SOC 300, Social Problems

Summer, 2013
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday: 2:15-3:50 pm, EDU 212
Instructor Contact Information
Name
Office Location
Office Hours
Email Address
Telephone Number(s)
Classroom Location

Leslie-Dawn Quick
6025 BAL
By Appointment
[email protected]
757-683-6895
EDUCATION BUILDING 0212

Course description
The purpose of this course is to give students an understanding of social problems within the
United States and the World (including topics such as racism, poverty, class inequality,
globalization, crime, and state foreign policies). We will use a critical sociological imagination,
or the capacity to recognize that our experiences are connected to larger society within the
context of time, place, history, and society. This will allow us to explore how social problems
are created and their broader connections within society. This perspective also allows us to see
how the structure of society perpetuates social problems and we will use it to explore how
behavior and experience are connected to social structural condition. Throughout the course we
will examine a variety of social problems. When possible, we will attempt to look for solutions
to these problems while exploring how current policy has succeeded or failed.

Course Objectives

Understand key vocabulary terms associated with the field.

Develop an understanding of and adopt a critical sociological imagination.

Identify social problems and their sources

Understand public discourse on social problems and how various groups or institutions
shape and influence that discourse

Develop critical thinking skills and the capacity to analyze information consumed about
social problems

Understand why some conditions are identified as social problems and others are not, and
the consequences of this identification for society as well as for specific populations

Apply critical thinking and analytical skills throughout the course.

Required Textbooks
Kotlowitz Alex (1998) The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and
Americas Dilemma. First Anchor Press. ISBN-13: 978-0385477215
Scott Sernau (2012) /Global Problems: The Search for Equity, Peace, and Sustainability. Pearson
Education Inc. ISBN 978-0-205-84177-6
Heiner, Robert (2013). Social Problems: An Introduction to Critical Constructionism. 4th
edition. ISBN 978-0-19-985907-8

Additional Materials
Additional materials will be posted to Blackboard for student review throughout the course or
will be handed out during class. You will be responsible for reading and reviewing all material
provided within the course.

Contact Policy
It is my goal to be available to you as needed. In order to follow University policy, and to ensure
I am able to respond to you, please always send e-mail from your ODU student account
(ending in @odu.edu). E-mail sent from any other address will not be responded to. My
preferred method of correspondence is University e-mail; however, I am available to meet in my
office by appointment. When e-mailing me, please include the course number (SOC 300) in the
subject line. Additionally, course related e-mails are professional documents, therefore I expect
you to write accordingly. When I send e-mails to the class, I will ONLY use your ODU.edu email.

Course Requirements
Readings: Readings are to be completed prior to the scheduled date. This is a lecture and
discussion based class. I expect you to complete readings ahead of time
Exams: There will be two exams in this course, one in week 3 and one in week 5. Exams will
consist of some combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and/or essay.
All Writing Assignments: Writing is an essential skill. For all writing assignments you must
use APA or ASA format and you must include in-text citations and a reference list. You must cite
appropriately; citations must be used for any material or ideas that are not originally yours.
Proper grammar, structure and formatting are expected. This means no slang, no text language
or emoticons. All written work should be double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
Case Study Final Paper: There will be a final paper in this class. The paper will focus on a
social problem of course choice and must demonstrate the sociological imagination. Each paper
will be turned in to me on or prior to the due date. If you have problems writing response papers,
please speak to me immediately. Do not wait until the last minute to contact me!
You will have the option of turning in a draft prior to the due date of the paper. If you turn in a
draft, I will review and grade the draft for you to improve upon it prior to the due date of the
paper. It is highly advisable for you to use this option.

Special Assignments: There will be three to four additional assignments throughout the course.
The specifics of each assignment will be given during the week in which they are assigned.
These assignments may be within class or take-home (take-home assignments should be typed).
If an assignment is given in class, it cannot be made up without proper documentation.
The final grade in this course will be calculated using the following calculations:
Exam 1
20%
Exam 2
20%
Final Paper Topic
10%
Final Paper Outline
10%
Final Paper
20%
Assignments
20%
Total
100%

Your grades will be available on Blackboard for you to review

Grading System
Grades are assigned in accordance with ODU's current University Catalogue. Grades indicate
superior (A), good (B), satisfactory (C), passing (D), or failing (F). Grading is based upon your
performance on items listed in the Course Requirements section of this syllabus.
Below is the course grade distribution:
A= 94-100%; A- = 90-93%
B+ = 87-89%; B = 84-86%; B- = 80-83%
C+ = 77-79%; C = 74-76%; C- = 70-73%
D+ = 67-69%; D = 64-66%; D- = 60-63%
A record of your grades will be kept within Blackboard. Please use this record to track your
progress within the course. I am always available by appointment for you to meet with me to
discuss your grades.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend class. You are responsible for the material covered in class
a good amount of the material covered in lecture may not be within the readings. Failure
to attend class typically reflects within grades and it has been shown that students who attend
class regularly do better on exams and writing assignments. If student participation and
attendance becomes an issue, pop-quizzes will be added and will be worth up to 5% of your
grade. If you are absent on a day of a pop quiz you will receive a 0 unless you have a legitimate
excuse (e.g. doctors note). Please attend class and come prepared. Additionally, please arrive
on timecoming late or leaving early is an unfair distraction to other students as well as to me.

Late Assignments and Test Attendance

Late assignments will be accepted with the understanding that one letter grade will be deducted
for every day late. If you are one day late, a B letter grade becomes a B- and if you are two
days late, a B will become a C+.
Exam and Make-ups
Arriving after the first person completes their exam will result in a zero on that exam. If you email me, or call me (and speak to me) prior to the exam I will allow you to make-up the exam
provided that you are able to give documentation for your absence (doctors note, emergency,
accident, etc.).
Participation: While this is a lecture based class, I expect students to participate by asking and
answering questions during the class. Students should be prepared to participate in group
activities by performing the readings prior to class. Students are also expected and encouraged
to share their thoughts and opinions as well as to exchange ideas about the material we cover
during class. This course has many controversial issues and our classroom is a supportive
environment where you can share your thoughts and ideas to foster healthy debate about these
topics. If you have questions during any portion of the class, please ask. If you do not want
to ask your question in class, please see me after class, in my office, or e-mail me.
Media: Throughout this course I will show several films related to the topics we discuss. Some
materials shown in class may be political or contain offensive or sensitive information. While
these topics may be controversial and sensitive in nature, the benefit and lessons we can take
away from viewing such material often outweigh our personal sensitivities to such material.
University Policies
College Classroom Conduct
The following standards are intended to define acceptable classroom behavior that preserves
academic integrity and ensures that students have optimum environmental conditions for
effective learning.
1. Students must turn off cell phones and pagers during class or have them set to vibrate mode.
2. Classes are expected to begin on time, and students will respect the time boundaries
established by the professor. If classroom doors are locked, students may not knock or seek
entrance in other ways.
3. Instructors may require that cell phones and other electronic devices be left on their desks
during tests or examinations.
4. Students must not engage in extraneous conversations during classes. Such acts are considered
to be violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
5. Students will activate their Old Dominion email accounts and check them before each class. If
the student chooses to have his/her messages forwarded to another account, it is the student's
responsibility to take the necessary steps to have them forwarded.
6. Consumption of food and drink during class is prohibited, except when the professor has
specifically approved of such acts.
7. Offensive language, gestures and the like are disrespectful and disruptive to the teachinglearning process. See: http://studentservices.odu.edu/osja/ccc_pamphlet.pdf.

Academic Integrity
I pledge to support the honor system of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form
of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a
member if the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of
the honor system. I will report to Honor Council hearings if summoned."
The Honor Pledge is taken seriously and will be upheld within this course. Any violations of the
honor code or code of student conduct will be reported immediately.

Plagiarism
Per the university student code of conduct cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and
facilitation are prohibited.
Plagiarism is defined by the code of conduct in section 1530-8 as Using someone elses
language, ideas, or other original material without acknowledging its source in any academic
exercise. 4 Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following: submitting a
research paper obtained from a commercial research service, the Internet, or from another
student as if it were original work; or making simple changes to borrowed materials while
leaving the organization, content, or phraseology intact. Plagiarism also occurs in a group project
if one or more of the members of the group does none of the groups work and participates in
none of the groups activities, but attempts to take credit for the work of the group.
Violating the code of conduct and committing plagiarism will not be tolerated.
In order to avoid plagiarism, remember to always cite material that is note your own. Also
remember that directly quoting a source requires page numbers and that if you paraphrase you
must still cite your source. Resources for plagiarism help and examples can be found below:
http://al.odu.edu/al/resources/undergrad.shtml
http://al.odu.edu/wts/PlagiarismTutorial/WTSPlagiarismSplash.htm
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_plagiar.html

Students with Special Needs

Old Dominion Universitys Policy #4500, Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
Old Dominion University is committed to providing students with documented disabilities the
same opportunity to achieve academic success as it provides for all students. The provision of
services to students with documented disabilities at Old Dominion University is based on the
principle of non-discrimination and accommodation in academic programs set forth in the
implementing regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990. These services will be provided within the basic guidelines to
follow, with the understanding that students with disabilities may require unique
accommodations and must have their needs assessed on a case-by-case basis. The provision of
accommodations for students with documented disabilities need not guarantee students equal
results or achievement; accommodations must only afford them an equal opportunity for
achievement.
If you have a disability which affects your academic performance or if you have any concerns,
please contact me via email or after class. The ODU Disability Services Office: 683-4655.

Withdrawal
Please review the syllabus and course requirements immediately. Participation in this course
indicates your acceptance of the policies, procedures, and objectives outlined within the syllabus.
If you are not in agreement with the syllabus, the amount of work set forth for the course, or feel
that this course does not meet your individuals needs or expectations, please drop the class by the
drop/add deadline.
The add/drop deadline for the Summer 2013 semester is May 22nd. The last day to withdraw
without the instructors signature is June 10th.

Course Schedule
Throughout the course please begin to expose yourself to public and/or alternative media
sources. Potential sources include National Public Radio (NPR) (www.npr.org ) which has audio
and text transcriptions, and others such as:
http://www.thenation.com/
http://www.democracynow.org/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.independent.co.uk/
http://www.motherjones.com/
http://english.aljazeera.net/
This is a tentative schedule for our class lectures and discussions. Be aware that this might be
adjusted as the semester progresses. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss
that days reading. If it appears on the schedule for that day, read it BEFORE attending class.
Date

Topics

Assignments

Week 1
Week 1 May 20

Introduction to the course and

course overview

Week 1 May 21

What is a social problem?

How do we define one?

Week 1 May 22

Framework and sociological

tools for understanding social
problems.

Heiner Chapter 1

Racism

Dangerous Music in Black and

White (on Blackboard)

Week 1 May 23

Music Case Study

Syllabus. Plagiarism Materials

on Blackboard.

Rothe and Muzzatti Enemies

Everywhere (on Blackboard)

Assignment 1 (Music)
Week 2

Week 2 May 27

Labor Day Holiday

No class

Week 2 May 28

Domestic social inequality: The Other Side of the River

Capitalism
Assignment 2 (due 5/30/12)
Heiner Chapter 2, Inequality
and Capitalism

Week 2 May 29

Domestic social inequality:

Education, Mental Health

Heiner Chapter 3, Inequality

of Life Chances in the US

Week 2 May 30

Domestic social inequality:

Gender and poverty

Sernau Chapter 3, Gender and

Family

Week 3
Week 3 June 3

Domestic social inequality:

Crime

Heiner Chapter 5, Crime and

Deviance

Week 3 June 4

Domestic social inequality:

Mass Incarceration

Sernau Chapter 5, Crime:

Fear in the Streets

Week 3 June 5

Drug Case Study

Waging War on Drugs (BB)

Assignment 2

Exam Review
Week 3 June 6

EXAM #1

Be prepared for your exam!

Week 4

Week 4 June 10

Global Social Inequalities

Sernau Chapter 1

Week 4 June 11

Global Social Inequalities:

Consumerism

Sernau Chapter 2,

Ethnicity & Religion

Sernau Chapter 8

Special Topics

Assignment 3 The Other

Side

Week 4 June 12
Week 4 June 13

Assignment 2 Due

Week 5
Week 5 June 17

Week 5 June 18

Global Social Inequalities:

Environmental issues

Heiner Chapter 6

Global Issues of Social

Giddens Globalization BB

Sernau Chapter 12, Ecology

Inequalities: Transnational
corporations and social harms
Week 5 June 19

Global Issues of Social

Inequalities: International
organizations

Week 5 June 20

EXAM # 2

Assignment 3 Due
Sernau Chapter 2
The Dollars and Sense
Collective (on blackboard)
Be prepared for your exam!

Week 6
Week 6 June 24

Global Issues of Social

Inequalities: Human Rights

Sernau Chapter 4 Education

War, the role of the state and

international financial
institutions

Sernau Chapter 6, War

Week 6 June 26

What we are told are social

problems today and
yesterday?

Morozov Think again: The

internet (on blackboard)

Week 6 June 27

Policy implications and social

activism: What can we do?

Heiner Chapter 7

Week 6 June 25

Sernau Chapter 7, Democracy

and Human Rights

Rothe, Muzzatti, and Mullins

Crime on the High Seas (on
blackboard)

Sernau Conclusions 352-356

FINAL EXAMCASE STUDY PAPER: DUE JULY 1ST

**********THE FINAL EXAM IS YOUR FINAL PAPER DUE JULY 1**********

Course Disclaimer
While every attempt has been made to provide an accurate and complete syllabus, events and
circumstances beyond the instructors control may require the modification of the content of this
syllabus. This syllabus is subject to change depending upon progress within the course and the
needs of the students.