Social Problems in Global Context

Soc 202 Social Problems in Global Context

GE Core: GSB
GE Marker: GL
Instructor: Stephen J. Sills
Email: sjsills@uncg.edu
Office: GRAM 320
Office Hours: M W 9:00-12:00
Class Times: T R 9:30-10:45
Required 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
Entry Due Date
global social problems. Each student will develop expertise on a
particular global social problem by following current events on 1 8/29
that problem throughout the semester. The Current Events Blog 2 9/5
will be an on-going weekly assignment. Each week you will write
an entry (about 250 words) on a newsworthy topic in your 3 9/12
problem area (these correspond to the 12 topic areas of the text 4 9/19
and will be randomly assigned on the first day of class). This 5 9/26
story should be global in nature (not US-only)
6 10/3
Your goal is to become an expert on the problem. Each week 7 10/10
you will find at least one event in the news from that week
8 10/17
and write a summary and brief analysis of the significance of
the event(s). You will provide a citation (weblink) to your 9 10/24
source(s) for that week. Please include your name, the date and 10 10/31
time of the post, and the topic in the title of the blog. List the
11 11/7
source as a weblink (URL) at the end of your blog. You will need
regular access to a serious news source. Many online news 12 11/14
sources, including online news databases (such as lexisnexis) 13 11/21
and major national newspapers, are available through the
library (http://library.uncg.edu/news/ ) or through 14 11/28
http://news.google.com. Watch that your source is reputable. 15 12/5

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:

Content Oral
Knowledge Thoroughness Visuals presentation
50pts 25pts 15pts 10pts
Recounts topic area, Student used a clear
gives clear examples of Student used visuals to voice and correct,
Student
major events and reinforce presentation. precise pronunciation
demonstrates full
issues, draws Presentation has no of terms, shows
knowledge of topics
meaningful conclusions misspellings or grammatical confidence and polish.
with explanations
about the issues or errors. Presentation is Was engaging and
and elaboration.
summarize the major visually appealing made eye-contact with
events. 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.

HW
Other
Date Lecture Topic Readings Outli
Assignments
ne
Module 1: Personal Troubles, Acts of God, and Social Problems
Charon and Vigilant 2009
Chapter 1 “An Introduction
to the Study of Social
8/26 Course overview - -
Problems” in Social
Problems Readings with
Four Questions
Peterson Wunder and
Mueller Chapter 1 “The
8/28 What are Social problems? Sociological Perspective 1 -
Global Problems and
Globalization”
8/29
Current Event Blog 1

Module 2: Global Economic Inequalities

EC Opportunity
Sernau Chapter 1 Class: A 3-Sep Apaga y
9/2 Global Stratification 2
World of Rich and Poor Vamonos (Switch Off
)
Split By Decision: The rich
are getting richer due to
market forces—and to very
9/4 Global Disparities -
human choices.
http://www.newsweek.com/
id/67846/output/print
9/5
Current Event Blog 2
Chapter 1 of Against Em-
pire by Michael Parenti
EC Opportunity
Neoimperialism and the http://www.michaelpar-
9/9 3 10-Sep Aimee
Myths of Underdevelopment enti.org/Imperialism101.ht
and Jaguar
ml

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

Module 3: Globalized labor and the folks at the bottom

Sernau Chapter 2 Work:
9/11 Globalized Labor 4
The Global Assembly Line
9/12
Current Event Blog 3
9/16 Export Processing Zones Behind the Brand Names 5 EC Opportunity
 17-Sep
http://www.icftu.org/www/P
Beyond the
DF/EPZreportE.pdf
Border
China Blue: The Blue Jeans
Factory Workers and Human Business http://www.pb-
9/18 - -
Rights s.org/independentlens/chin
ablue/jeans.html
9/19
Current Event Blog 4
A Heavier Burden
Even As Recovery Spreads
Worldwide, Workers Are
EC Opportunity
Finding Themselves Work-
9/23 Working for less 6 24-Sep
ing Harder For Less Money
OffSide
http://www.newsweek.com/
id/54895/output/print

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

Module 4: Global gender inequalities

Sernau Chapter 3 Gender
9/25 and Family: Overburdened 7
Women and Displaced Men
9/26
Current Event Blog 5
Taking action: achieving
gender equality and em-
powering women – Execut-
EC Opportunity
9/30 ive summary 8
1-Oct Black Girl
http://www.unmillenni-
umproject.org/documents/
Gender-frontmatter.pdf

Module 5: Development and education

Watch: School Matters -
Education for All - Halfway
10/2 The status of global education
There? http://www.teacher-
s.tv/video/24840
10/3
Current Event Blog 6
EC Opportunity
Inequalities in access to Sernau Chapter 4 Educa-
10/7 9 8-Oct View from a
education tion: Access and Success
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 countries
benefits, unrealized
potential
http://www.unmillenniumpr
oject.org/documents/Educa
 tion-complete.pdf
10/10
Current Event Blog 7
Complete Quiz #3 Online between 10/10 and 10/13

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

EC Opportunity
10/14 Khaled
Hosseini, author of
What is crime? & Global drug Sernau Chapter 5 Crime:
10/14 The Kite Runner & A
trade Fear in the Streets
Thousand Splendid
Sons. War Memorial
Auditorium, 7 PM
2007 Trafficking Learning
More: The Forms and Im-
pact of Human Trafficking
(Intro and Learning More
10/16 Human Trafficking
pg 1 to 28)
http://www.state.gov/docu-
ments/organization/82902.
pdf
10/17
Current Event Blog 8
10/21 NO CLASS - FALL BREAK
World Report Prisons
EC Opportunity
10/23 Prisoner Abuses http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/
23-Oct Ezra
prisons.html
10/24
Current Event Blog 9

Module 7: War, Terrorism, and Global Conflicts

EC Opportunity
Sernau 6 War: States of
10/28 Violence 10 28-Oct Blood
Terror
Diamond
EC Opportunity
10/30 Ishmael Beah,
author of A Long
Way Gone: Memoirs
of a Boy Soldier.
Aycock Auditorium, 7
PM
Watch Iraq for Sale
http://video.google.com/vi
10/30 The Privatization of War 10/31 Harriet Elliot
deoplay?docid=-
Lectures on the
6621486727392146155
Politics of Human
Rights: Past, Present,
Future. Panel
Discussion, 9 AM to
Noon
Virginia Dare Room
of the Alumni House.
10/31
Current Event Blog 10
11/4 Ethnic Conflict Sernau Chapter 8 Ethnicity 11
and Religion: Deep Roots
 and Unholy Hate
11/6 NO CLASS
11/7
Current Event Blog 11
Complete Quiz #4 Online between 11/07 and 11/10

Module 8: Overpopulation, overdevelopment, overconsumption

Sernau Chapter 9 EC Opportunity
11/11 Megacities and Sprawl Urbanization: Cities 12-Nov Closer
Without Limits to the Truth
Demographic transition
Principles of population theory http://en.wikipedi-
11/13 12
growth a.org/wiki/Demographic_tr
ansition
11/14
Current Event Blog 12
EC Opportunity
Sernau Chapter 10 Popula-
19-Nov S-21:
11/18 Global Pandemics tion and Health: Only the 13
The Khmer Rouge
Poor Die Young
Killing Machine
Sernau Chapter 11 Techno-
11/20 Peak Oil logy and Energy: Panacea 14
or Pandora's Box?
11/21
Current Event Blog 13
Sernau Chapter 12 Eco-
Global Pollution and Global
11/25 logy: How Much Can One 15
Warming A Global Warning
Planet Take?
11/27 NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING BREAK
11/28
Current Event Blog 14
EC Opportunity
12/2 Current Events Presentations
3-Dec China Blue
12/4 Current Events Presentations
12/5
Current Event Blog 15
12/9 NO CLASS - READING DAY
Complete 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