SOC 2020: Social Problems
Fall 2013
CRN 11520, Section 003
0134 State Hall
Tuesday and Thursday 11:45-1:10
Instructor: Victoria Velding
Office Hours: TR 10:30-11:30
Office Location: 2264 FAB
Email: dw1974@wayne.edu
Course Description:This course is an examination of major contemporary social
problems present in our society and world. Analysis will focus on socio-cultural factors
that create these problems.
Required Text:Social Problems, 5th Ed., by John Macionis
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to
identify social problems present in our society and evaluate them using multiple
sociological theories. You should be able to identify factors that lead to the creation of
these problems and be able to discuss possible solutions.
Course Policies:
Attendance and Tardiness: You are expected to attend every class meeting.
Attendance will be taken on a regular basis and you will receive credit for attending. I
understand circumstances may arise which require you to be absent. Absence due to
religious observation will be excused if I am given notification. Please notify me via
email within 24 hours of the class you intend to miss for the opportunity to receive
attendance points. Note: email notification does not guarantee attendance credit.
Habitual tardiness will result in the loss of attendance points. Continually leaving
class early will also result in the loss of attendance points.
Withdrawals: The last day to withdraw from a course is November 9th. Per WSU
policy effective Fall 2013, students wishing to withdraw from a course will be required
to complete a SMART Check.
Electronics: The use of cellphones, iPods, etc. is prohibited during class time. Phones
should be turned to vibrate or silent. Laptops and tablets may be used for note taking
purposes only. If I find these items to be a consistent distraction, the privilege of
using them in class will be revoked.
Classroom decorum: We will be talking about controversial subjects for which there
may be varying opinions. Respect the views of your classmates, even though they may
differ from your own.
Plagiarism and Cheating:Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated and you will lose
total credit for any assignment where either is suspected. For more information about
plagiarism and cheating, please review WSU’s Academic Integrity Brochure,
http://www.otl.wayne.edu/pdf/plagiarism/AIB07Print.pdf.
Challenging Grades:It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades. Grades will
be posted on Blackboard and will be available for your review. If you feel there is a
discrepancy or that you were improperly graded, your first course of action is to bring
it to my attention as soon as possible. You may do this before or after class, during
office hours, or via an email. Waiting until final course grades have been posted to
dispute a grade is unacceptable and the grade will stand as is.
Student Disability Services:If you feel that you may need an accommodation based on
the impact of a disability, please feel free to contact me privately to discuss your
specific needs. Additionally, Student Disability Services (SDS) coordinates reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The Office is located in
1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library, 313-577-1851.
Assignments:
Quizzes: There will be 3 quizzes throughout the semester each worth 10 points.
Quizzes will be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank.
There will be no make-up quizzes. A missed quiz due to an unexcused absence will
result in a 0 for that quiz.
In-Class Presentations: You will be required to complete 2 in-class presentations
each worth 25 points that will elicit class discussion on a particular social problem.
This assignment consists of two parts: the presentation and a short paper. For this
assignment you are to find an example of a social problem in the media and present it
to the class. You may find an example from an advertisement in a magazine, a news
article, a television show, a song, etc. Be creative! The example you choose must
coincide with our topic for the day. So, if we are discussing the social problem of
poverty, your example must also address this issue.
 Presentation: To elicit class discussion you must prepare 2 questions about
your example to pose to the class. You will not be graded on your ability to
present, rather the effort you put in and your preparedness of 2 thoughtprovoking questions. The presentation is worth 10 of the 25 total points.
 Paper: You must turn in a 1to 2 page paper the day of your presentation that
explains/summarizes your example and details how it is representative of a
social problem. Making a connection with the course readings is key, and as
such, more emphasis should be placed on this portion of the paper than on the
summary. The paper is worth 15 of the 25 total points.
Exams:There will 2 exams throughout the semester each worth 50 points. Exams will
be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer. There will be no
make-up exams without instructor approval.
Grading Policy:
3 quizzes- 10 points each
2 class presentations- 25 points each
2 exams- 50 points each
Attendance- 25 points
205 possible points
A
AB+
B
B-
205-195pts
194-185pts
184-179pts
178-171pts
170-164pts
C+
C
CD+
D
163-158pts
157-150pts
149-144pts
143-138pts
137-130pts
DF
129-123pts
122pts or less
Semester Schedule:
Topic
Reading
8/29
Review Syllabus
9/3
Studying Social Problems
9/5
Economy and Politics
Ch. 1
Sign up for presentations
Ch. 10
9/10
Economy and Politics
Ch. 10
9/12
Poverty and Wealth
Ch. 2
9/17
Ch. 2
9/24
Poverty and Wealth
Waste Land
Poverty and Wealth
Waste Land
Work and the Workplace
9/26
Work and the Workplace
Ch. 11
Quiz 1(Chapters 1, 2, 10)
Ch. 11
10/1
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Ch. 3
10/3
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Ch. 3
10/8
Ch. 3
10/15
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Precious Knowledge
Education
Precious Knowledge
Education
10/17
Exam 1
Chapters 1-3, 10, 11, 13
10/22
Gender and Inequality
Ch. 4
10/24
Gender and Inequality
Ch. 4
10/29
Sexuality
Ch. 7
10/31
Sexuality
Ch. 7
9/19
10/10
Ch. 2
Ch. 13
Ch.13
11/5
Alcohol and Other Drugs
11/7
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Ch. 8
Quiz 2(Chapters 4, 7)
Ch. 8
11/12
Physical and Mental Health
Ch. 9
11/14
Physical and Mental Health
Ch. 9
11/19
War and Terrorism
Ch. 17
11/21
War and Terrorism
Ch.17
11/26
Crime, Violence, and Criminal Justice
11/28
12/3
12/5
Ch. 6
Quiz 3(Chapters 8, 9, 17)
No Class—Thanksgiving Break
Crime, Violence, and Criminal Justice
Serving Life
Crime, Violence, and Criminal Justice
Serving Life
Ch. 6
Ch. 6
12/10
No Class
12/12
12/13
Final Exam 10:40-1:10
*I reserve the right to modify this syllabus.