Theory and Application in Sociology: Readings on Contemporary Issues introduces readers to overarching theoretical paradigms in sociology through current, high-interest readings in the dis-cipline. Selected from a variety of sources, each reading engages students in thinking about the social world from a particular theoretical perspective and helps them understand how that perspec-tive is then applied. 

The reading selections explore social issues in the United States that students see and hear about every day, such as poverty, homelessness, education, healthcare, the environment, and crime. The material illustrates the ways in which these larger societal occurrences and policies impact students' life experiences and opportunities. Students learn how race, class, and gender shape their interaction in the world, and how different sociologists view those interactions based on their different sociological perspective. 

Effectively linking real-world experiences to both theory and scholarship, Theory and Application in Sociology is an excellent choice for sociology courses, as well as those in social justice and public policy.

Stephanie Southworth is a lecturer at Coastal Carolina University, where she teaches courses such as race and ethnicity, social problems, and introduction to sociology. She earned her Ph.D. in public policy and her M.A. in sociology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has presented papers at numerous conferences nationwide and has had work published in several journals, such as Research in Higher Education and Youth and Society.