What is the difference between a Private Trouble and a Public Issue? Exploring the Sociology Imagination

Abstract

By adapting the in-class exercise described in Adams (2010), the following activity helps students explore C. Wright Mills’ sociological imagination by generating examples of private troubles and public issues. By the conclusion of the activity, students should be able to explain the difference between troubles and issues, provide their own examples of...

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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):

Small

Usage Notes

Suicide is a sensitive, even upsetting subjective for some students. I suggest giving a trigger warning prior to the start of the activity.

Also, when I talk about the work of a prominent sociologist, I always give a brief background of their professional and personal life. Since C. Wright Mills had a particularly colorful professional and...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will understand, describe, compare and contrast the terms private troubles and public issues.
2. Students will provide their own examples of private troubles and public issues.
3. Students will brainstorm solutions to contemporary social problems.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Written discussion questions that students will hand in for credit.
2. Written discussion questions that students will hand in for credit.
3. Written discussion questions that students will hand in for credit.