SOCIOLOGY A201/601: Social Problems and Solutions

 

Fall 2007

Friday: 10:00 – 12:45 PM

Room: SSB 224

Professor: Karl T. Pfeiffer, Ph.D.

Office: Philosophy/Communications Dept. - ADM 264; Office Hours: F, 8:45-9:45 AM, or by appointment.

Telephone:  786-1746, Fax: 786-1737, E-mail: afktp@uaa.alaska.edu.

Web site:http://afktp.uaa.alaska.edu/

 

Required Reading:

á       Anchorage Daily News: class days.

á       Finsterbusch, Kurt. 2007.  Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Social Issues, 14th Edition, Guilford, Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.  (ISBN#: 0-07-351496-9)

 

Course Description:  This course explores the application of sociological perspective, theory, and methodology to the study of social problems.  The goal of this course is for students to use the sociology of social problems for improving critical analysis skills and problem solving abilities.  Please note that this course includes an optional community-service learning component.  All students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for direct, job-related experience in agencies that address social problems and related issues.

–  Objective 1:  Demonstrate a basic understanding of sociological perspective, theories, and research methodologies applied to the study of social problems.

–  Objective 2:  Demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge in critical analysis and problem solving.

 

Course Requirements:

1.     Attendance and participation are required in accordance with university policy.  Assigned reading should be completed prior to class.  This is a seminar-style course.  Consequently, informed discussion is required.

2.     There will be 5 exam essays due as noted on the course schedule. Exam essays are open-book, open-note, take-home papers that require the following:

a.     Summarize both authorsŐ articles representing both sides of the debated issue (1-20 and capital punishment) from the text (20 points max).

b.     Add additional statistics or evidence (empirical data) that is found from a source(s) other than the textbook or personal experience.  The source(s) must be cited with APPROPRIATELY ASA FORMATTED REFERENCES (10 points max). This data should support your conclusion. 

c.      Describe your own conclusions on the topic as supported by the additional data collected, and that specifically answers the debated question (10 points max).

 Each essay will be worth up to 40 points. These exam essays should be 1 - 2 pages long and must be typed.  Handwritten exams will not be accepted.   Exam essays are worth a maximum of 200 points (44%) toward the final grade.

3.     During most classes, students will participate in graded small group discussions, write brief short essays, complete quizzes, or engage in other in-class assignments.  The purpose of these exercises is to encourage thoughtful consideration of class topics.  Class attendance is required for these in-class exercises, at the time that the exercise is done.  Make-up work will not be assigned when classes are missed, or when late arrivals or early departures prevent the completion of these assignments.  It is highly recommended that students maintain a file of these exercises.  These assignments range in point value from 1 to 20 points each.  They are worth a maximum of 150 points (33%) toward the final grade.

 

4.  Each student will complete either a 4-6 page paper that summarizes and critiques a scientific, research-based sociology journal article or book related to a specific social problem; or 20 hours of community-based service work with an agency involved in addressing social problems.  Students who elect to do community service work will maintain a journal of their activities and reactions to the experience, and write a 2-4 page summary paper describing their experience and how their work helped them understand specific sociological concepts, change attitudes, and develop practical knowledge.  Students also have the option of giving a 10-15 minute presentation on these papers during class.  These assignments are worth up to 100 points (23%) toward the final grade for the course.  Optional presentations earn up to 20 points extra credit toward the final grade.  Papers are due as noted on the class schedule.

5.     Exams and papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates noted on the class schedule.  Late exams and papers are not accepted.  If a legitimate reason prevents the submission of assignments as required, students are responsible for contacting the instructor prior to the class in which they are due.

 

                                                      Grades will be based on the following total scores:

418 - 450 points = A     (93 -100%)

378 - 417 points = B     (84 - 92%)

315 - 377 points = C     (70 - 83%)

270 - 314 points = D     (60 - 69%)

    0 - 269 points = F     (less than 60%)

 

Class Schedule:

8/31

Review syllabus.  Video. Small Group Discussion.  Review agencies for service learning placement. 

10/26

Finsterbusch: 13. Video. Small group discussion.

9/7

Finsterbusch: 1-3. Service learning progress reports. 

11/2

 Finsterbusch: 14, 15. (Essays on Issues 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 due). Small group discussion.

9/14

Finsterbusch: 4, 5. (Essays on Issues 1, 2, or 3 due). Service learning project contracts due.

11/9

Finsterbusch: 16-18. Small group discussion.

9/21

Video. Small group discussion on video.

11/16

Capital Punishment. Small group discussion. Video.

9/28

Finsterbusch: 6, (Essays on Issues 4 or 5 due). Small group discussion.

11/30

Papers Due. Journals Due. Video. Finsterbusch: 19, 20.

10/5

Finsterbusch: 7, 8, Small group discussion. Video.

12/7

Presentations.  (Last essays due. Select one issue from chapters 13-20, or capital punishment).

10/12

Finsterbusch: 9, 10, (Essays on Issues 6, 7, or 8 due). Small group discussion.

12/14

Presentations.

10/19

 Finsterbusch: 11, 12. Small group discussion and progress reports on community-service learning projects.