Describes the "sexual orientation guessing game," an exercise, using the teacher-as-text strategy, in which the teacher hides his/her sexual orientation throughout the semester and the last week the students are asked to guess the teacher's sexual orientation. Discusses the outcomes of the activity and the students' reactions. (CMK)

For over 30 years, sociologists have expressed concern that the undergraduate curriculum in sociology lacks coherence. The sociology major continues to be loosely structured with few opportunities for sequential learning. To achieve greater coherence in the major, I recommend that departments sequence more courses or infuse both empirical and…

Describes a class project involving citation verification generated by a student's skepticism of the accuracy of a text. Emphasizes the importance of spontaneity and student interest in the success of such a project. Urges teachers to be alert for a spontaneous, student generated challenge to the credibility of texts in use. (DK)

Reports on an experience using a teaching technique designed to promote active learning in an undergraduate social-problems course through student analysis of real social data. Discusses course materials and teaching procedures used, advantages and disadvantages of the approach, and student reactions. (DSK)

Describes a final assignment in an introductory sociology course that helps students apply their sociological knowledge. Students choose a book or movie, provide a plot summary, analyze it using a minimum number of sociological terms gathered from different chapters or topic areas, and provide a brief conclusion. (MJP)

Reports on a comparative study of the undergraduate sociology curriculum in 36 U.S. and 38 English Canadian institutions. Finds that Canadian schools more closely resemble the European sociology curriculum by emphasizing sociological theory. Contends that U.S. schools emphasize research methods in the context of a liberal arts program. (CFR)

Addresses the use of fiction to teach undergraduate students about sociological theories and concepts. Discusses how "A Thousand Acres" (Jane Smiley) was used in a sociology of families course. Includes descriptions of the plot and themes in the book and the group work and paper assigned in conjunction with Smiley's novel. (CMK)

Recounts a series of teaching exercises designed to develop a critical awareness of attitudes toward gays and lesbians. The first set consists of short, active-listening exercises between students. The second involves observation and comparison of public displays of affection between heterosexual couples and gay couples. (MJP)

Recounts a university's attempt to create a more rigorous and rewarding sociology program. Utilizing recommendations from the American Sociological Association the university introduced four levels of sequencing consisting of introductory courses, skills courses, advanced substantive courses, and capstone courses. Concludes that this was a…

Reports on a statistics course designed to emphasize real-world applications. The course is primarily lab-based and provides students with numerous opportunities to demonstrate mastery of their skills. The instruction is tightly focused on achievable goals and utilizes hands-on experience and computer tutorials. (MJP)

Asserts that diversity breadth requirements, also known as multicultural requirements, have become an integral part of undergraduate education in U.S. universities. Reports on a study of 32 institutions on their undergraduate multicultural course requirements. (CFR)

Reviews the objectives and strategies of four faculty members for nurturing critical reasoning skills as a specific instructional component in introductory sociology courses. Describes results of a questionnaire assessing students' perceptions of the program. Concludes that most students reported an increase in critical reasoning skills. Discusses…

Asserts that song lyrics illustrate important sociological concepts. Reports on a study using song-lyric packets with 23 students in an introductory college sociological course. Finds that students were very supportive of the strategy and includes an appendix illustrating the approach by presenting one song-lyric packet. (CFR)

Describes a method for teaching sociological concepts in introduction to sociology courses that utilizes clips from the television show "The Real World." Discusses the use of popular culture to teach sociology and the various topics and accompanying clips from the television program. Highlights the advantages and disadvantages of this technique.…

As noted by Goldsmid and Wilson a quarter of a century ago, a "curious gulf" exists between teaching and research in sociology. This article addresses this problem by suggesting ways in which a current research article from the American Sociological Review can be used in courses at three different levels of the undergraduate curriculum. The active…