Term Paper Guidelines Assignment Goal In this course, students are expected to s

Term Paper Guidelines
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. Students will be graded on the overall clarity of the writing and analysis.
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-resources) contains many writing resources that can help students write an excellent thesis statement for this paper. In particular, its section titled,
“Thesis Statements,” offers general guidance about thesis statements that are applicable to this essay and will be
reinforced in course material as described below:
1. A thesis statement should be “debatable” and “narrow.”
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.