SOC 6 - Social Problems
Instructor: Sarah Thompson
Email Instructor
Course Description
This course takes an in-depth look at selected social problems from a sociological perspective. Topics will vary from semester to semester. Each class will cover at least one of each of the following: a social problem dealing with social inequality, a social problem of national concern, and a social problem of global concern.
Current topics include: the current trend of "wilding" behavior by individuals and institutions, the growth of inner cities, the social consequences of the globalization of labor, and terrorism.
To take this class, you must have daily access to a computer with an Internet connection, an email account, and experience using a web browser. You will also need to update your email address in CLASS-Web when you register.
Check the college catalog for CSU/UC transferability and to see if this course meets AA/AS degree requirements.
This class begins Jan 22 and ends May 30.
On-Campus Meetings
There are no required on-campus meetings.
How This Class Operates
This is not a self-paced class; there are due dates throughout the semester that you are expected to meet, just like in a traditional, face-to-face class. Some assignments will be done on your own, others will be done in groups. Active participation is required.
Communications will take place primarily via email and the class discussion board. Other possible forms of communication include chat, telephone and face-to-face meetings during on-campus office hours.
This class is divided into modules, and each module contains various activities. All the modules will be accessible from the Course Materials area, but students will only be able to access currently active and open modules.
This class require 6-9 hours of class work per week. The majority of this time will be spent reading, but you will also spend a considerable amount of time completing semester-long group and/or individual projects.
The complexity of the readings intensifies as the semester progresses. The group project includes individual writing assignments combined with group discussion and research efforts.
You are required to log in 3-4 times a week. Students going on long vacations or who do not have reliable Internet access should opt for a traditional, face-to-face class.
At the end of this class, you, the student, should have an in depth expertise in several of today's most pressing social problems. The class will also reveal to you the complexity of most social problems as well.
The goals of the course are:
- To intelligently, thoughtfully and humanely evaluate a selected set of national and global social problems.
- To critique, both positively and negatively, current national and international policies created to cope with the selected social problems.
Class Activities
Each module will consist of reading, a written assignment and/or groupwork.
Class Group Project
Objectives:
- To become an "expert" in one area of social problems through in-depth research.
- To engage in a strategic planning model to determine multiple possible futures of the social problem.
- To create current plausible policy recommendations to make the most desired future more likely.
Points possible:
Choosing a Social Problem - 10 pts.
Defining the Social Problem - 50 pts.
Researching Driving Social Forces - 100 pts.
Steps in brief:
Choosing a Social Problem: You will decide upon the social problem of study. You can choose from a list provided or you can select another as long as it gains instructor approval.
Defining the Social Problem: You will write a 2 page paper outlining exactly why your issue is a "social problem".This paper requires the use of outside sources, correct APA citation, and an accurate bibliography.
Researching Social Forces: You will then research, in-depth, the social, political, legal, environmental, economic, and technological influences that affect your social problem. Specific research questions will be provided by the instructor to get you started. You will look over all of your research and choose the top ten factors that affect your social problem. This will be a final 3-4 pages. You will also be required to use the discussion board to share your newly acquired knowledge.
How Students are Graded
Each module has its own point value (group project points are included in these). The point distribution is as follows:
Module 1: 25 points
Module 2: 10 points
Module 3: 60 points
Module 4: 130 points
Module 5: 40 points
Module 6: 40 points
Module 7: 80 points
There will be a midterm and final exam worth 100 and 200 points respectively. The midterm will be given after Module 4, and the final will be given after Module 7. The exams will be in a long essay format. All quizzes and examinations will be given over the Web.
Succeeding in an Online Course
Students who succeed in online courses tend to be independent, self-motivated learners with good computer skills. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation, can't use a computer too well, have taken less than 21 units of college credit in your lifetime, and/or have a grade-point-average under 2.0, you should probably consider enrolling in a face-to-face course instead.
Also, don't enroll in this class if you believe the myth that learning online requires less effort than learning face-to-face. This course covers the same content and has similar activities as the face-to-face version of the course; only the method of delivery changes.
LPC offers a tutorial called "Succeeding in an online course" that will not only tell you if you are a good fit for online learning, but it also offers many strategies -- among other pertinent information -- that will help you succeed online. Please complete the tutorial.
Blackboard
This course will use the Blackboard course management system as its virtual classroom. To learn how to log in to Blackboard, go to the Blackboard Login Procedures page. Once you enroll, you will not be able to log in until the first day of class.