General Formatting Requirements:
The paper should be typed, and double-spaced.
Use standard fonts (i.e., Times New Roman) and font size (no larger than size 12).
Use 1” (default) margins on all sides.
Avoid excessive spacing and gaps between sections.
Peer-Reviewed Sources:
You must use the UT library sociology database (SOCINDEX) to find peer-reviewed
sources (check the box for “Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals”). You may use other
sources (magazines, newspapers, internet) as supplemental sources Introduction (2-3 pages, 20%)
Provide a brief summary of the book you chose to read. (1.5-2 pages)
Make sure to identify the thesis statement and explain whether you think the author
successfully defended this thesis with the evidence they presented in the book.
Reflect on what you learned from the book and how it helps you to integrate the material
from the course.
Body (3-4 pages, 40%)
Choose two “fact claims” from the book that you want to investigate further and learn more about e. For each factclaim, find one relevant “peer reviewed” sociological research article.
Briefly summarize each article, and describe how the article supports and/or contradicts
your book’s claim. Reflect on the comparison between the research articles and your
book. (1.5-2 pages for each fact-claim)
Conclusion (1-2 pages; 10%)
Summarize what you learned from your reading and from this exercise.
Discuss differences between scientific, peer-reviewed literature and other types of writing
(opinion essays, newspaper and magazine articles, etc.).
References (15%)
Create an alphabetized listing of all sources used (in ASA or APA style format).
ASA or APA Style (5%)
Your references and in-text citations must be in ASA or APA style format.
You do not need a cover page, abstract, running head, or footnotes.
If you do not include a References section, you will lose points from both References and
Style, meaning you will automatically forfeit 20% of your grade for this assignment.
