- The final paper asks you to create your own independent thesis by putting two or more articles in conversation. Another way to think of this assignment is to consider it as akin to an essay question (like you saw on the midterm) but one in which you need to design the question yourself (and also sustain your argument over 3-4 pages).
- I will grade the final papers based on your ability to put the different articles in conversation with one another. Remember that the concepts are the portable pieces of each article. In other words, they are what you can pick up and apply, reformulate, and put in conversation with other concepts. This process should yield a clearly stated and sustained independent thesis.
- An independent thesis is an idea that is your own and goes beyond simply summarizing the articles. Your thesis should be as specific as possible. For example, if you are writing about some facet of racial inequality: “Racial inequality is an important problem in today’s society” is way too broad to serve as a thesis. On the other end of the spectrum citing a specific fact from the article is too specific to be a thesis: “In the 1920s, some towns refused to allow black people to enter after dark.” Instead, you should aim for something specific and complex like: “Sundown towns created semi-permanent racial segregation that allows for “colorblind” policies to maintain segregation.” Here we have a complex set of ideas that needs further explanation and can be developed throughout the essay.
- The thesis needs to be something that you can develop over the course of the paper. In other words, you want to be able provide evidence for your claim as well as more fully develop and complicate your claim.
- You do not need to do any outside reading or research for this paper. Although you may want to apply course concepts to a contemporary event or issue. If you decide to go this route, you still need an independent thesis that moves beyond, “We can see x and y in this case.” In other words, you must do some work with the concepts and the case(s).
- Don’t try to over simplify course concepts. In other words, don’t bring up something about racial inequality and tell us that this shows there is still racism in society. You want to move away from and not toward broad claims.
- Finally, I would highly recommend that you write at least a rough draft and a final draft. Writing a final paper in one sitting will often lead to an incoherent paper as you develop ideas. I will provide another writing guide, which you can use to revise your paper before it is due.
The paper proposal is optional, but if you would like to discuss your paper with me during virtual office hours, you will, at least, need to attempt a proposal (see assignment).
I and one other person will grade your final essays. Below is the grading guide I will use and provide for my assistant.
Essay Grading Guide: (in order of importance)
Concepts:
- Employs, defines (or the definition is clear), and uses concepts to forward some point/argument. Mechanisms are clear when discussing causality.
- Employs and defines concepts but doesn’t really use them to forward the thesis/argument. There, however, may be some good summary of course concepts.
- Employs concepts but definitions are simplistic or missing. At times the student misuses the concept or just substitutes the concept for another word – Ex. They talk about the “social construction of race” but they could have substituted race and said the same thing.
- Or F. Gets basic sociological concepts wrong or offers up an individualistic analysis.
Organizing Thesis:
- Has a clear point that is developed rather than repeated throughout the essay. This point should correctly invoke the concept(s).
- A somewhat clear point. The essay has a thesis but it’s a bit awkward or vague. The paper mostly sticks to and expands on a key theme (i.e. you are not asking: Why is s/he talking about x now?)
- Poorly summarizing the articles and/or using empty platitudes as a thesis. Misusing key concepts.
- Or F Basically no discernable main idea to the essay.
Paragraph coherency
- Paragraphs have complex but single main ideas
- A single idea but not very complex (maybe a sentence that doesn’t really fit)
- Close to just listing notes
- Or F. Incoherent to the point it is difficult to read and you are likely angry.
Take off for too many empty platitudes/awkward constructions etc. And add if there is a sentence or two that seems really insightful. Ignore typos, margins, etc. – unless they are really egregious.
I told them that the essay should be used to demonstrate a working knowledge of the concepts.
