-Editing Worksheet. For Students.
Directions: Break into groups of 5 and staple this editing worksheet to each person’s draft.
Trade peer-editing roles with peers and read through your peers’ draft.
Name (of the author whose paper is being edited): ___________________________________
Peer Editor #1 Name: ___________________________________________________________
You are looking to make sure the introduction fulfills the main components to be assessed.
Check off when complete:
• Does the author describe the setting and character’s background with thoughtful details?
Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. Offer details:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the author help the reader become invested in the story and empathize with the
dilemmas they are about to encounter? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. Offer details:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the author situate and contextualize the character’s life, including their geography?
Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. Offer details:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the author incorporate peer-reviewed citations? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement.
If not, offer details as to where they might consider adding citations.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• What is missing or still developing? In other words, after reading the intro, what else are
you curious about that you’d like the author to include:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Other notes (be gentle and helpful):
_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Peer Editor #2 Name: ___________________________________________________________
You are looking at the structure of the PYP story.
• Does the author offer 3 branches/decisions? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not,
where might they add one:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Are the 3 branches/decisions interesting and reflective of decisions our tenants made in
Evicted? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. Offer details:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the author avoid loose ends (where the story perhaps dangles without a conclusion)?
Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not, indicate which section they may need to revisit:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Are the branches/decisions presented in a logical order? Circle one: Yes/Needs
Improvement. If not, indicate where this is not the case.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Do the three branches/decisions have citation(s) to support a documented reality? Circle
one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not, offer ideas for what resources they might review and
incorporate.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Other notes (be gentle and helpful):
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Peer Editor #3 Name: ___________________________________________________________
You are looking to make sure the assignment reflects themes of the course. Check off when
complete:
• Does the writing reflect realistic decisions and limitations that people in poverty face? Circle
one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not, indicate where this is not the case.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the writing explore themes from Evicted (e.g., no cause evictions, constraints of
poverty, social capital) and appropriately cite? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not,
indicate where this is not the case.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Does the writing reflect themes from our first textbook (e.g., institutional racism) and
appropriately cite? Circle one: Yes/Needs Improvement. If not, indicate where this is not the
case.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
• Other notes (be gentle and helpful):
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Peer Editor #4 Name: ____________________________________________________________
You are looking out for potential grammar/spelling issues and common mistakes throughout the
draft.
• Is the essay free of mistakes with homophones (their, there, they’re; too, to, two; your,
you’re)? Identify mistakes for the author on their draft.
• Are words capitalized correctly? If not, offer suggestions of where to capitalize on their
draft.
• Do all the author’s verbs agree with the subjects of the sentence? (i.e. I was, you were, etc.)
If not, please correct them on their draft.
• Identify sentence fragments and offer a suggested rewrite on their draft.
• Other notes (be gentle and helpful):
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________ ..."
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Subject Area(s):
- Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
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Resource Type(s):
- Class Activity
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Class Level(s):
- Any Level
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Class Size(s):
- Medium, Small
- Abstract:
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Fostering students’ creative thinking is a frequent goal of higher education instructors. When instructors aim to develop this skill in their students’ sociological writing, it encourages instructors to create alternatives to the commonly used research paper. This...