The article by Krause from the start of the semester, “The Meanings of Theorizing”
(2016), argues that we need to better understand practices of theorizing. In the
spirit of this article, this assignment asks students to compare and analyse how two
peer reviewed journal articles use theory to develop their research insights.
Instructions (short version)
Compare and analyse how two full-length peer reviewed academic journal articles
employ the same contemporary theoretical concept (see list below).
Format
1. Max. 2000 words (excluding works cited list)
2. Double-spaced; 12pt font Cambria
3. Top left corner (no title page required): Title; name/student #; course;
submission date; word count.
4. Page numbers bottom right
5. author-date citations and works cited list.
Please follow the standardized citation format established by the department:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/socioanthro/sites/default/files/Revised%20Citation%2
0Style%20Guide.pdf
Learning Objectives
• To develop an in depth knowledge of a key concept in contemporary theory
• To increase familiarity with publications and debates in the discipline
• To critically examine and evaluate different approaches to theory and
theorizing in academic research
• To refine and practice close reading and interpretation skills
• To refine and practice academic writing and communication skills
Instructions (long version)
Step One: Pick a Concept
Students are asked to identify a key concept from the following list. These concepts
are identified with theorists we are covering in class (as noted beside the concept).
These particular concepts are ones that have been widely used in sociology.
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risk society (Beck)
liquid modernity (Bauman)
reflexive project of the self (Giddens)
bifurcation of consciousness (Smith)
standpoint theory (Smith)
black feminist thought (Hill Collins)
interlocking nature of oppression or
intersectionality (Hill Collins)
indigenous theory (Million)
cultural capital (Bourdieu)
habitus (Bourdieu)
concerted cultivation (Lareau)
performativity (Butler)
doing gender (West and Zimmerman)
power/knowledge or
governmentality (Foucault)
discipline/disciplinary society
(Foucault)
panopticon (Foucault)
presentation of self (Goffman)
impression management (Goffman)
sociology of the unmarked (Berkhius)
racial formation (Omi and Winant)
social construction of whiteness
(Frankenberg)
cultural pragmatics (Alexander)
mobilities paradigm (Urry)
flexible citizenship (Ong)
Step Two: Find Journal Articles that Use this Concept
Once you have identified a concept, search for two journal articles from sociology or
related social science journals (e.g. health, education, cultural studies) that
substantially employ the concept in their research. Do not just pick the first two
articles you find; be sure that you have identified articles that substantially develop
and account for the concept. I ask that students try to focus on recent accounts—
something published within the last 10 years or so.
1 Some journal articles may apply
the concept to a particular case study, while others may be re-theorizing the concept
itself. You are welcome to pick articles that are more theory focussed or more
research focussed. Some of our course readings illustrate what I mean—there are
ones that demonstrate how recent research has employed a specific concept.
Please note: the two articles must be full-length journal articles (usually 8000
words or so) from peer-reviewed academic journals (i.e. from the library catalogue).
You may not use a book review or a chapter from a book. I want students to spend
time looking through published research in the field.
Step Three: Develop the Analysis (AKA write the paper)
Once you have chosen the concept and articles, you are ready to write the paper. It
should be written as an academic essay, with an introduction, body and conclusion.
You do not need to use headings. I encourage students to write in the first person
(e.g. “In this essay, I will examine….”). The essay should include the following
components.
1 I will accept articles a few years older than 10 years if it is a great fit for your interests. Use
your judgment, but don’t pick articles published during the 1990s. Some of the older
theorists have decades of secondary literature on their work. I would like to students to get
a sense of more recent directions and applications.
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Introduction
Introduce the interests and goals of your essay; the introduction should have a
thesis statement/argument that evaluates how these two articles put the specific
concept to work. This is how you demonstrate your overarching analysis.
Concept Explanation
You will need to define the concept, and provide some context about the theorist(s)
it is associated with. For this section, you must read and quote a primary text from
the theorist (e.g., start with assigned course reading) when you are describing the
concept. This section must draw on appropriate academic references to support and
develop your understanding.
Analysis and Comparison
1. You need to summarize the intentions and argument of each article. How is it
structured? How does it incorporate theory? How is the argument
developed? Research? Methodology? What is most effective? Least?
2. Compare the theoretical framework of each and how they employ the key
concept. What are the similarities and differences between their approaches?
Build an analysis of how this theoretical concept is put to use.
Conclusion
The conclusion should summarize the purpose of the essay and stress the insights of
your analysis. Do not just repeat the introduction.
Criteria for Evaluation
Please review the criteria for evaluation carefully. The questions listed for each
category outlines for students key characteristics of a very good or excellent paper.
Knowledge of Concept *Does this paper demonstrate a
thorough understanding of the concept?
*Does it draw on appropriate academic
sources to demonstrate this knowledge,
including at least one primary text?
*Does it include evidence from, with
citations and quotations, the primary
text?
Is there an identifiable thesis statement
on how the articles use this concept?
Quality of Analysis *Does the paper carefully analyse the
chosen articles, drawing on direct
evidence/ quotations from the articles?
*Does it effectively summarize the key
insights, and not just reword the
abstract?
*Does it pay attention to how the
argument is constructed, its theory,
methods and research?
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*Does it recognize strengths and
weaknesses?
Synthesis and Comparison *Does the paper effectively identify the
mode of theorizing in each journal article
(see Krause)?
*Does it effectively compare and
evaluate approaches?
*Does it generate specific insights into
how the concept is used in academic
research?
Adherence to Guidelines *Does the paper follow the formatting
guidelines?
*Does the paper follow the assignment
instructions?
*Are citations correctly used and
formatted?
Quality of writing and communication *Is the paper clearly organized and
communicated?
*Is it generally free of grammar and
punctuation errors?
*Are there unclear sentences or ideas?
*Has the paper been edited and revised
(quality not quantity of writing is
important)?