Current Social Problems
Sociology 112
Winter 2011
Dr. Kimberlee B. Holland
2036 JFSB
422-3461
kimberlee_holland@byu.edu
Office Hours: 10:45-11:15 am 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. 2010. Social Problems. Fourth 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 Blackboard.
Course Description:
This course examines problems in contemporary American society associated with: (1)
poverty and wealth; (2) race and ethnicity; (3) gender; (4) aging; (5) crime and criminal
justice; (6) violence; (7) sexuality; (8) alcohol and other drugs; (9) physical and mental
health; (10) economy and politics; (11) family life; (12) education; (13) urban life; (14)
war and terrorism; (15) population and global inequality.
Objectives:
This course should enable students to:
(1) examine the construction of social problems and the conditions under which they
arise, are perpetuated, are ameliorated, or are disregarded.
(2) use major sociological theoretical perspectives to understand and analyze
contemporary 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) assess the relationship between social policy (conservative-liberal) and social
problem solutions.
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 Blackboard. To receive full
credit papers must be typed in 12 pt, double-spaced and stapled. DUE TO THE SIZE
OF THE CLASS, PAPERS CANNOT 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. Each exam, (excluding the final), will be given in the
Testing Center. Exams will not be given 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
semester for a little extra credit (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, #4 & #5
Reading Quiz #2 (“Outliers”)
Reading Quiz #3 (“Black Like Me” or Alt.)
Exams
25 points
75 points
100 points
3 @ 10 points
40 points
30 points
4 @ 100 points
Total
25
75
100
30
40
30
400
700
Grades:
Grades will be assigned based on total points accumulated as follows:
A
658 – 700
A- 630 – 657
B+ 609 – 629
B 581 – 608
BC+
C
C-
560 – 580
539 – 559
511 – 538
490 – 510
D+
D
DE
469 – 489
441 – 468
420 – 440
000 – 419
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 Blackboard; however, all schedule changes WILL be announced in
class.
Month
Day
Date
Discussion
Readings for Today
Assignment
Jan
T
4
Overview of the Syllabus
(The Penny Game)
TH
6
The Sociological Imagination
(Breakfast, Bread, and Diamonds)
Ruane, Janet M. and
Karen A. Cerulo.
2008. “Conventional
Wisdom Tells Us...”
Reading Quiz #1
T
11
Social Problems
(Personal vs. Social)
Macionis, Chapter 1
TH
13
Sociology: Studying Social Problems
(Theoretical Perspectives)
T
18
Sociology: Studying Social Problems
(The Scientific Method)
Begin reading Outliers.
Slife, Brent D. and
Richard N. Williams.
1995. What’s Behind
the Research?
TH
20
Poverty and Wealth
(Stratification Bowl)
Cougareat/Cannon
Center Norms
Assignment Due @
the beginning of
class
Macionis, Chapter 2
McNamee, Stephen J.
and Robert K. Miller
Jr. 2004. “The
Meritocracy Myth”.
Kiyosaki, Robert T.
and Sharon L. Lechter.
2000. “Rich Dad,
Poor Daf.”.
T
25
Poverty and Wealth
(Outliers)
Gladwell, Malcolm.
2008. Outliers.
pgs. 1-115.
Reading Quiz #2a
on Outliers
TH
27
Poverty and Wealth
(Outliers)
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.”
Feb
T
1
Poverty and Wealth
(Outliers)
Gladwell, Malcom.
2008. Outliers.
Pgs 116-299.
Reading Quiz #2b
on Outliers
Torre, Pablo S. 2009.
“How (and Why)
Athletes Go Broke.”
TH
3
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
(Racial Identification)
Begin reading Black
Like Me or alternative.
T
8
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Macionis, Chapter 3
TH
10
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
(Black Like Me)
T
15
Gender Inequality
(Gender Games)
Midterm #1
(Available in the
Testing Center Feb
3, 4, 5)
Reading Quiz #3 on
Black Like Me
Macionis, Chapter 4
Paper #1 Due @ the
beginning of class
Kimura, Doreen. 199l.
“Sex Differences in the
Brain.”
TH
17
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
T
22
NO CLASS (Monday Instruction)
TH
24
Gender Inequality
T
1
Family Life
Macionis, Chapter 12
Gibbs, Nancy. 2002.
Time. “Making Time
for a Baby.”
Midterm #2
(Available in the
Testing Center
March 3, 4, 5)
TH
3
Family Life
Marano, Hara. 2010.
“The Expectations
Trap.”
Reading Quiz #4
Svoboda, Elizabeth.
2008. Psychology
Today. “Scents and
Sensibility.”
Blum, Deborah. 2002.
Love at GOON Park.
T
8
Education
Macionis, Chapter 13
Kozol, Jonathan.
1991. “American
Education: Savage
Inequalities.”
TH
10
Education
T
15
Economy and Politics
Macionis, Chapter 10
The U.S. Declaration
of Independence
TH
17
Economy and Politics
Javers, Eamon. 2007.
“Inside the Hidden
World of Earmarks.”
T
22
Physical and Mental Health
(Case Study: Obesity)
Macionis, Chapter 9
Nestle, Marion. 2003.
“Food Politics .”
TH
24
Physical and Mental Health
(Case Study: Obesity)
Parker, Hilary. 2010.
“A Sweet Problem.”
Moss, Michael. 2010.
“While Warning About
Fat…”
Kessler, David and
Bonnie Liebman.
2009. “Why We
Overeat.”
T
29
Physical and Mental Health
Bittman, Mark. 2010.
“Soda: A Sin We Sip
Instead of Smoke.”.
TH
31
Crime, Violence, and Criminal
Justice
Macionis, Chapter 6
Midterm #3
(Available in the
Testing Center
March 24, 25, 26)
Reading Quiz #5
Apr
T
5
Sexuality
Macionis, Chapter 7
Paper #2 Due @ the
beginning of class
Dahir, Mubarak. 2001.
The Advocate. “Why
Are We Gay?”
TH
7
Population and Global Inequality
Macionis, Chapter 15
Levine, Ruth. 2006.
“Educating Girls,
Unlocking
Development.”
T
12
Solutions
(BYU)
TH
14
READING DAY
T
19
FINAL (3:00-6:00 pm)
FINAL (In Class)