I believe that sociology is a "habit of mind", or a way of thinking or viewing the world. In my classes, I often refer to the sociological imagination as a pair of glasses that you can put on and see the world in a new way. Therefore, my classes are very application based: we spend considerable time "trying on" various concepts, theories, and arguments onto our own lives or experiences. Students spend a lot of time discussing ideas and working with their classmates. I also feel that the richest and most exciting arguments come directly from sociological research, so my classes are very text-based. I tend to not use traditional textbooks, but instead prefer abridged research articles, for I feel that they give you more to work with and think about.