Sociological Theories (ACE paper)

Apply, critique, extend (ACE) papers (25 percent of final grade)
Re-reading, critical application, and comparative thinking are essential elements in understanding complex sociological theories. This is embedded in our learning objectives for the course because theoretical traditions continue to shape the field and practice of sociology.
On the concluding day for each theorist you will submit a longer applicationof the theory. Think of this as an elaborated, much more fully developed version of what we’re doing with the key quotes. Your goal in the application paper is to illustrate how a specific concept(s) can enhance our understanding contemporary events as well as deepen our understandings of the grand theoretical tradition. Please make sure you bring in enough evidence to illustrate and support your argument – and make certain to cite your sources on empirical evidence! Students have used news, movies, and a range of other current “texts” as data for their applications.
Having said that, sometimes you may find the theories are inaccurate or unhelpful. That is why twice during the semesteryou are required to write a critiquepaper rather than an application. You don’t need to tell me in advance when you want to use this option. You can use it whenever you choose! Where is the theory underdeveloped? Incorrect? How might the other theorists we’ve read respond to this theorist? Think about two ways to build a critique:
· Internal validity: How do the various pieces of the grand theory fit together? Are there contradictions? Are concepts underdeveloped?
· External validity: How does the grand theory help us understand events in the world? When applied to specific cases where does it work? Where might it be inaccurate?
If you choose to, you can also see how contemporary scholars extend these grand theories. Unlike the application and critique, you are not required to do an extension paper. You will read and assess a more recent piece to illuminate how elements of grand theories change over time. If this is a learning path you want to pursue, please let me know and I am happy to share some ideas about scholars who extend the canonical theoretical traditions. Here are some suggestions:
· Du Bois: Patricia Hill Collins, George Lipsitz, Aldon Morris, Michael Omi and Howard Winant, Mary Patillo
· Marx: Michael Burawoy, Angela Davis, WEB Du Bois, Antonio Gramsci, Erik Olin Wright
· Durkheim: Kai Erickson, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, Paul Lichterman, Robert Merton, Talcott Parsons
· Weber: Pierre Bourdieu, C. Wright Mills, Lauren A. Rivera, Ann Swidler
· Gilman: Nancy J. Chodorow, Patricia Hill Collins, Pierette Hondagneau-Sotelo, Mignon R. Moore
· Goffman: Elijah Anderson, Arlie R. Hochschild, Jooyoung Lee
Whether applying, critiquing, or extending, these ACE papers require you to be concise and precise, focusing on a specific element of the theory. Some additional guidelines for ACE papers:
· These essays can be no longer than 2 double spaced pages. Please review the “Notes on Writing” on Pages 2-3!
· You mustinclude a title page (this will not count toward your page limit) where you clearly indicate in the title of your paper whether you are doing an application or critique (or, if you’ve discussed it with me before, an extension.)
· Think about the purpose of thesis statements in writing for sociological theories!
· As you work on ACE papers across the semester, please re-read and use comments on previous papers to strengthen your new analyses.

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