SOCIOLOGY 302

Contemporary Social Problems

SPRING SEMESTER 2002

Instructor: Jennifer Dunn

3423 Faner Hall

Office Hours: TTh 3-5, W 9-10, F 3-4

Phone: 453-7623 e-mail: jldunn@siu.edu

Content and Objectives of the Course

This course will introduce you to the definition and study of social problems. Rather than focusing on the conditions we ordinarily think of as social problems, in this course, we will learn and take a social constructionist analytical approach to examine how various actors come to define conditions as problematic, the claims-making and other strategies that take place in these definitional processes, and the outcomes of these processes for specific cases. How is it that a social phenomenon comes to be seen as a social issue? How do people decide what is or is not a social problem, and how do they organize to get others to agree? What is at stake in this process? We will examine and learn to apply concepts--such as “typification,” “claims-making,” “medicalization,” “ownership,” and “moral entrepreneur” to contemporary exemplars of social problems activities. In addition, students will have the opportunity to analyze a social problem of their choice during the semester. By the end of this course you should be able to critically assess claims about social problems.

Required Text

Loseke, Donileen, Thinking About Social Problems: An Introduction to Constructionist Perspectives. 1999 (paperback), Aldine de Gruyter.

Individualized Readings (see requirements and grading, below)

Requirements and Grading

Annotated Bibliography/Literature Review: (20%)

In addition to the Loseke text, each of you will construct an annotated bibliography using articles cited in the Loseke text and from the journal Social Problems. Each chapter contains references to important articles in the sociology of social problems, from which you will choose a total of ten (10) over the semester (one each for Chapters 1-7 and three additional articles). If you like, you may substitute articles published in Social Problems for articles cited in the Loseke text, if they are written from a "social constructionist" perspective and you can show how they are related to the text. You are required to prepare one (1) entry for your bibliography each week (as assigned), and bring A COPY to class on Fridays to go in your file. Late entries are worth half the points they would otherwise be given. It is possible to earn EXTRA CREDIT by turning in up to three (3) additional entries. Note: Because a bibliography entry is concise, I highly recommend that you xerox or print out the articles you choose, or take summary notes, because you will use the articles for your final exam and you may find that your bibliography entries do not have all the information you need. Instructions for the annotated bibliography are attached.

Data collection: (10%)

After I assign topics, you will collect data for sociological analysis using course concepts. Data for this course are MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS of social phenomena that are being defined as social problems. These can be newspaper, magazine, or internet articles and/or editorials, brochures, advertisements, or anything that makes a claim about the social problem. You will be responsible for bringing in A COPY of at least two (2) pieces of data per week assigned, (a minimum of twenty (20) pieces total) and bring them to class on Wednesdays to go in your file. Late data will be given half the points it would otherwise be given. It is not possible to earn extra credit by turning in extra data, but the more you collect the more you will have to work with for your research report and final exam. Be sure to keep your own copies of the data, because you will use them for in-class work as well as for for your final exam.

Midterm exam: (25%)

This exam is given the eighth week of the course and will be based on all lectures, discussions, and text covered up to that point. The exam format will be a combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, fill-in questions, and definitions of terms. Make-up exams are essay format and can only be taken by prior arrangement.

Research report: (10%)

In March, you will work in groups to practice analyzing the data you have collected and present preliminary findings to the class in panel discussions. The grade for this requirement is an INDIVIDUAL grade, but is based in part on attendance at group meetings (all of which happen in during regularly scheduled class hours).

Final exam: (30%)

There will be a comprehensive take-home final. Lecture materials, the text, the readings students have chosen, and the data they have collected throughout the course will all be relevant to answering the questions completely. DUE: MAY 6 between 12:50 and 2:50.

Self Assessment: (5% of course grade)

Instructions for self assessments are attached to the syllabus. This assignment is due the last regular class meeting.

Participation and Attendance:

I will take attendance as necessary. Students are expected to come to class having completed the assigned readings for that day. You can demonstrate your preparedness by commenting on and/or questioning material from readings and lecture. You may do this in class, during office hours, or in writing (by submitting a short paragraph or even a sentence, provided you have put some thought into it). You can ask for an explanation of something you didn't understand or comment on things you thought were interesting. You are expected to be able to discuss the articles you have chosen. Exceptional attendance and participation will often raise a student's grade, particularly if the grade is 'borderline'. Failure to attend and participate invariably results in substantially poorer performance on exams.