This article introduces a simple, flexible approach to engaging students within large classes, known as ARC (application, response, collaboration). ARC encourages each student's presence and engagement in class; creates a sense of excitement and anticipation; breaks down passivity and anonymity; effectively gains, maintains, and utilizes students'…

Discusses the use of tabloid newspapers in the teaching of human sexuality. Suggests that many people obtain sex information from such publications. Explains how research projects using the papers were organized. Describes advantages and disadvantages and student reactions to the assignment. Includes an appendix containing example bibliographies.…

More than half of the sociology graduate students at the University of Minnesota are pursuing applied training. Major features of the program are reviewed, responses by students and faculty are examined, measures of success are discussed, and problems that need to be resolved are explored. (Author/RM)

Suggests benefits of a system in which feedback from students is utilized to improve sociology courses on the college level. Outlines student responsibilities in collecting information, soliciting feedback from fellow students, and in keeping the instructor informed about student attitudes. (Author/DB)

Discusses three classroom climates that are often encountered in teaching about inequality and social stratification: resistance, paralysis, and rage. Describes resistance as denying the existence or importance of inequality. Defines paralysis as classes that see little chance of overcoming inequality. Suggests that the enraged class is unable to…

Discusses typical first days of college courses. Describes a first day activity called "Who is the Professor?" that challenges students' expectations about learning and motivates students to wonder about social life. Presents a modification of the activity and considers suggestions, limitations, and challenges. (CMK)

Teaching undergraduates about social stratification can be a difficult endeavor. As a number of authors have noted, undergraduate students are sometimes resistant to learning about social stratification, a phenomenon that may be due, in part, to the fact that many undergraduates are from privileged backgrounds and "find it difficult to go…

Explains that the objectives of Sociopoly encourage students to think critically about social inequality, help them to understand the structural constraints that govern economic choices, recognize that economic failure is not usually linked to individual or character defects, and realize that social inequality is rooted in economic position,…

Describes the "doing nothing" assignment that can be used to teach about stigma. Explains that the assignment is a simulation offering a theoretical background as well as a description of the exercise. Explores the advantages of the stigma simulation and addresses how to assess students. Includes references. (CMK)

Examines the use of personal computers (PCs) in the introductory sociology course. Discusses the functional strengths and weaknesses of PCs. Describes the use of PCs in preparing and presenting visual material, teaching basic concepts and strategies, illustrating analytical storylines, and engaging students in problem solving. Suggests additional…

Describes the "Dating Game," an exercise for use in marriage and family courses that enables students to learn about the theories of mate selection by simulating random mating. States that the dating game helps make mate selection concepts relevant to the students' lives. Discusses the students' reaction to the exercise. (CMK)

Discusses how the author utilized two teaching strategies (application and collaborative learning) to enhance student achievement within a micro-theory course called social foundations of human behavior. Explains that student responses were monitored and that the teaching approach was modified again. Includes references. (CMK)

Describes an orientation for sociology graduate students that helps students become sociologists through workshops and to orient them into the program. Discusses the objectives of the orientation and also presents the results from a qualitative evaluation of the orientation. Includes references. (CMK)

Describes a bingo game that focuses on sociology of the body in which students answer questions with either a yes or no as opposed to the traditional way the game is played. Explains how to construct the game and addresses practical strategies to use after the game. (CMK)

Argues that there is a need to rethink the teaching of classical sociological theories. Focuses on the reasons the authors rethought their course with a special emphasis on their critique of Eurocentrism. Discusses the course and the responses of students to the new version of the course. Includes references. (CMK)