Facts in Fiction: Using Creative and Analytical Writing for Sociological Learning

Abstract

Students of sociology often struggle to see how society impacts their individual identities, decisions, relationships. This assignment invites students to explore "the social" by creating a fictional character. I have the students read the novel, American Circumstance, by Patricia Leavy, but instructors could use any novel that incorporates sociological...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Race, Class and Gender

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

College 300

Class Size(s):

Medium

Usage Notes

Leavy’s novel lends itself particularly well to this assignment. I use it as the final paper in a 45 student course on American Society and inequality but it could be integrated into a course on inequality, gender, sexuality, race, or Introduction to Sociology.
One danger is that students will create caricatures rather than real characters. To deal...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. 1: Students will learn how socialization and social position impact individual personality and choices.
2. 2: Students will develop a more sophisticated, intersectional understanding of identity.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. 1: The writing references appropriate course readings and demonstrates that the student thought about how race, class, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability structure individual lives and experiences.
2. 2: The imaginary character is fully developed. The character does not reflect basic stereotypes. The character should reflect both marginalization and privilege with respect to different aspects of her identity.