Click for text and the next slide Slide 1 of 22 Sociology Writing Techniques The examples here refer to essays or answers to longer structured questions

Click for text and the next slideSlide 1 of 22

Sociology WritingTechniques

• 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.


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.


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.

Starting an answer 1


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.

By whom? Who ‘naturally thinks’?

What men? Who are you talking about?

Rule 4Use evidence

Things to improve

When was this?



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.


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.

Issues to address

Are all researchers male? Think about language here.

Rule 3Be precise



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.


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


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.


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.


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 don’t gain any either.


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.

This is not so. The cause of social conflict is economic inequality, according to Marx. Religion is used by people as a way of coping with their lot in life.

There were no Christians in the Old Testament. Jesus was not born till the New Testament.

These statements are completely inaccurate. This will not gain Knowledge marks


Here’s 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.


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.

Who? Be precise here.

Excellent use of term

The writer knows what this sentence means – but what does it say? Read it. Wilmott and Young wrote about how families have changed, not time

• Some of these statements are vague. They do not show what you know.

• Mistakes in English – this loses marks


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.


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.

named writer

Sociological term

clear explanation of term


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.


The same issue, but…

Feminists such as Zaretsky would say that women’s roles in the family should be equal but they are not. Evelyn Gillian’s 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.


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.


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.


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.”


The end

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Adapted from work by Janis Griffiths, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School

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Click for text and the next slide Slide 1 of 22 Sociology Writing Techniques The examples here refer to essays or answers to longer structured questions