The Craft of Writing in Sociology Developing the Argument in Undergraduate Essays and Dissertations

This book is an essential guide to writing coherent and convincing academic essays in sociology. It demystifies the process of constructing an argument, covering everything from reading critically and keeping notes through to redrafting and proofing. The book explores how to structure a compelling argument, starting from an essay's opening paragraphs, building evidence and sequencing key points in the middle, through to pulling together a punchy conclusion. It then shows the reader how to apply these lessons to a longer piece of writing, such as a dissertation, as well as how to solve common problems experienced in writing. This includes getting rid of waffle, overcoming writer's block and cutting an essay down to its required length. Throughout, the reader is provided with examples from essays written by sociology students at leading universities, along with notes on what has been done well, what could be done better and how the work could be improved using the techniques discussed. The craft of writing in sociology is an authoritative and indispensable companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociology and related disciplines, such as politics, anthropology and human geography. It will also be of use to students taking courses that draw on sociological writing, such as nursing, social psychology and health studies.