Cultivating the Sociological Imagination

Book excerpt: The articles in this volume, seventh in a series of monographs on service learning and the academic disciplines, discuss service learning in sociology or students engaging in sociological analysis through projects designed to make a positive impact on communities. The discussions consider ways that service learning projects can be adapted in most undergraduate curricula in sociology. The chapters are: (1) "Service-Learning: Not Charity, but a Two-Way Street" (Judith R. Blau); (2) "Service-Learning and the Teachability of Sociology" (James Ostrow); (3) "Sociology's Essential Role: Promoting Critical Analysis in Service-Learning" (Sam Marullo); (4) "Building Campus-Community Connections: Using Service Learning in Sociology Courses" (J. Richard Kendrick, Jr.); (5) "A Multicultural and Critical Perspective on Teaching through Community: A Dialogue with Jose Calderon of Pitzer College" (Sandra Enos); (6) "Service-Research Projects in the Urban School: A Dialogue with Frank Furstenberg, Jr., of the University of Pennsylvania" (Sandra Enos); (7) "Service-Learning as Symbolic Interaction" (Barbara H. Vann); (8) "The Joys of Your Troubles: Using Service and Reflection To Enhance Learning in the Community College Classroom" (Martha Bergin and Susan McAleavey); (9) "Service-Learning through Meta-Reflection: Problems and Prospects of Praxis in Organizational Sociology" (Hugh F. Lena); (10) "Action Research: The Highest Stage of Service Learning?" (Douglas V. Porpora); (11) "Examining Communities and Urban Change: Service-Learning as Collaborative Research" (Garry Hesser); (12) "Sociology, Service, and Learning, for a Stronger Discipline" (Carla B. Howery); and (13) "Sociology and Service-Learning: A Critical Look" (Kerry J. Strand). Each chapter contains references. An appendix contains an annotated bibliography of 81 items, 3 sample syllabi, and a list of contributors to the volume. (SLD)