Essay writing, research, & referencing workshop for students. Mainly focused on the use of theory and evidence. Cf. Maton, K., 2013. Making semantic waves: A key to cumulative knowledge-building. Linguistics and Education, 24(1), pp.8-22.

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Essay Writing and
Research Workshop
Mathew Toll & Alexander Page
School of Sociology and Social Policy,
University of Sydney.

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A song about writer’s block…
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Today we’re going to do some essay preparation!
– A brief discussion about writing principles, and construction of
an essay
– Activity 1: Looking at Mathew’s first year essay
– Activity 2: Looking at a high distinction essay
– Activity 3: Building an essay structure / making an argument
– Activity 4: Harvard referencing refresher
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Why is thinking and learning writing important?
From Prof. Raewyn Connell (USYD):
“Writing is a form of social communication central to the
development of organized knowledge. Therefore, an
understanding of writing is needed for the democratisation of
knowledge” (Writing For Research: Advice on Principles and
Practice, 2015, p. 6)
“If we can learn anything from great writers, this might be the
most important point: writing is work. Like any form of work it has
to be learned, and it needs resources.” (2015 p. 7)
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Why is thinking and learning writing important?
From Howard S. Becker (Outsiders, labelling theory)
“…a mixed-up draft is no cause for shame. Rather, it shows you what your
earlier choices were, what ideas, theoretical viewpoints, and conclusions you
had already committed yourself to before you began writing… you need not
worry about this one’s crudeness and lack of coherence. This one is for
discovery, not for presentation.” (Writing for Social Scientists, 2000, p. 17)
“Making your work clearer involves consideration of audience. Who is it
supposed to be clearer to? Who will read what you write? What do they have
to know so that they will not misread or find what you say obscure or
unintelligible?” (p. 18)
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Argumentation & Structure:
The Use and Abuse of Theory and Evidence
“How do we make convincing
arguments while using
good theory and good evidence?”
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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What is theory?
Theory: explanations or ways of seeing that are relatively
abstract and context independent
– Grand theory: ‘society as a whole’, or a wide range of
phenomena.
Example: structural functionalism
– Middle-range theory: theory tied more to explicit social context
Example: strain theory of deviance
– Working hypothesis: micro explanations of very specific issues
Example: Palm Island Indigenous groups’ social inclusion is
dependent upon institutional support
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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What is evidence?
Evidence:
– Data,
– Case studies,
– Observations,
– Your evidence is concrete, context dependent
– For example:
Indigenous incarceration rates in Queensland from 1992 – 2017;
Interviews with key experts or key groups;
Media reports, news articles about an issue.
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Argumentation
“How do I make a convincing argument?”
– You need both theory and evidence for a good analytical
essay:
‘Theories without facts may be barren,
but facts without theories are meaningless’
– Kenneth Boulding
– Theory explains social phenomena and needs objects of study
and context to make it meaningful
– Social phenomena needs something to explain it, and it needs
theory to be understood in a broader way
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Profiles of High-Achieving and Low Achieving Essays
See Maton’s (2014) Making Semantic
Waves
Illustrative of a short argumentative essay. The semantic profile of an auto-ethnography or
reflective piece of writing might look different. This profile emphasises the importance of
weaving between abstract and concrete and flow between paragraphs.
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Be careful…
– Too much theory will mean it’s too abstract and doesn’t explain
social realities of deviance and difference
– Without examples it’s not clear to your audience that you know what
you’re talking about
– Relying only on description of evidence will mean you cannot
explain much or formulate a convincing and clear argument
– Without theory, you won’t be able to tell a story about the realities
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Example: Introduction
[Topic Sentence] Media and social networks are an inevitable aspect of society
with a strong influence over the general population and daily routine. It’s
involvement in different aspects of both private and social life makes it a factor of
many sociological studies, relevant to a vast variety of sociologists. The extent of this
influence is still under debate, with many different and opposing theories debating
how the media can be understood or explained. [outline] This essay specifically
discusses the theories about how the media influences society and whether it’s
effects are homogenous or heterogeneous. Theories of homogeneity such as the
agenda-setting model argue that the media can be explained as a tool to
manipulate the public and control public opinion and knowledge (McCombs 2002,
p. 2), while pluralist theories such as the “two-step flow of communication”
paradigm claim that information from the media is mainly accessed through
interaction with other people and is hence ineffective in directly influencing people
(Katz & Lazarsfeld 1996, p. 32). [A clear thesis statement would have made this
better]
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Example: First Paragraph
[Topic Sentence] One perspective on the relationship between the media and society is the media agenda-
setting theory. [Unpacks theory] The model, first put forward by Walter Lippmann in 1922, states that the
mass media decides which public issues are important to society by framing them as salient (McCombs 2002,
p.1). It “sets the agenda of the nation” (McCombs 2002, p. 1) by focusing the public’s attention onto the
public affairs of the mass media owners’ choice and omitting information that does not fit their interest
(McCombs 2002, p. 2). It does not necessarily have a premeditated goal, but as news media is the primary
source of information for the public, its depictions of world affairs are accepted as the dogmatic truth
(McCombs 2002, p. 2). The media can hence be understood or explained as an influence that governs public
awareness. The leading sociologists of the agenda-setting theory are McCombs and Shaw. McCombs justifies
this theory draws by finding the increase in correspondence between the media’s presentation of public
issues and the amount of public discussion on it. [Evidence] For example, he discovered a strong
correspondence between public opinions on the construction of a man-made lake in Indiana and the relevant
ideas presented by local newspaper (McCombs 2002, p. 7). Many opinions after the articles shifted to align
with the arguments presented by the media. He similarly observes the public opinion of election candidates
in places such as Spain and New York and found that voters regarded the candidates in a similar manner to
their media depiction (McCombs 2002, p. 6). [relates back to central argument] In this way, the media can
be explained as having a homogenous effect on society as it results in a homogenous pattern of opinions
and understandings.
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 1:
Assess this first year essay by Mathew in groups
Is it good?
Why/why not?
Does it argue the point well?
How is theory and evidence used here?
Is it effectively convincing you of its argument?
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 1: Discussion
– What did you think of the essay?
– What did Mathew do well here?
– What could Mathew improve on?
– What grade would you have given this piece? Why?
– How were theory and evidence used?
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 2:
Look at a High Distinction Essay
Is it good?
Why/why not?
Does it argue the point well?
How is theory and evidence used here?
Is it effectively convincing you of its argument?
What makes it a High Distinction essay?
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 2: Discussion
– What did you think of the essay?
– What did the student do well here?
– What could the student improve on?
– What grade would you have given this piece? Why?
– How were theory and evidence used? Was it effective?
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 3:
Constructing an Essay/Making an Argument
“How do I structure an essay with a
strong, convincing argument?”
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 3: Constructing an Essay, Making An Arg
Compare and contrast Durkheim, Foucault, and Butler and
their understanding of normalcy and deviance.
– What’s the scope?
– What is the question asking you to do?
– Key concepts?
– How would you answer it? (gut feeling argument)
– How would you structure it?
– Why is this way of structuring a good way?
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Activity 4: Referencing Refresher
“How do I give credit where credit is due?
Am I standing on the shoulders of giants?”
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Harvard Referencing Style
Book example:
Hebdige, D 1979, Subculture: The Meaning Of Style, Methuen, London, UK.
Journal article example:
Moreton-Robinson, A 2009, ‘Imagining the good indigenous citizen: Race war
and the pathology of patriarchal white sovereignty’, Cultural Studies Review,
vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 61-79.
Please see Library Harvard Guide for more examples and rules of the method
in detail as you do your essay
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Fix this reference! 1
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Fix this reference! 2
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Fix this reference! 3
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Fix this reference! 4
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Extras: Self-help from the Writing Hub!
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop

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Conclusion: You have all the skills to do this!
– Argument needs theory and evidence to be successfully
convincing
– Clearly stated thesis in introduction/outline of argument is key
– Needs to be a logical flow between points of the argument
– Writing needs to be clear and concise
– Organisation prior to writing is great way to go
– Drafting and editing is normal and will take time
– Referencing is vitally important to give credit where credit is
due
– Small things – title, page numbers, name, font – give your essay
more polish
Toll, M & Page, A. (2017), Essay Writing & Research Workshop