Think of a social behavior you witnessed (it could be your own behavior or that of someone else; e.g., a celebrity) that you found interesting and potentially hard to explain, and then go on to speculate on why the behavior might have occurred as it did.

reaction papers (approximately 350 – 500 words in length). I want to see that you realize how the material you are learning connects to social life. This assignment is an opportunity for you to have fun with and demonstrate mastery over the material you are learning. Think of a social behavior you witnessed (it could be your own behavior or that of someone else; e.g., a celebrity) that you found interesting and potentially hard to explain, and then go on to speculate on why the behavior might have occurred as it did. This speculation should form the “core” of the paper and include material that is relevant to what we’ve covered (or will cover) in this course.
Papers will be graded on a 1 (poor) – 5 (great) scale. A great paper would clearly (and succinctly) explain the social behavior (e.g., a news event) under scrutiny. Most important, the great paper will provide an intelligent explanation for how a social-psychological analysis can shed light on why the behavior or event occurred. The bulk of the paper should be devoted to this social-psychological analysis. Hint: The social behavior or event is a “tool” for showing me how much you know about social psychology. Make your paper about the social-psychological explanation for this behavior or event, not just about the event.
Paper grades will also be influenced by the quality of your writing, so edit your papers before you submit them!