Sociology Writing

Techniques
The examples here refer to essays or answers to
longer structured questions.
The Lecture presents some introductory rules
about writing sociologically. It is not presented as
a complete guide to writing essays, or to the skill
domains by which work is assessed.
This slideshow is about skills. There is no printed
summary or specific test.

Slide 1 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Rules for good writing
1. Answers should reflect the title of the question.
2. All terms should be explained in some form.
3. Avoid generalisations be precise in what you
say.
4. Think about evidence - what proof have you
that what you say is true?

The examples which follow illustrate some of

these rules in action.

Slide 2 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Starting an answer 1
1. The opening paragraph for an essay should be
precise. It should explain terms or outline an
argument.
2. Look at the first paragraph to the essay which
follows.

Marriage is naturally thought of as a

partnership of equals these days. A lot of men
now do much more housework and childcare
than they used to in olden times.

Slide 3 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Marriage is naturally
thought of as a partnership By whom? Who
of equals these days. A lot naturally thinks?
of men now do much more
housework and childcare
than they used to in olden
times.

When was this?

What men? Who are
you talking about?

Things to improve Rule 4

Use evidence

Slide 4 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Starting an answer 2

Non-participant observation is the

research method that the researcher
chooses if he wants an objective view of a
social issue. He does not join in but
simply put, he just observes.

Slide 5 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Non-participant observation is when the
research method that the researcher
chooses if he wants an objective view of a
social issue. He does not join in but
simply put, he just observes.

Are all researchers male?

Think about language here.

Issues to address

Rule 3
Be precise

Slide 6 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Starting an answer 3
Personal documents are also known as
expressive documents because they tend to be
things like diaries, and letters and other personal
documents in which you tend to express your
feelings about yourself, other people and issues.
Personal documents give us an insight into how
people think, their desires and ambitions.

Slide 7 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Personal documents are also known as
expressive documents because they tend to be
things like diaries, and letters and other personal
documents in which you tend to express your
feelings about yourself, other people and issues.
Personal documents give us an insight into how
people think, their desires and ambitions.

Good! Knowledge is displayed here.

A word is explained and examples
are offered. It is clear the direction
the answer will take Rule 2
Explain terms

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 Skill Domains
AQA, OCR and WJEC all expect students to
show that they can use the following skills:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
2. Interpretation and Analysis
3. Evaluation

In longer answers you need to show evidence of all of

the skill domains in your answers.
In shorter answers there is less stress on evaluation.
The examples which follow focus mainly on showing
Knowledge and Understanding.

Slide 9 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Showing Knowledge and
Understanding
1. Step one Know sociological terms precisely.
Keep a list. Use this CD, your notes and your
textbook.

2. Step two- Review your work regularly so that

the key points you have studied are absorbed
into your long-term memory.

3. Step three Use terms and your knowledge

when writing. Be precise. Show what you
know.

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 Inaccurate Knowledge

Karl Marx said that religion is a cause for conflict

and it will die out. He also said that religion
legitimises things that would otherwise be
unacceptable. For example racism. In the Old
Testament, God said it is OK to hate Jewish people
and that all Christians should kill Jews on
Judgement Day. This is legitimising racism.

You do not lose marks directly for points which are factually
inaccurate, but obviously you dont gain any either.

Slide 11 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

 Karl Marx said that religion is a cause for conflict and it will
die out. He also said that religion legitimises things that would
otherwise be unacceptable. For example racism. In the Old
Testament, God said it is OK to hate Jewish people and that
all Christians should kill Jews on Judgement Day. This is
legitimising racism.

There were no
This is not so. The cause of Christians in the Old
social conflict is economic Testament. Jesus was
inequality, according to Marx. not born till the New
Religion is used by people as Testament.
a way of coping with their lot
in life.
These statements are completely
inaccurate. This will not gain
Knowledge marks

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 Heres another bit of knowledge

Modern sociologists are optimistic about egalitarian

relationship in conjugal role. The famous
sociologists of the family, Willmott and Young, have
written several books on the progression of time.

The general idea is sound here, but there are

some serious issues to be raised with this
particular account too. What can you spot?
There are two sorts of problems.

Slide 13 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

Modern sociologists are optimistic about
egalitarian relationships in conjugal roles. The
famous sociologists of the family, Willmott and
Young, have written several books on the
progression of time.
Mistakes in English
this loses marks
Who? Be Excellent use
precise of term
here. The writer knows what this
sentence means but what
does it say? Read it. Wilmott
Some of these and Young wrote about how
statements are vague. families have changed, not time
They do not show what
you know.

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 This is well written
A recent example in which diaries have been used
as a form of recording information would be that of
Eileen Barker and the Moonies. She wrote how she
felt and how people around her were this was
useful because it was the feelings of the people who
were there at the time.

Marks for Interpretation and Analysis include

providing evidence from research. This is done
well here.
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 There is more good writing
here:
The hidden curriculum is associated
with Pierre Bourdieu and it is all
those things that pupils are taught in
school without realising it.
clear
explanation
named Sociological of term
writer term

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 Unlike this
However put, roles in the family can never be
equal. It is biologically impossible. Feminists see
the maternal role as the oppression of women by
men, but surely this is not the case. Biologists
would say that a stronger link is almost always
created between the mother and the child.
Therefore the most natural way of scientific
reasoning would be to say that the female would be
suited more to looking after a child in the early
stages of its life as men do not have the biological
make-up to have a baby.
This is biology and not sociology.
It is presented without evidence.
Slide 17 of 22 Click for text and the next slide
 The same issue, but
Feminists such as Zaretsky would say that womens
roles in the family should be equal but they are not.
Evelyn Gillians evidence in Item B shows that
98.9% of violent attacks are by men on women. This
is a far cry from equality in the home.

1. Same issue as before, but look at the deployment of

evidence now we have some sociology to support
the viewpoints.
2. This paragraph refers to feminists, explains what they
say, and includes reference to an Item in the question.

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 Conclusions in essays
There are three conclusions for most issues:
1. Yes, you agree with the point made in the
question and you can give reasons and
evidence.
2. No, you do not agree and you can give
reasons and evidence.
3. Both sides of the argument are valid and
you will consider them both with reference to
reasons and evidence.

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 Think ahead to the exam

1. Prepare answers to obvious questions in

advance.
2. Practise plans and ask your teacher or lecturer
to check them.
3. Read sample essays in books (not to copy, but
to understand how the answer is structured).
4. Make notes to go with those from classes to
make sure you are aware of debates.

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 Summary of main issues
1. Answer the question which is asked of you.
2. Refer to sociological knowledge to display your
knowledge and understanding.
3. Use sociological evidence and writers to support
your answers (interpretation and analysis).
4. Check your spelling and grammar. Marks for
Quality of Language are included in those for
Knowledge and Understanding.
5. Remember to read through your work when you
have finished to see that it flows.

Slide 21 of 22 Click for text and the next slide

Adapted from work by Janis Griffiths, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School

The end
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