UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
HILLYER COLLEGE
STUDIES IN SOCIAL
PROBLEMS (SYB 115)
SPRING 2009
Dr. Woody Doane
Office:
Hillyer 113B
Telephone: 768-4878; if no answer,
messages may be left on voice mail.
E-mail: doane@hartford.edu)
Office Hours: TR 10:00-10:40
and 2:00-3:30; 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:
MacLeod, Jay. 2009. Ain’t No
Makin’ It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low Income Neighborhood. Boulder, CO:
Westview.
Note:
1. The course textbook will be supplemented by library reserve readings
and material distributed in class.
2. To enable the class to discuss current social problems, weekly
assignments will be given using articles from current news sources such as Time, Newsweek, daily newspapers, and The
Nation. Links to assigned articles will be posted on the course web
site. Please speak with me if you
experience difficulty gaining access to the on-line reading material.
Course Web
Page: http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/doane/problems2009.htm The web
page will be available the first full week of classes. Please note that this is NOT a Blackboard
site.
Course Description:
This course involves the study of the causes, effects, and
social implications of selected social problems. Topics will vary according to section and
semester (Environmental Problems, Urban/Suburban Problems, Social Construction
of Social Problems, Wealth, Poverty, and Inequality, Social Problems and
College Campuses). Some sections may
include a service-learning requirement.
Since subjects will vary from semester to semester, this course may be
repeated for credit with permission of the department chair. Prerequisite: SYB 110 or permission of
instructor.
In the spring of 2009, this course will focus on current
social problems related to inequality, wealth, and poverty in the United States.
We will pay particular attention to the current economic “crisis”
and its implications for different social groups and institutions. Through reading, discussion, and writing,
students will be expected to explore the causes, effects, and social and
personal implications of such issues as the unequal distribution of wealth,
poverty, the reproduction of inequality, homelessness, and welfare. We will also analyze the social and economic
forces underlying both problems and attempted solutions.
In addition to the emphasis on wealth, poverty, and
inequality, we will 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. 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 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 33%
Critical Thinking Assignments 25%
Social Problems
Project 33%
Discussion/Class Participation
9%
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 related to the theme of this
section or (2) by spending 2 hours per week throughout the semester as a
volunteer at an approved service learning site(a social agency or advocacy
group that addresses the social problems covered in this course) 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.
Critical thinking 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 and responding to questions posed in class. A number of written assignments will be
linked to reading in Ain’t No
Makin’ It. 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 critical thinking
assignments will be distributed in late January/early February.
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
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 exam.
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. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be set so as not
to disturb class and may not be used
during class. Individuals engaging in
disruptive behavior will, after being given a warning, be asked to leave
class. Repeated offenders will be dropped from the course.
7. Students who wish to use laptop computers during class must first meet
with
8. Students are expected to
familiarize themselves with and to conform to University policies pertaining to
academic honesty and plagiarism. This information is available in The Source. 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 (penalties
include failing the course and/or referral to the University’s
disciplinary process).
Course Organization:
This course will contain four components. In general,
we will spend at least part of one class session per week discussing current
problems from various 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), and
strategies for addressing social problems (volunteerism, social policy, social
action).
Inequality, Poverty, and Wealth. Throughout the semester, we
will spend considerable class time discussing social problems related to social
and economic inequality.
Current Social Problems. Throughout the semester, we will apply
sociological concepts to analyze current social problems discussed in various
media sources. 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: (subject to modification depending upon
weather closings and other events)
Project information
due
Thursday, February 5
Exam #1
Thursday, February 19
Research Stage I due (or)
Thursday, February 26
Volunteer log/two journal entries
due Thursday, February 26
Exam #2 Thursday, March 12
Research Stage II due (or) Tuesday, March 31
Volunteer log
due
Tuesday, March 31
Last day to drop course and receive a “W”
Tuesday, April 7
Research Stage 1 revision due Tuesday, April 14
Exam #3 Tuesday, April 28
Research Revised Stage II
due
Tuesday, May 5
Service Learning Journal
due
Tuesday, May 5 (includes
final volunteer log)
Research Stage III due Tuesday,
May 5
There is no final exam in this course.