North Central Sociological Association 2017 Teaching Address—The John F. Schnabel Lecture: Creative Use of Stories as a Pedagogical Tool in the Classroom

ABSTRACTUsing stories to transmit values, cultures, traditions, and religions from one generation to the next has been practiced in almost all societies for centuries. In this lecture, the author reflects on the creative use of stories as a pedagogical tool in the classroom—specifically, in large general education classes where most students have little or no background in sociology. The author concludes that the use of stories in the classroom is a powerful pedagogical tool that creates a link between sociology’s concepts and real life, clarifying and simplifying complex issues, and making a long-lasting impression on students.