Social Problems - American Sociological Association

Syllabus—Crone Hanover College
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and then discuss the implications of these findings on what we think solutions might be or compare our class
findings to national surveys of the entire American population.
(3) Seminar Papers and Discussions:
On Fridays, I want to change the pace and have seminar discussions where you develop the class discussion. On
these days, you need to do two things to prepare for the class. First, write an open-ended question over the assigned
readings. Second, write a one to two page answer to your seminar question. On seminar day, ask your question to
see how your fellow students would answer your question. Most of the time, I want you to ask sociological
questions versus “should” questions. But if you have a good should question that you want to bring to the class, you
can do that, too.
My purpose in having this weekly seminar is to get you to talk and be a part of the discussion and to get you to think
and write more sociologically about social problems. I find that as students put their thoughts down on paper, they
think more systematically.
In writing your answer, you need to write in an organized fashion, using logic and statistics.
After we discuss your question for a while, I may, at times, ask you to give your answer to the class. You may have
points in your essay that the class did not consider. Hence, your answer will add more to our understanding.
(4) Speakers:
We will have speakers give their insight on a particular social problem and have a chance to ask them questions.
Hearing from a person who is directly experiencing a social problem or who is, in some way, closely affiliated with
a social problem will be another way to achieve a greater understanding of a particular social problem.
(5) Videotapes:
We will view videotapes on various social problems and analyze them from a sociological perspective. I will “set
the stage” before showing the tape by telling you some things to look out for sociologically so that you can “see the
sociology” in the tape.
(6) Exams (objective and essay):
You will take four exams, three objective and one essay.
The three objective exams will be over the material we covered in one of the three parts of the term. I will ask you
questions that will require you to recall, analyze-interpret, and apply. For example, recall: “What did so-and-so find
out about poverty?” Analyze-interpret: “Analyze the data in this table and interpret what these data are saying.”
Apply: “Apply the ideas of conflict theory to the following social problem.” You will have three objective exams,
each lasting 50-55 minutes.
The essay exam will be the last two hours of the three-hour final exam slot and will consist of the following question
that you can prepare for all term.
Final Exam Question (two hours to write):
Take a particular social problem of your choosing. Create an essay saying how you would solve that social problem.
Your answer must be realistic and humane. The more detailed and organized you are in your solution, the better
your essay.
Do five things in your essay exam:
(1) start your essay with a thesis statement, that is, a one-sentence answer to the essay question,
(2) what are the major causes of the social problem you are considering,
(3) how would you go about solving the social problem,
(4) what do you predict will happen with your solution in the next 10-20 years, and
(5) why?
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