Contends that many colleges and universities have reviewed and revised their liberal arts curriculum in recent years, paying particular attention to the "capstone course," a culminating experience for students in their major field. Concludes that a capstone course should transcend other sociology courses and help assess students'…

Presents a description of a college-level course on gender politics. Recommends instructional techniques, content topics, and instructional resources. States that the course has been received positively by students. (CFR)

Argues that sociologists give increased attention to food, eating, and nutrition. Discusses three approaches to include these topics in college-level sociology courses: (1) sociology of food and nutrition; (2) food and society; and (3) nutritional sociology. Recommends instructional strategies and resources. (CFR)

Describes recommended and tested strategies for teaching a first-level course on the demography of aging. Provides illustrations of the range of perspectives used to teach the subject in the context of the sociology of aging. Recommends using primary sources and includes a list of resource materials. Includes examples of student projects. (NL)

Examines the use of life histories as a method for explaining successful aging patterns. Describes a life-history research project in which undergraduates personalize material learned in social gerontology courses, integrating the life experience and theories. Sensitizes students to the impact of social forces on successful aging. Argues this…

Asserts that not using a cross-cultural approach to American Studies is paradoxical, since comparative analysis is the principal sociological method of discovery and proof. Describes an American Studies course in which the core is comparative analyses of work and education in other countries. (CFR)

Maintains that using contemporary novels allows students to critically apply what they have learned about the sociology of family issues, and at the same time to broaden their understanding of them. Outlines the use of literature to illustrate sociological theories, explains the course requirements, and addresses student and instructor responses.…

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.…

Reports on a class project that combined an examination of social class and political power with an introduction to sociological research. The project consisted of compiling biographical profiles of cabinet members from the Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Bill Clinton administrations. Introduces students to issues of conceptualization,…

Outlines the components of a teaching model on race that focuses on white privilege, white supremacy, and the ideology that upholds them. Recommends addressing issues of class privilege and power as a way to help white students understand this without alienating them. Discusses classroom preparation and teaching strategies. (MJP)

Reports on a class on deviance that focuses on sociological and transformative processes imbedded in deviant groups. Specifically examines "deviance production groups," groups that turn normal people into deviants (Branch Davidians, Ku Klux Klan). The class is largely structured around group discussions and presentations. (MJP)

States that an important goal of introductory college sociology courses is to make the discipline come alive for students and to encourage active involvement in learning. Describes a student project approach in which students interview three people and analyze the data relevant to four theoretical perspectives. (CFR)

Asserts that culture was and is a major focus of much sociological research and writing and that music is often a subject of such research. Proposes using music as a teaching tool in a course about issues of race, class, and gender. Describes the use of musical lyrics in the course, and reports on student attitudes toward the course. (CFR)

Maintains that a major source of intercultural misunderstanding is the clash of culturally conditioned perceptions of reality. Describes the use of a family history project in an introductory college sociology course. Provides an appendix including the project description. (CFR)

In recent years, early women sociologists such as Harriet Martineau, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams have begun to appear in some introductory textbooks and theory books. Usually, they appear in a box, as a sidebar, or as selected "others." So why do we not know more about these women? Our research seeks to answer this question. Given the…