1 of 6
Social Problems Analysis: Soci 1160 A/B
Fall 2014
University Hall 326
MWF; 10:00 – 10:50 (A); 11:00 – 11:50 (B)
Instructor: Robert Ness, Ph. D.
Office: Allgood Hall N 222
Email: rness@gru.edu
Office Phone: 706-737-1735
Office Hours: MWF 1-3 pm or by appointment
Course Description:
This course will be devoted to a critical analysis of health care issues in the United States, including problems
of cost, access, quality of care, and distributive justice. Our goal is to develop a sociolgical examination of
these issues as “symptoms” themselves of social inequalities suffered by a contemporary urban family. In
addition we will examine the structure and role of social movements as “vehicles for discontent”. As a case
example of a social movement “in action” we will read a report about a local Augusta community involved in
the Environmental Justice Movement. Two of the books we read will form the basis for a Term Paper where
you will critically analyze their similarities and differences.
Course Goals:
This course is designed to achieve five general goals: (1) Describe the social process through which social
issues are recognized and labeled or social problems,. (2) Explain the array of issues currently confounding the
effective delivery of health care in the U.S.,. (3) Differentiate the social bases underlying health care
inequities,.(4) Discuss the Environmental Justice Movement and the evidence for environmental racism; (5)
Describe the range of sociology activities comprising “social activism”.
Student learning Objectives:
As this course unfolds through the semester students should be able to:
1. Explain how a “private problem” is socially transformed into the “social problem” and show how that
process applies to a current health care issue.
2. List and describe the key issues confronting the effective delivery of health care in the U.S.
3. Describe the social bases for health care inequalities and analyze their likelihood of change.
4. Discuss the Environmental Justice Movement and assess the validity of the evidence for environmental
racism.
5. Compose a Term Paper that identifies and critically evaluates forms of “social activism” and their
relationship to social research.
Take-home assignments, in-class experiences, and a Term Paper, all using an essay format, will be used to
assess these learning objectives.
Pre-Requisites: Students should have successfully completed Soc 1101 or be taking that course concurrently.
An understanding of social class, social power, and capitalism generally will be very helpful.
2 of 6
Teaching Methods:
During a typical class period, I will use a combination of lecturing, class discussion, and video. I may call
on students to offer their opinion on our topic but I also encourage you to ask me questions. We will be
examining contentious social issues that deserve serious discussion. I therefore want our class time to be a
“safe-place” where various opinions/ideas are all respectfully examined.
Expectations:
1.
There are absolutely no make-up opportunities for quizzes, tests or the term paper. The
only exceptions I will consider must involve hospitalization or family-related illness that
can be documented.
2.
The Term Paper MUST be turned in as “hardcopy”; no e-mailed attachments will be
accepted. This paper is due on the date noted in the syllabus.
3.
Regular attendance is required and I will follow the university guidelines regarding
withdrawal from class based on unexcused absences outlined in the current Jaguar
Student Handbook. Specifically, 5 absences, regardless of the reasons, qualify you for
withdrawal. If these absences are NOT excused you may receive a “WF”. If these absences
are excused you may receive a “W”.
4.
Plagiarism in any of your written work will result in immediate withdrawal from class with
an “F” grade. In addition, your offense will be described and sent to the Dean’s Office.
Please read http://www.aug.edu/sociology/plagiarism.html for a complete and clear
discussion of the meaning of plagiarism.
5.
Attendance will be taken at the start of class. If you arrive late you will not be able to sign
the attendance sheet: you are essentially absent.
Required Texts:
1. Laurie K. Abraham, Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: The Failure of Health Care in Urban America.
University of Chicago. 1993.
2. Melissa Checker, Polluted Promises; University Press 2005
3. Assorted Published Materials will also be available as we move through the syllabus.
3 of 6
Grading:
Term Paper
Three Tests
Assorted Quizzes
@ 100 points =
@ 100 points =
@ 5-25 points =
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE
100 points
300 points
100 points
500 points
Grade Letter:
500 – 450 points = A
449 – 400 points = B
399 – 350 points = C
349 – 300 points = D
299 – ↓ points = F
Student Needs:
Students with disabilities enrolled in this course and who may need disability-related classroom
accommodations are encouraged to make an appointment to see me before the end of the second week of
the term. All discussions will remain confidential, although the Student Accessibility Services office may be
consulted to discuss appropriate implementation of any accommodation requested.
Additional Support of Your Learning:
I encourage you to visit me in my office during office hours or by making an appointment that is more
covenant for you. Every student’s concern will be treated with respect.
In addition, I encourage you to become familiar with the services of our writing center on campus, especially if
you face any challenges with writing grammatically – sound papers.
4 of 6
Course Schedule: (may change to accommodate guest speakers, student needs, or weather)
Week of:
Focus
August 18 - 22
Introduction to course and review of the nature of your Term Paper
The Nature of Social Problems
August 25 - 29
Chapter 1 – 3 and pp. vii – 8 in Abraham
September 1 - 5
September 1, Monday – Labor Day – No Class
Chapters 4-5 Abraham
September 8 - 12
Chapters 6, 8, 9 Abraham
September 15 - 19
Chapters 10, 12 Abraham
September 22 - 26
Chapter 13, 14 – Epilogue Abraham
September 29 – October 3
Complete Abraham: Review,
Test #1 - Friday October 3
October 6 - 10
The Quality of Health Care for Racial Minorities
 Selected readings to be announced
October 13 - 17
Continue Discussion of Health Care for Racial Minorities
Fall Pause: Friday, October 17
October 20 - 24
The Significance of Social Movements
 Selected readings to be announced
October 27 - 31
Test # 2 - Monday, October 27
Movie / Handout by Bullard
November 3 - 7
Polluted Promises and The Environmental Justice Movement
Appendix A and Chapters 1 and 2 of Polluted Promises
November 10 - 14
Polluted Promises : Finish Chapters 3,4,5
November 17 - 21
Chapters 6, 7 and movie about Spartanburg, South Carolina
November 24
Term Paper Due: November 24
Complete Discussion of Polluted Promises
November 26 - 28
Thanksgiving Vacation
December 1 - 5
Review for Test
Test #3: Friday, December 5
5 of 6
IMPORTANT DATES of Tests and Paper Due Dates:
Quizzes:
Will be announced as we go
Friday, October 3
Test #1
Monday, October 27
Test #2
Monday, November 24
Paper due – At START of Class
Friday, December 5
Test #3
Extra Credit Opportunities:
During the semester, various campus events, media reports, or other opportunities may arise which
will give you a chance to earn further points for your overall grade. These will be announced and discussed in
class or we move through the semester.
6 of 6
Term Paper Instructions
R. Ness, Ph.D.
The Term Paper in this class is designed to encourage your thoughtful analysis and comparison of the two
books we have read and discussed in class. There are three inter-related questions to address:
Section I:
Describe the research goal(s) of each author. In what ways are
these goals similar? Different?
Section II:
Describe the research methods of each author, explaining how
their choice(s) of methods are linked to their goal(s). In what
ways are their methods similar? In what ways are they different?
Section III:
Describe the impact of each book on your own thinking about
social problems. Which book was most effective in stimulating
your thinking? Explain why.
The first question requires you to act like a journalist, reporting in a clear, straight-forward manner what the
author’s goal(s) are and how they are similar/different.
The second question requires some creativity, asking you to compare and contrast the authors’ research
methods and to show how the methods are linked to their goals.
The last question is “all about you”. Here you must explain how each book affected you and most
importantly, why.
Specific Instructions:
1. Each question should be answered with at least two (2) typed pages. Your paper should therefore be
six (6) pages in length, at a minimum.
2. A front page should have only your name, date, and the title of the book. (This is NOT page # 1)
3. If you are quoting from the book, put the page number in parentheses after your quote.
4. There is no need for a bibliography at the end of this paper.
5. This paper is due at the date and time announced in the syllabus: Monday, November 24, at start of
class
6. Plagiarism should be absolutely avoided; it will result in course failure. Please re-read Important
Guideline #4 on page 2 of this syllabus.