Britney Spears's 2020 testimony about her 13-year conservatorship highlighted ethical concerns surrounding surrogate decision making. Social workers engage with families and clients in conservatorship/guardianship arrangements. However, social work educational programs spend little time preparing students for surrogate decision making and…

A film/discussion series that brought the sociological imagination before sizable audiences of adult community residents is described, evaluated, and justified. The format of the series is recommended for sociology departments that wish to strengthen their ties to the humanities. Two of the films used in the project are discussed. (Author)

Recommends a variety of books, assignments, exercises, and projects which can be incorporated into introductory criminology classes to compensate for the omission of topics on women and crime in textbooks and curricula. Includes a list of potential topics for writing assignments and a selection of films covering such topics as sexual harassment,…

Maintains that because introductory sociology courses are broad surveys of the field, they often lack an integrative perspective which would allow students to better grasp the importance and use of sociology. Shows how modernization can be used as a theme which unites the introductory course. (JDH)

Demonstrates how poetry may be used to illustrate basic sociological concepts and themes. Provides examples of student-written and published poems which have been integrated into the author's classes. (JDH)

Provides several strategies and techniques for handling the first day of class. Strategies are designed to deal with the implicit impressions, tensions, and social dynamics of the situation. Included also are tips on what not to do on the first day of class. (JDH)

States that one of the major challenges in teaching an introductory sociology course is to find activities that involve students in the research process, illustrate important sociological concepts, and maintain students' interest. Provides a three-part assignment on the birth rate which accomplishes these three goals. Includes copies of handouts…

Reviews the format, organization, presentation, grading, objectives and benefits of debate as used in an undergraduate sociology course. (JDH)

Using the television series "Dallas" as an example, this article describes how to use soap operas to illustrate common topics and increase students' interest in a sociology of the family course. (JDH)

Describes a survey project for use in sociological research methods courses. The project is built around the American Council on Education's Freshman Survey, and provides instructors with valuable opportunities to design panel studies focusing on the experience of the students over their college years. Claims that the suggested project reduces the…

Outlines major features of humanistic perspective in sociology. States that what is methodologically and/or epistemologically central to the humanist perspective is a critique of excesses of positivism and advocacy of utilization of philosophy and other humanities as sources of information or data in investigation of social reality. Provides…

Based upon the teaching of Mari Sandoz' allegorical novel, CAPITAL CITY, this article identifies the characteristics of novels which provide a sociologically useful humanist perspective. A key characteristic is the extent to which the novel conducts thought experiments, defined as cerebral exercises which explore alternative social futures based…

Presents a classroom exercise designed to illustrate the effects of structural social inequality. The exercise is based on a quiz in which students are divided into four groups and given different amounts of time to complete the test. The exercise demonstrates how high levels of determination and ability may be subordinated to the effects of…

Noting the increasing importance of internship experiences in the graduate training of students for applied careers, this article presents a comprehensive case study analysis of an internship program. It reviews such issues as student preparation, supervision, grading, and intern-sponsor matching. (JDH)

Describes how slides of architecture and classical art may be used to help students think sociologically, to understand not only what sociology is, but why it exists. Identifies eight themes on which slides of art and architecture may be used. Among the themes are: culture contact and change; concepts of self; the rise of industrial society;…