Using The Office to Teach Goffman

Abstract

Erving Goffman’s theories of symbolic interaction have the potential to appeal to students due to their immediate applicability to dissect everyday social interaction. However, contemporary students may find his writing to be less than straightforward and his illustrative examples old fashioned. This limits their ability to see his theories as relevant...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Theory

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity, Video

Class Level(s):

College 100

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

This activity requires 1 long class period (85 minutes) or two shorter class periods (50 minutes).

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students demonstrate reading comprehension of a theoretical text
2. Students reaffirm understanding of theoretical concepts by recognizing them in a familiar sitcom
3. Students creatively apply concepts in their own lives

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students explain Goffman’s concepts based on selections from The Presentation of Everyday Life
2. Students seek examples of concepts from the first episode of The Office: an American Workplace, a situational comedy in the format of a documentary (aka a "mockumentary")
3. Students seek examples of concepts in their own behavior and peer interactions in the days before the next class session.