This document provides instructions for finding a sociological research article, reading and reviewing the article, properly citing sources, and submitting the article review assignment. Students are directed to search the sociological abstracts database through the university library website to find an empirical article within the last 10 years on an approved topic. The document outlines the main components of a research article and tips for reading it. It also provides questions for writing the review and formatting guidelines, as well as an explanation of proper citation, plagiarism, and the ASA reference style. Students are told to submit their article review in the university's online system by the given deadline.

1. Finding an article
Go to library.gsu.edu.
Find the sociological abstracts database. You can get to it by
subject (sociology) or by name a-z (s).
Search for an article by topic, title, journal or author.
Choosing an article
You will choose an article of interest to you. The article you
choose must 1) contain sociological content related to
something we’ve discussed in class 2) have been written in the
last 10 years 3) come from one of these approved journals AND
4) be an empirical study:
Possible Article Topics
School Shootings
Immigration
Climate Change and Energy
The Bathroom Bill
Reparations
Prostitution and Sex-work
Criminal Justice Reform
Universal Basic Income
Drug Legalization
Gender Wage Gap
Affirmative Action
Cost of College and Student Loan Debt

2. Human Trafficking
Sex Education in Schools
Welfare Reform
Gentrification
Football Players Kneeling
Activist movements
Gerrymandering
Domestic Violence
Elite university admissions
Mental Illness in the US
Medicalization
Environmental Racism/Classism
How to read a research article
Main components of a scholarly article
Abstract – summary of the paper
Introduction/Background (not usually labeled)
You will usually find the Research Questions here
Literature Review (not usually labeled)
This section often has subheadings by theme or topic
You will usually find specific hypotheses here and any theory
used will be here
Data/measurements/methods (may use one or several of these
labels depending on the journal)
Here you will find the source of the data, the list of variables,
and the type of study
Results/analysis
This section is usually tables along with analysis and
interpretation (written description of the findings)

3. Discussion/conclusion
Restate the research question/hypotheses along with the relevant
results
Some interpretation, application, policy proposals, future
research etc.
Tips for reading a scholarly article
Read the abstract and discussion first. This gives you the best
overview of the entire paper.
Then read the other sections based on what you want to know.
Want to know what they learned? Read the results.
Want to know what theoretical perspective they’re using? Read
the background/literature review.
Want to know how they set up their study? Read the methods
section.
How to write an article review
Questions to answer
What is the purpose of the article? What are the research
questions and why are they of sociological importance?
What research methods did the author(s) use to answer their
research questions? Where did their data come from and how
was it collected?
What were the key findings?
What conclusions did the author(s) make?
Choose one of the following areas to address as a critique:
Alternate explanations for the findings
A different methodological approach
An additional research question or hypothesis that would have
added clarity or weight to the argument
Problems with the methods such as selection bias, sampling

4. error, etc.
An ethical concern or question
How to format your review
Respond to the questions in the previous slide in paragraph
form. Each question should be answerable in one to two
paragraphs.
The final paper will probably be between 2-3 pages.
1” margins using 12” standard font.
Works cited list at the end.
Plagiarism and how to cite
Using Evidence, Proper Citations and the risks of Plagiarism
Why do we need evidence? When do we need evidence?
How do we cite someone’s words? How do we cite someone’s
ideas?
What constitutes plagiarism and what are the consequences?
ASK YOURSELF:
Did I know this information before I took this course?
Did this information/idea come from my own brain?
IF THE ANSWER IS NO, YOU NEED EVIDENCE!
Proper citation
If citing someone’s IDEAS, using your own words (AKA
paraphrasing) citations should include (author name, year).
If citing someone’s WORDS (AKA quoting) citations should
include (author name, year: page number) and the selection

5. should be in “quotes.”
ASA reference list format
Ferris, K. & Stein, J. 2018. The Real World: An Introduction to
Sociology, 6th edition. W.W. Norton & Co: New York, NY.
Last name, First initial. Year of publication. Title. Editor: City.
Coe, D. L. & Davidson, J.D. 2011. “The Origins of Legacy
Admissions: A Sociological Explanation.” Review of Religious
Research 52(3):233-47.
Last name, First initial. Year of publication. “Journal article
title.” Journal name Volume number(issue number): page
numbers.
ASA in-text citation
If paraphrasing or referencing an idea simply cite (Last name
year of publication) like so (Roche 2019)
If you are directly quoting from the source, your citation must
also include page numbers (Last name year of publication:
page) like so (Roche 2019: 1-2).
Submission
Submit in icollege. Go to Assessments>Assignments>Article
Review.
Upload your paper. Please make sure it is either saved as a .doc
or .pdf. I cannot open a .pages file.
Due by 11:59 pm on Tuesday April 9th. I give a few minutes
wiggle room, but after that there’s a -5% per 24 hours late.
If you’re having trouble submitting it, email me!