Throwing the Sociological Imagination Into the Garbage: Using Students' Waste Disposal Habits to Illustrate C. Wright Mills's Concept

Abstract

Sociologists agree that the sociological imagination fosters students' critical thinking skills. The challenge lies in motivating students to develop their sociological imaginations. Convincing them of its importance and practical value takes creativity beyond requiring readings, class discussions, and papers describing its theoretical importance. Students need to see the relevancy of C. Wright Mills's work applied to everyday living. In this paper I outline an interactive technique using garbage to teach the relevancy of Mills's sociological imagination.