Sociology 2004: Social Organization and Social Problems (on-line)Fall 2014

Professor Anastasia (Stacy) Vogt YuanContact information: avy@vt.edu

Office hours: arranged with the professor

Course Description:Examines the nature, extent, and causes of social problems in the United States and around the globe from multiple perspectives. Emphasizes the role of conflicting economics, racial, ethnic, national, and gender interests in the creation and perpetuation of social problems.

Problems of particular note to be covered by this specific course include war and terrorism, crime, alcohol and drugs, inequality, sexism, racism, education, health, and immigration.

Course Requirements: Course Lectures and Readings:Students are expected to read the assigned readings and to review the course lectures. The lectures are Powerpoint slides and posted in Scholar under Resources.

The books for this class include the following: Kornblum, William and Julian, Joseph. 2012. Social Problems, fourteenth edition. Pearson. Annual Editions: Social Problems 13/14. McGraw-Hill. Plus readings in italics are posted in Scholar under Resources as pdfs or links to websites

3 Exams (3 exams; each worth 27% for a total of 81% of final grade):The exams are 50 questions in multiple choice and true/false format. These exams are open book and open notes, but they are timed. You will have an hour to answer 50 questions in Scholar. You will have at least three days in which to take each exam.

3 Assignments/Question Responses (worth 19% of final grade, 6.33% each; may complete an additional question response for extra credit up to 3% of final grade): For each assignment, pick one question from the topic questions and use the readings and your opinions to write a 300 word (maximum) response. A detailed explanation (including grading details) of this assignment will be posted in Scholar. Must complete three assignments; can complete one more for extra credit.

If there is unusually poor performance on an exam, I may curve, rescore problematic questions, or otherwise modify scoring to form an acceptable overall grade curve. However, this decision is up to the discretion of the instructor and will never lower but will only improve your score.

Grading Scale93.0% and above = A90.0 – 92.9% = A-87.0 – 89.9% = B+83.0 – 86.9% = B80.0 - 82.9% = B-

77.0 - 79.9% = C+73.0 – 76.9% C70.0 - 72.9 = C-67.0 – 69.9% = D+60.0 - 66.9% = D59.9% and below = F

This course is organized as a Tues./Thurs. course. However, the goal of an online course is flexibility. Thus, this organization is a suggestion, and students have some flexibility when to complete the readings. The assignments have firm deadlines. The exams also have firm deadlines and must be taken over the designated days. All scheduled readings should be completed before taking each exam. Otherwise, students have flexibility about when to complete the readings and question topics. Exam 3 is not cumulative.

COURSE SCHEDULE

SECTION 1: SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SOCIAL CLASS, AND RACE

Week 1Aug. 26 Since online courses may be new to you, this day is set aside to familiarize

yourself with Scholar and to review the syllabus and course announcements.

Aug. 28 Question #1: What is a social problem?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch.1

Week 2Sept. 2 Question #2: Why are people poor?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 6 & Annual Editions #14 & 15

Sept. 4 Question #3: Who rules America?Readings: Annual Editions #5 & 6 & Inside the Hidden World of Earmarks (see Scholar link)

Week 3Sept. 9 Question #4: Is social mobility a myth?

Readings: Annual Editions #8 & 9 & Goodbye Horatio Alger (see Scholar link)

Sept. 11 Question #5: Is our consumerist culture a problem?Readings: Annual Editions #4 & Debtor Nation (see Scholar link)

Week 4Sept. 16 Question #6: How is racism still a problem in the age of Obama?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 7 and Annual Editions #16

Sept. 18 Question #7: How does race influence life chances?Readings: Emmett and Trayvon (see Scholar link) & What Black Parents Tell Their Sons (see Scholar link) and Gun Deaths Shaped by Race (see Scholar link)

Week 5Sept. 23 Question #8: Is immigration good or bad for America?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian pp. 429-442 and Annual Editions #11 & 18

EXAM #1 (OPENS THURS. SEPT. 25TH AND CLOSES MON. SEPT. 29TH)

SECTION 2: GENDER, FAMILY, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH CARE

Week 6Sept. 30 Question #9: What are gender and sexism and how do they influence US society?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 8 and Rethinking Gender and The New Sex Scorecard (see Scholar link)

Oct. 2 Question #10: What gender disadvantages still exist?Readings: Annual Editions #19 & 22 and Are Young Women Earning More Than Their Boyfriends? (see Scholar link)

Week 7Oct. 7 Question #11: Is the family in decline?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 10 and Annual Editions #25

Oct. 9 Question #12: Is marriage good for you and is there a retreat from marriage?Readings: Annual Editions #23 & 24 and The Frayed Knot (see Scholar link) and The Gay Guide to Wedded Bliss (see Scholar link)

Week 8Oct. 14 Question #13: Are ties and the quality of relationships with family, friends, and

community decreasing?Readings: Annual Editions #2 & 3 and Reestablishing the Commons (see Scholar link) and Is Facebook Making Us Lonely? (see Scholar link)

Oct. 16 Question #14: Who succeeds and fails in the current education system?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 11 and College Tuition High, but Cost of Not Going is Higher (see Scholar link)

Week 9Oct. 21 Question #15: How can we improve the education system?

Readings: Annual Editions # 26 & 27 & Nine Powerful Practices (see Scholar link)

Oct 23 Question #16: What should we do to improve health?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 2

Week 10Oct. 28 Question #17: How can we improve the medical system?

Readings: Annual Editions #29 and Fixing Hospitals (see Scholar link) and The Cost Conundrum (see Scholar link)

EXAM #2 (OPENS THURS. OCT. 30TH AND CLOSES MON. NOV. 3RD)

SECTION 3: MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, CRIME, TERRORISM, AND THE FUTURE

Week 11Nov. 4 Question #18: How is mental health related to inequality?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 3

Nov. 6 Question #19: Who uses alcohol and drugs and what problems does it cause?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 4

Week 12Nov. 11 Question #20: What causes crime and violence?

Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 5

Nov. 13 Question #21: What are the burdens of crime?Readings: Annual Editions #30 & 31

Week 13Nov. 18 Question #22: What are the problems with law and the criminal justice system?

Readings: Annual Editions #32, 33, & 35

Nov. 20 Question #23: Is terrorism and war inevitable?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Ch. 15

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!! NOV. 22ND THRU NOV. 30TH

Week 14Dec. 2 Question #24: What are the new problems in terrorism and war?

Readings: Annual Editions #36, 37, & 38

Dec. 4 Question #25: How many people is too many?Readings: Kornblum and Julian Pp. 415-428 & Annual Editions #39 & 41

Week 15Dec. 9 Question #26: What does the future hold?

Readings: Annual Editions #45 & 47

EXAM #3 (OPENS FRI. DEC. 12TH AND CLOSES TUES. DEC 16TH)

All students must abide by the Virginia Tech Honor Code. No academic dishonesty including plagiarism, falsification, or cheating will be tolerated in this class. All violations will be reported to the proper authorities.

Students requiring accommodations for special needs, circumstances, or disabilities should contact the professor via e-mail.