SOC240 Fall 2008

COURSE PROCEDURE AND GRADING POLICY

COURSE NAME: Social Problems

INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: Cheryl Albers, Ph. D, Associate Professor of Sociology

OFFICE LOCATION: Classroom Building B322

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Thurs. 9:00-10:30

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 878-3292 E-MAIL ADDRESS: alberscm@buffalostate.edu

COURSE FORMAT: Course content will be presented through lectures, films, guest speakers and readings. Students will increase their understanding of class material through discussion and group work. Successful completion of the requirements for this course will involve:

1. reading the assigned textbook;

2. participating in class discussions;

3. studying for exams: you will need to make notes as you read as well as during class lectures;

4. taking exams during scheduled class times;

5. completing assignments by their due dates.

Sociology Learning Outcomes:

Students will be:

1. provided with a description of selected social problems inside as well as outside the U.S.

2. provided with an understanding of the basic theories seeking to explain the existence of social problems.

3. provided with an understanding of the differences between sociological and non-sociological analysis of social problems.

4. equipped with an ability to read and view news and media accounts of social problems with increased understanding of the causes and effects of such problems.

5. achieve a greater awareness of social problems and how to deal with such problems.

6. be provided with a comparative prospective to understanding social problems in the

U. S. and abroad and the solutions used by other countries to alleviate such problems.

7. acquainted with the intransigent nature of the U. S. social problems.

Social Science Foundations Learning Outcomes:

Students will demonstrate:

1. The ability to describe accurately the critical social environments, behaviors, and social issues in the context of the course subject matter.

2. An understanding of the basic concepts and terminology of a social science and the ability to apply them.

3. A basic knowledge of methods of gathering evidence in the social sciences and an understanding of what constitutes acceptable and appropriate evidence.

4. An ability to evaluate the implications of social diversity.*

5. The ability to articulate and critically evaluate varying positions taken on social science topics

*This may include domestic, international and historical approaches.

Diversity Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Critically examine the past, current or prospective influences of diverse groups on American society.

2. Analyze the ways in which social and institutional structures can contribute to privilege and injustice through stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.

3. Explore systematically the importance of understanding, respecting and valuing diverse people or cultures.

Additional Course Criteria

1. Within each Diversity course instructors will include educational activities that require students to:

2. Critically reflect on how their values, attitudes and beliefs have developed and affect their perceptions of, and relations with others.

3. Assess the ways in which individuals, acting alone and in groups, can contribute to social justice.

Definitions

The term "diverse groups" shall be defined to require the course to focus on one or more of the following key aspects of who we are as Americans: class, race, religion, ethnicity, gender/sexual orientation and disability.

Objectives:

The goal of the diversity requirement is to prepare students to live and work in a multicultural society through an academic experience in which students can

1. increase their knowledge related to one or more diverse groups.

2. develop their inter-cultural cognizance, sensitivity, and commitment to social justice.

3. examine their personal perceptions, preconceptions and values and understand their sources and how they affect their relationships with others

with the ultimate goal of expanding their reference group membership to include others who they perceive as being different from themselves.

EVALUATION: Your grade in this course will be determined by your total number of accumulated points on four exams and three assignments which will provide the basis for a final paper which will be presented to the class in the last three weeks of the semester. Exams will be worth half of your total points toward your final grade and assignments and the papers will compose the other half.

Each exam:

may include multiple choice, true/false, matching , short answer, or essay questions;

will include only the reading and lecture material covered since the last exam;

is NOT open book, but can be taken using reading note cards (see details under required text).

Details of assignments are listed at the end of this syllabus.

No extra credit options, beyond that discussed under attendance, are available in this class.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Best, Joel. 2008. Social Problems. W. W. Norton & Co.

You must have access to AND read all of this text to pass this course.

Reading is to be completed by the due date recorded on the course outline and reading schedule below. At the beginning of the class listed you will be given a blank note card on which you can write down everything you remember about the assigned reading. If you are not in the room at the beginning of class you forfeit the opportunity to write a card on that reading. I will collect cards before I begin lecture. At the next exam, I will return all cards you have written and you may refer them while taking the exam.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken, and the instructor reserves the right to use class attendance to provide up to 5 points of extra credit to students with perfect attendance. Material covered in class will be included on exams and will be different from material covered in the text. THEREFORE coming to class increases your chance of doing well on exams and improving your final grade. In addition, this class involves a substantial amount of group work. The purpose of this group work is to clarify your understanding of the topics covered in class. Students receive more benefit from these groups when members consistently participate.

Students are advised to find a study partner who is willing to share lecture notes for missed classes. Any printed material distributed will be available at the next class, but it is the student’s responsibility to ask me for such material.

Attendance is mandatory on the day of scheduled exams. Missed exams may only be made up with a written excuse from a physician or the Health Office, or at my discretion.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

1. This class will involve extensive class discussion, often in small groups to make discussion easier. The success of discussion is directly related to individuals’ willingness to participate, their respect for the opinions and feelings of others and ability to stay on task. I feel strongly that there should be ample opportunity for students to actively participate in class. However, the oath of matriculation requires that students conduct themselves "with dignity, honesty and civility, respecting the views and diverse backgrounds of ... teachers and peers" (Buffalo State Undergraduate Catalog).

2. A portion of each class will be devoted to lecture. During lectures, as at all times, you are required to direct you attention and consideration to the class. I do not tolerate disruptive behavior by students in my classes. Whenever I deem a student to be acting in a disruptive or threatening manner, I will exercise my right to ask that individual to leave the classroom. If refused, I will exercise my right to notify University Police. The responding officer will determine whether an arrest should be made or whether a referral to medical or counseling staff is appropriate. If a student is perceived as a danger to himself, herself, or others, the dean of students, may propose an interim suspension until a hearing is held. Any student removed from class will have the right to a hearing.

3. Students should be familiar with the section of the Undergraduate Catalog regarding college policy on academic misconduct. Consistent with this policy, plagiarism, cheating on assignments or examinations, or other academic dishonesty, will result in a failing grade for the course.

4. Any student who requires accommodations to complete the requirements and expectations of this course because of a disability is invited to make his or her needs known to the instructor and to Marianne Savino, coordinator of services for students with disabilities, South Wing 120, ext. 4500.

5. Buffalo State College faculty and staff want all students to feel safe on campus. Be alert and walk in pairs, especially after dark. Consider using campus safety services, including Escort Van, Motorist Assistance Program, and walking escorts. Blue light emergency phones located throughout the campus provide direct access to the University Police. For all emergencies on campus, call University Police at ext. 6333.

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING SCHEDULE:

CLASS DATE	TOPIC	READING: BEST
Introduction
1. 8-26	Constructionist view of Social Problems
Claims Making
2. 8-28	Framing	Chapter 1
3. 9-2	Resources	Chapter 2
4. 9-4	Activists as Claims Makers	Chapter 3
5. 9-9	Evidence from Social and Natural Science Assignment 1 Due	Chapter 4
6. 9-11	Ownership
7. 9-16	EXAM ONE
The Role of Media in Constructing Social Problems
8. 9-18	News	Chapter 5
9. 9-23	Popular Culture
Public Reaction
10. 9-25	Measuring Public Opinion	Chapter 6
11. 9-30	Diversity of audience values any priorities Assignment Two Due
Policy Making
12. 10-2	Policy Domains	Chapter 7
13. 10-7	Policy Elements
14. 10-9	EXAM TWO
10-14&16	Special arrangements for this week of WNY sociology meetings. No regular classes for SOC240
Social Problems Work
15. 10-21	Working Toward Social Justice	Chapter 8
16. 10-23	Constructing Cases Assignment Three Due
Policy Outcomes
17. 10-28	Evaluation Research	Chapter 9
18. 10-30	New Claims
19. 11-6	EXAM THREE
Using the Constructionist Tools
20. 11-4	Cases: When Social Conditions become Social Problems	Chapters 10 & 11
21. 11-13	FINAL PAPER DUE Student presentation based on investigations of specific social problems begin
22. 11-18	Social Problems related to Inequalities
23. 11-20	Social Problems related to Inequalities Continued
24. 11-25	Social Problems related to Well Being
25. 12-2	Social Problems related to Globalization
26. 12-4	EXAM FOUR
ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Over the course of the semester you will complete a series of assignments in which you apply what we are learning in class to a social problem of your choice. The idea is to explore an issue of interest to you, and to allow your classmates to benefit from the work you have done.

Assignments

ONE Construction through Claimsmaking: 9-9 (two-three pages). Think about how a social condition of your choice has become a social problem. Be specific in your selection. Instead of trying to research “sexism”, narrow your focus to an aspect of sexism such as gender inequalities in pay, sexual harassment in the workplace, or gender inequalities in top level positions. Discuss the diagnostic frame/grounds/nature of the problem; motivational frame/warrants/what actions need to be taken; and the prognostic frame/conclusions/ what needs to be done. Who are the claimsmakers and what is the nature of the evidence they use to support their claims? What counterclaims are being made; who are the counter claimsmakers, what evidence do they offer to support their counter claims and how are they framing the issue?

TWO The Media and Public Reactions: 9-30 Locate 5-7 media pieces about your social problem from at least three different sources (news paper articles, magazines, web sites, radio broadcast, television specials, etc.). Who are the owners/experts/authorities associated with this problem? What elements of packaging can you identify in your collection? How are narratives used? Does the media portray this problem as being associated with a specific social (class, race, religion, ethnicity, gender/sexual orientation and disability) group? Does this seem accurate with the way claimsmakers portray the impact of the problem of various groups?

THREE Public Policies: 10-23 (two-three pages) Use the internet to find out if there is a lobbying or special interest group associated with some aspect of your social problem. Find a description of a law or policy related to your social problem. Looking at the web sites of the interest group and the laws or policy, identify the causal stories. Is the problem viewed as a result of accidental causes, intentional actions, or inadvertent causes? How does framing the problem this way affect the way the public sees the target population?

Final Paper: 11-13 Review the materials you have gathered for assignments 1-3. Select what you consider the most important material to produce a final paper of 4-6, 8 1/2 X 11 inch pages, typed, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, in 12 point font. You may include copies of media pieces in an appendix which does not count toward the page limit. Use the case studies at the end of each chapter in your text as models for your writing. No single case study in the text answers all of the questions you need to consider, but each one models some aspect of the final paper.

In-Class Presentation: During the last few classes each student will present the information in his or her final paper to the class. You will have a maximum of ten minutes to present the most important parts of your paper to the class. The quality of your presentation will be considered in the grade of your final paper. The information provided in these presentations will be covered on the fourth exam.

All writing assignments are due at the beginning of class on the days specified in the course outline. I accept assignments latter than the beginning of class only under extreme circumstances and, if accepted, they lose points for each calendar day they are late. Normally this means an assignment that would have earned a (b) if handed in on time will receive a (b-) if it is a day late, a (c+) if it is two days late, a (c) if it is three days late, etc.

FAM

Cheryl Albers

2008-08-13

alberscm

Buffalo State College