Karl Marx central theory historical-materialism

Short Essay 1 Instructions
Sociological Theory – Seeley – Fall 2022
Due Date: Thursday, October 20 by 11:59pm
**Submit on Canvas via the Assignments tab
***You must submit a .doc/.docx (MS Word) or PDF file.
This assignment is worth 15% of your grade.
Length: 5-6 pages, double spaced (not including works cited)
Instructions:
Choose one of the two following prompts and write a 5-6 page (full, double spaced) paper
thoroughly answering all parts of the prompt. Your essay should demonstrate that you have read
the required materials, understand the core course concepts, thought deeply about those
concepts, and creatively applied them to your own experiences and/or current events.
Definitions of key terms must be based on and cite where appropriate course texts and/or class
lecture. Students should incorporate selective and judicious quoting and/or paraphrasing of
relevant course readings, including primary texts from the theorist being discussed, Edles and
Appelrouth’s summaries, and lecture. Examples in body paragraphs should be supported by
empirical evidence derived from secondary sources (e.g., popular media reports, official
websites, journal articles) and/or personal experience). Analyses should be your own, not
adapted from published analyses by other people. All materials used should be properly cited
(see below).
Prompts:
1) Karl Marx’s central theory for explaining the form and structure of society is historicalmaterialism (see “The German Ideology”). Write an essay that a) Defines historical-materialism,
base and superstructure, and means and mode of production and b) Uses a historical-materialist
perspective to examine how two social phenomena (i.e., elements of the superstructure) of your
choosing (e.g., sports, racial inequality, or the gender division of labor) contribute to the
reproduction of capitalism and the subordination of the proletariat.
2) Max Weber theorized that bureaucratization was a key force driving the development of
capitalist society (see “Bureaucracy” and “The Types of Legitimate Domination”), and George
Ritzer extended Weber’s ideas through his concept of McDonaldization (see “A Introduction to
McDonaldization”). Write an essay that a) Defines bureaucracy and bureaucratization,
rationalization, and rational-legal authority, b) Discusses the positive and negative effects of
bureaucratization and rationalization on the experiences of individuals engaging with
bureaucratic organizations, and c) Analyzes how one specific organization (e.g., FAU, the
Department of Motor Vehicles) does and does not exhibit bureaucratic and rationalized qualities
and how this positively and negatively impacts the people who engage with that organization.
Formatting:
Double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 point font, Times New Roman font, no cover page, and label
with just your name and the date in the top left corner of the first page. (This may require you to
alter the default settings of your word processing program.) Papers should be given descriptive
or evocative titles. Failure to follow formatting directions may result in a loss of points.
Electronic copies should be in MS Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF. You may not submit .pages (Mac)
files or links to Google docs.
Citation:
Students should employ proper citation practices following the standards set by the American
Sociological Association as outlined in “ASA Quick Style Guide” (on Canvas in the Module
Essay Writing). In the body of the text, all materials (course and secondary) should be cited
using in-text (i.e., parenthetical) citation. Dr. Seeley’s lectures should be cited (Seeley DATE).
A works cited page is required for all secondary materials not assigned for the course, including
webpages; course materials and lectures do not need to appear in your works cited. Your works
cited page does not count toward your minimum page count of 5 full pages.
Failure to engage in proper citation practices will result in a loss of points. Egregious failures to
engage in proper citation practices may be considered plagiarism. See the syllabus for a
discussion of the penalties for academic misconduct.
Writing:
Essays should be grammatical, engage in proper punctuation practices, and meet basic standards
for academic mechanics and style. Students should carefully proofread their documents. Papers
that do not meet basic standards for mechanics and clarity may lose points based on severity of
the errors. Consult the documents posted to Canvas in the module Essay Writing. You are
encouraged to utilize the Center for Teaching and Learning and/or speak with Dr. Seeley.
Essays should be properly organized with a) an introduction that contains a thesis statement and
foreshadows the argument to follow, b) a thesis statement in the introduction that communicates
to the reader the core argument of the paper, c) body paragraphs that provide detailed and
convincing evidence to support the paper’s thesis, and d) a conclusion that outlines how the body
paragraphs have successfully proven and supported the thesis outlined in the introduction.
Late Penalty (from syllabus):
All work should be submitted on time and in the file format indicated on the relevant instruction
sheet. Students submitting a late assignment will be penalized as follows: Assignments
submitted the day after the original due date will lose 10 points. Assignments submitted two
days after the original due date will lose 20 points. Assignments submitted three days after the
due date will lose 30 points. Assignments submitted four or more days after the original due date
may be given half credit at the discretion of the instructor.
Grading Rubric:
See Below
Notes: Definitions must engage with primary text by original author to earn an A or A+.
Essays must have a coherent argument with a thesis statement and clear
organizational structure (intro stating thesis, body paragraphs supporting argument
made in thesis statement, and conclusion) to earn a B+ or above.
Rubric for Short Essay 1
Sociological Theory – Seeley – Sp22
A+ (100) A (95) A‐ (92) B+ (87) B (85) or lower
Concepts
Identifies and correctly
defines all concepts
mentioned in chosen prompt
in sophisticated, complex, and
thoughtful ways.
Identifies and correctly
defines all concepts
mentioned in chosen prompt
in non‐superfical ways.
Identifies and correctly
defines all concepts
mentioned in chosen prompt,
albeit in superficial ways.
Identifies and correctly
defines all concepts
mentioned in chosen prompt,
albeit in superfical ways with
minor errors.
Errors in definitions of
concepts from chosen prompt
that suggest student is not
taking the course seriously.
Fails to define all concepts
from prompt.
Analysis:
Marx
Provides nuanced historical‐
materialist analysis of how
two social phenomenon
(elements of superstructure)
(re)produce capitalism.
Provides nuanced historical‐
materialist analysis of how
two social phenomenon
(elements of superstructure)
(re)produce capitalism.
Provides superficial historical‐
materialist analysis of how
two social phenomenon
(elements of superstructure)
(re)produce capitalism.
Provides very superficial
historical‐materialist analysis
of how two social
phenomenon (elements of
superstructure) (re)produce
capitalism.
Fails to discuss two social
phenomenon. Provides very
superficial historical‐
materialist analysis of how
two social phenomenon
(elements of superstructure)
(re)produce capitalism.
Analysis:
Weber
Develops detailed, coherent,
and thorough analysis of one
bureaucratic organization.
Develops detailed, coherent,
and thorough analysis of one
bureaucratic organization.
Minimal generic examples.
Develops coherent yet
superficial analysis of one
bureaucratic organization.
Minimal generic examples.
Superficial analysis of one
bureaucratic institution.
Significant generic examples.
Does not focus on one
bureaucratic institution.
Contains primarily generic
examples.
Application
Your writing stands out
because of complexity,
originality, sophistication in
thought, imagination, insight,
thoroughness, and/or depth.
Exhibits creative and/or
critical engagement with and
application of course
concepts.
Does not exhibit creative or
critical engagement with and
application of course
concepts.
Does not exhibit creative or
critical engagement with and
application of course
concepts.
Does not exhibit creative or
critical engagement with and
application of course
concepts.
Sources
Structure
Clear organizational structure,
including introduction, clear
thesis, ample supporting
evidence, and conclusion.
Clear organizational structure,
including introduction, clear
thesis, ample supporting
evidence, and conclusion.
Relatively clear organizational
structure, including
introduction, clear thesis,
ample supporting evidence,
and conclusion.
Unclear organizational
structure lacking one or more
of the following: introduction,
clear thesis, ample supporting
evidence, and/or conclusion.
Unclear organizational
structure lacking one or more
of the following: introduction,
clear thesis, ample supporting
evidence, and/or conclusion.
Thesis
Statement
Contains clear thesis
statement summarizing
overall argument of essay.
Contains clear thesis
statement summarizing
overall argument of essay.
Contains clear thesis
statement summarizing
overall argument of essay..
Contains clear thesis
statement summarizing
overall argument of essay.
Does not contain clear thesis
statement that summarizes
overall argument of essay.
Grammar
No major grammar and
punctuation errors that make
understanding the key
argument difficult.
No major grammar and
punctuation errors that make
understanding the key
argument difficult.
No major grammar and
punctuation errors that make
understanding the key
argument difficult.
Contains minor grammar and
punctuation errors that
impede understanding the key
argument.
Major grammar and
punctuation errors that
undermine comprehencibility.
Citation
Adheres to proper ASA
citation practices, including
page numbers for direct
quotes and substantive
paraphrasing. Properly
formatted works cited.
Adheres to proper ASA
citation practices, including
page numbers for direct
quotes and substantive
paraphrasing. Properly
formatted works cited.
Adheres to majority of proper
ASA citation practices,
including page numbers for
direct quotes and substantive
paraphrasing, with only minor
oversights. Properly
formatted works cited.
Includes citations for all
materials but does not
completely adhere to proper
ASA citation practices,
including failure to include
page number for all
quotations and substantive
paraphrasing. Minor errors in
formatting of works cited.
Does not provide citations for
all materials. Does not adhere
to proper ASA citation
practices, including failure to
include page number for all
quotations and substantive
paraphrasing. Significant
errors in formatting works
cited.
Formatting
Adheres to formatting
guidelines. Meets minimum
page length requirement of 5
full pages. Meets deadline for
submission.
Adheres to formatting
guidelines. Meets minimum
page length requirement of 5
full pages. Meets deadline for
submission.
Adheres to formatting
guidelines. Meets minimum
page length requirement of 5
full pages. Meets deadline for
submission.
Does not adhere to formatting
guidelines in major ways.
Does not meet minimum page
length requirement of 5 full
pages. Meets deadline for
submission.
Does not adhere to
formatting guidelines to skirt
minimum page length
requirement. Length of paper
stopes before bottom of page
5. Does not meet deadline for
submission.
Definitions draw mostly on
primary text by original
author, some use of E&A
summaries and lecture.
Definitions draw on mix of
primary text by original
author, E&A summaries,
and lecture.
Definitions draw on mix of
E&A summaries and lecture.
Does not engage with primary
text by original author,
Definitions draw on mix of
E&A summaries and lecture.
Does not engage with primary
text by original author,
Definitions do not draw on
course materials.