Spring 2000 -- UW – Marathon County

Instructor: Dr. Ann Herda-Rapp Meeting times: MW 2:00-3:15

Office: 316 North Hall Meeting location: Rm. 238

Office phone: 715/261-6269

Home phone: 715/536-6816 (between 8:00a.m. and 9:00p.m.)

E-mail: aherdara@uwc.edu

Office hours:
M 12:00-12:40  W 10:00-10:40  F 8:00-8:40  or by appointment

Office hours are set up for you, so please take advantage of them. Sometimes it is hard for me to determine if students are having difficulties; thus I hope you will visit during office hours if you have problems or simply want to visit. My door is always open (though perhaps not literally).

This course explores how society defines social problems and how sociologists study social problems. We will examine the social construction of social problems, inquiring as to why some problems are defined as social problems while others are not and how an issue becomes defined as a social problem. Students will learn the following:

To understand and critically analyze the social construction of social problems.

To understand and critically analyze how the media help to construct images of and perceptions of social problems.

To develop critical thinking skills through active participation with the text, assignments and class discussion.

 

The following materials are required reading for this course. You can purchase both at the bookstore.

(Images) Best, Joel (ed.). 1995. Images of Issues: Typifying Contemporary Social Problems. NY: Walter de Gruyter.

(CP) Course packet of journal articles

*** Readings for 5/1 and 5/3 are drawn from the book Debating Sexual Correctness (edited by Adele Stan) and will be placed on reserve in the library. Students must photocopy the assigned chapters.

Course Requirements – The dates and assignments listed below are subject to change.

Total Course Points = 380

Exams (2) --- Each exam = 100 points

Total grade = 200 points

Two exams, consisting of objective (such as multiple choice questions) and short essay components, will be administered. One exam will be administered at the halfway point in the semester, while the other will be a final, comprehensive exam administered during the final exam period.

Make-up exams will be given only in cases of medical or other emergencies, and will require written documentation from a physician or counselor (the latter in the case of deaths or other personal tragedies). There will be no exceptions. If possible, please notify me before the exam.

Issue Paper (1) --- Total grade = 120 points

Each of you will write an Issue Paper. The paper involves picking a current social problem or issue (from a list provided by the instructor) and examining how the issue is framed by claimsmakers on all sides of the issue. On February 7, a handout detailing the assignment will be provided. By February 23, anyone wishing to do an alternative topic must get the topic approved by me.

By February 28, students must turn in a one page (type-written) write-up stating your chosen topic and analyzing the claims, claimsmakers and frames illustrated in one source (i.e., a magazine article) you are using in your paper. You must attach a copy of the article. This "source analysis" assignment is worth 10 points and is required.

By March 22, all students must produce a 1 page outline that will include a description of the topic they will explore (including a discussion of claimsmakers and claims) and at least 4 sources. This outline is worth 10 points and is required.

Your final Issue Paper will not be accepted without having completed the "analysis" and "outline" requirements.

The Issue Paper is worth 100 points and is due on Wednesday, April 26. Late papers will lose 5 pts. for each business day they are late.

Micro-Essays (5) --- Total grade = 60 points

To assess your understanding of the course concepts and strengthen your writing skills, I will give the class a short essay question --- sometimes at the start of class, sometimes at the end --- to be completed individually in class. I will administer six such essays over the course of the semester. But your grade will be made up of the five essays with the highest grades; I will drop the lowest essay. In essence, you get one free essay. These micro-essays will be unannounced; thus they serve as a measure of attendance as well. You will be permitted to use your notes and course materials to answer the question. If you miss a class, you will not be permitted to make up the missed essay.

Each essay will be graded with the following grading system: 12 = shows full understanding of day’s readings and concepts/ideas; 6 = does not explicitly use concepts or readings assigned, but shows general understanding; 0 = unacceptable: need to work on reading and using concepts. Should you receive a 6 or a 0, you may elect to re-write your micro-essay to earn back up to half of the points lost on that essay. So, if you originally earned a 6, you might improve your grade to a 9. And if you start with a 0, you can improve your grade to a 6. All of this, of course, depends on whether you write a top quality answer. If you choose to re-write, you must hand in your re-written essay during the next class after the graded micro-essays are returned.

The grade scale followed for this course is that established by the university.

A = 90%-100%

B = 80%-89%

C = 70%-79%

D = 60%-69%

F = 59% or lower

The final breakdown of points and grades is as follows:

A = 342-380 pts.

B = 304-341 pts

C = 266-303 pts.

D = 228-265 pts.

F = 227 or less

[+ and – grades will be assigned for the highest & lowest point values in each grade category]

Paper format: All essays and papers should use a standard format: typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins on all sides. Consult the handout "Citing Sources" for citation format. Please do not use plastic report covers --- they are awkward, produce waste in the manufacturing process, and are not recyclable. Simply staple the paper in the top left corner.

Academic integrity: Plagiarism in/of papers will not be tolerated. Students who plagiarize either by copying a paper or using sources improperly (i.e., using the author’s words without citation) may receive a 0 for the assignment. Severe infractions may result in an F for the course.

Language: As a sociologist, I believe language is tremendously powerful in defining a situation or group of people. With that in mind, I ask that students refrain from referring to adult women (over 18 years of age) as "girls"; rather, they are "women". And likewise, adult men are "men", not "boys".

The assigned readings will be discussed on the day they are posted unless otherwise stated in class. Note that there are days when no readings are assigned; this should NOT lead one to conclude that we do not have class that day! You should come to class having read the assigned readings and fully prepared to discuss them. I suggest you outline each reading --- detailing the reading’s thesis and its main points --- as you read.

This schedule of readings and assignments is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Wed. 1/19 Intro. to Sociology and the Study of Social Problems

Mon. 1/24 #1 (Images)

Wed. 1/26 Theoretical Overview

Blumer (CP)

Downs (CP)

Mon. 1/31 Hilgartner and Bosk (CP)

"The ‘Iron Quadrangle’ of Institutionalization" (handout)

Wed. 2/2 Rittenhouse (CP)

Mon. 2/7 Hand out Issue Paper assignment

Wed. 2/9 Claims and Frames

pgs. 13-15 (Images)

"The Numbers Game" (handout)

Mon. 2/14 Conrad (CP)

#4 (Images) – read for general understanding of "medicalization" 
and the "disease model"

Wed. 2/16

Mon. 2/21 #11 (Images)

Wed. 2/23 ALTERNATIVE PAPER TOPICS DUE (if desired)

Mon. 2/28 Claimsmaking/Constructing Social Problems

#3 (Images)

#6 (Images)

ISSUE PAPER – SOURCE ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT DUE

Wed. 3/1 #7 (Images)

Mon. 3/6 "Fears and Folklore" (handout)

Wed. 3/8 EXAM

3/13-3/17 SPRING BREAK

Mon. 3/20 Primary Claimsmakers

pgs. 103-104 (Images)

Social Problems Industry/Experts

Gusfield, "Deviance in the Welfare State" (CP) – Concentrate on first half of reading.

Wed. 3/22 2. Social Movements Jenness (CP)

ISSUE PAPER OUTLINE DUE

Mon. 3/27 Rafter (CP)

Wed. 3/29 Secondary Claimsmakers

1. The Media

#2 (Images)

"Network News as Secondary Claims" (handout)

Mon. 4/3 Gamson et al. (CP) – focus on first half of reading

Wed. 4/5 Fishman (CP)

Mon. 4/10

Wed. 4/12 2. Politicans

#8 (Images)

Mon. 4/17

Wed. 4/19

Mon. 4/24 Policy Implications

Gusfield, "The Control of Drinking-Driving in the United States" (CP)

Wed. 4/26 Case Study: Acquaintance Rape Readings by Sweet and Paglia in Debating Sexual Correctness, Adele Stan (ed.), on reserve in the library.

ISSUE PAPER DUE

Mon. 5/1 Readings by Roiphe and Pollitt in Debating Sexual Correctness, Adele Stan (ed.), on reserve in the library

Wed. 5/3 Distribute review sheets for final (comprehensive) exam.

Mon. 5/8