Teaching the Sociological Imagination: Using Actual Lenses to See Personal Troubles as Public Issues

Abstract

This classroom exercise uses a comic strip to introduce students to thinking with a sociological imagination by providing the opportunity for them to view personal troubles through various sociological lenses. In the activity, students are introduced through a comic strip to a character, Mason, who experiences personal troubles. Students then overlay...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

College 100

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Time: Approximately 30 to 40 minutes

Materials: Comic strip handouts. File included in TRAILS profile. Print first page of comic strip on plain 8.5 by 11 inch paper, print second and third page of comic strip (boxes 1 through 7) on transparencies. If transparencies are unavailable, see alternative approaches in the step-by-step file.

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Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. The activity will introduce students to the sociological imagination by showing how personal troubles can be seen as public issues when we adopt sociological lenses.
2. Recognition that personal troubles are simpler and easier to see in comparison to multi-layered social issues.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Student comprehension can be assessed by their responses in the discussion section of the activity. If the students are able to adequately differentiate between box 2 and box 3 on the comic strip then they are using a sociological imagination.
2. Students will write a short reflection about the activity and the thoughts it stimulated. Instructors may ask the class, "why do people tend to attribute personal troubles to characteristics of individuals rather than public issues?"