Ways of Learning About the Social World

Assignment Brief

Academic Year 2020-21

Module code and title:

FY008 Ways of Learning About the Social World

Module leader:

Floyd Manderson

Assignment No. and type:

CW1: Written assignment (1200 words)

Assessment weighting:

100%

Submission time and date:

04/01/2021 before 2pm

Target feedback time and date:

Three weeks following submission

Assignment task

Write an essay of 1200 words (+/-10%) which answers the following question:

How can social science help us to better understand our lives and the lives of others in society? Answer with reference to TWO topics that we have covered on this module.

Your essay should identify and discuss relevant concepts and theories that we have covered during the module or which you have discovered during your research. Use real world examples or other empirical evidence to illustrate or support your arguments. Support your discussion with references to social science literature.

Your essay should follow this structure:

NOTE THAT THE SUB-HEADINGS BELOW ARE FOR GUIDANCE. REMOVE ALL SUB-HEADINGS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY.

· INTRODUCTION (about 150 words) – Briefly state your answer to the question and outline the argument that will follow.

· MAIN BODY (about 900 words):

· Briefly discuss social science as a way of knowing about the social world.

· Example 1 – Refer to ONE of the topics we’ve covered on this module, using relevant theories, concepts and empirical evidence to support your answer to the question.

· Example 2 – Refer to ANOTHER topic we’ve covered, again using relevant theories, concepts and empirical evidence to support your answer to the question.

· CONCLUSION (about 150 words) – Summarise the argument you have made. Reflect on the significance of what you have argued.

· REFERENCE LIST – This is the list of the sources you have used in your essay, but it doesn’t count as part of the 1200 words

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1

Demonstrate ways of learning and knowing about society and the sociological imagination.

LO 2

Demonstrate understanding disciplinary language, vocabulary and investigation techniques in social science study.

LO 3

Apply key concepts to real world phenomena and experiences.

LO 4

Demonstrate acquisition of a range of academic skills.

Task requirements

1. All work to be submitted as Arial 12 font with 1.5 line spacing.

2. Include a list of references at the end of the assignment. This will not be included in the word count.

3. State the total number of words used. Put this at the end of the essay before the reference list, e.g. “Word count: 1,521)”.

4. You may use subheadings in this assignment. Note that you do not have to include the words “Introduction”, “Main body” and “Conclusion” as subheadings, as this will be self-evident.

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style as defined in Cite Them Right Online (http://www.citethemrightonline.com). This information is also available in book form: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019) Cite them right: the essential reference guide. 11th edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Copies are available via the University library.

The following texts might be of use in researching your assignment: Browne, K. (2011) An introduction to sociology. 4th edn. Cambridge: Polity

Cohen, R. and Kennedy, P. (2013) Global sociology. 3rd edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Ferris, K. and Stein, J. (2018) The real world: an introduction to sociology. 6th edn. London: W.W. Norton. Fulcher, J. and Scott, J. M. (2011) Sociology. 4th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Giddens, A. and Sutton, P. W. (2009) Sociology. 6th edn. Cambridge: Polity. Haralambos, M. (2008) Sociology: themes and perspectives. 7th ed. London: Collins. Macionis, J. J. and Plummer, K. (2008) Sociology: a global introduction. 4th edn. Harlow: Pearson Education. Punch, S. et al. (2013) Sociology: making sense of society. 5th edn. London: Pearson Education.

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this assignment (see above). This assignment will be marked according to the following:

· Development of well-structured and clearly expressed argument

· Evidence of understanding of relevant concepts, and use of empirical evidence to support points

· Evidence of independent research and reading that draws on appropriate sources

· Accurate in-text referencing and reference list

Submission details

· You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on the University website: https://bucks.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/9546/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations

· Please also note that work that is submitted up to 10 working days beyond the submission date will be considered a late submission. Late submissions will be marked and the actual mark recorded, but will be capped at the pass mark (typically 40%), provided that the work is of a passing standard. Work submitted after this period will not be marked and will be treated as a non-submission.

Before you submit

· Please use the provided checklist on the next page to make sure you are ‘fit to submit’ your work

· We recommend you use this checklist as soon as you get this assignment brief to help you plan your work