UWP 102K

Writing in the Disciplines: Sociology

Catalog Description

UWP 102K. Writing in the Disciplines: Sociology (4)
Lecture/discussion—3 hours; extensive writing. Prerequisite: course 1 or English 3 or the equivalent and upper division standing. Open to majors and minors in Sociology or to students concurrently enrolled in an upper division Sociology course. Advanced instruction in writing and practice in effective styles of communication in Sociology and related academic and professional fields. GE credit: Wrt (cannot be used to satisfy a college or university composition requirement and GE writing experience simultaneously). Not open for credit to students who have completed UWP 102A in the same academic field.—III. (III.)

Topical Outline

Practicing writing in a variety of formats and genres, including article proposals, abstracts, journal articles, field notes, ethnographic studies, book reviews, expository essays, and literature reviews. Practicing forms of documentation (ASA) used in graduate schools and in the workplace. Understanding the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing for style, conciseness, and correctness. Practicing various methods of developing ideas. Strengthening analytical reading skills within the discipline of sociology through close reading of scholarly, research, and popular sociological texts. Analyzing rhetorical situations, identifying purpose, audience, style, and format in the process of adapting to the needs of the various publics (public and governmental agencies, think tanks, research centers, other disciplines, and general audiences). Practicing incorporating various types of sources, primary and secondary, appropriately. Developing an effective style of oral and written communication appropriate to the discipline.

Reading

Readings will draw from such texts as A Guide to Writing Sociological Papers 5th ed., Klonsky and Strenski, and demonstrate the range of sociological writing on topics such as gender, race, work, religion, marriage and other societal institutions, immigration, identity formation, cultural differences, and group dynamics.

Course Format and Requirements

UWP 102K is a four-unit course. Three hours per week is lecture/discussion. There is 6 hrs. of outside prep time that goes with the 3 hrs. of lecture/discussion. As with all upper division writing courses, an additional unit of credit is justified by the significant amount of work that students must do outside of class time to plan, draft, and revise that 6000 or more words of required writing (additional 3 hrs. outside of class). In addition to this substantial written requirement, students will meet individually with the instructor for discussion and evaluation of their work. The estimated time of preparation of the writing assignments (research, consultation, drafting, revision) is thirty hours, an amount consistent with Carnegie Rule guidelines.

Explanation of Potential Course Overlap

UWP 102K Writing in the Disciplines: Sociology does not overlap with any other courses. UWP 102K is distinguished from other advanced composition courses by its focus on writing within the discipline of Sociology and from courses in Sociology by its focus on writing.

General Education Justification

Grades will be based on the students' performance on in- and out-of-class writing assignments and on a final exam. Students will write a minimum of 6000 words; the number of assignments and the weight of each assignment will vary according to the instructor. Instructors may choose assignments from among the following types of assignments: oral report, summary report, literature review, proposal, research report, lab report, abstract, an article on a scientific subject directed toward a lay audience, or similar project related to scientific research. All assignments will be graded on content and style. Each assignment will be thoroughly introduced by the instructor, using models of successful work as appropriate. Students will receive frequent feedback on drafts of assignments, through instructor commentary, conferences, and peer response. Students will have frequent opportunity to revise drafts.