Response Paper Instructions
Response Paper Instructions
Response Paper Instructions
Included in this document:
Summary of instructions
Specific instructions (PLEASE READ)
General writing points (from things I have often commented on in papers)
Reference examples (citations and references must be used for full credit)
Example response paper excerpt
Summary of instructions:
You will be required to submit one response paper this semester. You will choose a topic of particular interest to you and write a two to three page paper: double space, approx. 900-950 words. The paper must discuss/be based on the subject of social power and inequality.
The response paper is worth 30 points and due Sunday of Week 3.
You can write on any class topic covered from Week 1 to Week 3.
You can submit the paper as early as you would like, but no late papers will be accepted.
An electronic copy must be submitted through the course link for the assignment submission by the deadline (it will automatically also be run through turnitin). You will find the link both in the Course Resources module and in the Week 3 module.
Specific instructions (including suggested outline):
Your response paper should be two to three pages (around 900-950 words), double-spaced, Times New Roman font. Page count and word count does not include references.
All sociological material should only be from class. If you do not understand a concept, contact me.This means you should only cite our text and articles to define concepts.
These papers should be written independently (not in collaboration with other students).
The paper must discuss/be based on the subject of social power and inequality.
Choose one topic to focus on in your response paper. To do so, you will select one or two class concepts that interested you from the readings from Weeks 1-3.
DO NOT try and cover too many subjects, or too many readings. Instead, you may choose one or two concepts to focus on, so you can go into greater detail. You MUST show your understanding of the concepts by discussing them in your own words, synthesizing class concepts to make your own argument/point.
1) In the first half of your assignment (approximately 1 to 1 ½ pages), discuss the concept(s) you are focusing on in the paper, including the definitions and a comprehensive explanation, or a “critical summary.” This explanation can include the importance, usefulness, or strengths of the concept(s). In your own words, define and discuss the concept(s) as if you were explaining them to a friend outside of the course.
You should only use the textbook as your source for information on the class concepts, and include page numbers whenever you are including information you learned from the text. Here, you should introduce all (and only) concepts that you will then apply in the second half of the paper.
This should be in your own words. You will not receive full credit if you simply change a few words from the textbook. You will receive no credit if you copy the text, especially if you do not cite it (page numbers in parentheses at the end of sentences that include information from the text). Even when in your own words, include the source. This helps me to grade your work and to help you get in the practice of citing your work.
2) In the second half (approximately 1 to 1 ½ pages), you will need to apply and/or critique the concept(s). The purpose of this section is to show that you not only understand the definitions, but can apply the concepts and use them in different contexts (i.e. how the “glass ceiling” can apply to a different organizational setting). One of the most effective ways to do this is to apply the concept(s) to a current event or to analyze a current situation. For example, you can apply your chosen concept to something you found in the news or to a happening on the UCF campus.
Because of this, you cannot only rely on personal opinions and/or experiences here – you will not receive full credit. Instead, if you are discussing current events, etc, then include an outside reference that relates to your claims. For example, if you are discussing gun control, you can reference an article from CNN.com.
This is not intended to be a research paper, however – so I do not have a minimum number of references you need to include. Instead, outside references are only intended to ensure that you have thoroughly considered the class concepts and your own perspectives on them. Many of the topics we will discuss in this class connect to our everyday experiences, and we often already have an opinion on them. Therefore, outside sources can help you contextualize your understanding of the class concepts.
General Writing Pointers
Please also be careful to avoid opinion pieces; certain outside articles may take a particular perspective on a topic. Consider this in your choice of article and make sure you consider how this could affect the findings of the article.
In academic work, generally try to avoid phrases such as, “I think” or “We all know” or “From my point of view/experience.” Stay close to the readings and our class discussions.
You DO NOT need to use titles of the textbook or the articles in the body of your writing. You may simply reference the authors’ last names. Please use page numbers when writing about a concept from the textbook.
You must have paragraphs. A paragraph is generally 5 to 7 sentences. A page should never be one paragraph – break up the paragraphs according to subject matter.
You also do not need to clarify “as we learned in class,” etc. This takes up space you can use for other topics.
First paragraphs can be straight-forward, and introduce a “road map” of the main topics you will discuss. Conclusion paragraphs should include information that can help answer the question, “What are the main three points I want the reader to take away from this paper?”
If you only change a few words from a sentence from the text, go ahead and keep it intact and use quotation marks. However, direct quotations should generally be no more than 10% of your paper, preferably less, so try to put everything in your own words. This usually entails taking multiple paragraphs, and considering the main points you want to write about from them. If you are having a hard time doing this, it may be the case you still do not fully understand the material. Take a step back, take notes on the article (for the first time or again), and then come back to writing the paper. This is one upside to working on a paper for a few days.
Semi-colons (;) are used to connect two full sentences together, and are used relatively rarely. Commas (,) are often used after introductions (i.e. For example, Additionally, As seen in this case, In other words, etc).
Read your paper aloud (even if it is awkward whispering). This will help you to catch awkwardly phrased sentences, incomplete sentences, or choppy paragraphs that jump between topics. If you stumble over a sentence, or make a face at the end of the paragraph (what did I mean by that??), then those are the places to go back to.
References are intended so I can go back to the source of information that you drew from. Papers are actually intended as an academic conversation – so we want to be able to build off of each other.
When we refer to “original work,” please understand that even if you wrote the paper, it could still be “stealing” from someone else’s work if it is poor paraphrasing or not referenced properly. In a sense, poor paraphrasing or not referencing a work means that you are stealing their ideas. If you worked for a year, five years, a career, on a paper, you probably wouldn’t be okay with someone else claiming it is their own. Usually it is not that severe in a class paper, but it helps you (hopefully) understand why we implement this early on – to get in the mindset and practice.
References
You must include: (1) parenthetical citations and (2) a list of references. I use ASA style (American Sociological Association), so the citation style guides I include reflect that. However, you may use the style you are most comfortable with. I will only deduct points if I cannot find your source because the references are not thorough enough.
Parenthetical citations (in the paper itself):
Parenthetical citations go at the end of a sentence, with the period after the parenthesis.
Textbook: (Last name of author, pg. 5) *Remember – you need to include the name of the author who wrote the article, not the editors.
Class notes: (Anthony Notes, Module 3)
Other sources: (Last name of author YEAR of publication) For example: (Anthony 2012). If you cannot find the author of a website (for example), then use the organization name as the last name (UCF 2012).
Reference List examples (American Sociological Association styles – feel free to use MLA or any other citation style you are comfortable with):
Textbook:
Race, Class, & Gender: An Anthology, 9th edition. Editors: Margaret L. Anderson and Patricia Hill Collins. Cengage Learning.
Website:
American Sociological Association 2006. “Status Committees.” Washington, DC: American Sociological Association. Retrieved December 12, 2006 (http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/leftnav/committees/committees).
Online magazine:
Leonard, Andrew. 2005. “Embracing the Dark Side of the Brand.” Salon, May 18. Retrieved May 22, 2005 (http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2005/05/18/star_wars_lego/index_np.html).
Print magazine:
Swartz, Mimi. 2002. “An Enron Yard Sale.” New Yorker, May 2002, pp. 50-52.
Online Newspaper:
Mapes, Lynda V. 2005. “Unearthing Tse-whit-zen.” Seattle Times, May 25. Retrieved August 1, 2005 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/local/klallam/index.html).
Print newspaper:
Lewin, Tamar. 2005. “SAT Essay Scores are in, but will they be used?” The New York Times, May 15, p. A22.
Example Response Paper (from a course on the Sociology of Emotions):
Eviatar Zerubavel (2006) examines the socially constructed contexts and tensions of public silence and denial. The most effective way to keep a secret, or be in denial, is through silence. Social actors need a social system to achieve consensus to uphold public silence. He first introduces euphemisms, which are used in the context of fear, embarrassment, and shame, which is a stronger form of embarrassment. Zerubavel’s main contribution is his address of “conspiracies as a general phenomenon” (2006: 14), because “nonoccurrences” (2006: 13) are understudied in academics and, if they are studied, they are typically addressed in relation to particular topics. Zerubavel branches these particular topics in order to understand the general social processes of silence.
Zerubavel reviews rules of denial and the power dynamics surrounding denial. He states there is a social organization of denial and conventions of silence must be learned, typically implicitly or in professional socialization. Participants learn what is consider relevant or irrelevant in social situations. Ignoring incidents is systematic and social, so participants must learn discerning mental frames. In learning what is taboo, participants learn strategic avoidance. This constrains their processing of information, particularly when social norms dictate things should remain nameless. Additionally, tact is a form of “civil inattention” (2006: 30) participants use to uphold taboos and polite avoidance. The consensus created for inattention is not only produced by norms, but also political conditions. Silence and denial are shaped by power relations. More powerful people can control the amount of information they receive or tacitly not received. They can also control others’ attention, such as media’s control of information, and the political agendas surrounding accepted academic fields of study. These conventional fields constrict access to knowledge. Through power, one can subjugate another person’s voice and opinions. This silencing stabilizes power structures. Forced silence can occur through physical and verbal pressures, along with unspoken but understood pressures to keep secret.
Zerubavel does an excellent job of addressing generic social processes between topics that typically are viewed as distinct topics. In illustrating this point, he strategically uses examples that support his argument and adds interest. In using examples from a range of sources, he implicitly supports his argument that this is a generic process. In addition, his writing is clearly organized into specific topics. Transitions between his points flow and address issues created in preceding paragraphs. For instance, his examples regarding embarrassment clearly relate to power issues, which he addresses in subsequent chapters. This exemplifies a well-planned argument.
Even though he states a purely analytical distinction of concepts, he groups examples under embarrassment that a layman may consider to be of greater magnitude than embarrassment. For instance, I think of tripping in public as eliciting embarrassment, not discovering alcohol abuse or domestic violence. Therefore, explicitly defining embarrassment, silence and denial would clarify his claims. This is also true for silence and denial, because he describes how people may talk behind doors, but they publically deny something is occurring. However, by speaking behind doors and acknowledging the occurrence, they are not truly denying its existence, so the topic may still be publically acknowledged. Thus, denial could be considered “deep acting,” in which one is not only keeping silent, but also convincing oneself that it truly never happened. In relation to this, it could further emotions research if he analyzed the emotional impact of silence and denial on both superiors and subordinates.
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