SO203 WEEK 2

ESSAY WRITING
SARAH.KENNEDY.2009@NUIM.IE
OFFICE HOUR: TUES @ 2 IN B.2/4
SARAHKENNEDYTUTORIALS.BLOGSPOT.COM

HOW ARE ESSAYS ASSESSED?

HOW ARE ESSAYS

ASSESSED?
1. Understanding & knowledge of concepts and theories
2. Use of module readings & learning resources
3. Evidence and analysis***
4. Structure and writing style
Example of excellent essay writing available under
undergraduate achievements on the Department website.

SOCIOLOGICAL WRITING
When considering why a particular social phenomenon (e.g.
discrimination on grounds such as race, gender or class
the subject of this module) occurs, it is important to consider
structure and agency:
Agency?
Structure?

SOCIOLOGICAL WRITING

When considering why a particular social phenomenon (e.g.

discrimination on grounds such as race, gender or class the subject
of this module) occurs, it is important to consider structure and agency:
Agency: People can and do choose how to act in a given situation.
Structure: These choices are not made in isolation. Individuals are
influenced by their current and past experiences of social forces in their
lives (familial, cultural, organisational, societal, political, environmental).
Different theories in sociology tend to emphasise one side of this
equation or the other or approach the balance between them in different
ways.
It is important not to overemphasise or ignore the other (see second page
of Writing Resource 1).
Understanding sociological theories and being able to compare their
relative strengths and weaknesses in the context of what you are writing
about will strengthen your writing.

POINTERS

Structure and writing style is very important:

Guide the reader through the essay using signaling/linking
sentences and headings. A good introduction and central
thesis/argument will also set up the direction of the essay!
An essay usually begins broad, and becomes more
specific through the use of examples/case studies. E.g.
Background theoretical underpinnings case study.
Pay attention to grammar and spelling.
Use paragraphs.
Avoid jargon (thesaurus) write clearly, but assertively.
Make sure to reference!

POINTERS CTD.

An essay is not a summary it is an argument:

Use the active voice.
Evaluate, compare and contrast theories (see page 22 of
writing for sociology.
Blooms Taxonomy (writing for sociology page 14):

knowledge: the recall of specific items

comprehension: can recall, but can do a little more (e.g.
paraphrase, define, discuss to some extent)
application: all of the above, but can take information of an
abstract nature and use it in concrete situations
analysis: can break down a communication into its constituent
parts, revealing the relationships among them
synthesis: can pull together many disorganised elements or parts
so as to form a whole
evaluation: makes judgements about the value of materials or
methods.

BLOOMS TAXONOMY

EXAMPLES IN WRITING FOR SOCIOLOGY PG. 14

ESSAY TITLES
Ex 1&2:
In this essay, you are invited to discuss contemporary
sociological perspectives relating to theories of class or
race/ethnicity or gender and their implications for
understanding processes of inequality. In your answer
you should refer to class or race or gender inequality in Irish
society in comparative aspect with other European societies.
Ex 3:
Does the liberalisation of Higher Education funding reinforce
social inequalities? A comparative evaluation of Ireland and
the UK.