Writing Refection 2

SOC 105

15%

Students are required to respond to one of the following questions in a 4-page, double spaced paper. Papers should be academically written (suggested format below) and draw upon three sources from the course. Papers must be submitted on D2L by 11:59pm on December 10, 2020.

 

1) Compare and contrast Karl Marx and Max Weber’s definition of class. What are the strengths and/or weaknesses of each? Which do you think most adequately captures the nature of class divisions today? Provide examples.

 

2) What is intersectionality and what does it add to our capacity to understand issues of relative social power and/or inequality? Use examples drawing on at least two of the following: race, class, gender, sexuality.

 

3) What are the main differences between Keynesianism and neoliberalism? Discuss how these different organizations of capitalism impact one of the following: gender, race, social movements.

 

Basics Rules

·         Respond to one of the above questions, in a 4-page, double spaced paper

·         Title page including your name, course code and section, my name and your TA’s name

·         Reference to at least three pieces of course material (readings, podcasts, lectures)

·         You may reflect on personal experience in this paper, but remember that an academic reflection still requires that you use references to support your analysis

·         Citations for all work referenced and a full bibliography (style to be chosen at student’s discretion so long as it is a recognized style of referencing, used correctly and consistently)

Learning Goals:

·         To be able to critically reflect upon and apply the concepts you are learning about in this class

·         To build clear and concise writing skills

·         To hone skills of argumentation

Suggested Writing Structure:

 

Introduction (0.5-1 page)

 

·         Hook sentence

·         Statement of problem

·         Thesis

·         Roadmap

·         So what?

Brief overview of the main concepts (0.5 – 1 page)

 

·         What concepts are you dealing with?

·         What do the concepts mean? How do they relate to each other?

·         What do these concepts help us to understand in sociology?

·         How will they relate to the cases you are being asked to reflect upon?

Application (1.5-2 pages)

 

·         What is the example you are analyzing?

·         How does the concept help you to understand the problem/situation posed?

·         How would the concept direct your focus? What kinds of strengths/weaknesses of the analysis arise?

Conclusion (0.5 page)

 

·         Restate your research problem/question

·         Review the arguments you have made

·         Answer the question ‘so what’?

**Please note that the above suggested sections are not the same as suggested paragraphs. You should have more than one paragraph per section. A paragraph should contain one idea/aspect of your argument. Once you change focus, you should start a new paragraph**

 

Grade Ranges

Qualities

Failure

·         There is little-to-no engagement with course material or it is severely misunderstood

·         The rules of the assignment were not followed

·         Writing, grammar is extremely poor

·         Referencing is incorrect or not evident

D-Range

·         Minimal rules of the assignment were followed

·         There is little-to-no engagement with the course material or it is severely misunderstood

·         Writing, grammar is extremely poor

·         Referencing is incorrect or not evident

C-Range

·         Rules of the assignment are generally followed

·         Course content is engaged, but with some difficulty

·         Writing requires more work, argument may not flow well

·         Referencing is missing key elements

·         There is little overarching argument tying the paper together

B-Range

·         All of the assignment rules have been followed

·         Course content is engaged and appears well understood

·         Writing is generally clear and effective as are references

·         Overall cohesion/organization requires some work

·         Theoretical engagement is minimal

A-Range

·         All of the assignment rules have been followed

·         A comprehensive understanding of course content is demonstrated

·         Writing is clear, effective and organized

·         Argumentation is logical, integrates theory, and ties together in an overarching thesis