SBS 3053 Social Systems & Problems

Contact Information:
Dr. Frank Elwell 
Office Hours: Daily 8:00 to 11:00 
email: felwell@rsu.edu
Office: 202-B Prep Hall 
Phone: 918.343.7851

Required Readings:

Tiemann, Kathleen A., 2001, Crossroads: Readings in Social Problems.

Schlosser, Eric, 2002, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Harper-Collins Publishers.

Elwell, Frank W., 1996/2008, Glossary of Social Sciences, Web Version.

Elwell, Frank W., 1996/2008, Glossary of Social Sciences, Print Version. 

Bulletin Description: An inquiry into the origin and development of current social problems with specific reference to social action taken to address these problems.  Students will investigate one major problem using the resources from more than one social science discipline. 

Course Prerequisites: Junior Standing.

Purpose: The goal of this course is to expose the student to a systematic- critical view of hyper-industrial societies.  It is intended that this exposure will stimulate the student in developing and refining her own unique (but empirically based) world view.

Course Objectives:

1. Understanding of theoretical and methodological approaches for examining social problems and issues.
2. Acquisition of informed knowledge about selected problems and issues.
3. Generalization of reasoning abilities from specific problems to general perspectives.
4. Application of reasoning and knowledge to controversial issues.
   

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Grading: Students will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Four examinations of equal weight.  Each exam will be worth 100 points and consist of multiple choice, fill-ins, and essays.
2. Reading Log (see "Guidelines") worth 100 points.
   
Final Grades:  Based on the percentage of 400 points earned:
• 92 -   100% =A
• 82 -    91% = B
• 70 -    81% = C
• 60 -    69% = D
• below 60% = E
  
Make-up Policy: The student must have a valid excuse for missing an exam.  Arrangements must be made to take the make-up at the end of the semester.

The first step in mastering any discipline is to master its vocabulary. Therefore, I have placed a great deal of emphasis in each exam on fill-in-the-blank questions. As part of each exam you will be given 10 to 20 definitions; you will be required to supply the correct glossary term for each. Each study guide contains a glossary you must master. Do so, and it will go a long way toward passing this class.

Grading of Written Work:  This link explains the grading criteria I use in the evaluation of your written work.


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Attendance: Both physical and mental attendance should be regular. Traditional lecture material is presented off of this web site. Class time will be spent in discussion, occasional presentations, and viewing films.  To take full advantage of this class (and to get a passing grade) you should attend all scheduled class meetings. Inappropriate classroom behavior (sleeping, talking, and other disruptive behavior) will be cause for dismissal from the classroom.

Academic Integrity: By signing your name to a paper, test, quiz, or other assignment, you are indicating that the work is yours and yours alone. One of the social problems that appears to be on the rise in American society is academic dishonesty.  Don't do it!

Classroom Organization: Much of the class will be given over to informed discussion.  You should begin reading from Crossroads immediately, in the order stated below.  In addition, you should go through the "Introduction" and the "World Problems" class presentations by the second meeting.  I will keep you informed in class (or more likely through e-mail) of the specific due dates of your reading assignments.  While the "Web Readings" and the occasional articles I will send through e-mail are usually optional, reading them will help you master class material.  Class discussion will often center on the required readings and the instructor presentations.  It is therefore imperative that all assigned reading be done in a timely fashion.  

ADA Statement:  If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities please let me know immediately so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.  You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Student Affairs, Meyer Hall.

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Course Objectives:

Course Goals	Program Goals Supported in B.S. in Social Science	How Evaluated
Acquisition of the macro-sociological approach in relating the various parts of the sociocultural system to one another and to the whole.	To develop a level of competence in the core disciplines of the social sciences to allow for further inquiry and study.	Essay exams, class discussions, and book review.
An appreciation for, and ability to apply ecological-evolutionary theory in understanding and explaining sociocultural system stability and change.	To prepare students to function successfully in a society that is heading toward globalization and becoming more culturally diverse	Essay exams, class discussions, and book review.
An understanding of the historical/comparative method as the basis of sociological/anthropological science.	To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences.	Essay exams, class discussions, and book review.
Demonstrate the ability for inductive and deductive reasoning, that is reasoning from the specific to a general perspective as well as from a general perspective to a specific case.	To equip students with the academic skills necessary to successfully address increasingly complex, multidisciplinary problems in the social sciences.	Essay exams, class discussions, and book review.

Attendance Policy:
It is important that you attend both physically and mentally. Studying the texts and the lecture/ presentations are key. Inappropriate classroom behavior will cause you to be dismissed from the class. 

Make-up exams will be administered immediately after the scheduled final exam.

Text Readings:	Instructor Presentations:	Study Guides:
Whose Side are We On?	Introduction	Foundations
The Promise	Change & Problems
Population, Food, and Nutrition	World Problems
An Unequal World	Population	Population
The Obligation to Endure	Hyper-industrialism
The Tragedy of the Commons	Ecology	Environment
Lessons from the Green Revolution		Practice test #1

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Unit Two: Structural Problems I
 

Text Readings:	Instructor Presentations:	Study Guides:
Fast Food Nation	Sociocultural Materialism	Social Theory
The McDonaldization of Society	Corporations	Government & Corporations
The Empire of the Pigs	Government Growth
Cracking Down on Corporate Crime	Who Rules?
The Way We Weren't: The Myth and Reality of the "Traditional" Family	Changing Family	Family and Community
America's Divorce Problem
Where's Papa?		Practice Test #2

 

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Unit Three: Structural Problems II
 

Text Readings:	Instructor Presentations:	Study Guides:
Overworked and Underemployed	Education	Work & Education
Toward an Apartheid Economy?	Work
Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools	Health	Health & Welfare
From Badness to Sickness	Welfare
The Euthanasia War: Last Rights	Crime	Crime & the Underclass
Who Should Still be on Welfare?	Underclass
Poverty's Children
Killer Kids		Practice Test #3

 

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Unit Four: Evolving Futures
 

Text Readings:	Instructor Presentations:	Study Guides:
The Culture of Surveillance	Totalitarian Nightmares	Institutional Violence
The New Terrorism: Coming Soon to a City Near You
Environmental Scarcity, Mass Violence, and the Limits of Ingenuity
Terrorism Threats at Home

Academic Integrity:
By signing your name to a test or paper you are indicating that the work is yours and yours alone. Any academic cheating will result in failure of the course. "Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own, including: direct quotation without both attribution and indication that the material is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without attribution; paraphrase with or without attribution where the wording of the original remains substantially intact and is represented as the author’s own; expression in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments, lines of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where such material is learned from the work of another and is not part of the general fund of common knowledge" (Office of Academic Affairs, Rogers State University). 

A Final Point:
You are encouraged to ask questions on the readings either in class or through e-mail.  Further, it is not expected that you will always agree with the perspectives of the instructor or the authors of other texts.  As have all human beings we have been influenced by the values of our society as well as our roles in various social structures.  However, it is the duty of the social scientist to acknowledge these influences and attempt to minimize their effects upon social analysis. Should the resulting analyses be counter to your perceptions, challenge them on the basis of empirical fact, logic, and reason--not ideology, prejudice, wishful thinking, or "politically correct" assertions.  The goal of this course is for you to develop your own critical thought processes and world view, not for you to blindly accept any one perspective. 

Updated Continuously
©Frank Elwell Send comments to felwell@rsu.edu