Sociology Asa

Style and Reference Guide for Undergraduate Essays

Department of Sociology, Queen's University

Written and compiled by Christina Salavantis © 2010

CONTENTS

1. Basic Layout and Cover Pages

2. In-Text References (Embedded Citations)

Three ways to embed citations

Other citation rules including punctuation

3. Miscellaneous Style and Grammar Matters

Referencing Problems

Evidence versus Example

Interviews

Avoid Vague, Unfocused Thesis Statements

Footnotes

Paragraphs

Quotations

Avoid Wordiness

Avoid Sweeping Assumptions

Language

Using Numbers

Active Voice

Subject-Verb Agreement

4. What is a Social Theory? What Is Not?

5. Assignments

Submitting essays

Plagiarism

6. References/Works Cited (Bibliography)

Example citations for different sources

The following style and reference guide is based on the American Sociological Association Style Guide (4th Edition). A copy of the ASA Style Guide is available on reserve in the Stauffer Library. https://qcat.library.queensu.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=3551711

While this style and reference guide follows the ASA Style Guide on most points, we have introduced some minor but important differences for the purposes of undergraduate essays in the Queen's Department of Sociology. You should read through this guide before you begin to write your essay and refer to it when referencing ideas, paraphrasing, or making direct quotations. 

Queen's offers you the opportunity to access a web-based bibliographic management tool (often called a "citation manager") called "RefWorks" (http://library.queensu.ca/help/refworks) through the Queen's Library.  If you use this system, or any other bibliographic management tool, you must ensure that it will create an ASA style list of references at the end of your essay. 

1. Basic Page Layout

* Type your essay in 12-point Times New Roman font

* Double space the text and use left-justified style

* Pages should be numbered...