Introduction to Sociology

 Definition: Explain sociology as the scientific study of social behavior and human
groups, focusing on the influence of social relationships on people's attitudes
and behaviors, and how societies are established and change.
 Activity: Ask students to write down their personal definitions of sociology and
share them in small groups. Discuss the similarities and differences in their
definitions compared to the formal definition.

The Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills)

 Concept: Introduce the sociological imagination as the ability to see the

relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.
 Activity: Present a current social issue (e.g., the impact of social media on mental
health). Have students discuss in pairs how this issue affects individuals and
society. Encourage them to think about how their personal experiences with
social media connect to broader societal trends.

Theories and Theoretical Perspectives

 Overview: Briefly describe the purpose of sociological theories and introduce the
major theoretical perspectives: functionalist, conflict, and interactionist.
 Activity: Divide the class into three groups, each assigned one theoretical
perspective. Each group reads a short scenario related to a social issue (e.g.,
educational inequality) and analyzes it from their assigned perspective. Groups
then present their analyses to the class.

The Scientific Method in Sociology

 Explanation: Outline the steps of the scientific method in sociology, including

defining the problem, reviewing the literature, formulating a hypothesis,
collecting and analyzing data, and developing conclusions.
 Activity: Provide a simple research question (e.g., "Does the use of technology in
the classroom improve student learning outcomes?"). In groups, students outline
how they would investigate this question using the scientific method.

Research Methods

 Description: Introduce major research designs used in sociology: surveys,

ethnography, experiments, and use of existing sources.
  Activity: Each student chooses a research method and designs a basic study on a
topic of interest (e.g., the effects of part-time work on college students' academic
performance). They present their research design to a peer for feedback.

Ethics in Sociological Research

 Discussion: Highlight the importance of ethics in sociological research, including

informed consent and protecting participants from harm.
 Activity: Present a controversial sociological study from the past (e.g., the
Stanford prison experiment). Have students discuss in groups the ethical issues
involved and how they would address these issues in their own research.

Conclusion and Summary

 Recap: Summarize the key points of the lecture, emphasizing the importance of
the sociological perspective in understanding our own lives and the world around
us.
 Final Activity: Students write a short reflection on how the sociological
imagination can help them better understand a personal experience or current
event.

Homework/Extended Learning:

 Reading Assignment: Assign a related article or chapter that applies the

sociological imagination to a specific issue. Students prepare a short presentation
or written summary of how the article/chapter uses sociological concepts to
analyze the issue.

This lecture structure, along with the suggested activities, is designed to engage
students actively in learning about sociology, encouraging them to apply sociological
concepts to their own lives and the broader society.