Sociology Literacy Mat Golden Rules Always follow the command words of questions asked. Back up your points with appropriate evidence. Briefly explain key terms when you first use them. Write professionally and academically at all times by using the correct terminology. Plan your essays! Make sure you answer the questions by building towards a conclusion. Leave a line between paragraphs Refer back to the question in the conclusion sentence of each paragraph. Make sure how much you write corresponds to the marks available. Good examples of evidence Look carefully at spelling of these Sociological terms Positivism Institutionalisation Socialism Interpretivism Microsociology Democracy Quantitative Macrosociology Dictatorship Qualitative Meritocracy Globalisation Reliability Rationalisation Theoretical Representativeness Education Economic Validity Agencies Ideology Methodology Semiology Triangulation Sampling Interviews Representation Statistics Structuration Inequality Questionnaires Deviance Poverty Development Bourgeoisie Multinational Pluralism Proletariat Ethnomethodology Functionalism Stratification Phenomenology Marxism Interactionism Corporation Feminism Authority Subculture Postmodernism Urbanisation Exploitation Hegemony Capitalism Relativism Socialisation Communism Colonialism Quotations Numeric Data Letters Statistics Survey Results TV News Reports Textbooks Diaries Documentaries Official Statistics Content Analysis Semiology Autobiographies Paintings Experiments Newspaper Articles Photographs Observation Speeches Interview transcripts Census Data Case Studies Eyewitness accounts Longitudinal Studies Command Words– What is the question asking? Assess- Make an informed judgement after looking at all the evidence available. Annotate- Add labels or short comments, usually to a diagram, map or photograph. Compare- Write about what is similar and different about two things. Two separate descriptions do not make a comparison. Define- State the meaning of or what is meant by the word stated. Describe- Give the main characteristic features of something. Discuss- Bring out the important points of something. Consider the good and bad and come to a conclusion. Examine- Discuss the relevant points in detail. Evaluate- Pick out the good and bad points and give judgements. Explain or Account or Give Reasons for- Write about why something happens or occurs. Identify- Pick out something from information. Illustrate- Explain by using specific examples or diagrams. Justify- Why you chose something or why you think in a certain way. Refer to or with reference to- Write an answer which uses some of the idea provided in map/photograph/diagram etc Suggest- Set down your ideas on or knowledge of. To what extent – Look at the arguments and decide how true something is. Key Terminology Evidence- Sources or data to support an argument. Primary Source- An original piece of evidence containing first hand information from the time of the event. Secondary Source- A piece of evidence produced after the event. Methodology- How Sociologists conduct their research, the methods they use and how they explain their findings. Reliability- How likely it is another researcher will conduct the same research and reach the same conclusions. Validity- How ‘true to life’ research findings are (‘verstehen’) Representativeness- The extent to which findings can be applied to wider society Cause- Reason as to why something happened. Perspective- A lens through which an event is judged. Use connectives to extend your sentences and link each paragraph. Give examples Such as In the case of For example As revealed by For instance Explain an idea Although Except Unless However Therefore Sequencing Firstly Secondly Next Finally Since Features of a good essay Coherence- The essay follows a logical structure. Detail- High level understanding is demonstrated Focus- The essay does not talk about irrelevant content Analysis- The knowledge should be used as the basis for discussion focused on the question asked. Introduction- Address the question and main points right away Organisation- The essay is clear and does not repeat itself. Themes- Each paragraph should focus on a particular theme. Thesis- There should be a clear argument throughout the essay building towards a conclusion. Terminology- Show your understanding using the correct words Evidence- You must use appropriate evidence to support your points SPAG- It never hurts to have excellent spelling, punctuation and grammar. Conclusion- Answer the question at the end. Elaborating your ideas. Ask “So what?” This suggests This shows This infers This signifies This implies This portrays This conveys This means Therefore However Furthermore Developing this point What do you think? language In conclusion… It is clear that… From looking at… The evidence suggests… Overall… DO NOT USE ”I THINK” OR SIMILAR Adding to And Also As well as Moreover Too Furthermore Cause and Effect Because So Therefore Consequently Thus As a result of Contrasting Whereas Instead of Alternatively Otherwise In another way Then again To Emphasise Above all Ultimately Especially Significantly To compare Likewise Equally In the same way Similarly Proper Noun- As person, place or thing. They should always start with a capital letter. E.g. Marxism, Functionalism, Weber etc.