SOC10004 Sociological Foundations
Assignment 1B: Academic writing skills exercise
Word limit: 800 (+/- 10%)
Weighting: 15%
Due date: 5pm AEST Monday03 August 2018
Step 1
Note: if you are sticking with the same topic area you chose for Assignment 1A you may skip this step.
Begin by choosing a focus area, or topic, (i.e. a current social issue in Australia) that is of genuine interest to you. Some examples of current social issues you could choose to focus on include:
Climate change
Housing affordability
Homelessness
Domestic violence
Drug use
Bullying
Gambling
Asylum seeker policy.
Your focus area should form a 'lense' through which you view the question:
How relevant is the sociological imagination for understanding contemporary Australian society?
Step 2
Note: if you received feedback requiring improvement of your sources for Assignment 1A, or if you have changed your focus area, you may wish to complete this step again. Otherwise, continue with Step 3.
Using theSwinburne Library(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.Site, complete some preliminary research on your topic, ensuring you have also read C. Wright Mills (1978)site. And locate aminimum of three relevant academic sources(not including C. Wright Mills)to use in Assignment 1B.
Step 3
Use your completedEssay plan template (DOC 91 KB)to complete your essay. If you received feedback from your eLA on areas for improvement you should incorporate this into your essay draft.
Tips for success
Remember you are answering the question:
How relevant is the sociological imagination for understanding contemporary Australian societyin regards to the current social issue you have chosen, either in Step 1 or Assignment 1A?
Ensure you pay particular attention tohowthe sociological imagination allows us to understand the social issue or problem you have selected, and explore any relevant insights that might be gained from its application. For example, in relation to growing economic inequality, the application of the sociological imagination would seek to critique perspectives focused on personal choice, failing, or financial mismanagement. This then provides us with an opportunity to examine broader structural issues that shape our chances in life.
Structure
Please ensure that your answer is framed as an academic essay, including:
Introduction (approximately 100 words)
This should include:
The context (your focus area/issue).
A brief outline of your argument (how the application of the sociological imagination helps us to understand the issue).
An outline of the main points you will discuss.
Body (approximately 600 words)
Clearly themed paragraphs (3–6 paragraphs) thatcover the main points you listed in the introductionto support your argument.These points can be supported using your four academic sources.
A conclusion (approximately 100 words)
Summarise and show how your argument was consolidated in light of your discussion.
References
Please include your four sources (including the mainC. Wright Mills source) in full Havard Style referencing.Note: your references are not included as part of your final word count.
Supporting resources
The following resources will assist you with completing this assignment:
You will need to use C. Wright Mills (1978)'The sociological imagination' (PDF 626 KB)(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.as one of your academic resources.
Check out the Student Portal's range of usefulStudy Resources(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., specifically in the section Academic Writing and Academic Integrity.
TheEssay Writing page(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.outlines how to plan and format an academic essay.
Read this annotatedSample essay (PDF 330 KB)(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.to see how to respond to an essay question.
The video,Building a good argument(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(CSULA XXXXXXXXXX), gives a breakdown of how to frame your argument for the essay.
TheHow to write an argumentative essay: Thesis statements and paragraphs(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(britishcouncilsg 2015) video expands on what is covered in the Essay page from the Student Portal.
Refer to the Swinburne UniversitySwinburneHarvard style guide(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.for referencing.
Search for articles and resources in the Swinburne Universitylibrary catalogue search(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..