SO132ISSUES&INVESTIGATIONSINSOCIOLOGY

Fall2013/Wednesday&Friday9:55/11:10Smith203
MaxGreenberg
mgreenberg@bentley.edu

OfficeHours:
Wed:12p2porbyappt
Morison107

COURSEDESCRIPTION
Thisintroductorycourseexploreshowsociologycanbeappliedtorealworldissues.Weworktoconnect,
asC.WrightMillsputit,personaltroubleswithpublicissues.Eachweekwewillunpackacontemporary
socialproblemusingsociologicalmethodsandtheoryandexplorehowthatissueimpactsrealpeoples
lives.Becauseofthisappliedangle,thecourseismessyandalmostalwaysdealswithintersecting
problems,conceptsandtheoriesjustlikelife.
ThecourseissplitintotwoequallyimportantcomponentsCaseStudyWednesdaysandApplied
Fridays.EachWednesdaywewilldiscussaparticularsocialissuethroughthelensofthetheoriesand
sociologicalconceptscoveredinthatweeksreadingsandlecture.Wewillusedifferenttheoriestostudy
differentaspectsofsociallife(fromfacetofaceinteractions,tosocialinstitutions,tosystemsof
inequality,toglobalcommerce).Fridayswewillthinkaboutthemethodsusedtostudythatissue,what
thefindingsmightmeanforpolicyandhowyoumightconstructyourownpilotstudyandwhitepaper
report.Wewillexaminewhatkindsofquestionssociologistsask,whatsortsofmethodstheyuseto
answerthem,andwhatkindsoftheoriesstructuretheirquestions.
READINGLIST

Thecoursematerialswillbedistributedonlineorinhardcopiesthroughoutthesemester.Apologiestoall
yougogetterswhowillbesloweddownbythisithelpskeepyourcostsdown.
COURSEGOALS

Rethinkthetakenforgrantedassumptionsandexistingorthodoxyaboutsocialissues
Designandconductyourownqualitativesociologicalresearch
UnderstandtherolesthatAmericaneconomic,political,educational,andculturalinstitutionsplay
inperpetuatingandsolvingvarioussocialissues
Talkinfrontofothersaboutissuesthatmatterwithconfidenceandthoughtfulness
Synthesizeavarietyofresearchevidencetosupportacoherentintellectualposition
Applywhatyoulearntospecificrealworldproblemsandcomeupwithcreativesolutions
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Developasociologicaltoolkitthatyoucandrawuponinyourdailypersonal,politicaland
professionallife.
ASSIGNMENTS&GRADING
LeadingDiscussion&Participation(20%):EachWednesdayasmallgroupofstudentswillleadthe
discussiononthatweeksissueandreadingshighlightingcentralconcepts,askingpertinentquestions
andjustgenerallyrunningthings.Iwillprovideaworksheettohelpguideyourgroup.Beyondyourone
timeroleasapresider,simplyput:dothereadingontime,showupandcontribute.Computeruseis
allowedforclassrelatedpurposes.Pleasedonotuseyourcomputerforotherpurposes;ifyouarefound
out,youwillloselaptopprivileges.
Responses(30%):OneightFridaysthroughoutthesemester,Iwillprovideapromptdesignedtoputthat
weeksideasintoaction.Youareresponsibleforsubmittinga12pageresponsetofourofthepromptsof
yourchoice,dueoneweekfromthedaythepromptwasgiven.Iwilldropyourlowestgradeofthefour.
Youmaynotanswerthepromptontheweekthatyourgroupispresenting.Lateresponseswillnotbe
accepted.
MidtermWhitePaperSketch(15%):Themidtermpaperisathorough68pagesketchforyour
whitepaperproject,supportingmaterials,futurequestionsandempiricalresearchplan.Midway
throughthesemester,youwillsubmitasketchandwewillmeetoneononetotalkaboutit.Wewill
worktogetherinclassleadinguptothispointtodevelopyourprojects.Somethingsyoumightconsider
writingabout:materialism,drones,dopinginsports,GMOfood,etc.
FinalWhitePaper(25%):Yourfinalpaperisa1012pagewhitepaperoutliningthecurrentstateof
thinkingonaparticularsocialissueofyourchoiceaswellasyourownpilotresearch.Aswemove
throughthesemester,youwillselectasocialissue,developareadinglist,andoutlinethecurrent
theoreticalperspectivesandempiricalresearchonthatissue.Youwillalsodesignandconductyourown
empiricalpilotresearch.Lastly,youwilldescribewhereyouthinkfutureeffortsshouldgo,including
policychanges,campaigns,protests,etc.
WhitePaperPresentation(10%):Duringthefinaltwoweeksofclass,youwillpresentonyourwhite
paperresearchtotheclass.Thispresentationshouldbeaimedatanaudienceofyourpeers,notacademic
experts.
WHATDOTHEGRADESMEAN?
Arange

Superiorwork,exhibitsoriginality,clarity,precision,anddepth

Brange

Goodwork,contentsofcoursefirmlyincontrolandhandledwithsomemarkof
distinction

Crange

Competentwork,controlofmostofthecontentofcourseevident

Drange

Lessthancompetent

Failuretomeetrequirements

COURSEPOLICIES
LateWork:Ifyouwillnotbeablecompletethemidtermorfinalforthespecifieddate,youmustnotify
mebeforehand.Unexcusedlateassignmentswillbemarkeddownby10%foreachcalendardaylate.
GradeInquiries:Ifyouwishtopetitionforagradechangeonanassignmentoryourfinalgrade,you
mustsubmityourdisagreementsinwrittenform,presentingyourcasethoroughly.UnlessyouthinkIjust
messedup,inwhichcasecomeaskmeaboutit.
BentleyStatementOnDisabilityServices:BentleyUniversityabidesbySection504ofthe
RehabilitationActof1973andtheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActof1990whichstipulatenostudents
shallbedeniedthebenefitsofaneducationsolelybyreasonofadisability.Ifyouhaveahiddenorvisible
disabilitywhichmayrequireclassroomaccommodations,pleasemakeanappointmentwiththe
CoordinatorofDisabilityServices,StephanieBrodeur,withinthefirst4weeksofthesemester.The
OfficeofDisabilityServicesislocatedintheOfficeofCounselingandStudentDevelopment(CSD),
LaCava166,781.891.2274.TheCoordinatorofDisabilityServicesisresponsibleforcoordinating
accommodationsandservicesforstudentswithdisabilities.
EmailPolicy:Iwillbeusingemailtocommunicatewithyouthroughoutthiscourse.So,youneedto
haveregularaccesstoemailtokeepupwithcourseannouncementsandinformation.Beforeyouemail
mewithaquestion,tryaskingaclassmateorcheckingthesyllabusfirst.
BentleyHonorCode:Fromhttp://www.bentley.edu/ugcatalogue/honesty/honor_code.cfm):

ThestudentsofBentleyUniversity,inaspiritofmutualtrustandfellowship,awareofthevalues
ofatrueeducationandthechallengeposedbytheworld,doherebypledgetoacceptthe
responsibilityforhonorableconductinallacademicactivities,toassistoneanotherin
maintainingandpromotingpersonalintegrity,toabidebytheprinciplessetforthintheHonor
Code,andtofollowtheproceduresandobservethepoliciessetforthintheacademicintegrity
system.

Violatethisatyourownperil.Actsofplagiarismwillbedealtwithseverely.Dontknowwhat
plagiarismis?Gohere:http://www.bentley.edu/ugcatalogue/honesty/plagiarism.cfm.Stilldontknow
whatis?Askme.Ifyouareunsure,cite.
SCHEDULE:
Week1:Promises:Introductions,Paperwork(9/4;9/6)
Mills,ThePromisefromTheSociologicalImagination
Goffman,ThePresentationofSelfinEverydayLife
Week2:Whatisitthatisgoingonhere?Methods,Lenses,Theories(9/11;9/13)
Geertz,DeepPlay:NotesontheBalineseCockfightfromTheInterpretationofCultures
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Luker,SalsaDancingintotheSocialSciences
Collins,LearningFromtheOutsiderWithin
Week3:StandardizedKids:Socialization,Youth,Schooling(9/18;9/20)
Lareau,UnequalChildhoods
Messner,BarbieGirlsvs.SeaMonsters:ChildrenConstructingGender
Week4:TheEndofMen:Work,Family,GenderInequality(10/2;10/4)
Ridgeway,FramedbyGender
Charles&Grusky,OccupationalGhettos
Week5:GayMarriage:Identity,Sexuality,Relationships(9/25;9/27)
Stacey,Unhitched
Katz,TheInventionofHeterosexuality
Week6:Stop&Frisk:Race,Crime,MoralPanics(10/9;10/11)
Rios,V.M.(2011).Punished:PolicingtheLivesofBlackandLatinoBoys
Tatum,WhyAreAlltheBlackKidsSittingTogetherintheCafeteria?
Garfinkel,ConditionsofSuccessfulDegradationCeremonies
Week7:WhatSortofProblemisViolence?:Institutions,Authority,Power(10/16;10/18)
Collins,Violence:AMicroSociologicalTheory
Messner,TriadofMensViolenceinsports
*Whitepapersketchreportdue,Wednesday10/16
Week8:Noclass:WhitePaperoneononemeetings(10/23;10/25)
Week9:IsObesityaDisease?:Health,Bodies,Representations(10/30;11/1)
Saguy,A.(2013).WhatsWrongwithFat?
Moss,Salt,Sugar,Fat
Week10:There'sNoSuchThingasaNaturalDisaster:Risk,Fear,Politics(11/6;11/8)
Oreskes&Conway,MerchantsofDoubt
Wuthnow,BeVeryAfraid
Week11:OccupyMainStreet:EconomicInequality,Neoliberalism,Protest(11/13;11/15)
Weber,ProtestantEthicandtheSpiritofCapitalism
Freeland,Plutocrats
Soss,etal,DiscipliningthePoor
Week12:GlobalEconomies:Globalization,Immigration,Jobs(11/20;11/22)
Parrenas,ChildrenofGlobalMigration
Porter,ImmigrationandAmericanJobs
TheiEconomy
Thanksgivingbreaknoclass11/27;11/29
Week13:InclassWhitePaperPresentations(12/4;12/6)

*FinalWhitePaperdueduringfinalsweek
FYIThesyllabusandschedulearesubjecttochange

LEADINGDISCUSSION
Eachofyouwillatsomepointbeinchargeofleadinganinclassdiscussionalongsideoneortwoofyour
peers.Thesecanandshouldbelivelyandengagingconversations.Youareencouragedtothink
creatively,challengethereading,pullinoutsidesources,performskits,writepoetry,anythingreallyso
longasitpushesalongaproductivediscussionoftheissuesandconcepts.
Belowyouwillfindtwothingstohelpyouinthisendeavor.First,isaworksheet,whichIaskyouto
completeandemailtotheentireclassby6pmTuesday,thedaybeforeyourdiscussion.Second,isashort
listofdiscussionideas.Considertheseajumpingoffpointandbynomeansexhaustive.
Notethatitisinyourbestintereststobeanengagedaudiencemembersothatwhenitisyourturntolead
adiscussion,yourclassmatesdothesame.
WorksheetforDiscussionLeaders
Translation:Inplain,everydayEnglish,whatarethereadingstryingtosay
ResearchQ:Whataretheirresearchquestions?
Methods:Listthekindsofevidencedotheyusetosupportthatpoint.Howdidtheycollecttheirdata?
Forces:Whatarethesocialforcesatworkandhowdotheymattertorealpeople?
Gaps:Whatmightbethegapsintheirperspective?
Concepts:Whatarethekeyconceptsused?
DiscussionSuggestions
Askstudentsiftheyhaveanyquestions,commentsorcritiquesofthereading
Compareandcontrastthereadingtoanotherauthor/theory/time/contextfromthecourse
Connecttheissuetoyourownexperienceoracommonexperience
Poseapuzzleorparadoxthattheclasscanworktoresolve
Applyconceptsorideasfromthereadingtootherissues
Trytocreateamapoftheconceptorproblem
Usethoughtexperimentsthattakedifferentperspectivesonthesameissue
Usevariousmedia(music,images,narrative,etc.)
Havestudentsdividethemselvesintodifferentsidesofanissue
Havestudentstrytodeveloptruthstatementsforeachcase
Askactionquestionswhatshouldbedone?
Askcauseandeffectquestionswhatleadstowhat?

PROMPTS&RESPONSES
The prompts are designed to help you put the material we learn in class into action. Your responses will
also be useful in developing ideas for your white paper. There are eight possible prompts; however, you
are only required to turn in four. I will drop the lowest of your four grades. You should write 1-2 pages,
typed, in 12-point Times font in response to the given prompt. Responses will be graded on a scale of 110. Do not answer the prompt on the week that your group is presenting.Here are some suggestions to
help you write your response:

Prepare. Outline your work before you write it. Re-read and trim down. Have others read your work to
make sure you are communicating the message you intend to efficiently. Spellcheck and proofread your
work.
Be precise. Generalization is the enemy of analysis. Don't say "people" when you mean other Bentley
students who live in your dorm.
Stay grounded. We are dealing with big, messy, ideas that have real world consequences. Be specific and
real and don't get bogged down in a jumble of theory.
Engage, don't summarize. Use the course material to set up your analysis. Be thoughtful and critical.
You don't have to know it all, but you should be trying to figure it out. Challenge yourself to think past
the obvious, and challenge me in your interpretations. Take chances! Be bold!
Do you. Connect your response to personal experiences. Think critically about your own responses to the
prompt and the themes of the week. Why do you feel the way you feel? You are not writing an essay or
taking an exam here; you are developing ideas - curse, ponder, whatever.
WHITEPAPERPROJECT
Awhitepaperisacombinationofaliteraturereviewandapolicybriefintendedtoinfluencethepolicies
andpracticesofanorganizationorgroupofpeople.Throughoutthesemesterwewillworktogetherto
chooseanissue,conductaliteraturereviewforthatissue,assesscurrentpolicies,pilotanempiricalstudy
ofyourownandmakesuggestionsforchange.Belowareroughdescriptionsofeachaspectofthewhite
paperprojectIwillhandoutmoredetaileddescriptionsaseachdeadlineapproaches.
MidtermWhitePaperSketch:Duringtheseventhweekofthecourse,youwilleachturninasketchof
yourfinalwhitepaperproject.Inthe8thweek,wewillmeetoneononetoplanyournextsteps.Your
sketchwillinclude:
Acleardescriptionofyourproblemthe"stakes,"forwho,why,etc.
Anoverviewofmajorperspectivesonyourissueandplanforfurtherresearch
Anassessmentofcurrentpoliciesinplace
Adetailedplanforyourpilotempiricalresearchincludingresearchquestions,methods,andatimeline
Anessayconnectingyourwhitepapertoatleasttwoconceptscoveredinthecoursesofar
WhitePaperPresentation:Duringthefinalweekofclass,eachofyouwillgivea78minute
presentationonyourwhitepaper.Theseshouldbeclear,conciseandaimedatconvincingyourclassmates
ofyourstance.Atthesametime,thesewillserveasafinalopportunitytogetfeedbackforyourfinal
paper,whichisduethefollowingweek.
FinalWhitePaper:Yourfinalwhitepaperwillbuildontheworkyouhavedoneonyourmidtermandin
yourpresentation.Itwillinclude:
Anexpandeddiscussionoftheexistingresearch
Ananalysisofthefindingsofyourpilotempiricalcasestudy
Suggestionsforpolicychanges