Assignment Goal: In this course, students are expected to summarize, differentiate, and judge the efficacy of major scientific concepts and theories that sociologists use to examine sociological dynamics undergirding the interconnection between individual personal troubles and public issues that are associated with modernity and its attendant patterns of social stability and change.
Our term paper for this course bridges those course learning objectives by asking students to write an essay with two main components. In the first part of the paper, students are expected to engage the ideas of the three “founding figures” of sociological theory. Specifically, students are to answer the following question: What are the central social relationships of society featured in our class readings on Marx, Weber, and Durkheim? Another way of stating this question is: how does each theorist conceive of “the social?” In the second part of the paper, students are expected to discuss how a key concept or idea from another social theorist or branch of sociological theory that is covered elsewhere in our course material is (1) similar, and (2) different from a key concept or idea found within the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim.
General Format and Grading Criteria: This essay must be at least 11 pages (10 pages for the text plus 1 reference page), with double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, and 1-inch margins. It must be in ASA format (see ASA style guide posted in the “START HERE” module on the course Canvas website). Students will not be graded on grammar in the paper, but they will be graded on the overall clarity of the writing and analysis. Students are thus encouraged to consult the recommended reading (Strunk’s The Elements of Style) and staff at the University of Oregon Tutoring and Academic Engagement Center’s writing lab (see https://engage.uoregon.edu/) for assistance with writing mechanics for this paper. The professor will help students with the substantive portion of the paper by helping them think about how to integrate the various components of the description and analysis into one cohesive essay.
This essay has a maximum of 100 points possible, and it is worth 22.73 percent of the course grade. The essay is due by 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on Thursday, July 16, through the online submission system on the course Canvas site.
Suggested Essay Outline: Successful papers will include thoughtful commentary and analysis in the following suggested outline:
Introduction: Should be 2 pages long and have a heading that says, “Introduction,” in bold print. The introduction must state the two main objectives of the paper. That is, it is to (1) analyze how Marx, Weber, and Durkheim conceptualized “the social,” and (2) discuss how a key concept or idea from another social theorist or branch of sociological theory that is covered elsewhere in our course material compares and contrasts with a key concept or idea found within the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. The introduction must also include an underlined thesis statement, which tells the reader the argument being asserted in the paper. The UC Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology webpage (https://sociology.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-writing-resourcesLinks to an external site.) contains many writing resources that can help students write an excellent thesis statement for this paper. In particular, its section titled, “Thesis StatementsLinks to an external site.,” offers general guidance about thesis statements that are applicable to this essay and will be reinforced in course material as described below:
- A thesis statement should be “debatable” and “narrow.”
- An “analytic” thesis statement, such as the one used for this essay, is an “argument about facts.” For example, your thesis statement in this essay should tell the reader (1) how Marx, Weber, and Durkheim conceptualized the social and (2) the similarities and differences between a key concept or idea from those theorists and that of another theorist or strand of sociological theory.
- Course exercises, particularly the term paper workshop, will help students through the steps of developing a thesis statement: (i) settling on a topic (already accomplished in these guidelines), (ii) posing a question to answer with the thesis statement, and (iii) “tinkering” with the thesis statement until it is suitable.
- Make sure the thesis is part of the paper. That task is accomplished, as these guidelines locate the thesis in the introductory section of the essay.
- Exercises throughout the class will also help students gain proficiency in using evidence effectively to support the thesis statement.
Body: at least 8 pages long, beginning with heading of “Theorizing the Social” in bold print. It should provide equal and balanced summaries of how Marx, Weber, and Durkheim understood the social in at least 6 pages (e.g., students devote 2 pages each to Marx, Weber, and Durkheim). In the last 2 pages of the body section, students should discuss how a key concept or idea from another social theorist or branch of sociological theory that is covered elsewhere in our course material compares and contrasts with a key concept or idea found within the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim.
References: This final section should start with a heading that says, “References,” in bold print. This section should be on 1 (or more) separate page(s) from the text and include all the sources cited in the paper. Failure to follow the ASA style guide (pgs. 20-24 & 33-37) for citing your sources in the text and for properly including them in your reference section may result in academic penalties for plagiarism and academic dishonesty as stated in the course syllabus.
These assignment guidelines, and the term paper grading rubric were initially available in the START HERE module in week 1 of class. The guidelines can also be downloaded in .pdf format by clicking hereDownload here. The term paper grading rubric can also be downloaded in .pdf format by clicking hereDownload here, and they can be viewed below and in the grading section of the assignment.
Rubric
Soc 310: Summer 2023 Term Paper Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
|---|---|---|
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction: Sub-heading with "Introduction" in bold print. | 2.5 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction: States the two main objectives of the paper: (1) it analyzes how Marx, Weber, and Durkheim conceptualized “the social,” and (2) it discusses how a key concept or idea from another social theorist or branch of sociological theory that is covered elsewhere in our course material compares and contrasts with a key concept or idea found within the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. | 10 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction: Provides a 4-5 sentence thesis statement that is underlined and tells the reader (1) how Marx, Weber, and Durkheim conceptualized the social and (2) the similarities and differences between a key concept or idea from those theorists and that of another theorist or strand of sociological theory. | 15 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody of the Paper: Sub-heading with "Theorizing the Social" in bold print. | 2.5 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody of the Paper: Marx's conceptualization of the social. | 15 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody of the Paper: Weber's conceptualization of the social. | 15 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody of the Paper: Durkheim's conceptualization of the social. | 15 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody of the Paper: Discussion of how a key concept or idea from another social theorist or branch of sociological theory that is covered elsewhere in our course material compares and contrasts with a key concept or idea found within the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. | 15 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReferences (on a separate page from the rest of essay): Sub-heading with "References" in bold print. | 2.5 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReferences (on a separate page from the rest of essay): Use of ASA style guide. | 2.5 pts | |
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormat: At least 11-pages total (with 2-page intro, 8-page body, and 1-page reference section), double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, and proper reference format throughout and use of headings for the body and reference section. |