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All TRAILS Resources
All TRAILS Resources
May 31, 2023

Browse the entire collection of TRAILS resources here.

Christian Michael Smith
Interrogating Causation with Screencasts, a "Clickbait" News Activity, and Short Essays
June 11, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity, Essay, Video
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
With this resource, students learn the fundamentals of causal inference and apply these skills to evaluate the outlandish claims found in many internet article headlines ("clickbait"). The resource has three parts. First, at home, students watch two screencast videos...
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Debjani Chakravarty
Sociological Tweets
June 11, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Theory
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Twitter is a unique social media platform, a proprietary eponym for microblogging, and an effective communication device for political, corporate, and civil society entities. Its wide reach and popularity can be difficult to ignore in these times. There are debates...
Cover Page Requires Subscription PDF
Erin Jane Davenport
Occupational Licensure Activity
June 11, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Work and Labor Markets
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This activity allows students studying the sociology of work or the labor force to engage with the question: How do licensing laws affect workers, and what industries are most heavily licensed? They will complete a reading, answer discussion questions, and then break...
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A cartoon person looking at a red question mark
Erin K Anderson
Syllabus for Sociological Theory
June 9, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Theory
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Social Theory is one of the core required courses in the discipline of Sociology. This course covers perspectives from early theorists, including Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber, as well as classical and contemporary theories. A primary goal of the course is...
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Stephanie Marie Baran
Let’s Build a Prison: Exploring Structural Functionalism
June 4, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Social Organization
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This in-class activity centers around how students understand the creation and construction of prisons within the United States. Suited for any level of sociology or criminology courses, this activity could be utilized in a criminology course or in a sociology...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
Julia Waity, Samantha Durham
Using Virtual Reality to Learn about Place
May 14, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Visual Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
While being able to read data correctly is a vital skill, many sociology classes rely heavily on charts, graphs and tables that can be overwhelming and disengaging for students. One way to overcome this is for students to see firsthand the concept that they are...
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Maria D. Duenas
Naming Racisms: Identifying and Responding to Biological and Colorblind Racisms
May 14, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
The purpose of this activity is to help students identify and respond to biological and colorblind racisms they may hear in their everyday lives. The activity uses a pedagogical technique of chat stations where students move around the classroom to visit five...
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Jonathan R. Wynn
The Alien Exercise: A Basic Introduction to Sociology Fieldnote Exercise
April 8, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Getting a class on the same page early in the semester is often a challenge. A quick activity that sparks a lot of conversation without presuming too much knowledge about sociology, and that can bring everyone in regardless of their preparedness for college and the...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
Judith A. Linneman
Be a PEACH Activity: A Framework for Ethical Teaching in Sociology
April 3, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Use this engaging, discussion-based activity to address ethics in graduate courses on teaching sociology. Print the cards (included) describing various hypothetical situations in which sociology teachers might find themselves inside or outside the classroom....
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Annika Wilcox
Sociological Perspectives on Mass Media
April 2, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This resource synthesizes sociological insights and media literacy information (Ferris and Stein 2018; MediaSmarts N.d.) to create a "unit" on mass media comprised of three activities. The activities encourage students to build a sociological understanding of mass...
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