Saint Martin's College

                 Department of Sociology         

       Fall 2004

           Sociology 102: American Social Problems   

    Professor: Victor M. Kogan            

          Office: Room 307                    

           Classroom: 304

     Time: 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM

           Days: M-W-F

                Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 M-T-W-TR-F

      Office Phone: 438-4348

    E-mail: vkogan@stmartin.edu

PURPOSE:

This course is designed to present a survey of major problems in contemporary American society with emphasis on developing a foundation for understanding, researching and analyzing its nature and possible solutions.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

1. James Henslin. Social Problems, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003.

2. Kurt Finsterbusch. (Ed.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS 

ON CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL ISSUES. Revised Twelfth Edition, Dushkin/ McGraw-Hill, 2004.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

You will be invited to participate actively in learning rather than passively absorbing information.

1. You will be put in the "shoes" of members of minorities, scholars, judges, and politicians. You will be encouraged to defend this assigned attitude.

2. Each student will be assigned writing a short essay for each discussion so that concepts based upon the source materials may be formulated, tested and mastered. These essays should be turn in for grading in your personal violet folder and then will be presented orally to the class. If your essay is late you get minus point. The later your essay is the more points you get off.

3. You are expected to attend class in order to actively participate in class discussions. Your grade for participation will be lowered for each absence with no proper excuse more than once.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as-soon-as possible.

GRADING SYSTEM:

Participation in class discussion including essays - 50%,

Tests - 20%,                                            

Final Examination - 30%

There will be 500 possible points and grades will be assigned

as follows:

95-100%  = A 

90-94%   = A-  

85-89%   = B+

80-84%   = B

75-79%   = B- 

70-74%   = C+

64-69%   = C

60-64%   = C-

55-59%   = D

54 and below = F

GRADING SYSTEM:                                    

Participation in class discussion including essays-50%,  

Tests - 20%,                                            

Final Examination - 30%

There will be 500 possible points and grades will be assigned as follows:

95-100%  =  A 

90-94%   =  A-  

85-89%   =  B+

80-84%   =  B

75-79%   =  B- 

70-74%   =  C+

64-69%   =  C

60-64%   =  C-

55-59%   =  D

54 and below = F

COURSE OUTLINE:

01. 09.01.W. - 02. 09.03.F.

How Sociologists View Social Problems: The Abortion Dilemma – Read

J. Henslin, Social Problems, Ch.1, p. 2-23.

00. 09.01.M. Labor Day

03. 09.08.W. - 04. 09.10. F.

Interpreting Social Problems: Aging – Read Social Problems, Ch.2, p. 26-47.

05. 09.13.M. Test 1(Ch.1-2)

06. 09.15.W. - 07. 09.17. F. - 08. 09.20.M.

Economic Problems: Wealth and Poverty – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 7, p. 212-246.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is Government Dominated by Big Business? – Yes/No – p. 188-205.

Should Government Intervene in a Capitalist Economy? – Yes/No – p.206-225.

Has Welfare Reform Benefited the Poor? – Yes/No – p. 226- 240.

 Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, Twelfth Edition, Dushkin/ McGraw-Hill, 2004

09. 09.22.W. - 10. 09.24. F. - 11. 09.27.M.

Race and Ethnic Relations – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 8, p. 248-284.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is Third World Immigration a Threat to America’s Way of Life? – Yes/No - p. 46-61.

Has Affirmative Action Outlived Its Usefulness? – Yes/No - p.168-184.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

12. 09.29.W. Test 2 (Ch. 7-8)

13. 10.01.F. - 14. 10.04. M.

Medical Care: Problems of Physical and Mental Illness – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 10. p. 320-360.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Should Doctor-Assisted Suicide be Legalized for the Terminally Ill? – Yes/No - p. 260-276.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

15. 10.06.W. - 16. 10.08.  

Alcohol and Other Drugs – Read Social Problems, Ch. 4, p.87-129.

17. 10.11.M. Test 3 (Ch. 10, 4)

18.10.13. W. - 19.10.15. F. - 20.10. 18. M.

Sex Discrimination - Read Social Problems, Ch. 9, p. 286- 318.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Do the New Sex Roles Burden Women More Than Men? – Yes/No - p.64-79.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

Should Women Be Permitted to Serve in Military Combat? (Handout)

00.10.22. F.  Mid term break (No classes)

00.10.25. M. Grades due in Record Office

21.10.20. W. - 22.10.25. M. - 23.10.27.W.

The Changing Family – Read Social Problems, Ch. 11, p. 362-397.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is the Decline of the Traditional Family a National Crisis? – Yes/No – p.112-129.

Are Communication Problems Between Men and Women Largely Due to

Radically Different Conversation Style? -– Yes/No - p. 80-97.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

24.10.29. F. Test 4 (Ch. 9, 11)

25.11.01. M. - 26.11.03. W.

Urban Problems – Read Social Problems, Ch. 12, p. 399-433.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is the Underclass the Major Threat to American Ideals? – Yes/No –   p. 148-167.

Is Competition the Solution to the Ills of Public Education? – Yes/No – p. 242-259.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

27.11.05. F. - 28.11.08. M.

Population and Food – Read Social Problems, Ch. 13, p. 435-466.

29.11.10. W. Test 5 (Ch. 12, 13)

30.11.12. F. - 31.11.15. M.

Prostitution, Homosexuality, and Pornography – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 3, p. 49-89.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Should Same –Sex Marriages Be Legally Recognized? – Yes/No –   p. 98-111.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

Human Sexuality: Should Adolescents Engage in Premarital Sexual Intercourse?

(Handout)

32.11.17. W. - 33.11.19.F.

Violence in Society: Rape and Murder – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 5, p. 131- 165.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Does Television Violence Make Children Significantly More Violent? – Yes/No - p.22-45.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

34.11.22. M. - 35.11.24. W.

Crime and Criminal Justice – Read Social Problems, Ch. 6, p. 167-209.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is Street Crime More Harmful Than White-Collar Crime? – Yes/No –   p. 280-297.

Should Drug Use Be Decriminalized? – Yes/No - p. 298-313.

Is Capital Punishment Justified? – Yes/No -   p. 314-332.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

00.11.25. Tr.-26.F. Thanksgiving

36.11.29. M. Test 6 (Ch. 3, 5, 6)

37.12.01. M. - 38.12.03. W.

War, Terrorism, and Balance of Power – Read Social Problems,

Ch. 15, p. 509-545.

GAME: Skyjack. A Simulation of International Terrorism.

39.12.06. M. -   40.12.08. W.

Critical Thinking Activity:

Is America in Moral Decline? – Yes/No - p.2-21.

Is Mankind Dangerously Harming Environment? – Yes/No – p.334-351.

Is Globalization Good for Mankind? – Yes/No - p.352-369.

Read K. Finrsterbusch (Ed.) Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial

Social Issues, 2004.

00.12.10. F.  St. Thomas Aquinas Study Day

00.12.15. W.

Final Exam for SOC 102 ‘American Social Problems’ from 1:00 to 3:00 (room 310)