20809202Social Problems
Course Information
Description
Examines the major issues confronting society: economic and political change, nationalism, racial and ethnic relations, sexism, socioeconomic class, crime and justice, health and education, and family life. Discusses causes, effects, possible solutions and future trends. This course requires student participation in reading, writing and discussion.
Total Credits
3

Course Competencies
  1. Explore the concept of social problems
    Assessment Strategies
    by creating a definition of a social problem
    Criteria
    identify the idea of a social problem

  2. Use critical reasoning
    Assessment Strategies
    by completing worksheets on critical reasoning in small groups
    Criteria
    identify the steps involved in critical reasoning
    apply a critical analysis to a variety of readings from sociology and journalism

  3. Analyze poverty in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    in small groups using a critical reasoning worksheet, analyzes articles about poverty
    by writing a two and one half page essay that will be based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, and grammar
    Criteria
    describe the causes of poverty
    identify possible solutions for poverty
    essay includes an explanation of the linkage between race, poverty and education
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct

  4. Analyze racism in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    in small groups using a critical reasoning worksheet, analyzes articles about racism
    by writing a two and one half page essay that will be based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    Criteria
    describe the causes of racism
    identify possible solutions for racism
    essay includes an explanation of the linkage between race, poverty, and education
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct

  5. Analyze the education system in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    in small groups using a critical reasoning worksheet, analyzes articles about education
    by writing a one and a half page essay that will be based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    by writing a two and one half page essay that will be based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    Criteria
    describe the impact of education on poverty in an essay
    essay includes an explanation of the linkage between race, poverty, and education
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct

  6. Analyze urban affairs in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    in small groups using the worksheet, logically analyze articles on urban America
    by writing a two and one half page essay based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    Criteria
    describe the urban experience in America
    essay includes a description of the interaction of crime and drugs in modern urban America
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct

  7. Analyze crime and drug use in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    in small groups using the worksheet, logically analyze articles on crime and drug use
    by writing a two and one half page essay based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    Criteria
    summarize the types of crime in America
    essay includes a description of the causes and effects of drug use in America
    essay includes a description of the interaction of crime and drugs in modern urban America
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct

  8. Explore solutions to a variety of American social problems
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a two and one half page essay based on the essay evaluation scale: minimum 75% accuracy in all categories--focus, support, organization, grammar
    Criteria
    analyze the solutions proposed in Ordinary Resurrections
    essay includes a created model solution for a series of American social problems
    essay is focused
    essay contains sufficient support
    essay is organized
    essay is grammatically correct