The sociology of doing nothing: A model "adopt a stigma in a public place"exercise

The "doing nothing" assignment is offered as a methodologically detailed, t heoretically grounded, and easily implemented exercise for teaching student s about stigma. It also provides students with the opportunity to "do" soci ology and to learn about everyday interpretations of social life. This pape r provides a discussion of the advantages of this stigma simulation, safety issues related to the exercise, and methods teachers can use to assess stu dent learning. Goffman's works on stigma and Scott and Lyman's concept of " accounts" frame an analysis of student reports. A composite narrative of do ing nothing highlights how the experience unfolds from beginning to end.