SYG2010 – 2561 and 2562
Social Problems: Spring 2016
Instructor
Dr. Athena Smith
Dates of
semester
Feb 8-May 6
Home Phone
813-465-8801
E-mail
smith.athena@spcollege.edu
Course Credits 3
Notes
Assignments open on a Saturday and close the following Friday at 11:30 pm.
You are expected to have access to a PC during this online course. Early
release of material is possible only for documented medical issues of military
deployment or jury duty. Please do your work early and do not postpone it for
Friday. If you do, then you do so at your own risk.
TEXT
SOCIAL PROBLEMS and the Quality of Life by Lauer and Lauer, McGraw Hill, 13th edition,
ISBN:978-0-07-802686-7
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An analysis of major social problems in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the social
definition of reality and problems, while the readings will encourage a critical analysis of crime,
mental illness, poverty and inequality, family and marital problems, population and the
environment. This course partially satisfies the Gordon Rule writing requirements outlined in the
General Education Requirements. 47 contact hours
Tentative Schedule
Chapters
Tests
Feb 8-12
Ch 1.: Understanding social
problems
Test ch1 Dch1
Feb 13-19
Ch. 2 Alcohol and other drugs.
Test ch2 Dch2
Feb 20-26
Chapters 3 and 4: Crime and
Delinquency. Violence
Test ch3.
Dch3
Test ch 4
Feb 27-March 4
Chapters 6: Poverty
Test ch6 Dch6
March 12-18
Chapters 7 and 8. Gender and
sexual orientation, Race, ethnic
group and racism. .
Test ch7,
Dch8
testch8
March 19-25
Chapters 10 and 11: Work and the
economy. Education
Test
ch10,
Dch11
test ch11
March 26-April 1
Chapter 12: Family problems
Test
ch12
Dch12
April 2-8
Chapter 13: Health care and illness.
Test
ch13
Dch13
April 9-15
Chapter 14. Terrorism
Testch14 Dch14
April 16-22
Chapter 15: Environment
Test
ch15,
April 23-29 (late submissions
Written assignment
possible with a penalty until May 1
IMPORTANT DATES
Discussions
Dch15
Please consult the Academic Calendar at https://www.spcollege.edu/calendar/
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Thirteen tests, the lowest one drops (360 points): In this course you are required to take
13 multiple choice open-book and timed exams, with the lowest grade dropping. Each test
is worth 30 points. Tests appear on a Saturday morning and expire the following Friday
evening at 11:30pm, ET. The correct answers will be released after the deadline expires so
please go back to check your answers and see where you went wrong. Do study the
chapter(s) and readings before taking the test.
2. Ten Discussions, the lowest one drops (90 points). There will be a discussion forum opening
every week (opens on Saturday, closes on Friday night at 11:30). You need to answer the
question with at least 200 words and comment to a classmate with at least 50 words.
Each discussion can give you 10 points (8 points for the answer and 2 for the comment.).Your
answers will be graded on content, grammar and syntax. So please make sure you use a spell
checker and review carefully your answers!
The discussion forum welcomes the free but civil exchange of diverse points of views.
Comments containing personal/group attacks or inappropriate language will be deleted.
3. Written assignment (50 points): You need to get at least a 70% in this assignment to pass
the course, as this is a Gordon Rule course. 1000-2000words, due April 29 at 11:30
pm. Late submissions are possible until May 1 at 11:30 pm with a loss of 4 points off per
day.
Do some research on a social problem. It can be domestic or international. Then answer the
following questions by numbering your answers.
1. Describe the problem with the statistics available. Include one or two specific examples,
briefly
2. What are the causes of the problem in your opinion?
3. Which segments of the local society benefit from the “problem”? (Some do benefit. The
answer cannot be “nobody benefits”… Hint: think along job creations…).
4. What would be the consequences if the problem were to disappear tomorrow? Here, you
speculate… think of positives and negatives as well.
5. What can you do to spread awareness or help alleviate the problem?
Support your opinions by at least three academic references using APA style of documentation.
You must include in-text parenthetical references and a works cited page (also called the
References page). The web has plenty of sites that will help you format your references. Here is
a citation machine http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book
The written assignment will be graded as follows:
The assignment will be graded as follows
Question 1: 10 points
Question 2: 5 points
Question 3: 10 points
Question 4: 10 points
Question 5: 5 points
Correct Documentation: 10 points (simply adding the URL will not get you any points). Omitting
parenthetical references will lead to loss of points as well. Total lack of documentation will result
in grading your test with an F as it will be considered plagiarism.
You need at least a 70% (35/50) on this assignment to pass the course.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Prerequisite: (ENC 0020 and REA 0002) or EAP 1695 or satisfactory score on the SPC
placement test.
GRADING POLICY
450-500 A
400-449 B
350-399 C
300-349 D
Below 300 F
TEACHING MODE
The course will be taught using a variety of methods. There will be power point
presentations, online lectures by the professor that give you some extra thoughts on the
chapter, and discussions on interesting and controversial topics that will encourage civil debates
and development of critical thinking. There will be quizzes that test your learning of
material and a written assignment that will evaluate your analytical and writing skills.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance in this course will be registered through either taking a week’s exam or
participating on the discussion forum during a particular week, or submitting the written
assignment. Emailing the professor does not constitute participation. Students classified as “No
Show” for both of the first two weeks will be administratively withdrawn from any class which
they are not attending. The student’s financial aid will be adjusted based on their updated
enrollment status. If a student is administratively withdrawn from a class because they were a
“No-Show” during the first two weeks of class, financial aid will not pay for the class and the
student will be responsible for paying for that class.
Active participation is defined as NOT having more than two weeks of unexcused
absences. Accordingly, students who more than 2 unexcused absences will be reported to the
Administration at the 60% point of the course and a grade “WF” will be assigned. Students will
be able to withdraw themselves at any time during the term. However, requests submitted after
the last date to withdraw with a “W” will result in a “WF.”
Withdrawing after the “Last Date to Withdraw with a Grade of ‘W’” can have serious
consequences. If the student withdraws from a class after the deadline posted in the academic
calendar, the student will receive a final grade of ‘WF,' which has the same impact on the
student's GPA as a final grade of “F.” A “WF” grade also could impact the student's financial aid,
requiring repayment of financial assistance. Students should consult with an academic advisor
or financial assistance counselor prior to withdrawing from a class.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All discussion posts and assignments are graded for original thought and must be in your own
words. However, if you wish to use a borrowed fact from an expert source to add strength to
your argument or thesis, the borrowed idea—whether quoted or paraphrased--must be cited.
Plagiarism (copying or paraphrasing without citing the source) or cheating in an exam or an
assignment will result in an F (0 points) for the particular exam or assignment. Requesting
answers to the test from classmates or distributing answers to classmates will result in an F in
the course.
DISABILITY POLICY
Disability Resources staff can be reached at 791-2628 or 791-2710 (CL), 341-4316 or 341-4310
(SP/G), 394-6289 (SE), 712-5789 (TS), 341-3721 (HEC), 398-8284 (AC, MT), or 341-7913 (DT,
EPI).
MISCELLANEOUS
WHAT ABOUT MISSING DEADLINES?
For a successful online course, uninterrupted access to a PC and internet, and adherence to
course structure and deadlines are strict prerequisites. Most of the students who fail, do so
because of missed deadlines. There will be no extension for the exams or discussions. The only
time students may miss a deadline is when they are ill and they can provide me with a doctor's
diagnosis (not a receipt of the office visit) within three days after the deadline expires. In case of
a different type of emergency, please contact me within 1 day after the deadline to discuss what
type of documentation is needed. No situation can be classified as an emergency unless it can
be documented. If you go out of town on a business or personal trip, make sure you have
access to a computer. This is an online course after all. If your PC breaks down you should use
one in a library or a friend's house or an internet cafe. This is why it is extremely important to do
your work early in the week as many things may happen the last day. Early release of material
is not possible.
EXTRA CREDIT
There are no extra credit assignments in this course. You have ample opportunities to build up a
good grade. Please remember that the gradebook calculates the grades according to the given
formula and I do not interfere with the process.
SYLLABUS ADDENDUM
For more information on withdrawal policies, academic honesty, complaints policy and
emergency policies please go to "http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/" \t
"_blank"http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/