SOC776 Writing Sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
2/2/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 9:45–11:15 M117
Prerequisites (in Czech)
SOUHLAS
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/10, only registered: 0/10
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course is intended to help masters students improve their academic writing skills and practice English. This is a writing-intensive course that provides training in the methods of researching and writing Sociology essays in several different styles. The intent is to boost students’ confidence in all stages of the writing process, to prepare students to write well in a variety of academic literary genres, to introduce various perspectives on proper professional writing, and to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of sociological theory and methods.

By the end of the semester, students will gain experience writing:
- Book reviews
- Expository essays
- Social issue reaction papers
- Reports on quantitative and qualitative research according to social science journal guidelines

Special attention is given to learning effective methods of research and norms for proper citation of sources to maintain academic honesty.

Student also gain experience organizing the writing process, making in-class presentations, offering and receiving constructive criticism, and revising first drafts.
Syllabus
  • The weekly schedule of seminar meetings is as follows:
  • Week 1 - Introductions and course orientation
  • Week 2 - What is sociology and what can we do with it?
  • Week 3 - How do we write an expository essay?
  • Week 4 - What is bad writing and how can we recognize it?
  • Week 5 - How do we help one another constructively? (Peer Review)
  • Week 6 - How do we review a book or an article?
  • Week 7 - No class- READING WEEK
  • Week 8 - How do we begin sociological research?
  • Week 9 - How do we conduct research and engage the literature?
  • Week 10 - How do we get published?
  • Week 11 - How do we finish sociological research and begin writing?
  • Week 12 - How do we finish writing a research essay?
  • Week 13 - Discuss First Drafts of Research Essay
  • Literature includes, but is not limited to:
  • American Sociological Association. 2010. American Sociological Association Style Guide. 4th Edition. Washington, DC: American Sociological Association.
  • Becker, Howard. 1986. Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish your Thesis, Book or Article. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Giddens, Anthony. 2006. “What is Sociology?” in Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Johnson, W., et al. 2006. The sociology student writer’s manual (5th edition). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
  • Mahrer, Kenneth D. 2004. “Proofreading your own writing? Forget it!” The Leading Edge, November.
  • Mills, C. Wright. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
  • Orwell, G. 1946. “Politics and the English language.”
  • Sociology Writing Group. 2008. A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. 6th ed. New York: Worth Publishers.
  • Turabian, Kate L. 2010. Student’s Guide to Writing College Papers. 4th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Literature
  • A guide to writing sociology papers. 6th ed. New York, NY: Worth Publishers, 2007, xv, 230. ISBN 9780716776260. info
  • American sociological association style guide. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: American Sociological Association, 2007, xvi, 108. ISBN 9780912764309. info
  • The sociology student writer's manual. Edited by William A. Johnson. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006, xii, 260. ISBN 0131928511. URL info
Teaching methods
Teaching methods involve weekly seminars, student presentations, and frequent writing assignments.
Assessment methods
Student evaluations are based on several writing assignments and class attendance and participation, as described below.

Writing assignments
- Weekly essays: Approximately every two weeks, students will write two drafts of an essay, based on the assigned reading, of 500-1500 words in length
- Final essay: A research essay of 4000-5000 words

Class participation
- Students are required to attend every seminar meeting
- Active participation in classroom discussion
- Critique of other students’ writing

Students receive a final letter grade (A-F) based on the following criteria:

30% - Essay assignments
35% - Class participation
10% - Final Essay Draft
25% - Final essay
Language of instruction
English
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Spring 2009, Autumn 2009, Spring 2010, Autumn 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2018, recent)
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