Writing in Sociology
Please keep in mind that these are only general guidelines; always defer to your professor's specifications for a given assignment. If you have any questions about the content represented here, please contact the Writing Centers so that we can address them for you. Sociology is the study of social norms, phenomena, and conditions. It seeks to explain how and why people do things that impact their culture and surroundings. Using a mixture of history, research, and theory, sociologists explore how communities interact with one another, deal with complex problems and policies, and express their cultural beliefs. They study a wide range of social topics, including the media and popular culture, trends in migration, immigration, and emigration, cultural values and beliefs, standards and access in medical care, or interactions and policies in large cities, among many other topics. Good sociological writing sets a clear focus (thesis) and approach (methodology) to an issue and presents complex ideas clearly in an unbiased, analytical fashion that is well supported by verifiable evidence. It uses clear data and explanations to inform readers, and logical arguments, when appropriate, to persuade readers. Additionally, it is important that sociological writers demonstrate understanding and familiarity of key concepts, theories, and terminology in their writing, which is more than simply placing the terms in a paper. A good paper will fully explain the data using key terms, and apply theories to the issue at hand. Preferred Bibliographic Style ASA (American Sociological Association) is the style used by most sociologists, and is the one that students should use for most sociology papers. Students can also use APA style or the Chicago Manual of Style, if the professor allows. Be sure to always clarify with your instructor what style you should be using for a given assignment, as they have the final word on what is acceptable for that course. Common Writing Assignments Below are some common writing assignments for Sociology courses. Students might also be interested in reading more about common style issues (pdf) used in writing Sociology papers, including citation use, common grammar and style, and footnote and endnote format.
Key Terms There are a few key terms that may help with you with sociological writing. The two main groups of sociological evidence are:
Neither form of data is preferred over the other, so you should carefully consider the content of your study to determine which type of data will work best (or use a mixture of both!). This will help you to form the overall approach to your topic and begin crafting an outline that responds to your question or issue. Helpful Resources
Resources for Sociology Writing Wesleyan University Tips on Writing Sociology Papers Dartmouth Writing Program Sociology Page DePaul Sociology Department Links View a list of tutors who specialize in writing in sociology |