Social Problems, SOCY 2031-200

DUAN G-125, T-R, 8-9:15

Fall 2006

Bryce Merrill, Instructor

John.Merrill@colorado.edu

303.429.6427

Office Location and Hours:

Ketchum 35, Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 to 11:30 and by appointment if necessary.

You may contact me by phone or email. I will only check and answer emails and phone calls during my regularly scheduled office hours, unless otherwise mentioned.

I use a listserve for this course to communicate relevant information to all students in a timely fashion. You are required to sign up to this list. To do so, follow these instructions:

send an email to: listproc@lists.colorado.edu

then write in the body of the email:

subscribe merrillsociology@lists.colorado.edu Jane Student

insert your name instead of “Jane Student”.

Syllabus

Course Overview:

This course explores the sociological study of social problems. We will use what C. Wright Mills called the sociological imagination to examine how personal troubles and public problems intersect and are inextricably linked. We are going to explore the contemporary face of inequality in America and the world. We will also consider the troubles of the family as a social institution. We will look at the social causes and consequences of environmental problems. And we will contemplate one of the greatest problems to ever plague civil societies: crime. I am sure that we will also discuss other major social problems, including any that may come up in current events.

In many ways we will discuss what most people talk and profess to know a lot about: society’s problems. However, we are going to move beyond common sense theories of problems (e.g. crime happens because people make bad choices or poverty could be solved if poor people would stop being lazy). We are going to take a very critical and, for some, unusual look at social problems, one that involves considering economic, cultural, historical, and other social components of social problems. We will avoid individualistic and psychological explanations of social problems in order to consider sociological ones.

Because sociological thinking is not intuitive, we will spend a little time in the beginning of the semester with an introduction to sociology, including it’s scope, methods, and primary theoretical perspectives. We will need this material to ground our study of social problems in sociological thinking.

Finally, this class will be exceedingly challenging because it draws on critical constructionism, a radical approach to sociological thinking that is not only uncommon popularly but also among sociologists. Critical constructionism challenges basic assumptions about the reality of social problems (e.g. Is “child abuse” inherently a social problem or has it become one over time?). It also implicates all social scientists in the construction of social problems, suggesting that we may perpetuate social problems simply by studying them. All of this makes for a lot of complex and messy discussions…these are good! The world is messy and complex, and so are its problems.

Objectives:

• to introduce students to the ways sociologists study social problems.
• to focus on a critical constructionist’ approach to social problems
• to explore major social problems facing contemporary
  American society.
• to discuss problems associated with globalization
• to examine how public problems affect individuals personally.

Readings:

The text book available at Word is Out: 2015 10^th St, Boulder, CO; Phone: 303.449.1415

1. Course Text: Social Problems: An Introduction to Critical Constructionism by Richard Heiner.
2. Additional Readings: To be made available on-line or as copies by instructor.

Evaluations:

All assignments are to be handed in during class time. I DO NOT accept emailed assignments. There are NO make-up exams. Students fifteen or more minutes late to an exam are considered absent and will receive a failing grade for that exam.

3 Exams (multiple choice, matching, and short answer and essay)	100 Points Each	300 points total
Final Exam (Cumulative)		100 points total
Attendance	5 checks/5 points per check	25 points total
5 Random Reading Quizzes	20 points each assignment	100 points total
Essay Assignment (handout to explain assignment)	DUE FRIDAY APRIL 7^TH BY FIVE PM	100 points

Total: 625 points

Behavioral Expectations:

All students are required to follow the University’s classroom behavior policy, which can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html. In addition, the University’s honor code applies to all assignments and exams:

On my honor as a University of Colorado at Boulder student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.

The following behavioral expectations also apply:

• Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and are grounds for failure in this course.
• Cellular phones must be turned off during class time, unless your profession requires you leave it on. In that case, please notify me before class.
• Students may not arrive late for class nor may they leave early, unless in case of emergency. In that case, I’ll need written verification of the emergency.
• Because sociologists often study “sensitive” subjects (such as racism, sexism, delinquency, and so on), it is extremely important to be respectful of each other when discussing these matters. Diverse opinions, even controversial ones, are welcome; incivility toward each other will not be tolerated.
• Side Conversations WILL NOT be tolerated. The first time a student is asked to discontinue a side conversation will result in a warning. The second time will result in the student being permanently moved. The third and any subsequent time throughout the semester will result in dismissal from class. DISMISSED STUDENTS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MISSED MATERIAL.
• Students MAY NOT pack up early. Class will be dismissed at the scheduled time, unless otherwise instructed.
• Any behavior that is determined by me to disturb the class will not be allowed.

Disabilities Accommodation Letter:

Students with documented disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or psychiatric disabilities should see me within the first two weeks of class to discuss possible reasonable accommodations. For more information, consult the Office of Disability Services (Willard 322, 303.492.8671).

Religious Observances:

Students who have conflicts between religious observance dates and tests or assignments should contact me at least two weeks before the relevant date to make appropriate arrangements.

Tentative Schedule

(changes will be announced in class)

Topics Reading/Media

8.29	Introductions and Syllabus	Syllabus
8.31	Sociological Imagination	Heiner, p. 1-6
9.5	Critical Constructionism	Heiner, p. 7-18
9.7	Media and Corporations	Film
9.12	Inequality	Heiner, p. 23-32
9.14	Capitalism and the U.S.A.	Heiner, p. 32-45
9.19	Poverty	Heiner, p. 45-55
9.21	Race and Inequality	Heiner, p. 55-62
9.26	Review for Exam 1
9.28	Exam 1
10.3	History of the Family	Heiner, p. 73-79
10.5	Contemporary Families	Heiner, p. 80-84
10.10	Children and Families	Heiner, p. 85-94
10.12	Problems of the Family	Heiner, p. 95-102
10.17	Environmental Problems	Heiner, p. 147-157
10.19	Consumerism	Heiner, p. 161-168
10.24	Inequality and the Environment	Heiner, p. 168-175
10.26	Populations	Heiner, p. 175-179
10.31	Review for Exam 2
11.2	EXAM 2
11.7	Corporate Crime	Film
11.9	Corporate Crime	Film
11.14	Corporate Crime	Film
11.16	Corporate Crime	Heiner, p. 105-112
	Essays due FRIDAY 4.7 BY 5 PM
11.21	THANKSGIVING BREAK	no class
11.23	THANKSGIVING BREAK	no class
11.281	Culture and Crime	Heiner, p. 112-117
11.30	Crime Scares	Heiner, p. 117-132
12.5	Terrorism	Heiner, p. 142-144
12.7	Review for Exam 3
12.12	Exam 3
12.14	Review for Final
12.19	Final Exam	7:30 to 10:00 am