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TRAILS Featured Resources
TRAILS Featured Resources
February 23, 2023

TRAILS, the Teaching Resources and Innovation Library for Sociology, provides a way for you to easily locate peer-reviewed teaching materials, showcase your teaching ideas, develop professionally, and join a community of scholarly teachers. You will find great assignments, syllabi, lectures, and other teaching ideas at TRAILS. Please also consider submitting your great ideas for teaching. The Featured Resources include some of the newest additions to our collection.

-Stephanie Medley-Rath
TRAILS Lead Editor

TRAILS logo with gold star superimposed on the lower right corner. Logo is composed of four vertical bars in varying shades of blue.
A vintage typewriter
Ellen Meiser
Theoretical Script Writing: A creative project for social theory courses
September 23, 2022
Subject Area(s):
Teaching and Learning in Sociology, Theory
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Advanced Graduate, Any Level, College 200, College 300, College 400, Graduate, High School
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

“Theoretical Script Writing” is a final assignment for undergraduate sociological theory courses that encourages the application of concepts learned over the course of a semester to modern day social issues using students’ creativity. Upon learning about...

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Resume tips
Mary Virnoche
A Resume Assignment Highlighting Experiences and Skills of Sociology Students
April 8, 2022
Abstract:

This submission includes resume assignment details and resources used in a required, one-unit Sociology Professional Development Seminar. This submission includes a rubric to support development of the resume as well as the (peer) review process. The rubric...

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Magnifying Glass
Judith Linneman
The Claim Game: Promoting Critical Thinking about Research, Advertising, and Other Claims
February 28, 2022
Subject Area(s):
Research Methods, Statistics
Resource Type(s):
Lecture, PowerPoint
Class Level(s):
College 100, College 200, College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

Use this lecture/slide show to develop student critical thinking skills and a more skeptical view of causal and other claims in research, advertising, and popular media in general. Although particularly relevant for research methods and statistics courses, the...

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Caped figures in silhouette
Zach Rubin
Stats Through Superheroes: Teaching Basic Statistical Tests Using Data From The Marvel Universe
November 10, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Other, Quantitative Methodology, Research Methods, Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This is a brief lesson on how to run basic statistical tests using data originally gathered from the Marvel Comics Wikia page. Students are introduced to three important tools in statistics: a descriptive table, a contingency table, and a regression. It is...

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Chelsea A Platt
Conferred Dominance in the Built Environment- A Campus Accessibility Activity
September 30, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
This activity builds on Peggy McIntosh’s discussion and reflection on privilege through interactive learning. The concept of “privilege” is a foundational term to understand power and the reproduction of social inequalities for introductory and lower level sociology...
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Trenton G Ellis
Teaching Social Mobility Using a Virtual Field Experience that Combines a Podcast with Google Maps
August 13, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Stratification/Mobility
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Combining a podcast episode with Google Maps, this assignment is a virtual field experience designed for learning about social mobility as it manifests in the lives of poor children in the United States. Specifically, the assignment encourages students to evaluate...
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Victoria Kurdyla
Using film analysis to apply and evaluate criminological theory
July 8, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Criminology/Delinquency
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
While research papers have been an invaluable assignment in sociology and criminology courses, this assignment combines sociological research with film and television analysis to apply criminological theories and concepts. Pelton (2013) argued for using film analysis...
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Jamie Oslawski-Lopez
Analyzing Social Stratification and Inequality in The Hunger Games (2012) Film: Presentation and Reflection Assignment
July 1, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Stratification/Mobility
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
I utilize the film The Hunger Games (2012) in my upper-level, Social Stratification course to engage students, help students understand course material, provide an opportunity for students to practice using their sociological imaginations, and develop students'...
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Danielle MacCartney
Global Social Problems
June 25, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This social problems syllabus includes readings and film suggestions for a global, cross-cultural, or comparative social problems course. The topics included are fairly standard for any social problems course – race, class, gender, crime, environment, and so on. This...
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explore
Laura Kane, Elizabeth Pike
Exploring the Relativity of Deviance
May 19, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Deviant Behavior/Social Disorganization
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Students in Criminology courses are familiar with positivist theories of crime that assume the behavior is wrong and attempt to provide explanations for that behavior. This Social Deviance and Social Control course is required for both Sociology and Criminology...
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