Current Social Problems
Sociology 112
2013
Dr. Kimberlee B. Holland
2047 JFSB
422-3461
kimberlee_holland@byu.edu
Office Hours: 1:30-2:30 pm T/TH, or by appointment
A thought on Social Science
“Students are often converted to a particular view of the world before they know that
different world views exist…It is vital, then, that students be sure they understand a new
idea before they pass judgment on it…Sometimes ideas that are familiar or better known
are automatically given higher status than ideas that are unfamiliar or less well known.
This higher status may be bestowed on familiar ideas in spite of clear evidence to the
contrary.”
(Slife, Brent D. and Richard N. Williams. 1995. What’s Behind the Research?:
Discovering Hidden Assumptions in the Behavioral Sciences. London: Sage.)
Academic Honesty
In keeping with the principles of the BYU Honor Code, students are expected to be
honest in all of their academic work. Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that
any work you present as your own must in fact be your own work and not that of
another. Violations of this principle will result in a failing grade in the course and
additional disciplinary action by the university.
Students are also expected to adhere to the Dress and Grooming Standards. Adherence
demonstrates respect for yourself and others and ensures an effective learning and
working environment. It is the university’s expectation, and my own expectation in class,
that each student will abide by all Honor Code standards. Please call the Honor Code
Office at 422-2847 if you have questions about those standards.
Required Texts:
Macionis, John J. 2013. Social Problems. Fifth edition. Prentice Hall: New Jersey.
Gladwell, Malcolm. 2008. Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company.
Griffin, John Howard. 1996. Black Like Me. Signet. – or, you may choose the
alternative (Wilson, William Julius. 1987. The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the
Underclass, and Public Policy. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago.)
Articles specified in the class schedule are available on Learning Suite.
Course Description:
This course examines problems in contemporary American society associated with: (1)
poverty and wealth; (2) racial and ethnic inequality; (3) gender inequality; (4) aging and
inequality; (5) crime, violence, and criminal justice (6) sexuality; (7) alcohol and other
drugs; (8) physical and mental health; (9) economy and politics; (10) work and the
workplace; (11) family life; (12) education; (13) urban life; (14) population and global
inequality; (15) technology and the environment; (16) war and terrorism
Objectives:
This course should enable students to:
(1) examine the construction of social problems and the conditions under which they
arise, are perpetuated, ameliorated, or disregarded.
(2) use major sociological theoretical perspectives to understand and analyze current
social problems.
(3) evaluate research on social problems in reference to the principles of the scientific
method (distinguish between anecdotal evidence, myths and empirical evidence).
(4) manifest an understanding of the scope (who, what, where, how) of contemporary
social problems.
(5) identify the relationship between political philosophies (conservative-liberal) and
social problem solutions (social policy).
Evaluation:
Grading will be based on 1 assignment, 2 short papers, 5 reading quizzes, 3 midterm
exams, and a final exam.
Short Papers:
Specific guidelines for each paper will be posted on Learning Suite. To receive full
credit papers must be typed in 12 pt, double-spaced and stapled. DUE TO THE SIZE
OF THE CLASS, PAPERS CANNLOT BE E-MAILED. YOUR PAPER WILL BE
CONSIDERED TURNED IN WHEN A HARD COPY IS RECEIVED. Papers can
be turned in late but you will be penalized 5 points a day.
Reading Quizzes:
Five quizzes will be given throughout the semester as a way to encourage you to do the
class readings. The quizzes are not of the “pop” nature. Specific dates and required
reading material are listed in the course schedule. Quizzes cannot be made-up unless
your absence is university approved.
Exams:
Four exams (3 midterms, 1 final) will be given based on the chapters, readings, and class
discussions covered to that point. Text readings and class discussions (class attendance is
critical as the tests will include material that is presented only in class) will help you
prepare for each exam. The PowerPoint slides that accompany the lectures may serve as
a good starting point for your test preparation but they do not contain everything you
need to know for the exams. All exams are given in the Testing Center. Considering
the number of days the exams are available you cannot take an exam EARLY or
LATE unless your absence is university approved.
NOTE: University policy dictates (see the BYU website) that final exams CANNOT
be taken early. No exceptions will be made to this policy so please plan accordingly.
Student Engagement Exercises:
For all of you excellent class attendees, there will be 6-8 opportunities throughout the
term for a little extra credit (about 30 pts total) just for engaging in a couple of classroom
activities. Ahh, to think it actually does pay to come and hang out with us all!
Class Points:
Norms Assignment
Paper #1
Paper #2
Reading Quizzes #1, #3 & #5
Reading Quiz #2 (“Outliers”)
Reading Quiz #4 (“Black Like Me” or Alt.)
Exams
Final
50 points
100 points
100 points
3 @ 20 points
50 points
40 points
3 @ 100 points
100 points
50
100
100
60
50
40
300
100
Total 800
Grades:
Grades will be assigned based on total points accumulated as follows:
A
752 – 800
A- 720 – 751
B+ 696 – 719
B 664 – 695
BC+
C
C-
640 – 663
616 – 639
584 – 615
560 – 583
D+
D
DE
536 – 559
504 – 535
480 – 503
000 – 479
Schedule:
The following course schedule is a guideline NOT a contract. Exam, quiz, and
discussion dates may change throughout the semester. Schedule changes may or may not
be announced on Learning Suite; however, all schedule changes WILL be announced
in class.
Month
Day
Date
Discussion
Read for Today
Jan
T
8
Overview of the Syllabus
(The Penny Game)
TH
10
The Sociological Imagination
(Breakfast, Bread, and Diamonds)
Ruane, Janet M. and
Karen A. Cerulo.
2008. “Conventional
Wisdom Tells Us...”
T
15
Social Problems
(Personal vs. Social)
Macionis, Chapter 1
TH
17
Sociology: Studying Social Problems
(Theoretical Perspectives)
T
22
Sociology: Studying Social Problems
(The Scientific Method)
Begin reading Outliers
Slife, Brent D. and
Richard N. Williams.
1995. What’s Behind
the Research?
TH
24
Poverty and Wealth
(Stratification Bowl)
Assignment
Reading Quiz #1
Cougareat/Cannon
Center Norms
Assignment Due @
the beginning of
class
Continue reading
Outliers
Macionis, Chapter 2
McNamee, Stephen J.
and Robert K. Miller
Jr. 2004. “The
Meritocracy Myth”.
Feb
T
29
Poverty and Wealth
(Outliers)
Gladwell, Malcolm.
2008. Outliers.
pgs. 1-115.
Reading Quiz #2a
on Outliers
TH
31
Poverty and Wealth
(Outliers)
Gladwell, Malcom.
2008. Outliers.
Pgs 116-299.
Reading Quiz #2b
on Outliers
T
5
Poverty and Wealth
Kiyosaki, Robert T.
and Sharon L. Lechter.
2000. “Rich Dad,
Poor Dad.”.
Torre, Pablo S. 2009.
“How (and Why)
Athletes Go Broke.”
Reading Quiz #3
(Continued on the
next page.)
Ehrenreich, Barbara.
1999. “ Nickel-andDimed.”
Barlett, Donald L. and
James B. Steele. 1998.
Time. “Corporate
Welfare.”
Gans, Herbert J. 1971.
“The Uses of Poverty:
The Poor Pay All.”
TH
7
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
(Racial Identification)
Begin reading Black
Like Me or alternative.
T
12
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Continue reading Black
Like Me or alternative
Midterm #1
(Available in the
Testing Center Feb.
7, 8, 9, & 11th)
Macionis, Chapter 3
TH
14
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
(Black Like Me)
T
19
NO CLASS (Monday Instruction)
TH
21
Gender Inequality
(Gender Games)
Finish reading Black
Like Me or alternative
Reading Quiz #4 on
Black Like Me
Macionis, Chapter 4
Paper #1 Due @ the
beginning of class
Optional: Kimura,
Doreen. 199l. “Sex
Differences in the
Brain.”
T
26
Gender Inequality
Welty, Ellen. 2007.
“Are Your Words
Holding You Back?”
Ruane, Janet M. and
Karen A. Cerulo.
2008. “Conventional
Wisdom Tells
Us...Beauty is Only
Skin Deep.”
Mar
TH
28
Gender Inequality
Bennett, William J.
2011. “Why Men are
in Trouble.”
T
5
Family Life
Macionis, Chapter 12
DeParle, Jason and
Sabrina Tavernise.
2012. “For Women
Under 30, Most Births
Occur Outside
Marriage.”
Midterm #2
(Available in the
Testing Center
Mar. 7, 8, 9, & 11th)
TH
7
Family Life
Gibbs, Nancy. 2002.
Time. “Making Time
for a Baby.”
Reading Quiz #5
Marano, Hara. 2010.
“The Expectations
Trap.”
Blum, Deborah. 2002.
Love at GOON Park.
T
12
Education
Macionis, Chapter 13
Kozol, Jonathan.
1991. “American
Education: Savage
Inequalities.”
TH
14
Education
Flaherty, Micheal.
2011. “The Latest
Crime Wave.”
T
19
Economy and Politics
Macionis, Chapter 10
Classroom
Engagement Extra
Credit Option:
“Waiting for
Superman” Due @
the beginning of
class
The U.S. Declaration
of Independence
TH
21
Economy and Politics
Javers, Eamon. 2007.
“Inside the Hidden
World of Earmarks.”
T
26
Physical and Mental Health
(Case Study: Obesity)
Macionis, Chapter 9
Kessler, David and
Bonnie Liebman.
2009. “Why We
Overeat.”
TH
28
Physical and Mental Health
(Case Study: Obesity)
Parker, Hilary. 2010.
“A Sweet Problem.”
Moss, Michael. 2010.
“While Warning About
Fat…”
Bittman, Mark. 2010.
“Soda: A Sin We Sip
Instead of Smoke.”.
Moilanen, Renee.
2004. “Just Say No
Again.”
Midterm #3
(Available in the
Testing Center
Mar. 28, 29, 30, &
Apr. 1st)
(Continued on the
next page.)
Optional: Williams,
Carol J. 2012. “Sugar
Seeks Sweet Revenge
against Competition
from Corn.”
Apr
T
2
Physical and Mental Health
TH
4
Crime, Violence, and Criminal
Justice
Macionis, Chapter 6
T
9
Sexuality
Macionis, Chapter 7
Optional: Dahir,
Mubarak. 2001. The
Advocate. “Why Are
We Gay?”
TH
11
Population and Global Inequality
Obesity Paper #2
Due @ the
beginning of class
Macionis, chapter 15
Levine, Ruth. 2006.
“Educating Girls,
Unlocking
Development.”
T
16
The Last Lecture
(BYU Solutions)
Sat
20
FINAL
FINAL (Available
in the Testing
Center Dec 19, 20,
22, 23 and 24th)