Sociology 112: Social Problems Winter Semester 2014 Instructor: Jonathan Jarvis Office: 2045 JFSB Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00pm Office Phone: 8014224240 (24240 if on campus) Email: jonathan_jarvis@byu.edu Course: Soc 112 Section 001 When and Where: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:001:50pm in JFSB B002 TAs: Aaron Woodall: aaronjules@gmail.com 1053 JFSB (Hours to be announced) Kevin Johnstun: kevinljohnstun@gmail.com 1053 JFSB (Hours to be announced) Required Books Social Problems (5th Edition) By John J. Macionis ISBN10: 0205881394 Outliers: The Story of Success By Malcolm Gladwell ISBN: 9780316017923 Little, Brown and Company Course Description What is a social problem? Why do social problems occur? What should we do about them? Social problems are everywhere and affect almost everyone in some way. Consider the relevance of gay marriage, health care, education reform, financial regulation, and immigration in your own life; these are a few of the topics we will dissect in this course. The effectiveness of this course is based not only on awareness of these issues, but also our ability to understand multiple perspectives for any given problem. In an era where opinions and personalities rule the airwaves, we will move beyond politically entrenched ideas towards a more humane, logical, factbased understanding of social problems. With this approach, I hope we can foster respectful, insightful debate on issues that affect us all even if we might disagree. In this course I am interested in your ability to know the research, the arguments and potential solutions. Therefore, class discussion is highly valued, placing responsibility on you to be thoroughly prepared for class each day so you can participate and elevate everyone's classroom experience.
Pop Quizzes (10% of grade): There is not a specific attendance policy in this course. However, inclass quizzes and writings make up a significant portion of your grade. These will take place throughout the term and will be unannounced. They will consist of short essay responses to any of the material in the reading. Students may not makeup quizzes, writings, or exercises without a written excuse one day prior to class. Latecomers cannot make up inclass quizzes. There are 11 quizzes in total. The lowest quiz score will be dropped at the end of the semester. Short Paper Assignments (15% of grade): There are 3 paper assignments due in class (2 pages each). 1. Are you Middle Class? (5%): On the New York Times Interactive Graph, look up what is considered to be your socioeconomic background. React to what you find by describing how these contexts of advantage/disadvantage may have shaped your opportunities. This information is available at the link below, under the tab Components of Class. DUE: January 24 th at 1pm http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_class_graphic/index_03.html 2. Counterpoint Assignment (5%): Select a topic of interest (covered in the Photo Essay assignment) and argue the opposite of your viewpoint convincingly with theoretical clarity and empirical evidence. Further information will be posted on Learning Suite. DUE: February 5 th at 1pm 3. Outline for Photo Essay (5%): This assignment should be 2 pages in length and include a detailed outline of the Social Problem you will be focusing on in your Photo essay. I expect to see headers and sub headers showing me that you have thought about this topic and how you plan to analyze and present your information. Includes a bibliography with at least 2 sources you ve found on this topic. DUE: March 5 th at 1pm Photo Essay (30% of grade): The purpose of the Photo Essay is to create a research paper with evidence (pictures) of a local social problem. To write your research paper you will need to capture multiple images of one social problem in your community. You may take pictures of places, groups of people, and things. Evidence of social problems can be direct (i.e. town meeting) or indirect (i.e. rainbow flag). Your ability to frame pictures, use indirect lighting, and use balance in the composition of your photos is not relevant to the overall aim of this project. I will not accept pictures where the photographer could be considered in danger (i.e. do not take pictures of drug transactions). Furthermore, photographs of individuals should be taken after the express permission of the subjects. Pictures of groups of people and objects in public spaces require no express permission. Staged pictures are not commonly accepted. This is a research paper that uses photographs as evidence of the key concepts you are exploring. The paper should be about 8 pages in length and include at least 2 academic sources besides the Macionis text. Further information will be posted on Learning Suite. DUE: March 30 th at 1pm
Exams (45% of grade): Midterm Exam (20%) The midterm exam will be made up of both class and reading material for the sections covered. The exams will consist of roughly 50 multiplechoice questions (50%) and either two essays questions or a series of short answer questions (50%). Final Exam (25%) The final exam consists of new material covered in class since the midterm exam as well as more general cumulative material. The final will be structured like the midterm exam, although there will be about 75 multiple choice questions. Like the previous exams, there will again either be two essay questions or a series of short answer questions. The Final Exam will be held during the designated Final Exam period (between 4.18.14 and 4.23.14). The exact location and time will be announced in class. Attendance Expectations Class, not BYU Learning Suite, is where assignments are discussed and revised. If detail of an assignment is specified in class, the student is responsible for that information and will be tested/graded on those expectations regardless of the student s attendance record. Thus, missing a class is possible but risky. Check with other students/ta/jarvis if an absence is inevitable. Grading Policies Quizzes are partly grading attendance so there is no makeup for quizzes if a student is late or misses class. Exceptions can only be made a day before class begins and after approval (contact me rather than the TAs). One quiz will be dropped to account for instances of "bad luck." Missing an exam will automatically result in full letter grade reduction with additional reductions based on circumstance. Late papers (including emails sent right before or during class) will result in a full letter grade reduction. Be sure to allow enough time for printing and stapling of assignments. Assignment Breakdown Assignments Percent Grading Scale Pop Quizzes 10% Short Paper Assignments 15% Photo Essay 30% Midterm Exam 20% Final 25% A 94100 B 8082 D+ 6769 A 9093 C+ 7779 D 6366 B+ 8789 C 7376 D 6062 B 8386 C 7072 E 59 and lower Total 100% *Detailed assignments posted on Learning Suite
Course Schedule: Date Topics Reading Due Assignment Due M Jan 6 Introduction to Course W Jan 8 The Sociological Perspective Macionis Chapter 1 F Jan 10 The Sociological Perspective Macionis Chapter 1 M Jan 13 Outliers Outliers Part 1 W Jan 15 Outliers Outliers Part 1 & Part 2 F Jan 17 Outliers Outliers Part 2 M Jan 20 No Class Martin Luther King Jr. Day W Jan 22 Poverty and Wealth Macionis Chapter 2 F Jan 24 Poverty and Wealth Macionis Chapter 2 Are You MiddleClass? M Jan 27 Poverty and Wealth Stiglitz 2010 Koo 2007 W Jan 29 Race and Ethnic Inequality Macionis Chapter 3 F Jan 31 Race and Ethnic Inequality Macionis Chapter 3 M Feb 3 Race and Ethnic Inequality Flag Wars (Documentary) W Feb 5 Race and Ethnic Inequality Flag Wars (Documentary) Counterpoint Assignment F Feb 7 Gender Inequality Macionis Chapter 4 M Feb 10 Gender Inequality Macionis Chapter 4 W Feb 12 Gender Inequality Opt Out Revolution (NY Times) F Feb 14 Crime Macionis Chapter 6 M Feb 17 T Feb 18 (Monday Instruction) NO CLASS Crime President s Day Macionis Chapter 6 W Feb 19 Drugs & Alcohol Macionis Chapter 8 F Feb 21 Drugs & Alcohol Macionis Chapter 8 M Feb 24 Midterm Review 6 Chapters/Outliers/Koo & Stiglitz/Opt Out/1 Film Midterm the week of 2.24.14 2.28.14 (Exact Location and Time TBA) W Feb 26 Writing a Paper Outline, Counterpoint & Photo Essay Details F Feb 28 Drugs Forces of Habit Reading M Mar 3 Drugs & Crime Control The House I Live In (Documentary) W Mar 5 Drugs & Crime Control The House I Live In (Documentary) Photo Essay Outline F Mar 7 Sexuality Macionis Chapter 7 M Mar 10 Sexuality Macionis Chapter 7 W Mar 12 Physical Health Macionis Chapter 9 F Mar 14 Physical Health Macionis Chapter 9 M Mar 17 Work and the Workplace Macionis Chapter 11 Photo Essay Photos
W Mar 19 Work and the Workplace Macionis Chapter 11 F Mar 21 Family Life Macionis Chapter 12 M Mar 24 Family Life Macionis Chapter 12 W Mar 26 Education Macionis Chapter 13 F Mar 28 Education Rothstein Chapter 1 M Mar 30 Education Kevin Johnstun Photo Essay W Apr 2 Urban Life Macionis Chapter 14 F Apr 4 Urban Life Aaron Woodall M Apr 7 Urban Life Levitt & Venkatesh W Apr 9 Catch Up Day F Apr 11 Review for Final Exam M Apr 14 Review for Final Exam Final Exam will be held between 4.18.14 and 4.23.14 (Exact Location and Time TBA) University Policies BYU Honor Code In keeping with the principles of the BYU Honor Code, students are expected to be honest in all of their academic work. Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that any work you present as your own must in fact be your own work and not that of another. Violations of this principle may result in a failing grade in the course and additional disciplinary action by the university. Students are also expected to adhere to the Dress and Grooming Standards. Adherence demonstrates respect for yourself and others and ensures an effective learning and working environment. It is the university's expectation, and my own expectation in class, that each student will abide by all Honor Code standards. Please call the Honor Code Office at 4222847 if you have questions about those standards. Preventing Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and studenttostudent sexual harassment. BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university, but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or genderbased discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at 4225895 or 3675689 (24hours); or contact the Honor Code Office at 4222847. Students with Disabilities Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (4222767). Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students
who have qualified, documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the SSD Office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures by contacting the Equal Employment Office at 4225895, D285 ASB. Academic Honesty Policy The first injunction of the BYU Honor Code is the call to be honest. Students come to the university not only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life's work, but also to build character. President David O. McKay taught that 'character is the highest aim of education' (The Aims of a BYU Education, p. 6). It is the purpose of the BYU Academic Honesty Policy to assist in fulfilling that aim. BYU students should seek to be totally honest in their dealings with others. They should complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty and misconduct in all its forms, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, cheating, and other academic misconduct. Plagiarism Policy Writing submitted for credit at BYU must consist of the student's own ideas presented in sentences and paragraphs of his or her own construction. The work of other writers or speakers may be included when appropriate (as in a research paper or book review), but such material must support the student's own work (not substitute for it) and must be clearly identified by appropriate introduction and punctuation and by footnoting or other standard referencing. FHSS Writing Lab Because this is course requires a number of writing assignments, I would recommend using the FHSS Writing Lab. The FHSS Writing Lab is a free writing service that assists BYU students. They will go over your drafts and help you with your writing. You can schedule an appointment online at https://fhsswriting.byu.edu/pages/home.aspx or call them at 8014224454.