After doing the reading on each theorist, write a paper in which you will explain the work of that theorist in your own words.

or many, sociological theory is dreaded reading. Why? I believe part of the reason is that so much of it is written in a manner that is very difficult to understand. With your “In My Own Words” assignments, you will remedy this! After doing the reading on each theorist, write a paper in which you will explain the work of that theorist in your own words. Think of yourself in a conversation with a friend and you happen to mention that you are studying Emile Durkheim (one of the theorists we will study). He or she asks, “Who is Emile Durkheim? What did he do?” Write your paper as an answer to this question in manner that your friend – who, we assume knows little, if anything, about sociology – will be able to understand. You will find this exercise to be an excellent way to really learn and comprehend the ideas of these theorists. In a way, you are asked to be the “teacher” for your friend. It is sometimes said that the best way to really learn a subject is to have to teach it.