St. Francis Xavier University
Department of Sociology
Sociology 302: Topics in Contemporary Theory
January 12, 2012
Dr. John Phyne
Book Review of: George Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society 6. Los Angeles: Pine
Forge Press, 2011.
You are to write a 12 to 15 page double-spaced review of Ritzer (2011). This review is
worth 25 per cent of your final grade. It is due in class on Tuesday, March 13. In your
review, you must address the following issues:
1) In Chapter 1, Ritzer (2011) discusses McDonaldization as a major social process.
Briefly discuss this process and outline the argument that Ritzer (2011) is going to
make in his book (1 page).
2) In Chapter 2, Ritzer (2011) discusses Weber’s argument concerning
bureaucratization and rationality, applies it to factories and mass production, and
shows the relevance of this argument to McDonaldization. Summarize Ritzer’s
(2011) argument (1 to 2 pages).
3) Chapters 3 to 7 contain Ritzer’s (2011) central findings concerning
McDonaldization. These include: efficiency, calculability, predictability and
control. Outline Ritzer’s (2011) findings and show how the dimensions of
McDonaldization are spreading to health care, higher education and to other
social settings (Chapters 3 to 6). Why does he mean by the irrationality of
rationality (Chapter 7)? This section should be about 5 to 7 pages of your paper.
4) In Chapter 8, Ritzer (2011) discusses McDonaldization within the context of the
debate over globalization and localization. Summarize his argument (2 pages).
5) Finally, find two articles that critically assess Ritzer’s (2011) McDonaldization
thesis. Summarize these arguments. (1 page).
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Submission Requirements
1) The paper is due, in class (not under my office door after class), on Tuesday,
March 13, 2011. I do not accept submissions as e-mail attachments. ANY
PAPER FOUND UNDER MY DOOR is assumed to be ONE DAY LATE. If
your paper is submitted late, it must be submitted to Ms. Carla Haley-Baxter in
Annex 112. She will stamp the paper and place it in my mailbox. Early papers
are welcome, but if I am not in my office, these must be submitted to Ms. Carla
Haley-Baxter.
2) Your paper must be 12 to 15 double-spaced pages (including references). I will
not provide comments on papers less than 10 pages or more than 17 pages.
3) Your paper must include at least 2 references in addition to Ritzer (2011). Do not
use Wikepedia or any other on-line encyclopaedia.
4) You must use Either the APA or ASA formats [author (date)] or MLA style
(footnotes or endnotes) in the writing of this paper. Consult a style guide if you
are uncertain about referencing procedures. A document based on the ASA style
guide may be found on the home page of the Department of Sociology. This style
guide is indispensable in writing papers for any of your sociology courses.
5) Your paper must have a title page.
1) Number your pages. Papers without page numbers will have 5 per cent deducted
from the final grade out of 100.
2) Use 12 pt font.
3) You may use subsections for your paper, but avoid the direct replication of the
above stated questions as subsection headings.
4) Although this is not an English course, it assumes reasonable command of the
English language. Papers replete with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
will be graded accordingly.
5) The paper will be graded as follows:
a. Argument and evidence – 70 per cent
b. Balanced use of sources – 20 per cent
c. Citations and references – 10 per cent
6) Plagiarism is a serious offence. Any suspected cases of plagiarism will be
reported to the office of the Dean of Arts. This can result in a ZERO grade for the
student. This is a third year course and you all should know what constitutes
plagiarism. If you are uncertain, check with me before submitting your paper.
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Policy for Late Assignments
1) One day late – worth 20 per cent
2) Two days late – worth 15 per cent
3) Three days late – not accepted
Examples of Proper Referencing
APA or ASA Formats
1) APA and ASA – references are at the end of the text. Citations are in the text (e.g.
Ritzer 2011).
2) In summarizing Weber’s theory of rationality, Ritzer (2011:27) states
“…bureaucracies are cages in the sense that people are trapped in them, their
basic humanity denied”.
3) “In Weber’s view, bureaucracies are cages in the sense that people are trapped in
them, their basic humanity denied” (Ritzer 2011:27).
4) Ritzer (2011) argues that, for Weber, bureaucracies serve to encage and
dehumanize people.
Reference
Ritzer, George (2011) The McDonaldization of Society 6. Los Angeles: Pine Forge
Endnote or Footnote Format
1) Endnotes and footnotes are located at either the bottom of a page (footnotes) or at
the end of the paper (endnotes).
2) According to Ritzer, for Weber “…bureaucracies are cages in the sense that
people are trapped in them, their basic humanity denied”.1 Ritzer also adds that
bureaucratization extends to various sectors in society.2
Endotes
1. George Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society 6. Los Angeles: Pine Forge, 2011, p.
27.
2. Ibid, p. 27.
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Use of Citations
1) Regardless of the format, whenever you paraphrase the work of another writer,
you must provide a citation.
2) Whenever you use a short direct citation, you must use “…” in the text. If it is a
lengthy citation, you must indent your paragraph and single space your quotation.
3) Avoid an excessive reliance on direct citations. Rephrase most of the material
from another source into your own words. A ‘scissors and paste’ paper will
receive a low grade.
4) Internet sources:
a) In the text, cite only the author, e.g. (Jones 2010).
b) In the references, cite the author, article title and full html (including date
of access, e.g. Jones, Joe (2011) I Don’t Like Ritzer and Other Fast Food
Critics. www.lovefastfood.com (Accessed, February 29, 2012).