Social Problems in Global Context

Soc 202 Social Problems in Global ContextGE Core: GSB GE Marker: GL Instructor: Stephen J. Sills Email: sjsills@uncg.edu Office: GRAM 320Office Hours: M W 9:00-12:00Class Times: T R 9:30-10:45Required Text: Sernau, Scott (2005) "Global Problems: the Search for Equity, Peace, and Sustainability.” Pearson Education

Course Description: This course examines causes of and responses to critical social problems in different world regions with a focus on the dimensions and impacts of globalization. This course is designed to introduce you to the basic concepts that sociologists use to analyze various aspects of social life while discussing current global social issues. The goal is not to have you accumulate "facts" about societies, but rather to give you the tools that to think critically about important current social issues. Topics in this course will include: challenges of global inequalities in life chances, wages and work, gender and education; conflict and violence at all levels (from crime to politics, terrorism to war); and finally issue of sustainability and the problems of urbanization, crowding and environmental destruction.

Course Goals:

Evaluation:There are 1000 pts available. Grades are will be calculated as the sum of the following assignments:

1. Homework - Chapter Outlines 15% (150 pts)2. Online Quizzes 50% (500 pts)3. Current Events Log 15% (150 pts)4. Current Events Presentation 10% (100 pts)5. Attendance 10% (100 pts) 6. Attendance Bonus and other Extra Credit +5% (50 pts)

Homework – Chapter Outlines:For selected readings and chapters in the text, students will be expected to complete an outline of the reading (10 pts each). The outline should cover the major themes (designated by headings and subheadings in the text) and key terms (bold in the text). Write 1-2 sentences for each theme/sub-theme. Write this using your off-line word processor, then either cut and paste or attach the document to the appropriate homework space on BLACKBOARD. An example is provided HERE: http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/Courses/Example of outline.html You will submit your outlines prior to class. Assignments received after the class will be considered late and penalized 10% each day . For example a 10 pts assignment turned in 3 days late would be worth a maximum of 7 pts. AFTER TEN DAYS NO CREDIT WILL BE POSSIBLE.

Quizzes:There will be five timed online quizzes. Each quiz is worth 100 pts. You will have one hour in which to complete them. You may not log off and on. Quizzes must be completed in one sitting. If you have

inconsistent internet connections, I suggest going to a lab on campus. You will not be allowed to collaborate, though you may use the text and online recourses. However, plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students will be required to acknowledge the UNCG Honor Code before beginning the quiz. You may see the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy at http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete/ for details.

Quizzes will cover the information from readings, lectures, discussions, and in-class assignments. The format includes multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. A study-guide will NOT be provided (don’t ask). Your homework outlines should serve as very effective guides to the text and your notes will cover what we discuss in class. There is no excuse for missing a quiz as they are offered online and with a 48 hour window.

Current Events Blog:A central component of this course is to learn about current global social problems. Each student will develop expertise on a particular global social problem by following current events on that problem throughout the semester. The Current Events Blog will be an on-going weekly assignment. Each week you will write an entry (about 250 words) on a newsworthy topic in your problem area (these correspond to the 12 topic areas of the text and will be randomly assigned on the first day of class). This story should be global in nature (not US-only)

Your goal is to become an expert on the problem. Each week you will find at least one event in the news from that week and write a summary and brief analysis of the significance of the event(s). You will provide a citation (weblink) to your source(s) for that week. Please include your name, the date and time of the post, and the topic in the title of the blog. List the source as a weblink (URL) at the end of your blog. You will need regular access to a serious news source. Many online news sources, including online news databases (such as lexisnexis) and major national newspapers, are available through the library (http://library.uncg.edu/news/ ) or through http://news.google.com. Watch that your source is reputable.

Your current events log will be posted on the class blog. You will need to respond to the invitation to join the blog as a contributor. Your posting must be made by Friday 5 pm to be counted for the week. Late submissions/postings will result in -1 point per day. After ten days no credit will be given. There are approximately fifteen weeks in the course. Each event entry will be worth 10 pts for a total of 150 points (15% of final grade).You will also be expected to comment on at least one other person's blog each week. No comments will result in -1 point per week.

Current Events Presentations:During the last week of class you will present a recap of your current events using 3 Power Point slides. You will summarize the major current events in your topic area. The class will be involved in scoring your presentation. A selection of test questions on the final quiz will be generated from these presentations. This assignment is worth a total of 100 points (10%of final grade). Scoring will be based on the following criteria:

Entry Due Date

1 8/29

2 9/5

3 9/12

4 9/19

5 9/26

6 10/3

7 10/10

8 10/17

9 10/24

10 10/31

11 11/7

12 11/14

13 11/21

14 11/28

15 12/5

Content Knowledge 50pts

Thoroughness25pts

Visuals15pts

Oral presentation10pts

Student demonstrates full knowledge of topics with explanations and elaboration.

Recounts topic area, gives clear examples of major events and issues, draws meaningful conclusions about the issues or summarize the major events.

Student used visuals to reinforce presentation. Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors. Presentation is visually appealing

Student used a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms, shows confidence and polish. Was engaging and made eye-contact with audience.

Attendance:Attendance is required. Attendance is vitally important for the understanding of the material and participation in the class discussions. Attendance will be taken on five random occasions throughout the semester. Four of these attendance checks will count for 25 pts each for a total of 100 pts (10% of the final grade). Thus, if you are present for four of the five random checks, you will receive full credit for attendance. The fifth will count as an extra 10 pt bonus for perfect attendance. If you are out for official reasons, sick, or absent for any other prearranged reasons, you will be given an attendance make-up assignment worth 25 pts. It is your responsibility to contact the instructor regarding make-up. This must be completed within one week of the absence. If you are absent for any other reason, you will not receive credit for that day and no make-up will be provided. Official absences are those, which occur when you are involved in an official activity of the college, i.e., field trips, tournaments, athletic events, and present an official absence excuse. If you must miss a class for an official reason, present the written excuse to me before the absence. Other official absences include jury duty and subpoenas. Appropriate documentation will be required. If prior arrangements have been made, you will not be penalized.

Religious/Cultural Holidays:You have the right to observe major religious/cultural holidays without penalty. At least one week before the holiday, you should submit a written statement that includes both the date of the holiday and the reason why class attendance is impossible. Prior arrangements must be made. If prior arrangements have been made, you will not be penalized.

Illness:If you are absent due to personal illness, or illness of a dependent, you must provide written documentation to that effect. Acceptable documentation includes doctor’s note (on office letterhead), hospital record, or records from a recognized medical/healthcare agency.

Extra Credit:You will be given the option of up to four 10 pts extra credit assignments (40 pts total or +4% to final grade). Throughout the semester there will be the possibility of writing 2-3 page (typed) reaction papers for outside lectures and presentations, special TV programs, and other events that will be announced in class. ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE BY THE LAST DAY OF CLASS – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Special Needs and Considerations:Please let me know at the beginning of the semester if you have a physical or learning disability that may need accommodations. The college will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should also notify Student Services of any special needs.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Course content may be adapted from this outline to meet the needs of this particular class. All dates are tentative; we may need to make adjustments to the schedule as the course progresses. All readings from Global Problems: the Search for Equity, Peace, and Sustainability unless otherwise indicated. Additional information about topics/assignments will be available in class and from the course Blackboard website.

Date Lecture Topic Readings HW Outline

Other Assignments

Module 1: Personal Troubles, Acts of God, and Social Problems

8/26 Course overview

Charon and Vigilant 2009 Chapter 1 “An Introduction to the Study of Social Problems” in Social Problems Readings with Four Questions

- -

8/28 What are Social problems?

Peterson Wunder and Mueller Chapter 1 “The Sociological Perspective Global Problems and Globalization”

1 -

8/29 Current Event Blog 1

Module 2: Global Economic Inequalities

9/2 Global Stratification Sernau Chapter 1 Class: A World of Rich and Poor 2

EC Opportunity 3-Sep Apaga y Vamonos (Switch Off )

9/4 Global Disparities

Split By Decision: The rich are getting richer due to market forces—and to very human choices. http://www.newsweek.com/id/67846/output/print

-

9/5 Current Event Blog 2

9/9 Neoimperialism and the Myths of Underdevelopment

Chapter 1 of Against Empire by Michael Parenti http://www.michaelparenti.org/Imperialism101.html

3EC Opportunity 10-Sep Aimee and Jaguar

Complete Quiz #1 Online between 9/12 and 9/15

Module 3: Globalized labor and the folks at the bottom

9/11 Globalized LaborSernau Chapter 2 Work: The Global Assembly Line 4

9/12 Current Event Blog 3

9/16 Export Processing ZonesBehind the Brand Names http://www.icftu.org/www/PDF/EPZreportE.pdf

5EC Opportunity 17-Sep Beyond the Border

9/18 Factory Workers and Human Rights

China Blue: The Blue Jeans Busi-ness http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/chinablue/jeans.html

- -

9/19 Current Event Blog 4

9/23 Working for less

A Heavier BurdenEven As Recovery Spreads World-wide, Workers Are Finding Them-selves Working Harder For Less Money http://www.newsweek.com/id/54895/output/print

6 EC Opportunity 24-Sep OffSide

Complete Quiz #2 Online between 9/26 and 9/29

Module 4: Global gender inequalities

9/25Sernau Chapter 3 Gender and Family: Overburdened Women and Displaced Men

7

9/26 Current Event Blog 5

9/30

Taking action: achieving gender equality and empowering women – Executive summary http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Gender-frontmatter.pdf

8 EC Opportunity 1-Oct Black Girl

Module 5: Development and education

10/2 The status of global education

Watch: School Matters - Educa-tion for All - Halfway There? http://www.teachers.tv/video/24840

10/3 Current Event Blog 6

10/7 Inequalities in access to education Sernau Chapter 4 Education: Ac-cess and Success 9

EC Opportunity 8-Oct View from a Grain of Sand

10/9 Universal Primary Education

Toward Universal Primary Education: Investments, Incentives, and Institutions. Chapter 2 Education and society: multiple & Chapter 5 Education systems in developing countriesbenefits, unrealized potential http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Education-complete.pdf

10/10 Current Event Blog 7Complete Quiz #3 Online between 10/10 and 10/13

Module 6: Global Crime: Drugs, Human Trafficking, and Corrections

10/14 What is crime? & Global drug trade Sernau Chapter 5 Crime: Fear in the Streets

EC Opportunity 10/14 Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner & A Thousand Splendid Sons. War Memorial Auditorium, 7 PM

10/16 Human Trafficking 2007 Trafficking Learning More: The Forms and Impact of Human

Trafficking (Intro and Learning More pg 1 to 28) http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/82902.pdf

10/17 Current Event Blog 810/21 NO CLASS - FALL BREAK

10/23 Prisoner AbusesWorld Report Prisons http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/prisons.html

EC Opportunity 23-Oct Ezra

10/24 Current Event Blog 9

Module 7: War, Terrorism, and Global Conflicts

10/28 Violence Sernau 6 War: States of Terror 10 EC Opportunity 28-Oct Blood Diamond

10/30 The Privatization of War

Watch Iraq for Sale http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6621486727392146155

EC Opportunity 10/30 Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Aycock Auditorium, 7 PM

10/31 Harriet Elliot Lectures on the Politics of Human Rights: Past, Present, Future. Panel Discussion, 9 AM to NoonVirginia Dare Room of the Alumni House.

10/31 Current Event Blog 10

11/4 Ethnic ConflictSernau Chapter 8 Ethnicity and Religion: Deep Roots and Unholy Hate

11

11/6 NO CLASS11/7 Current Event Blog 11

Complete Quiz #4 Online between 11/07 and 11/10

Module 8: Overpopulation, overdevelopment, overconsumption

11/11 Megacities and SprawlSernau Chapter 9 Urbanization: Cities Without Limits

EC Opportunity 12-Nov Closer to the Truth

11/13 Principles of population growth Demographic transition theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_transition

12

11/14 Current Event Blog 12

11/18 Global PandemicsSernau Chapter 10 Population and Health: Only the Poor Die Young

13EC Opportunity 19-Nov S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine

11/20 Peak OilSernau Chapter 11 Technology and Energy: Panacea or Pandora's Box?

14

11/21 Current Event Blog 13

11/25 Global Pollution and Global Warming A Global Warning

Sernau Chapter 12 Ecology: How Much Can One Planet Take?

15

11/27 NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING BREAK11/28 Current Event Blog 14

12/2 Current Events Presentations EC Opportunity 3-Dec China Blue

12/4 Current Events Presentations12/5 Current Event Blog 15

12/9 NO CLASS - READING DAYComplete Quiz #4 Online Thursday, December 11 8:00–11:00 A.M. ONLY

All Films EC Films 6 PM in McIver Room 28 as part of the Second Annual International Human Rights Film Festival