Choose two sociological theorists to write a brief biography about (approximately 1.5 – 2 typed
single-spaced pages for each of the two theorists). One theorist must be historical, and one must
be contemporary. For each, you need to include a picture of the theorist (even if it’s only a
drawing) and a bibliography, showing what sources you used for information. DO NOT cut and
paste from websites into your document (this is plagiarism and a serious academic offence).
This assignment is a typical, but brief research paper using secondary and online sources. For each
theorist tell me the following: (1) a little bit about their lives, when they lived, and where they
lived, (2) what was happening in society at the time (political, social, economic events), (3) what
their major accomplishments were, (4) what their publications or major works were, and (5) what
they are best known for, (e.g., a major contribution they made to sociology or to the social
sciences).
KEY POINT: Try to link their theoretical work and/or interests to the social, political, and economic
times they lived in, as well as to anything that may be relevant in their personal lives. E.g., What
was happening in society or in their personal lives that might have made them interested in
researching or writing about the things they did? HINT: This question is asking you to use the
sociological imagination!!