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...Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.
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).Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.
Learning Goals and Assessments
Learning Goal(s):
- Students demonstrate reading comprehension of a theoretical text
- Students reaffirm understanding of theoretical concepts by recognizing them in a familiar sitcom
- Students creatively apply concepts in their own lives
Goal Assessment(s):
- Students explain Goffman’s concepts based on selections from The Presentation of Everyday Life
- 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")
- Students seek examples of concepts in their own behavior and peer interactions in the days before the next class session.
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