An essential guide to constructing coherent and powerful arguments, using real examples from student work and demonstrating, step-by-step, how to read critically, write the opening paragraphs of an essay, provide evidence in the middle and construct punchy conclusions.

IntroductionPart I: Principles and practices of writing and argumentation1. Reading critically and making notes2. Making an argument3. Beginnings in detail4. Middles in detail5. Ends in detail6. Editing and proof-reading7. Detailed case studies of student examples8. Writing a dissertationPart II: Tips and techniques9. Choosing an essay question10. How to decide what to read11. How to get past writers block12. Rhetorical questions, should I use them?13. How to cut your essay down in length14. Making use of feedbackPart III: Spelling, grammar and punctuation 15. The basics of spelling, grammar and punctuationIndex

This book is an essential guide to writing coherent and convincing academic essays in sociology. It demystifies the process of constructing an argument, covering everything from reading critically and keeping notes through to redrafting and proofing. The book explores how to structure a compelling argument, starting from an essay's opening paragraphs, building evidence and sequencing key points in the middle, through to pulling together a punchy conclusion. It then shows the reader how to apply these lessons to a longer piece of writing, such as a dissertation, as well as how to solve common problems experienced in writing. This includes getting rid of waffle, overcoming writer's block and cutting an essay down to its required length. Throughout, the reader is provided with examples from essays written by sociology students at leading universities, along with notes on what has been done well, what could be done better and how the work could be improved using the techniques discussed. The craft of writing in sociology is an authoritative and indispensable companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociology and related disciplines, such as politics, anthropology and human geography. It will also be of use to students taking courses that draw on sociological writing, such as nursing, social psychology and health studies.