SOC b2500 Sociological Writing (“Making Sociology Speak”) B. Nadya Jaworsky Office 3.66 Consultation Hours: By appointment Discussion/Response/Position Papers – Questions to Ask •What is the main problem or issue that the author is addressing? •What is the author’s central claim, argument, or point? •What assumptions does the author make? •What evidence does the author present? •What are the strengths and weaknesses of the text? •What are possible counterarguments to the text’s claims? •Why are the problem(s) and the argument(s) interesting or important? Peer Review Partners •Červinková, Anna and Himmer, Michal • •Al Masany, Magdalena and Hamšík, Viktor • •Stehno, Dalibor reads Stratilová, Michaela •Stratilová, Michaela reads Yilmaz, Edanur •Yilmaz, Edanur reads Stehno, Dalibor • Becker on writing • •Rituals & Routines – Why do we feel so shameful about them? • •The importance of re-writing. Don’t be a one-draft wonder. • •Pluralistic ignorance – everyone thinks everyone else is getting it done and on time. • Becker on writing •Two biggest issues - Passive voice and unwillingness or inability to make causal statements. • •Persona – everyone has a style of writing. Classy persona, esoteric expertise, “I was there,” all authoritative in contrast to Becker’s ordinariness and similarity to others. issue of professionalization, becoming a “real” sociologist. • NEXT WEEK’S READINGS •REQUIRED READING: •Mahrer, Kenneth D. 2004. “Proofreading your own writing? Forget it!” The Leading Edge, November. (2 pp.) •Trim, Michelle. 2007. What every student should know about practising peer review. New York: Pearson Longman, pp. 1-20. (19 pp.) • •HOMEWORK DUE: Response/discussion paper due Monday, March 29 at 13:00 in the Homework Vault and to your peer-review partner; peer review due in class and in the Homework Vault http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo •1. He dropped out of school on account of the fact that it was necessary for him to help support his family. •He dropped out of school to support his family. •2. It is expected that the new schedule will be announced by the bus company within the next few days. •The bus company will probably announce its schedule during the next few days. •3. There are many ways in which a student who is interested in meeting foreign students may come to know one. •Any student who wants to meet foreign students can do so in many ways. •4. It is very unusual to find someone who has never told a deliberate lie on purpose. •Rarely will you find someone who has never told a deliberate lie. •5. Trouble is caused when people disobey rules that have been established for the safety of all. •Disobeying safety regulations causes trouble. •6. A campus rally was attended by more than a thousand students. Five students were arrested by campus police for disorderly conduct, while several others are charged by campus administrators with organizing a public meeting without being issued a permit to do so. •Five out of more than a thousand students at a campus rally were arrested for disorderly conduct, and several others were charged by campus administrators with organizing a public meeting without a permit. •7. The subjects that are considered most important by students are those that have been shown to be useful to them after graduation. •Students think that the most important subjects are those that will be useful after graduation. •8. In the not too distant future, college first-years must all become aware of the fact that there is a need for them to make contact with an academic adviser concerning the matter of a major. •Soon, college fist-years must realize that they need to contact their advisors about their choices of major. •9. In our company there are wide-open opportunities for professional growth with a company that enjoys an enviable record for stability in the dynamic atmosphere of aerospace technology. •Our company provides opportunities for professional growth and stability in the dynamic field of aerospace technology. •10. Some people believe in capital punishment, while other people are against it; there are many opinions on this subject. •There are people for and against capital punishment. • •From the readings I did for the course on stress, I have found that there have been many studies done to try to find the single most common cause of stress. Some stress scholars believe it is the major life changes that provoke stress. Others believe it is the everyday hassles and annoyances of life which bring about stress. Despite the conflicting viewpoints in the causality of stress, all scholars agree that when stressful stimuli can be recognized and regulated early, there seems to be less damaging effects on the body. At this point I have a confident feeling that I will be able to locate good, current information on the questions of stress management, which I intend to research (121 words). • Tips on revising •Eliminate wordiness •Redundant pairs – “everyday hassles and annoyances” •Inflated phrases – “At this point…” •Intensifiers – “single most common” •Passive voice •“it is”… “that” (Some researchers believe that it is the everyday hassles that cause stress.) • •According to my readings on stress, many studies have tried to find its most common cause. According to some scholars, major life changes provoke stress; for others, everyday annoyances cause it. Despite conflicting explanations, all agree that early recognition and regulation lessen bodily damage. I feel confident now that I can locate good relevant information on stress management. (58 words)