This paper describes a course designed to integrate two ways in which sociologists examine literature. The skeleton of the course is that of the sociology of literature, which emphasizes an external structural approach to the systematic study of the production and consumption of literature in society. To fill out the skeleton and thereby to introduce sociology through literature, the course includes the reading of severalfictional works that exemplify issues raised in the sociology of literature. In addition, students' in-class writing assignments provide the means to "test" some ideas about authors, critics, literary styles, and the consumption of literature. The analysis of these tests encourages active learning by requiring students to play out the role of the sociologist of literature.