The Sociology Writing Center seeks to support analytical writing in our major and advance departmental learning goals. We believe that writing is an effective means to both: (1) promote understanding of the sociological perspective (appreciating how a variety of social phenomena affect individuals, groups, and institutions); and (2) develop and enhance analytical skills for assessing sociological arguments and applying them to empirical evidence.

Like other writing centers on campus, we offer one-on-one "tutoring" services, primarily through scheduled appointments.  These appointments are open to all undergraduate students taking sociology courses, are assignment-focused, and are intended to help students with all stages of the writing process. In keeping with our departmental learning objectives, we do not provide editing and proofreading services.  However, we may indicate problematic grammatical and stylistic patterns and refer students to online resources.

In order to promote and facilitate the use of analytical writing in the major, the Sociology Writing Center will begin to develop more online writing resources for our undergraduate students. In the 2009-10 academic year, the Writing Center will coordinate with faculty to provide online materials and workshops for students writing analytical papers in Introduction to Sociological Theory (Soc 316).

 

The Sociology Writing Center serves undergraduate majors and pre-majors by appointment (30 or 45 minutes in length).  To schedule an appointment, please contact the sociology advising office on the second floor of Savery Hall (203).  You can sign up in person at the front desk, or call the office from 8am -5pm daily to request and appointment at 206-543-5396 .  Please specify that you want a "Writing Center" (rather than an academic advising) appointment, indicate which course you are taking, and whether you prefer a 30- or 45-minute appointment. Please bring a copy of the assignment instructions to the appointment.

Autumn Quarter Hours (ending December 11th):   Autumn Quarter Flyer

Monday: 11-3pm    **  Wednesday: 10-2pm   **   Friday: 10-3pm

Note: If you have a draft, please bring a printed copy to your appointment.

NEW:  Writing Resources for Our Undergraduates 

• Powerpoint Slides for Soc 316 Paper Workshop
• Writing Papers that Apply Sociological Theories or Perspectives
• Tips for Writing Analytical Papers (almost all our assignments fit this bill) 
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Writing Sociology Papers

 

What is plagiarism?  The Sociology Department adheres to University of Washington policies regarding Academic Dishonesty, which includes plagiarism.  Plagiarism in the use of ideas, words, or other work that is not your own without formal acknowledgment of the source.  This certainly includes obvious forms of cheating, such as submitting writing done by another person or copying text from a book or website and representing it as your own.  However, it also includes less egregious methods, such as paraphrasing work without citing the source, using ideas and arguments without attributing them to the source, and improper, misleading, or incomplete citation.  Plagiarism need not be intentional, and "I didn't know" is not a defense.

What are the consequences?   The consequences of plagiarism are elaborated in UW's policies on academic misconduct. These include disciplinary actions such as probation, suspension, and dismissal of the student.

How can I avoid plagiarism?   When in doubt, cite!  If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism in a specific instance or on a given assignment, consult your instructor or teaching assistant. The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue has a helpful page (with links to exercises) called "Is it Plagiarism Yet?"  University of North Carolina's writing center also offers a comprehensive handout on plagiarism. 

Need help with proper citation?  Most sociologists use the ASA Style Guide (American Sociological Association) for citations. If you can't find a way to properly cite your source there, Buffalo State has a longer version of the ASA guide.  Finally, some professors only require that you use an appropriate and consistent style of citation, in which case you can refer to a complete online listing of other Citation and Writing Guides  from UW libraries.

During the academic year, there are numerous writing resources available on campus, including the following centers:

• The Odegaard Writing Center has peer tutors available by appointment Sundays 1:30-9pm; and Monday-Thursday 12-9pm. You can view available times and sign up on their site.
• The CLUE Writing Center offers help on a drop-in basis from 7pm to midnight Sunday-Thursday in Mary Gates Hall.
• The Educational Opportunities Program/Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity Writing Center serves UW students 8:30-5pm daily.

There are also many writing resources available on the internet, including:

• Writing thesis statements: See materials @ U of North Carolina & U of Indiana and U of Wisconsin.
• Writing an Introduction: (U of North Carolina)
• How to organize and structure an academic paper and revising your first draft (Dartmouth Writing Center)
• Make your writing direct and concise. Here's Help avoiding passive voice (U of North Carolina); and Lanham's method (4 easy ways to fix passive/wordy writing).
• Help with sentence structure: avoiding sentence fragments and run-on sentences (U of North Carolina)
• Writing help for non-native English speakers -- a comprehensive collection from Purdue.