SOC 350: Theories Guiding Sociology Date: ______________ 2024
Dr. J. Burnside First Essay (20%): Can Facts Speak for Themselves?
For this comparison and contrast style essay, students are free to choose the news topic of your interest. One purpose of this first essay is to practice your applying sociological theories, drawing concepts from three theorists. By exploring content from contemporary news resources, we can describe and explain key theoretical points as you have come to understand them. Do note any shortcomings that you perceive, as you apply concepts to examples to illustrate that the theoretical ideas are relevant and helpful to one’s understanding. Some of your examples may challenge the theorists’ claims by providing aspects of social phenomena that do not fit the expectations, or assumptions, laid out in the theories. If so, give your opinion about the strengths and/or shortcomings evident in each theory you apply.
Being successful on this first essay will depend on your narrowing the topic, planning the paper by thinking and discussing ideas at each step of the research and writing process. In addition to your instructor and classmates, you have our Sociology Department Reference librarian, Ms. Amanda Peach, and the writing resources center staff for assistance and feedback.
Length: 900-1100 word count, typed 12-font (Arial or Times New Roman), 1.5 line spacing with proper citations (in-text and works cited list), no cover page expected.
Assignment Timeline - https://www.lib.umn.edu/services/ac accessed 1/16/2024
January 16-18+: narrowing a topic, developing a thesis & outline, brainstorming potential theories
January 23rd: Hutchins Library Workshop, we meet with Ms. Amanda Peach in room 104.
February 1st: Confer w/instructor to talk about topic, working thesis with updated outline, and
working bibliography (6-8 sources, including our text)
February 8th: Peer Review (PR): Student arranges with class peer or CTL consultant –
attach PR form to essay
February 15th: First essay due, on paper, at class time; attach PR & Library Strategy form with Final Essay
SOC 350: Theories Guiding Sociology Name _______________________
Dr. Burnside Rubric: First Essay (@20%) Date ___________________
Feedback Scale: Very Good (A, A-); Good (B+, B, B-); Fair, mostly satisfactory (C+, C, C-);
Unsatisfactory (D+, D, D-), Failing (F)
____________ Good attention-catching title and interesting introduction
___________ Descriptive details about News topic
__________ Explanations demonstrate good understanding of theories
__________ Applications of concepts are well defined and illustrated with relevant examples.
__________ Provides strong comparison and contrast of key points, inclusive of your thinking (your opinion)
__________ Proper Grammar, fulfills word count, typed, 1.5 line-spaced, uses APA (in-text and Works Cited), six sources (minimum, including course text). Peer Review feedback is attached.
___________ Grade and Comment: _________________________________________
Functionalism: A theoretical perspective based on the notion that social events can best be explained in terms of the functions they perform – that is, the contributions they make to the continuity of a society.
Conflict: A theory which argues that deviance is deliberately chosen and often political in nature.
Symbolic Interactionism: A theoretical approach in sociology developed by George Herbert Mead, which emphasizes the roles of symbols and language as core elements of all human interaction.
Works Cited:
Giddens, Anthony. Essentials of Sociology. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2008. Print.