soci103 Syllabus

Dr. John Ambenge

Tel. 860-343-5810

Email:jambenge@mxcc.commnet.Edu

SOCI 103 SOCIAL PROBLEMS Fall 2007

3 CREDITS CRN 3280

Online

Description: A systematic analysis of major contemporary social problems. Some of the topics to be covered include mental illness, crime, poverty, racial and ethnic conflicts, gender inequality, age and aging, family and violence, alcohol and drug abuse, with emphasis on their origins. This course is recommended as the introductory course for students who have an interest to major in sociology or social work.

Course Objectives: It is expected that at the end of the course, students should be able to:

a) State the sociological definition of a social problem and distinguish between subjective awareness and objective reality of social problems.

b) Explain how age, gender, household composition, race, and ethnicity relate to the likelihood of a person living in poverty in the United States.

c) State the individual, cultural, and structural explanations of poverty, and explain why sociologists prefer the structural explanations.

d) Compare and contrast the experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, and Asian Americans in the United States.

e) Define ageism and state why it is considered a social problem.

f) Understand sexual orientation and explain how religion and law influence people's beliefs about homosexuality and people's reactions to pornography.

g) Compare and contrast biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on alcohol and drug addiction.

h) Define, and distinguish between the different types of crimes and the characteristics of parents who abuse their children.

i) Explain how race, class, and gender affect health care in the United States.

j) Discuss the major problems in education in the United States and what means have been proposed for resolving them.

Course Requirements and Evaluation Methods:

a) Weekly discussions posted on the Discussion Board* = 25%.

b) Bi-weekly Tests = 40%

d) *Mid-term Exam = 15%

e)* Final Exam = 20%

Grading System:

95 - 100 = A

90 - 94 = A-

87 - 89 = B+

84 - 86 = B

80 - 83 = B-

77 - 79 = C+

74 - 76 = C

70 - 73 = C-

67 - 69 = D+

64 - 66 = D

60 - 63 = D-

Below 60 = F

Textbook: Macionis, John J. 2008. Social problems, 3^rd edition, Pearson Prentice hall: Upper Saddler River, NJ.

Tests and Exams: Will consist of objective multiple choices questions based on assigned readings and lecture notes. None of the exams, tests, and quizzes will be cumulative. And No Make-Ups for missed exams, unless with excused absence.

* Late submissions will not be graded, except with excused absence.

*Weekly discussions: Students are expected to participate in the weekly discussions, while creating a comfortable learning environment regardless of ideological or personal differences of opinion. These discussions are treated as your class participations. Students should post their responses on the discussion board so that other students have an opportunity to react to them. DON’T email them to your instructor.

NB: Discussion questions will be available Monday 12.00 am to Sunday 6.00 pm. Any submissions after 6.00 pm on Sunday will be considered late submissions and therefore a “zero” grade will be assigned.

Maximum Points: The maximum points a student can earn on any weekly discussion topic is 5 points. To earn the maximum points, a student MUST submit no less than 5 responses per topic. For more information on scoring, please read the instructions. Failure to submit and/or make contributions as expected will affect your final grade negatively.

Withdrawal from Courses: A student who wishes to withdraw from the course must obtain a withdrawal form from the Records Office, fill in and sign the form, obtain the signature of the course instructor and return the completed form to the Records Office. Please don't ask me over the phone or via email to withdraw you from my class. It is your responsibility to do so by observing the protocol.

Disability: If you have a hidden or visible disability that may require classroom or test taking modifications, please let me know as soon as possible.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the use of another's ideas or phrase (s) and presenting that idea (s) as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally. Also the use of website or library materials without proper citation is a form of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. The Board of Trustees' Proscribed Conduct Policy Section 5.2.1 of the Board of Trustees' Policy Manual refers. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty will receive a "Failing" grade in this course.

Reading Assignments, Tests and Exams:

Week 1:08/28 - 09/02 Chapter 1: Studying Social Problems

The Sociological Imagination

Social Problems: The Basics

Analyzing Social problems

Responding to Social Problems

Week 2: 09/03 - 09/09 Chapters 2: Poverty and Wealth Economic

Inequality in the United States

The Rich and the Poor: A social Profile

Problems linked to Poverty

Responding to Poverty

Theoretical Analysis

Politics and Poverty

Test 1: 9/06 -9/10 Chapters 1 & 2

Week 3: 09/10 - 09/16 Chapter 3: Racial & Ethnic Inequality

Race and ethnicity

Patterns of interaction

The Social Standing of U.S. Minorities

Discrimination

Theoretical Analysis

Politics, race, and Ethnicity

Week 4: 09/17 - 09/23 Chapter 4: Gender Inequalities,

What is Gender?

Gender and Social Institutions

Gender Stratification

Theoretical analysis

Politics and Gender

Test 2: 9/20 - 9/24 Chapters 3 & 4

Week 5: 09/24 - 09/30 Chapter 5: Aging & Inequality

Growing old

The Graying of the United States

Problems of Aging

Theoretical Analysis

Politics & Aging

Week 6: 10/1 - 10/07 Chapter 6: Crime & Criminal Justice

Norms, law, and Crime

The Extent of the Problem

Who Are the Criminals?

Criminal Justice System

Theoretical Analysis

Politics and Crime

Week 7: 10/08 - 10/14 Chapter 7: Violence

Criminal Violence

Family Violence

Social Dimension of Violence

Theoretical Analysis

Politics and Violence

MID-TERM: 10/12 -10/15 Chapters 5, 6 & 7.

Week 8:10/15 - 10/21 Chapter 8: Sexuality

Sexual attitudes in the United States

Sexual orientation

Pornography, Sexual harassment, Prostitution, Teenage Pregnancy, etc.

Theoretical approaches

Politics and Sexuality

Week 9: 10/22 - 10/28 Chapter 9: Alcohol & Other Drugs

What is a Drug?

The Extent of Drug Use

Types of Drugs and the social problems

Politics and Drugs

Theoretical Analysis

Test 3: 10/26 -10/29) Chapters 8 & 9

Week 10: 10/29 - 11/04 Chapters 10: Physical& Mental Illness

Health and Illness: A Global Perspective

Health Care in the United States

Mental Health and Illness

Theoretical Analysis

Politics and Health

Week 11: 11/05 - 11/11 Chapter 11: Economy & Politics

Economic Systems

The Problems of the U.S. Political Economy

Theoretical Analysis

Economics and Politics

Test 4: 11/08 -11/12 Chapters 10 & 11

Week 12: 11/12 - 11/18 Chapter 12: Work and Workplace

Structural Changes in the U.S. Economy