Durkheim/Weber Analytical Essay Assignment

Length: 4-5 pages (double spaced, 11 or 12 point font, one inch margins)

Due: March 16, 2022 (turn in on D2L)

This essay assignment provides you with another opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of social theories, capacity for higher order thinking, and competence in analytical writing.

You have read selections from Durkheim’s and Weber’s works. Both Durkheim and Weber employ distinct methodology and methods. Their methods are embedded in their key concepts, and are demonstrated in their major works: Durkheim’s Suicide and Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism. Your task is to explain each author’s methodology and method, and to compare and contrast them.

Methodology: a theory of study of how research ought to be done (normative)
Method: a technique for gathering evidence or data (empirical)

I expect an overarching thesis that guides your discussion about these canonical thinkers’ methodology and method.

This task requires a close textual analysis of the works that you have read. You need to cite evidence from the readings to convince the reader of your interpretation of the authors.

This is a formal writing assignment. Your task is to present your thesis (in the introduction) in a clear and concise way, to provide evidence to support your thesis, and to explain how the evidence your offer does indeed support your thesis. Finally, you need a concise and creative conclusion in which you explain the significance of your analysis. Overall, therefore, your essay should articulate and defend a well-developed argument.

You must pay attention to overall format, grammar, punctuation, syntax, style, and spelling. Textual evidence is essential, and your citations must be parenthetical references (no bibliography or works cited page is needed). You should follow ASA style and the Social Science Department style guide throughout.