— Introduce your paper by telling the reader what the paper is about. (1-2 paragraphs)
Start by identifying the specific trend you are researching and explain why it is important. Is it in the news? Are there some current scandals? In other words, why should someone (other than your professor) bother reading your paper?
Let’s use an example within institution of WORK to visualize this part.
“This paper will examine current trends in unemployment and underemployment. The sociology of work, in general, has been front page news recently. There are raging debates over the impact of inflation on wages, the perception that worker shortages are creating supply chain problems, a modern emphasis on skilled trades as a career field, and the declining significance of labor unions. These debates will form the basis of our analysis of the trends of unemployment and underemployment within this paper. For purposes of this paper, we will examine these trends using the conflict theory approach.”
— Set the stage by explaining why the family is considered an important social institution. In other words, why is important to understand family structures and trends in general. (1 page)
You will start this section by first defining social institution. What is required to be considered a social institution? Are there specific criteria that must be met to be considered a social institution?
From that starting point, you will offer a brief explanation on why family is considered a social institution. You will want to specifically identify how the family meets each of the criteria you outlined above.
For a quick, 5-minute explanation of social institutions, here is a simple video from Study.com:
(https://study.com/learn/lesson/social-institutions-functions-examples.htmlLinks to an external site.)
— Continue setting the stage by detailing important information about the specific pattern or trend you have been assigned. (1 page)
You will start this section by first describing or defining the trend. For example, you will offer a definition of “children living with grandparents” and you will explain how it differs from other types of relationships like “children spending summers with grandparents.” Your goal is to form a precise picture of the exact trend you are analyzing.
Once you have described the pattern or trend, you will explain the nature of and direction of the pattern or trend. Is it increasing or decreasing? Statistics from reliable, properly cited sources will be especially important in this section!
— Continue setting the stage by explaining the specific sociological theory you will be using for your analysis. (1 pages)
Bear in mind, the “father” of each theory is not going to be the only relevant theorist. And, in some of the dominant theories, there will be offshoots or sub-theories as well. For example, Feminist Theory is considered a sub-set of Conflict Theory. You will want to focus on the part of the theory or sub-theory that is most relevant to your topic.
— The analysis portion of your paper will merge your discussion of the trend and your discussion of the sociological theory. (1 – 2 pages)
Your job in this part of the paper is to discuss how that specific theory would explain the trend you identified. You are essentially going to examine the trend while viewing it through the lens of your assigned theorist.
In other words, if you are assigned age at first marriage and conflict theory, you would discuss how conflict theory’s key points explain modern trends in age at first marriage. Your classmates will be discussing how other theories explain that same trend in their papers. So, as a group, you will be analyzing the trend from multiple perspectives!
— Conclude your paper by offering a short summary of your analysis and conclusions. (1-2 paragraphs)