Weekly schedule

This list shows the theme and required reading for each week. The readings are subject to change during the semester.

February 19 Introductions and course orientation

• Syllabus
• Statement on academic honesty
• Quick guide to essay-writing and citation style

February 26 Proper citation and writing guidelines

• Johnson, et al. pp. 14-98, 108-110
• 26 Golden rules
• Guide to writing well (online)
• Begin reading a book for your book review

March 4 Writing an expository essay (5-paragraph essay)

• Orwell: Politics and the English language
• Handout on writing expository essays
• Read all Internet resources about 5-paragraph essays

March 11 Discuss expository essay 1st draft

• Zinsser: Simplicity
• Mahrer: Proofreading your own writing

March 18 Writing a book review

• Johnson, et al. pp. 181-203
• Riker-Coleman: Review of Sorrows of empire
• Noonan: Review of Jihad vs. McWorld
• Kramer: Review of A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers

March 25 No class – reading and research

• UW-Tacoma: Writing critical book reviews
• Procter: Book review guidelines
• Belcher: Book review guidelines

April 1 Discuss book review 1st draft

• Dartmouth Writing Center: Why and How to Revise

April 8 Writing a social issue paper

• Johnson, et al. pp. 156-180

April 15 No class – reading and research

• Strunk: The elements of style pp. 1-89 (online)

April 22 Discuss social issue paper 1st draft

April 29 Writing a quantitative report

• Johnson, et al. pp. 100-138, 147-154, 204-218
• Costanza, et al.: Ecosystem services
• Van Poppel and Day: Testing Suicide
• Farley: Crime rates
• Arber: Planning social surveys
• Marsh: The value of survey method

May 6 Writing a qualitative report

• Johnson, et al. pp. 219-234
• Duneier: Talking city trouble
• Goffman: Presentation of self in everyday life
• Manning: Goffman's methods
• Georges and Jones: The human element in fieldwork
• Participant observation

May 13 No class – reading and research

• Mills: The promise of sociology
• Homan: The effects of social research

May 20 Discuss quantitative/qualitative report 1st draft