SOCIAL PROBLEMS
SOC 25103
FALL, 2009
BARBARA J. BOLEY, M.S.W., Ph.D.
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COURSE SYLLABUS
Social Problems
SOC 25103
School of Social Sciences
Professor:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Fax:
Secretary:
Dr. Barbara J. Boley
740-245-7280
bboley@rio.edu
Wood Hall – Room 251
MWF 9-10 and 1-2pm
740.245.7432
740.245.7254 (only use if absolutely necessary)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Analysis of current social problems including implications of possible solutions. This course
will be a survey of some social problems currently existing in the United States, as well as, other
countries. Theories and perspectives will provide the tools for analysis of these problems.
COURSE PROCEDURE
Using a lecture-discussion format, the course employs a textbook of primary sources which
provides the outline for course content. The instructor will lecture on various theories and
perspectives introduced in the assigned readings, conduct open discussion on current media
coverage of perceived social problems, and seek to establish continuity from session to session.
Students are expected to be active learning partners by completing each session’s primary readings,
reading their local newspapers, and observing media coverage of current events on a regular basis.
Regular attendance, completion of all assignments when due, and active class participation is an
important aspect of the course.
Basically the course will be structured this way:
Monday-Discussion of chapter’s major points.
Wednesday-Learning circle chapter activities to reinforce major concepts
Friday-Chapter quiz and each student will review an article relevant to the current chapter
being discussed and discuss their article review which will be handed in each Friday using the
article review template on page_8 . The article must have been written after January 2008. Be sure
to cite the source in APA style. If you cannot be present in class—YOU MUST e mail the template
to me by the end of the day on Friday that the template is due. Otherwise, a zero will be recorded
fort that assignment.
PREREQUISITES-None
CREDIT HOURS- 3
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENT
Kendall, D. (2009), Social Problems in a Diverse Society: Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 5th Ed. .
(include ISBN numbers)
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PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The following outcomes have been adopted for the degree program for
which this course is required:
COURSE OUTCOMES: The following outcomes have been adopted for this course. All outcomes listed
below have direct relevance to course material. Upon completion of this course students are expected to:
1. Become cognizant of social problems they encounter in their everyday lives as evidenced by
chapter reviews, article critiques, research paper/creative project, group presentation, quizzes
and exams.
2. Gain a sound explanatory framework for understanding social problems as evidenced by
chapter reviews, article critiques, and group assignments.
3. Acquire knowledge of the diversity of social problems in relationship to multiculturalism as
evidenced by research paper/creative project, chapter reviews and exams.
4. Recognize social functions/dysfunctions that evolve into social problems
5. Identify social problem areas using comparative analysis of societal and political viewpoints as
evidenced by class discussions, quizzes and exams.
6. Gain a heightened awareness of the political process for problem identification and policy
resolution as evidenced by I search research paper, class assignments.
7. Gain a heightened awareness of the political process for problem identification and policy
resolution.
8. Facilitate the integration of knowledge gained in the classroom with knowledge acquired in
other courses as evidenced through written assignments and group interaction.
GRADING POLICIES/TESTING/ASSIGNMENTS/ATTENDANCE/EXPECTATIONS
ACTIVITY
1. Research paper/
Creative Project
2. Group Pres.
3. Professionalism,
Classroom Etiq.,
Part. Rubric
4. Ten quizzes
5. One exam
6. Article critiques
(10)
AV. POINTS
TOTAL PONTS
100pts
100pts
100pts
100pts
100pts
50pts each
100pts
50
200pts
500pts
100pts
500
Total pts
Grading Policy:
A=1350-1500
B=1200-1349
C=1005-1199
D= 900- 1004
F= 0-899
1500pts
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Research Paper/Creative Project Options
A. Option A- A 10-15 page Research paper based on a current social problem of the world
community that is of special interest to you. See page 5-6 for content checklist and title page
format and consult handouts for grading of assignment and helpful hints.
Option B- Develop a educational ,creative project (video, children’s book, educational power
point presentation, book of poems, book of writings, a game etc) that would educate a target
population (age group, civic group, school population etc) about a social problem. Write a
paper- minimum 5-7 pages double spaced, 1” margins on all sides discussing the following:
1. Why you are interested in this particular social problem?
2. What do you hope to accomplish by your project-can it be used in the future to educate about
social problems, can you use it in your career role?
3. Discuss the prevalence of the social problem, demographics etc.
4. What funding and services are available to ameliorate the problem?
5. What do you propose is needed to impact the prevalence of the problem: funding, legislation,
education, advocacy.
6. Include a Bibliography page citing at least 5 sources you used in developing your project.
B. At least Ten(10) quizzes and one (1) exam.
C. Group Power Point Presentation. Expectations of the group will be given in a handout. See
presentation rubric. Each group will select a social problem of interest to the group. A
PowerPoint presentation will be developed to include a Works Cited page at the end of the
presentation. The presentation will be at least 30 minutes in length and needs to include
audience participation using a “Did you know” type quiz or other means to include the
audience. A Coordinator, Power Point Technician, presenters and researchers will be selected
by the group. At least TWO copies of the presentation disc needs to be made PRIOR to the
presentation in case an extra is needed. A copy of the disc is to be sent to the professor at least
one week ahead of the presentation.
D. Weekly written critique of an article relevant to the chapter(s) we are discussing that week
DUE EACH FRIDAY. See critique template in this syllabus-page 8.
E. Regular attendance and class participation in weekly discussion based on selected articles and
chapter readings.
F. Conformity with the University of Rio Grande policies on academic honesty.
Make-up Exam/Quiz Policy/Late Work
Notify instructor within 24 hours of the exam/quiz regarding missing the exam/quiz. Exam/quiz must be
made up by the end of the day of next scheduled class period attended by student. If instructor is not
notified within 24 hours of exam/quiz- No make-up will be scheduled and the student will receive a zero
for that exam/quiz.
Assignments are due on the assigned date. No work will be accepted after the next class period from date
due unless permission given by professor. All late work will receive a deduction in points unless excused
by the professor. Students are required to e mail their work if they are absent by the next day.
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VIII. ADA Statement: If a student wishes to be identified as having a physical, mental, or learning
disability, that may or may not require reasonable accommodation(s), he/she must register with the Office
of Accessibility. These registered students should identify themselves to their instructors and provide a
written statement from the Accessibility Office that indicates the appropriate accommodations. The
process of a student self- proclaiming the need for accommodation should occur as early in the semester
as possible. The Office of Accessibility phone is 245-7339 and is located in Rhodes Hall room 116.
SOCIOLOGY 25103 SOCIAL PROBLEMS
RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST
Name________________
Points______________
_____Is title page format correct?
_____Reference Page- sources current within last 5 years, use of journals, page alphabetized,
A.P.A. Style?
_____References cited in the body of the paper?
_____Source citation correct in the body of the paper?
_____Content- Abstract, outline, points clear, topic covered thoroughly. Does body of the paper
reflect what you said in your introduction?
_____Is there evidence of critical thinking throughout the paper. Did you compare, contrast,
analyze?
_____Check grammar, spelling, punctuation. Have someone PROOFREAD
your paper.
Comments_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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TITLE PAGE FORMAT FOR RESEARCH PAPER & CREATIVE PROJECT
UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE
School of Social Sciences
Sociology Department
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of
Sociology 25103 Social Problems
(Name of Paper)
(Student’s Name)
(Date)
Submitted to Barbara J. Boley, M.S.W., Ph.D.
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COURSE OUTLINE
SOC 25103
FALL SEMESTER 2009
WEEK 1- 2 Course Introduction and group interaction.
Chapter 1PANEL GROUP MEMBERS WILL BE ASSIGNED RANDOMLY—FRIDAY8/28
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY—MONDAY-SEPTEMBER 1
WEEK 3-
Chapter 2-
WEEK 4-
Chapter 3-
WEEK 5-
Chapter 4-
WEEK 6-
Chapters 5-
WEEK 7-
Chapter 6-
NOTE******NO CLASS FRIDAY, OCT10- Community Service Day.
WEEK 8-
Chapter 7&8
WEEK 9
Chapter 9
WEEK 10-
Chapter10
WEEK 11-12
Chapter 11
WEEK 13
Chapter 12
WEEK 14-
Chapter 13&14
NOTE******No class on Friday-11 28-Thanksgiving Holiday
WEEK 15- - Group and Individual Presentations
*****FINAL EXAM TBA
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Critical Thinking Template for Analyzing the Logic of an Article or
Chapter in a Book
Take an article or chapter that you have been assigned to read for class, completing the
“logic” of it using the template below. Cite the title etc. in APA style.
THE LOGIC OF “(NAME OF ARTICLE OR CHAPTER)”
1) The main purpose of this article/chapter is _______________________________________.
(State as accurately as possible the author’s purpose for writing the article)
2) The key question that the author is addressing is __________________________________.
(Figure out the key question in the mid of the author when he/she wrote the article)
3) The most important information in this article is _________________________________.
(Figure out the facts, experiences, data the author is using to support her/his
conclusions.)
4) The main inferences/conclusions in this article are _______________________________.
(Identify the key conclusions the author comes to and presents in the
article/chapter.)
5) The key concept(s) we need to understand in this article/chapter is (are) ______________.
By these concepts the author means ___________________________. (Figure out
the most important ideas you would have to understand in order to understand the
author’s line of reasoning.)
6) The main assumption(s) underlying the author’s thinking is (are) _______________.
(Figure out what the author is taking for granted [that might be questioned].)
7. a) If we take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are __________________.
(What consequences are likely to follow if people take the author’s line of reasoning
seriously?)
b.) If we fail to take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are ______________.
(What consequences are likely to follow if people ignore the author’s reasoning?)
8) The main points of view presented in this article is (are) ___________________________.
(What is the author looking at, and how is he/she seeing it?)