ERIC Number: EJ1239380
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jan
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0092-055X
EISSN: N/A
Republication of "Science Fiction and Introductory Sociology: The 'Handmaid' in the Classroom"
Laz, Cheryl
Teaching Sociology, v48 n1 p54-62 Jan 2020
Although there is a great deal of available material on using nontraditional resources for teaching sociology, the pedagogical uses of science fiction have not been examined for 20 years. This essay first asserts the need for an update based on changes in society and in science fiction over the past two decades. The paper then focuses on the uses of SF to teach sociology and critical thinking by describing how SF can help students to "make strange" (i.e., develop a skeptical, questioning stance), to "make believe" (i.e., develop critical and creative thinking), and to "make real" (i.e., use sociological concepts and theories). As illustration, the essay concludes with a detailed description of the use of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" in teaching introductory sociology.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Sociology, Introductory Courses, Science Fiction, Critical Thinking, Concept Formation, Novels, Course Descriptions, Social Control, Higher Education, Essay Tests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A