Instructor: Jen Dunn
3434 Faner Hall
Office Hours: Mondays and Fridays 1:45-4:45 and by appointment
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 the semester you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• identify important scholarly articles in the sociology of social problems and find them in Morris Library and/or online.
• understand how social problems are constructed in everyday life
• critically assess claims about social problems
• use course concepts to analyze the social construction of a contemporary social problem, using data you have collected
• see improvements in your critical thinking and expository writing skills

Required Texts

Best, Joel (Editor). 1995. Images of Issues: Typifying Contemporary Social Problems. (2nd. Edition). New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Loseke, Donileen. 1999. Thinking About Social Problems: An Introduction to Constructionist Perspectives. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

Individualized Readings for Annotated Bibliography (see requirements and grading, below)

Requirements and Grading

Participation and Attendance: (10%)
Students are expected to come to class having completed the assigned readings for that day. The best way to demonstrate your preparedness is by bringing in data that illustrate ideas discussed in the readings and describing these for the class. Data for this class are media representations of social phenomena that are being defined as social problems. These can be newspaper articles, editorials, and letters to the editor, magazine articles, documentaries, brochures, web sites, or anything that makes a claim about a social problem. The only way to get full participation credit is by TELLING us about your data, and you will have the opportunity to do so at every class meeting. You are also expected to be able to explain and discuss the articles you have chosen for your annotated bibliography and study guide (described below). Full participation is weighted significantly higher than simply attending, no matter how regularly you do so. It is not possible to earn participation and attendance credit for days you are absent.

Daily Quiz: (10%)
When you come in each morning, beginning Wednesday 1/15 and continuing through 4/4, there will be a few questions (definition of term, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, or true/false) on the board, based on the readings assigned for that week. Many of these questions are HARD and you will generally have to have read the reading, taken notes, and understood what you read in order to answer them correctly. They are similar, and in some cases identical, to questions you will be asked on your final exam, so if you answer incorrectly, or miss the question, it is a good idea to look up the correct answer. IMPORTANT: You must be here on time if you want to attempt the daily question, as it is erased from the board and answers are collected at 8:05--NO EXCEPTIONS OR MAKE-UPS.

Annotated Bibliography/Literature Review: (15%)
In addition to reading the Loseke and Best texts, each of you will construct an annotated bibliography using JOURNAL ARTICLES cited in the Loseke text. Each chapter contains references to important articles in the sociology of social problems, from which you will choose a total of five (5) over the semester. Each week that a chapter from Loseke is assigned (with the exception of the last chapter, which we don't read until the last week of class), you have the option of turning in an entry chosen from that chapter. This means that you may choose two (2) weeks for which you do not turn in an entry. Entries for a specific chapter are only accepted during the week we are reading that chapter. No late entries will be accepted. Instructions for the annotated bibliography will be handed out prior to the first assignment. Length: 5 pages total.
Study guide: (5%)
Study guides are based on chapters from the Best text. You will be assigned ONE of these chapters and construct a one-page study guide in which you briefly summarize key concepts the chapter illuminates and prepare questions for discussion and review in class. We will use these to facilitate discussion the weeks these readings are assigned, and then I will assemble these into a study guide for the class, prior to the final exam. Instructions for the study guides will be handed out prior to the first assignment. Length: 1 page.

Research presentation: (10%)
In April, 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. 80% of this grade is based on your attendance and participation during the dates you are NOT assigned to present (i.e., on your performance as a member of the audience). 20% of this grade is based on how closely you adhere to the assignment guidelines (handed out prior to the start of presentations). Length: 15-20 minutes.

Research report: (25%)
This report is similar to a take-home exam, in that you will be given a list of questions to answer. Your answers to the question will formalize the analysis you practiced in your presentation, drawing upon the text, your bibliography, and your data. Length: 6-8 pages.

DUE: May 2 (the last regular class meeting).

Self Assessment: (5%)
Instructions for self assessments are attached to the syllabus. Length: 1 page.

DUE: May 2 (the last regular class meeting).

Final exam: (20%)
The comprehensive, in-class final exam format will be a combination of 50 multiple choice, short answer, definitions, fill-in-the-blank and true/false questions.

FINAL EXAM DATE: Wednesday May 7 from 12:50-2:50 pm.

Week One (January 13-17): Introduction to Social Constructionism
Read Chapter One in Loseke. NOTE: All assignments and readings should be done by Monday each week, except for Week Two (the Martin Luther King Holiday).

Week Two (January 22-24): The Problem with Social Problems
Turn in Chapter One annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Two in Loseke.

Week Three (January 27-31): The People and Tasks in Constructing Social Problems
Turn in Chapter Two annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Three in Loseke.

Week Four (February 3-7): Constructing Moralities
Turn in Chapter Three annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Four in Loseke.

Week Five (February 10-14): Constructing Conditions and People
Turn in Chapter Four annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Five in Loseke.

Week Six (February 17-21): Social Problems and Everyday Life
Turn in Chapter Five annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Six in Loseke.

Week Seven (February 24-28): Social Problems and Social Services
Turn in Chapter Six annotated bibliography entry.
Read Chapter Seven in Loseke.

Week Eight (March 3-7)
Turn in Chapter Seven annotated bibliography entry.

SPRING BREAK (March 8-16)

Week Nine (March 17-21): Claims
Read Introduction and Part One in Best.
Discuss and turn in Part One study guides.

Week Ten (March 24-28): Claimsmakers
Read Part Two in Best.
Discuss and turn in Part Two study guides.

Week Eleven (March 31-April 4): Connections
Read Part Three in Best.
Discuss and turn in Part Three study guides.

Week Twelve (April 7-11): Policies
Read Part Four in Best.
Discuss and turn in Part Four study guides.

Weeks Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen (April 7-May 2): Contemporary Exemplars
Present your research to the class (dates TBA).
Turn in Research Report (on Friday May 2).

Week Sixteen: Comprehensive Final Exam Wednesday May 7 from 12:50-2:50 pm