Edgar Degas,
Portrait de M. Durante

Summary - Response & Discussion Topics

Unit 13: Social Problems

Summary - Response Papers:

You will complete four (4) brief summary-response papers during the semester – due dates are listed on the course calendar. Your paper should be roughly 750-1,000 words – three typed double-spaced pages (12 point font). You may only choose 1 assignment from each "batch/block of units" of the class: one SR paper from units 1 through 3; one SR paper from units 4 through 6; one SR paper from units 7 through 10; one SR paper from units 11 through 14.

These writing assignments are to be submitted through Canvas. Click on "Assignments" located in the left hand panel on the course page. Next, click on the appropriate Unit - i.e., if you are choosing to submit a paper from this unit - click on unit 13 under Assignments. After clicking on Unit 13 you will see a Turnitin Assignment Inbox where you will submit/upload your paper.

Discussion Topics

Taking part in class discussions, though not mandatory, will let you earn "bonus points" that can add up to a full letter grade to your final grade for the course.

To contribute, click on "Discussions" located in the left hand panel on Canvas. Next, choose a discussion topic for this unit, click on it, read the prompt, and click on "Reply." Be sure that you add your name. For more sinformation on how to submit your comments and/or engage in the online class discussion, go to the "Frequently Asked Questions" page.

 

Unit 13: Social Problems

You may choose one of these options as one of your four required summary-response papers:

A. Defining Social Problems

Using a concrete example, provide a sociologically-informed understanding of how some situations rather than others comes to be recognized as a social problem.

In your response discuss (a) the importance of both objective and subjective factors that operate in this process, (b) how and why a person’s social location in society – the statuses they occupy such as social class, race, ethnicity, sex, age, etc. – affects their definition of a situation as desirable or problematic and their ability to get others – such as citizens not affected by the problem and policy makers – to notice and respond to these concerns, and (c) how the mass media might play a part in this process (i.e., agenda setting; spin).

____________________________________

B. Stages of Social Problems

Describe the four stages of social problems, indicating what the key issues are in each stage and how social factors affect how they unfold.

____________________________________

C. Fallacies in Thinking About Social Problems

Lauer and Lauer list 10 different fallacies that are often found in the discussion of social problems. Choose five, define each one and indicate how they “muddy the waters” and prevent a clear understanding of particular social problems (use examples). Have you been guilty of any of these fallacies?

__________________________

 

Discussion Topics
These are posted in the "Discussions" Section in Canvas

 

1. To illustrate the social construction of social problems, Lisa Wade (“The Social Construction of Social Problems”) illustrates the discrepancy between public outrage and the actual hazard of certain social events. What, if anything surprises you about these differences? Can you think of another example not included in the data she provides?
___________________________________

2. Wilke provides Gallup Poll data indicating that Whites and non-Whites differ in their assessment as to what is America’s most important social problem ("In U.S., More Nonwhites Than Whites Say Jobs the Top Issue: Whites and nonwhites differ in perceptions of most important problems"). Why is this so and what does it indicate about how one’s social statuses/location affects their perception of the world?

_____________________________________

3. Pratt-Harris argues that prime-time television sit-coms such as Good Times can contribute to our understanding of social problems ("Good Times and Social Problems"). Do you agree? If so, can you provide a current day example?

___________________________________

4. Do you think that sociologists have a responsibility to take sides on social problems? Why or why not?

____________________________________