The primary goal of this course is to help students develop a sociological imagination – that is, the ability to pose sociological questions and to find ways to investigate those questions. The course is organized around two important sociological monographs – book-length studies – that examine race, class, and gender. We will spend the semester meticulously breaking apart these studies so that students begin to understand the intersections of these social structures, as well as the process of conducting sociological research. Students will be expected to demonstrate a high level of comprehension through written and oral assignments. There is a good deal of writing expected of you in this course, which you will have the chance to revise with input from the instructor and your peers.