SOC 470 & 776 ­ Writing Sociology
Spring 2009
Mgr. Benjamin Vail, M.Sc., Ph.D.
SOC470 Credits: 10
SOC776 Credits: 15
Seminar time: Thursdays, 10.00-11.40 in room 34
Office hours: Mondays 14.00-15.00 in room 3.59
E-mail: vail@fss.muni.cz
Course description
This course is intended to help masters students improve their academic writing skills and practice
English. Sociology 470 is intended for Czech students, while international students should enroll in
SOC776. This is a writing-intensive course that provides training in the methods of researching and
writing Sociology essays in several different styles, such as writing book reviews, social issue reaction
papers, and reports on quantitative and qualitative research. This writing experience is intended to
enhance students' knowledge and understanding of sociological theory and methods and help them
develop critical writing and reading skills to assist them in their Masters studies. By the end of the
semester, they will gain experience writing in a variety of academic literary genres, learn about
different perspectives on proper professional writing, understand and be able to follow academic
honesty standards, and be able to cite information properly according to academic norms.
Assignments and evaluation
Writing
* Plagiarism essay: During the first week of the semester, students must write a short essay
explaining the concept of plagiarism and how to avoid it, in order to demonstrate their
understanding of issues of academic honesty.
* Homework: There will be several homework assignments so students can practice technical
aspects of writing.
* Weekly essays: Approximately every two weeks, students will write two drafts of an essay
based on the assigned reading. In each two-week cycle, students will write a draft of the essay
in the first week. This draft essay will receive written and verbal feedback in class from the
teacher and other students. You will use this feedback to revise the essay and turn in a final
draft during the second week. This gives you an opportunity to improve your writing and
learn to give and receive constructive criticism. More details about these assignments will be
given in class. Each essay should be 1500-2000 words in length.
* Final essay: A research essay 2000-3000 words in length is due by June 11, 2009. You are
invited to make your thesis topic the focus of this essay. More details will be provided in
class.
Class participation
* Attendance: All students are required to attend every seminar meeting. Any absence must be
documented (for example, due to family or medical emergency). Your attendance is important
because the course is organized around classroom discussion and giving feedback to each
other.
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* Discussion: Active participation in classroom discussion is an important part of your grade.
You are required to read the assigned literature before the seminar meeting to facilitate
discussion.
* Critique of other students' writing: Every other week, we will engage in the in-class
critique of each student's first-draft essay. Each student will be assigned to read another
student's draft essay and give a presentation about suggested revisions.
Evaluation
The quality of your use of English is not part of the grade, but you must write the essays at an
adequate level of language use such that they are understandable. Your essays should express your
own ideas (see the section on Academic Honesty below). However, you are free to consult with
classmates or others to check the quality of your use of English.
Important:
* All essays must be submitted by 23.59 on the due date.
* You are required to write the first draft of each writing assignment.
* For every day an assignment is late, the grade will be reduced by a full letter grade.
* You are required to use the "Spell Check" tool in your word processor before submitting any
written assignment. If the paper contains significant spelling errors, it will be returned to the
student unread, and will not be graded until spelling is fixed. The penalty for late assignments
will apply.
* Any assignment containing significant citation errors ­ in the text or in the References section
­ will be returned to the student unread, and will not be graded until the citations are fixed.
The penalty for late assignments will apply.
Students will receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the follow criteria:
Final grade components Final grade scale
10% - Plagiarism essay; homework
10% - Attendance and class participation
80% - Essay assignments
A = 90 ­ 100%
B = 80 ­ 90%
C = 70 ­ 80%
D = 60 ­ 70%
E = 50 ­ 60%
F = <50%
Academic honesty
The Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain academic
honesty by refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism means that one
presents other peoples' ideas as one's own and does not credit the author. Plagiarism is one of the
most serious breaches of ethical standards in the academic environment, for it denies the mission of
the university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective, plagiarism is the stealing of
intellectual property. The official FSS policy on academic honesty is available in the course's
interactive syllabus in IS in English and Czech. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any
circumstances at FSS. The minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is expulsion from the course, a
grade of F for the semester, and referral to the Faculty disciplinary committee.
In this course, students will become thoroughly acquainted with the problem of plagiarism and how to
avoid it. If you have questions about plagiarism, contact the instructor. In the first week of class,
students are required to read about ASA citation guidelines and write a short essay entitled "What is
plagiarism and how can I avoid it?" Students are also required to read and sign a Statement on
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Academic Honesty and give it to the instructor within the first two weeks of class. These materials
can all be found in the "Writing Resources" section of the interactive syllabus in IS.
Weekly schedule
(See online Interactive Syllabus for specific reading assignments)
Week
Date Seminar topic Required reading
(* = reading for SOC776 students only)
1 February 19
Introductions and course
orientation
- Syllabus
- Statement on academic honesty
- Quick guide to essay-writing and citation style
- Choose book to review
2 February 26
No Class
Proper citation and writing
guidelines
- Johnson, et al. pp. 14-98, 108-110
- Guide to writing well (online)
- Sociology Writing Group: Working With
Sources; Outlining
- ASA style guide
- Begin reading for your book review
3 March 5
Writing an expository essay
(5-paragraph essay)
- Sociology Writing Group: Finishing Up
- Orwell: Politics and the English language*
- 26 Golden rules
- Handout on writing expository essays
- All Internet resources on 5- essays
4 March 12
Discuss expository essay 1st
draft
- Zinsser: Simplicity*
- Mahrer: Proofreading your own writing
- Little, Brown Handbook
5 March 19 Writing a book review
- Johnson, et al. pp. 181-203
- Sociology Writing Group: The Textual
Analysis Paper
- Belcher
- Three example book reviews
6 March 26
Discuss book review 1st
draft
- Procter: Book review guidelines
- Dartmouth Writing Center: Why and how to
revise
7 April 2 Writing a social issue paper
- Johnson, et al. pp. 156-180
- Examples of social issue papers (TBA)
8 April 9
No class ­ research and
writing
- Strunk: The elements of style pp. 1-89
(online)*
- Giddens: What is Sociology?*
- Mills: The Promise*
- Charon and Vigilant: The Discipline of
Sociology & The Meaning and Uses of
Sociology*
9 April 16
Discuss social issue paper
1st
draft
- Little, Brown Handbook
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10 April 23 Writing a quantitative report
- Johnson et al. pp. 100-138, 147-154, 204-218
- Sociology Writing Group: The Quantitative
Research Paper
- Van Poppel and Day
- Arber
- Marsh
- Mack and Lansley
11 April 30 Writing a qualitative report
- Johnson, et al. pp. 219-234
- Sociology Writing Group: The Quantitative
Research Paper
- Kerlin
- Holdaway
- Polsky
- Duneier
12 May 7
No class ­ research and
writing
- Little, Brown Handbook
13 May 14
Discuss
quantitative/qualitative
report 1st
draft
- Homan
- Georges and Jones
- Mills: On Intellectual Craftsmanship*
Summary of assignments
Due date Assignment
March 5
* Short essay on academic honesty
* Sign and return statement on
academic honesty
* Citation homework
* Choose book to review
March 10 Expository essay 1st
draft
March 18 Expository essay
March 24 Book review 1st
draft
April 1 Book review
April 14 Social issue paper 1st
draft
April 22 Social issue paper
April 30 Abstract writing homework
May 12 Quant/qual report 1st
draft
May 21 Quant/qual report
June 11 Final essay
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Literature
No. of
pages
Arber, S. 1998. "The Research Process: Planning Social Surverys," Pp. 312-317 in
Marsh, I., Cambell, R. and Keating, M. Classic and contemporary readings in
sociology. Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall.
6
American Sociological Association. 2007. American Sociological Association Style
Guide. Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.
46
Belcher, Wendy. "Book review guidelines."
http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/press/siteart/jli_bookreviewguidelines.pdf
4
Charon, Joel M. and Lee Garth Vigilant. 2002. The Meaning of Sociology, 8th
edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
22
Duneier, Mitchell. 1999. "A Statement on Method," pp. 333-357 in Sidewalk. New
York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.
25
Fowler, H. Ramsey and Jane E. Aaron. 1989. The Little, Brown Handbook, 4th ed.
Glenview, IL:Scott, Foresman and Co.
~76
Georges, R.A. and Jones, M.O. 2001. "The Human Element in Fieldwork." Pp.
384-385 in Giddens, A., ed. Sociology: Introductory readings, revised edition.
Cambridge: Polity press.
2
Giddens, Anthony. 2006. "What is Sociology?" in Sociology. Cambridge: Polity
Press.
28
Holdway, S. 1998. "Participant Observation (1): Inside the British Police," Pp. 318-
323 in Marsh, I., Cambell, R. and Keating, M. Classic and contemporary readings
in sociology. Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall.
6
Homan, R. 1998. "The Effects of Social Research," Pp. 350-355 in Marsh, I.,
Cambell, R. and Keating, M. Classic and contemporary readings in sociology.
Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall.
6
Internet resources on writing expository essays 5
Johnson, W., et al. 2006. The sociology student writer's manual (5th edition).
Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
264
Kerlin, B. 2000. "Qualitative Research in the United States," Forum: Qualitative
Social Reesarch 1(1).
10
Mack, J. and Lansley, S. 2001. "Absolute and Relative Poverty in Britain: An
Illustration of Survey Work," pp. 386-388 in Giddens, A., ed. Sociology:
Introductory readings, revised edition. Cambridge: Polity press.
3
Mahrer, Kenneth D. 2004. "Proofreading your own writing? Forget it!" The 2
6
Leading Edge, November.
Marsh, C. 2001. "The Value of the Survey Method," Pp. 382-383 in Giddens, A.,
ed. Sociology: Introductory readings, revised edition. Cambridge: Polity press.
2
Mills, C. Wright. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press. 52
Orwell, G. 1946. "Politics and the English language." ~20
Polsky, N. 1998. "Participant Observation (2): Deviant Lives and Careers," Pp.
324-331 in Marsh, I., Cambell, R. and Keating, M. Classic and contemporary
readings in sociology. Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall.
8
Procter, Margaret. 1999. "The book review general guidelines."
http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/
1
Strunk, William. 1918 [1999]. Elements of Style. Ithaca, N.Y.: Priv. print. [Geneva,
N.Y.: Press of W.P. Humphrey].
90
Sociology Writing Group. 2008. A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. 6th ed. New
York: Worth Publishers.
~115
Van Poppel, F. and Day, L.H. 1996. "A Test of Durkheim's Theory of Suicide--
Without Committing the `Ecological Fallacy,'" American Sociological Review
61(3):500-507.
8