Sociological Theories

Overall, the course papers will require you to: Revisit and review the various theoretical ideas from the material, Focus in-depth on a particular set of ideas or insights within the theory, Find textual evidence (e.g., quotes) from primary source material to support your interpretation of the theory, Apply the work to the social world around you or a contemporary example, and Demonstrate critical thinking in making arguments beyond the textual sources. The purpose of each paper is to demonstrate your comprehension of the various ideas studied in a given unit. You will be required to demonstrate this comprehension through three strategies within your paper:  Provide a brief summary (in your own words) of the theorist’s main argument, drawing from two primary source readings from the unit. You may include context information or refer to the secondary textbook (Bratton and Denham) as needed. Be sure to synthesize across readings to arrive at an understanding of the theoretical perspective.  You must find textual evidence from the primary sources to supplement your summary, with at least one quote per reading. These selected quotes should fit into the larger argument of the paper. Quotes must be cited and documented with page numbers, and should be integrated into the paper’s narrative. Standalone quotes are not acceptable.  Draw from a contemporary example or instance from your life and apply the theory, linking the example to the concepts from review (above). If the theorist were to look at your example, what conclusions would he or she likely draw? How does the theory contribute to our understanding, and what can we gain from this new perspective? Your paper should be organized to carry a distinct argument across the readings. While I do not expect you to cover every reading or point addressed in class, you must draw from at least two different excerpts from the unit. For this assignment, I would rather you focus on reviewing and writing about one or two sets of ideas than covering everything we reviewed in class. You should aim for comprehension, synthesis, and analysis over surface-level engagement with the material. Your papers will be graded on the quality of the work, not the quantity of the pages submitted. Shorter papers with substance count more than lengthier essays without argument. All papers must be 3-4 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font. Include a title page and works cited page (see primary source citation information in the Course Reader). You may wish to consult the paper resources posted on Canvas, including a grading rubric, sample paper outline, and tips on college-level writing style.