Stylistically, it is a good idea to include some inspirational quotes at the beginning of your statement of teaching philosophy. This gives your statement an air of professionalism and thoughtfulness. When choosing quotes for your statement of teaching philosophy, it is best to pick quotes from people who are known to have been authorities on teaching. Examples include Socrates, Aristotle, Aquinas, Rousseau and Dewey. For sociologists, it is a good idea to include quotes by sociologists of education, such as Max Weber and Emile Durkheim.
Personal information includes information on your background, ambitions and future plans. The first paragraph or two of your statement should contain this information. As a sociologist, you should include information about your views on structures of power and influence in society, and the institutions upon which these are based. A brief description of why these issues interest you will also be helpful. Also include your name, address and alma mater on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Teaching philosophy statements are not supposed to be straightforward essays. Instead, they should "speak from the heart" and show the author's passion for teaching. Stories from your life about events that made you want to be a teacher, and anecdotes from your life that serve as metaphors for teaching, make excellent content for statements of teaching philosophy. As a sociologist, it is best to deal with material that suggests an awareness of pervasive issues in society. For example, if you've ever taught kids at inner-city schools, it might be a good idea to include a story about that on your statement.
In your teaching philosophy, you should include a few paragraphs where you explain how your personal information and your personal experiences relate to a coherent teaching philosophy. In this section, explain your stance on topics like instruction, evaluation, attendance and independent assignments. If you included a quote from an educational philosopher on your statement, you could tie that quote into the statement by explaining how that philosopher's thinking influenced your own thinking on education.