TOWARD A SOCIOLOGY OF WRITING

An analysis of the published literature on the use of writing in teach ing sociology suggests that one of the missing elements is a systemati c view, of how, writing relates to the discipline of sociology. This a rticle attempts to address that issue by suggesting that the experienc e of writing is fundamentally sociological. Using Mills' concept of th e sociological imagination, I suggest that the act of composing any wr itten work is a movement from the very personal and private to the lar ger social context of considering one's audience, the conventions of w riting, and other structural (or public) issues and back again to the private and personal. The article concludes with implications for inst ructors who require students to write and who seek to help students be come more effective writers.