Sociology 201s – Social Issues and Action

Spring 2015

Syllabus – 4 unit course

Contact Information

Instructor / Office Hours, Phone & Email:
Jason Whitley
Lecturer
Department of Sociology / Office hours: MW 3-4 pm
or by appointment
BSS 520c
826-4569

Meeting Time and Location

Monday and Wednesday 1:00-2:20 pm

FH 178

Official Catalog Description:

Required of all sophomore majors. Explores contemporary social problems and associated social policies. The course includes experiential education that connects students to local responses to social issues. [Prereq: SOC 104. Majors only.]

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the sociological perspective on social problems. We will utilize a critical constructionist lens to study the definition, sources, distribution, consequences of and responses to social problems. Using a critical lens we will explore how inequality (generally reflected in race, class, and gender) influences the social problems process. Combined with the constructionist perspective we are pushed to consider the subjective nature of social problems. That is, why do particular problems become a focus of concern in a given historical and social context? Why are some forms of drug use promoted while others are deplored? Why are we worried about teenage obesity in one year and hunger in another? Who decides what constitutes a social problem and worthy of attention and/or social intervention? Who is responsible for responding to social problems?

My goal within this course is for you to leave with more questions than answers…to become curious, engaged and maybe even enraged about the state of affairs in the world. My hope is that you finish the semester with a new way of thinking and a desire for social change through imaginative action. Since this is a service learning based course, you will have the opportunity to apply your emerging knowledge of the social problems process while volunteering in a community organization targeting a specific social problem.

Learning Outcomes

The following learning outcomes are course, Department and University specific:

Course

By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the social constructionist perspective of social problems
  2. Describe the social problems process
  3. Identify how inequality shapes the social problems process
  4. Locate opportunities for ongoing community engagement
  5. Communicate with precision and style in both writing and orally

Department

By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

  1. Think critically about social justice efforts and inequalities in communities and environments.
  1. Develop a solid foundation in sociological theory.
  2. Make linkages between empirical data and theoretical concepts.

University

By the end of the semester, students should have developed:

  1. Effective communication through written and oral modes.
  1. Critical and creative thinking skills in acquiring a broad knowledge base, and applying it to complex issues.
  2. Competence in a major area of study.
  3. Appreciation for, and an understanding of, an expanded world perspective by engaging respectfully with a diverse range of individuals, communities, and viewpoints.

Course Readings

Additional course readings will be available on Moodle. I will let you know when something new has been uploaded.

Required Books (available in HSU Bookstore and on reserve in the library)

Best, Joel. 2008. Social Problems. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Patel, Raj. 2008. Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System. New York: Melville House.

Grade Considerations

Components and Weight

•Participation (10%)

Come to class prepared and participate. You can miss up 2 class meetings

without being penalized. Choose them carefully since your final participation

grade will drop by a half grade (e.g., from a B+ to a B) for each additional day

that you are absent. In addition to attending class, I also expect you to be an

engaged and active learner. To that end, you have a responsibility to yourself

and other members of the class to come prepared having completed readings

before class, participate, actively listen to lecture and input from other members

of the class, and ask questions. Please note that disruptive behavior will

negatively impact your class participation grade (see “Class Ground Rules”).

Consistent class attendance with minimal to no contribution to class discussion

will bring a C participation grade. Participation will also be evaluated based on

your preparation for and contributions to reading and “jigsaw” discussion groups.

•In class writing assignments(15%)

There will be short, random in-class writing assignments on the assigned readings. You must be in class to take them. I will drop two the lowest two scores at the end of the semester.

•Papers (40%)

There will be two papers in this class that will consist of your own research regarding particular social issues/problems. Your first paper will consist of analyzing media coverage of a particular social problem. The second paper will consist of your own research of a social issue in peer reviewed scholarly journals. A separate handout will be posted on moodle with detailed description and rubric of these assignments. Each paper is worth 20% of your final grade.

•Service Learning Experience(35%)

You are expected to complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service (at

least 2 hours per week) during the semester. You can volunteer with one of the

many Y.E.S. Programs ( as well

as numerous other community based organizations. More information about

service learning options will be provided during the second class. Your service

learning experience will be graded according to the following:

•Completion of Hours and Related Paperwork (15 points). Once you have

identified your volunteer placement, you will need to complete the paperwork

provided on the course Moodle site (this includes the “Learning Plan”,

“Service Learning Agreement”, and the “Service Learner Time Log”).

Completion of this paper work including a time log demonstrating that you

have met the minimum number of hours expected counts towards 35% of

your final grade

•Weekly Journal Entries and Summative Reflection (20 points). During

your volunteer experience, you will act as a participant observer and

document your experiences and observations in weekly journal entries. I would encourage you to collect agency materials and internet resources (e.g., news stories) that pertain to the social problem the organization is addressing. At the end of the semester, you will write a 3-4 page summative reflection on your volunteer experience and give a brief (5 minute) presentation. More information on the summative paper will be provided on Moodle.

Overall Paper Grading Criteria:

  1. Organization – of each paragraph and overall essay – essay flows logically
  2. Meets specific requirements of assignment including proper citation of sources used
  3. Correct application of sociological concepts and assigned readings
  4. Sentence Structure – sentences well formed and appropriately varied in length
  5. Mechanics – free of spelling, typographical, and grammatical errors

All papers should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Do not exceed the page limit provided. For writing tutorial services, please consult The University Writing Center ( Helpful grammar tips can be found online at the Grammar Bytes website (

Grading Scale

A = 93-100 % / A- = 90-92 / B+ = 87-89 / B = 83-86 / B- = 80-82 / C+ = 77-79
C- = 70-72 / D+ = 67-69 / D = 63-66 / D- 60-62 / F = 0-59

Minimum Grade

Sociology students must earn a grade of “C” or above to meet major degree requirements. Sociology majors earning a “C-“or below may not count the course toward their major degree requirements.

Estimated Outside Class Time

Students hoping to earn an “A” in this class can anticipate spending an average of 6-8 hours each week on outside class activities: reading, writing and editing, conducting field research, and thinking about material in preparation for our class meetings. I encourage you to schedule and use this preparation time starting in the first week so that you can make the most of this seminar.

Late Work and Extra Credit

As a general rule, late work will not be accepted and I do not assign extra credit assignments. However, it is always best to communicate with me about a life crisis or medical issues.

Ground Rules:

  1. Come on time and stay the full class. If you need to come late or leave early because of a medical appointment or such, please talk to me before class and make your arrival or departure as quietly as possible. Find a seat nearest the door. This is as much, if not more, for your classmates as it is for me. Many students find it very distracting to keep focused on lecture when others are coming and going.
  2. Turn your cell phone off before coming to class.
  3. Be fully present. If you choose to come to class, I expect you to be mentally as well as physically present. Do not come to class if you are inebriated enough to ask yourself “Am I too high\drunk to go to class?” Trust me, I know if you are. If you need to get work done for another class – then just skip this class. We all have to make choices about where to focus our energy on any given day.
  4. Be honest. Collaborative learning is encouraged in and outside of the classroom; the only exception to this norm is completing the in class exams.
  5. Be respectful. The first four ground rules are indicators of respect for this class as well as for your classmates. In addition, class discussion time is a critical point of showing respect and intellectual growth. We will be dealing with controversial and sometimes personally painful subject matter in this course. We need to make discussion “safe” for everyone. We all need to make this happen together. Listen carefully to comments. Do not interrupt. Use words (nonverbal and guttural sounds are not acceptable forms of communication). If you want to take issue with someone else’s response, first summarize what you heard them say. Then discuss why the “idea” (not the person) is problematic.
  6. You speak for yourself. You own your opinion and you get to keep it. The voices that we speak with are often indicative of larger narratives that have been a part of our particular social experience. We do not speak for all members of a group to which we belong. I strive to present research that is methodological and theoretically sound. Your opinion may not be supported by research that I present in class. That dissonance may make you uncomfortable or even angry. Note those emotions. They are important.

Students with Disabilities

This syllabus was designed using recommended practices for creating accessible word documents. Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678 (voice) or 826-5392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange.

Add Drop Policy

Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for dropping or adding classes.

Emergency Evacuation

Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom posted on the orange signs and review for information on campus Emergency Procedures. During an emergency, information can be found campus conditions at: 826-INFO or

Academic Honesty

Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty: or

Attendance and Classroom Behavior

Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior:

Subject to Change with Fair Notice

Week / Date / Class Focus & Readings to be Discussed / Assignments Due
Jan 21 / Course Introduction & Overview
Jan 26 / Service Learning Options
Jan 28 / Best, Ch 1
Feb 2 / Best, Ch 2
Feb 4 / Best Ch 3.
Feb 9 / Best Ch 4 / First Journal Entry Due
* / Feb 11 / Article Presentation Day / Article from Newspaper, website or magazine related to chosen social problem(s).
Feb 16 / Article Presentation Day
Feb 18 / Best Ch 5
Feb 23 / Best Ch 6 / First Paper Due
Feb 25 / Best Ch 7
Mar 2 / Film, TBA / Second Journal Entry Due
Mar 4 / Best Ch 8
Mar 9 /
Best Ch 9
Mar 11 /
Guest Speaker TBA / Third Journal Entry Due
Mar 16 / Spring Break
Mar 18 /
Spring Break
Mar 23 / Best Ch 10
Mar 25 / Best Ch 11
Mar 30 / Library Day / Library
Apr 1 / Patel Ch 1 / Fourth Journal Entry Due
Apr 6 / Patel Ch 2 / Second Paper Due
Apr 8 / Film – TBA
Apr 13 / Patel Ch 3 / Fifth Journal Entry Due
Apr 15 / Patel Ch 4
Apr 20 / Patel Ch 5
Apr 22 / Patel Ch 6 / Sixth Journal Entry Due
Apr 27 / Patel Ch 7
Apr 29 / Patel Ch 8
May 4 / Patel Ch 9 / Seventh Journal Entry Due
May 6 /
Patel Ch 10
May 11 /
Summative Reflections
May 13 / Finals Week / Summative Reflection