ASA logo
All TRAILS Resources
All TRAILS Resources
May 31, 2023

Browse the entire collection of TRAILS resources here.

Benny C. Marcus
The History and Significance of Race and Racism in the U.S.
October 3, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This course will introduce you to the sociological study of racial and ethnic relations in the United States. We will use historical-comparative methods to systematically and objectively explore the theoretical and empirical aspects of race and ethnicity. We will...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
Benny C. Marcus
Racial Inequalities: Global And National Perspectives
October 3, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This course introduces you to the sociological study of racial and ethnic relationships. In the first section of the course, "Foundations," we overview racial and ethnic inequalities (and equalities) and basic concepts and theories of race and ethnicity. In the next...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
Gretchen Purser
Penal Spectatorship
September 24, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Criminal Justice
Resource Type(s):
Essay
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This essay prompt invites students to reflect upon their own relationship to the criminal justice system. It does so by having them reflexively engage with the concept of the "penal spectator" (Michelle Brown, The Culture of Punishment: Prison, Society and Spectacle,...
Cover Page Requires Subscription PDF
Jeanne E Kimpel
The "No Pants Subway Ride" and Discussions of Deviance
September 18, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Deviant Behavior/Social Disorganization
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity, Lecture, Video
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
The purpose of this exercise is to introduce the concept of deviance and create a fun-filled atmosphere in which to begin this discussion. This exercise facilitates a discussion on various concepts of deviance using short 5-6 minute clips from...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
Tennille Nicole Allen
Literary Intersections: Using Junot Diaz’ The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao to Teach the Sociology of Gender
September 13, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Race, Class and Gender
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 400
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This is a collection of resources designed to facilitate the teaching of Junot Diaz’ Pulitizer Prize-winning debut novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao in a Sociology of Gender course. This novel was chosen to exemplify and illuminate many of the theories,...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX
JoEllen Pederson, Patrick McGrady, Hanna Jokinen-Gordon
Stepping into Inequality: An Activity to Prepare Students for Understanding an Unequal Education System
August 14, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Education
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Motivated by experiential learning strategies and critical self-reflection, this activity to introduce students to educational inequality and the effects of race, class, and gender within the education system. Doing the "Educational Steps" activity enables students...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOC
Gretchen Purser
"Diagramming the Argument" Activity
July 31, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Urban Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This activity fosters active learning and peer collaboration by asking students to diagram the argument of a text, using a set of instructor-provided concepts. This example relates to a book taught in an Urban Poverty course (Both Hands Tied: Welfare Reform and the...
Cover Page Requires Subscription PDF
Mark Philip Killian
The City According to….: The Theory of Urban Sociology.
July 31, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Urban Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity, Lecture, PowerPoint
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This lesson plan covers the major theoretical developments in urban sociology from the late 19th century to the late 20th century. Through this lesson students will learn the following concepts: Gemeinschaft, Geshellschaft, Metropolitan Man, Wirth’s theory of...
Cover Page Requires Subscription PDF Requires Subscription PDF Requires Subscription PDF Requires Subscription PPT
Jacob Bucher
Old and Young Dogs Teaching Each Other Tricks: The Importance of Developing Agency for Community Partners in Community Learning
July 19, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Family
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
This article covers the importance of creating and developing agency in community partners when engaging in community-based learning. Often when faculty incorporate service- or community-based learning into their classes, we measure the "learning" part but not the...
Cover Page Requires Subscription PDF
Kristin Holster
Media Representation of Family Paper Assignment
July 17, 2012
Subject Area(s):
Family
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
In this paper assignment, students analyze the changing media representation of the family by comparing family focused sitcoms from two different decades. Students will incorporate elements from the content of the entire course by addressing questions related to...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience, to increase the speed and security for the site, to provide analytics about our site and visitors, and for marketing. By proceeding to the site, you are expressing your consent to the use of cookies. To find out more about how we use cookies, see our Privacy Policy .