Help for Writing a Sociology Paper
Two helpful guides for writing a Sociology Paper
Writing in Sociology (UCONN)
Writing in Sociology UNC Example
On Campus Help
SMU's Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center
SMU A-LEC Writing Center
Citation Help
APA Style Tutorial
ASA Citation Quick Guide
CUL Citation Guide: SMU’s library guide on citing correctly.
End Note Web: Endnote Web is a citation management tool that helps you to create a database of your references
On Campus Resources
ARTSTOR
ARTstor contains over one million images of art, architecture, photography, sculpture and documents related to several disciplines in the arts, humanities, and science. Images are for the purpose of scholarly use - teaching and research. They may be used in classroom presentations, study guides, and scholarly projects. Students may use these images in their papers, provided that they cite them using the correct citation style for their assignment.
CUL Sociology Guide
Research guide put together by SMU’s Central University Library Staff
Fondren Media Collection
The Fondren Library at Southern Methodist University has an extensive media collection that includes VHS (yes they still exist), DVD, audiobook and streaming formats. We can also acquire materials for classroom support and welcome purchase suggestions.
SMU's Digital Repository
Central University Libraries, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and the Office of Information Technology have combined resources to create the SMU Digital Repository, an online archive for collecting and sharing the scholarly work of SMU faculty, staff, and students.
How to Strategize Your Searches
Guide for developing searches
SMU’s List of Online Sociology Resources
Social Sciences Data Resources
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing statistical survey that samples a small percentage of the population every year -- giving communities the information they need to plan investments and services
American Fact Finder
A gateway or portal to several major US Census products: 1990 and 2000 decennial Census of population and housing; annual population estimates; 1997 and 2002 Economic Census; American Community Survey. Retrieve summary tables and maps for display and download, although American Factfinder features are more robust for recent data products than older ones
Bureau of Justice Crime Statistics
To collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to federal, state, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. As an independent statistical agency, BLS serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.
Census Bureau
Quick, easy access to facts about people, business, and geography
ICPSR-Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
ICPSR offers more than 500,000 digital files containing social science research data. Disciplines represented include political science, sociology, demography, economics, history, gerontology, criminal justice, public health, foreign policy, terrorism, health and medical care, early education, education, racial and ethnic minorities, psychology, law, substance abuse and mental health, and more.
Southern Methodist University is a member of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. The ICPSR is the largest social science data archive in the world. Through our membership, SMU faculty and students have ready access to hundreds of datasets on topics that cover virtually all social science interests. These datasets are an invaluable resource for both teaching and research. Students also are eligible to attend the ICPSR summer program in quantitative methods. If you would like more information pertaining to this resource, contact one of your sociology professors and they will direct you as to what to next. For now you can browse the database to determine if the data you need is available.
Federal Statistics at a Glance (Fed Stats)
FedStats, which has been available to the public since 1997, provides access to the full range of official statistical information produced by the Federal Government without having to know in advance which Federal agency produces which particular statistic. With convenient searching and linking capabilities to more than 100 agencies that provide data and trend information on such topics as economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more, FedStats is your one location for access to the full breadth of Federal statistical information.
General Social Survey
The General Social Survey: contains a standard 'core' of demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal questions, plus topics of special interest. Many of the core questions have remained unchanged since 1972 to facilitate time-trend studies as well as replication of earlier findings. The GSS takes the pulse of America, and is a unique and valuable resource. It has tracked the opinions of Americans over the last four decades.
National Center for Educational Statistics
The NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education.
The Gallop Poll for Public Opinion Research
The Gallop Student Poll
The Gallup Student Poll is a landmark new measure that captures the youth voice, a critical but too often missing part of the national dialogue surrounding student performance and success. The Gallup Student Poll tracks the hope, engagement, and wellbeing of students in grades 5 through 12 across the United States
United Nations Demographic Yearbook
The United Nations Demographic Yearbook collects, compiles and disseminates official statistics on a wide range of topics. Data have been collected from national statistical authorities since 1948 through a set of questionnaires dispatched annually by the United Nations Statistics Division to over 230 national statistical offices.
The Demographic Yearbook disseminates statistics on population size and composition, births, deaths, marriage and divorce on an annual basis. Demographic Yearbook special topics issues cover a wide range of additional topics including economic activity, educational attainment, household characteristics, housing, ethnicity and language, among others.