Talcott Parsons. 1937. “The Unit of Social Action.”
1. The key question that the author is addressing is:
(Figure out the key question in the mind of the author when s/he wrote the article.)
2a. The key concept(s) we need to understand in the article are:
(Figure out the most important ideas you would have to understand in order to understand the
author’s line of reasoning.)
2b. By these concepts the author means (define the concepts):
3. Explain the authors reasoning (propositions) of how the concepts are related to one another.
4. The most important empirical information (if any) in the article is:
(Figure out the facts, experiences, and/or data the author is using to support her/his conclusions.)
5. In which theoretical school or paradigm in Sociology does this author fit? Explain using information
from above.