UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
HILLYER COLLEGE
SOCIAL PROBLEMS  (SYB 111)
FALL 2004
 

Dr. Woody Doane

Office:  Hillyer 113B
Telephone: 768-4878; if no answer, messages may be left on voice mail.
E-mail: Doane (from off-campus, doane@hartford.edu)


Office Hours:  TR 10-10:40 and 1-3; also by appointment.  Office hours may occasionally be cancelled due to conflict with College or University meetings (to avoid inconvenience, students should make appointments in advance whenever possible).  It is important to me to be available to students.  If I am not in my office when you stop by, then please leave a message and I will contact you as soon as possible.

  Texts:

        Newsweek

Note:


1.  All students enrolled in the course are required to subscribe to Newsweek.  Special one-semester subscriptions at a student discount ($8.85) are available through the instructor.  Details will be provided in class.

2.  Newsweek will be supplemented by library reserve readings, on-line readings, and material distributed in class.  Please speak with me if you experience difficulty gaining access to the on-line reading material.

 

  Course Web Page:   http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/doane/problems.htm

Course Description:

This course employs a sociological perspective to examine current social problems on both a national and a global level.  Through reading, discussion, research, and writing, students will be expected to explore the causes, effects, and social and personal implications of contemporary issues.  Students will also be encouraged to become personally involved in addressing social problems through volunteer activity and/or social action.  Throughout the course, particular emphasis will be devoted to the social and economic interests underlying both problems and attempted solutions.  Specific topics will vary in conjunction with current events and student interests.

 

Course Objectives:

  • Students will be able to identify key aspects of major current social problems.
  • Students will be able to identify major elements of sociological approaches to social problems.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate how social problems are relevant to their own experience.
  • Students will develop a broader interest in current national and international issues and problems.
  • Students will apply sociological concepts and models to analyze the causes, effects, and proposed solutions to current social problems.
  • Students will employ library and computer research skills and critical thinking skills to gather data on and analyze a current social problem or students will, through a service learning experience, (1) become personally involved in addressing a social problem and (2) analyze elements of the problem by synthesizing class materials and personal experiences in a journal and other written work.

 

Course Requirements and Method of Evaluation:

Course grading will follow the traditional academic letter grade system (A=outstanding, B=above average, C=average/ competent college level work, D=below average/ marginal, F=unsatisfactory/ failing).  Final course grades for students will be determined as follows:

 

Exams                                                  30%

Short Written Assignments                    25%
Social Problems Project                        40%
Discussion/Class Participation               5%

 

Specific weighting of individual assignments will depend upon the total number of assignments given throughout the semester.

Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns regarding grading with the instructor.  Additional information regarding grading practices is available upon request.

The major requirement for this course is completion of a semester project.  Students will satisfy this requirement by either: (1) conducting intensive library, computer (Internet), and (optional) field research and presenting written analysis of a social problem or (2) by spending 2-3 hours per week throughout the semester as a volunteer in the Hartford Public Schools with the University’s Educational Main Street program (or at another approved service learning site) and completing a journal and other written work in which they reflect upon their volunteer experience and apply course concepts to analyze dimensions of the problem.  Additional information on the project will be provided in separate handouts and class discussions.

Short written assignments will be given on a regular basis--and listed on the course web site. These will involve applying course concepts/techniques to reading material (Newsweek, supplemental texts) and responding to questions posed in class.  Please note that I view these assignments as a significant part of the course--their purpose is to encourage you to interact with the course material and to reinforce learning from class lectures and reading. Failure to complete these assignments will have a negative effect on your grade. An explanation of the grading procedure for short written assignments will be distributed in September.

Additional Academic Information:

 

1. Students experiencing difficulty with course work are encouraged to seek help from the instructor as soon as possible.  Additional academic assistance is available from the Hillyer College Academic Strategies Center in H 140 (I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the resources of the Center).  Students who have experienced past academic difficulties or who have with documented disabilities are requested to meet with the instructor to discuss any special needs or accommodations.

2. Honors contracts are available for qualified students.  Interested individuals should contact the instructor.

3. Opportunities for extra credit may be available in conjunction with special campus events. Other extra credit projects may also be offered during the semester.  A list of extra credit opportunities will be maintained on the course web site.

Course Policies

1. In addition to completing the requirements for the final course grade, students are expected to attend all classes and to participate in class discussions.  Please keep in mind that participation is part of your course grade.  This course follows the attendance policy established by Hillyer College: more than three unexcused absences (i.e., other than for religious holidays or to compete for University athletic teams) may result in your being dropped from the course.

2. Students are responsible for all information and material missed due to absence.  If you miss class, then you should obtain the assignment and other information from a classmate, the course web site, or me (absence from one class will not be accepted as an excuse for being unprepared for the following class).  If you can obtain a copy of notes from a classmate, I will be glad to meet with you to review them.

3. Any student who arrives late (e.g., after attendance has been taken) or who leaves class early may (at the discretion of the instructor) be marked absent for the day.  While I understand that you have appointments and errands, it is your responsibility to schedule them so as not to conflict with class.  Your limited number of unexcused absences should be sufficient to cover any emergencies.  Students having concerns about this policy should meet with the instructor as soon as possible.

4. Students may make up missed exams or in-class assignments only if the absence is due to illness or family emergency and only if they notify me PRIOR to the scheduled quiz or assignment.  You (or a friend, roommate, parent, etc.) may telephone me at my office (768-4878), e-mail me (my address is doane@hartford.edu), or leave a message on the voice mail system. Students who fail to follow this procedure will receive a zero for the missed examassignment.

5. Time extensions on project deadlines will be allowed only in extreme circumstances and by prior arrangement with the instructor.  Otherwise, late submissions will be penalized.  Short written assignments will generally not be accepted more than one class period following the due date.

6. Individuals engaging in extended conversations or other disruptive behavior will, after being given a warning, be asked to leave class.  Repeated offenders will be dropped from the course.

7. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and to conform to University policies pertaining to academic honesty and plagiarism.  Those students selecting the research option will be expected to have read the material on referencing and plagiarism on the course web site (http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/doane/researchmenu.htm).  Any violations of academic honesty will be dealt with severely.

Course Organization:

This course will contain four components.  In general, we will spend at least part of one class session per week discussing issues from Newsweek and other media sources; the remaining class meeting time will be devoted to other course material.  In order to maintain maximum flexibility, specific topics and reading assignments will be announced one or more classes in advance.  In addition, students are encouraged to propose topics for discussion.

Course components are as follows:

The Sociology of Social Problems.  Topics to be covered include an introduction to the sociology of social problems, approaches to studying social problems (person-blame and system-blame approaches, political economy, social constructionism), the media and social problems, and the role of values in shaping views towards social problems, and strategies for addressing social problems (volunteerism, social policy, social action).

Sociological Analysis.  Early in the semester, we will learn a framework for analyzing social problems.  Throughout the semester, we will apply this framework to course readings.

Current Social Problems.  Throughout the semester, we will apply sociological concepts to analyze current social problems discussed in Time Magazine and in your textbook.   Additional problems may be studied in response to student interest.

Social Problems Project.  As noted above, the major requirement for this course is completion of a social problems project involving either research or service learning.  Some class time will be devoted to issues and strategies for research/service learning.

Course Calendar:
 

Project information due                                      Tuesday, September 14

Exam #1                                                           Thursday, October 5
Research Stage I due    (or)                               Thursday, October 14
Volunteer log/two journal entries due                  Thursday, October 14

Exam #2                                                             Tuesday, November 2

Last day to drop course and receive a “W”         Monday, November 8

Research Stage II due    (or)                               Thursday, November 18
Volunteer log due                                               Thursday, November 18
Exam #3                                                             Thursday, December 2
Research Stage III due                                       Tuesday, December 14
Service Learning Journal due                              Tuesday, December 14 (includes final volunteer log)