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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

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Julie Whitaker
Using Contexts Magazines as a Resource for a Simulated Sociology Conference
April 5, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
Introductory sociology classes often provide students with a broad look at the discipline. Frequently it is the first and only experience they will have with the field of sociology (Greenwood and Howard 2011:16). In one course, there is not sufficient time to do...
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Larry R Irons
Observing and Describing "The Pear Film"
February 19, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Ethnography
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Class Activity, Video
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Download for full resources - To prepare students for their first observation assignment in a natural setting I find it useful to let them practice the experience by watching one particular film clip in which there is no speech and the only sounds are the ambient...
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Ellen M. Whitehead
Exploring Neighborhood Inequality with Census Data
August 29, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This hands-on activity is designed to help students consider neighborhoods as a dimension of inequality, using census data to examine neighborhood characteristics. By selecting specific neighborhoods and variables of interest, developing hypotheses, and interpreting...
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Rachel Sparkman, A. Logan Clary
A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO INTRODUCING ORAL HISTORIES IN AN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
August 7, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Qualitative Methodology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Audio, Class Activity, PowerPoint
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This activity and final project assignment incorporates the interactive understanding of social life with the use of a qualitative methodology not commonly found in today’s sociological research: the oral history. While this resource was used for a Rural Sociology...
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Clayton D. Thomas
Weeklong Goffman Workshop: Using Journal Assignments, Lectures, and In-Class Discussions to Teach Impression Management
August 1, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Social Psychology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Lecture
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This activity teaches Goffman’s concepts of definition of the situation, expressions given, expressions given off, deference, demeanor, and face-saving behaviors through a weeklong workshop. The centerpiece of this weeklong workshop is a journaling assignment that...
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Rachel Sullivan
Designing, Conducting, and Reflecting on a Qualitative Interview
July 24, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Research Methods
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This is a two-part interview assignment that can be used when teaching a qualitative methods unit in a research methods class. Students can choose to take either a life history approach with this assignment (by interviewing an older relative) or a more career-focused...
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Mari Kate Mycek
Developing a Sociological Imagination through Americanah: by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
July 23, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Race, Class and Gender
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
In this semester long project students read, discuss, and analyze Americanah from a sociological perspective. Through a close reading, in class discussions, a group presentation, and an individual final paper, students develop their sociological imaginations and...
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Benjamin M. Drury, Lauren N. Griffin
American Hookup Discussion Guide
July 9, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Sexualities
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
If you are reading this, you are probably considering incorporating the book, American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus (Wade 2017) into your curriculum. We were in your shoes quite recently and knew the contents of this book would make strong fodder for...
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Sharon Yee
A Sociological Look at Hate Groups
July 3, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This learning activity (1) introduces students to the social construction of "hate," "hate groups," and "hate crimes"; (2) identifies the extent to which a range of individual and group behaviors are labeled as hate crimes and hate groups; (3) strengthens...
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Sandra Marie Loughrin
Conceptualization and Operationalization of Love
July 3, 2018
Subject Area(s):
Research Methods
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This assignment allows students to use the abstract concept "love" to practice the process of social research. Over the course of a three-week period students will (1) conceptualize this abstract concept, (2) operationalize their variable, (3) create a survey, (4)...
Cover Page Requires Subscription DOCX

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