Category: Sociology

Answer the following 10 questions about global social problems. Answer each question with 3 sentences or more. Given the problem of homelessness, how do structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism analyze this social problem?
Thinking about the United States or choosing a specific country, which proposal do you think would have the greatest impact on improving people’s life chances and reducing poverty?
Should there be reparations for post-colonial nations? How are the economies of post-colonial nations still affected by the legacy of colonialism How much do you think the wealth of some Western European countries (Belgium, Germany, France, England, Holland, etc.) is the result of the exploration of African countries?
Describe the factors in modern life that increase the risk of communicable disease and noncommunicable diseases and why they differ between developing and developed societies.
Thinking about the United States or choosing a specific country, point out possible strategies for improving health, especially for the poorest segment of society.
From a global perspective, how do race, ethnicity, and religion affect people’s life chances?
Consider Chapter 6: From difference to discrimination: Fault lines of race, ethnicity, and religion of the textbook, Global Problems, Global Solutions. How do you interpret the statement made by Agustinus Wibowo, an Indonesian Buddhist? “Having the wrong religion could cost you your life.”
Identify ways in which discrimination throughout the lifespan limits women’s and girls’ life chances.
In the book The Moment of Lift, what caught your attention the most and why?
Compare and contrast causes of voluntary and forced migration.

OPTION 1
Instructions: Write a 2-3 page paper that addresses each of the sections below. In terms of how to structure your paper, I think it might be useful to write a separate paragraph for each part of the question you are addressing. You do not need to number each paragraph but try to answer each question (within the section) in the order they are presented and that should give your paper a nice structure and flow. To complete this assignment you will need to watch the documentary called “13th”. Note: you can access the documentary 13th either on Netflix or on YouTube, here is the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/krfcq5pF8u8
1) Professor Allen (1981) argues that at various points in history, the U.S. criminal justice system has fluctuated between two approaches to handling “criminals”: rehabilitation and punishment. Using our discussions in lecture as a starting point, watch and then reflect back on the documentary 13th and address the question: have the last thirty years of the U.S. criminal justice system been centered around rehabilitation or punishment? Incorporate two examples from the documentary to help support your argument. Be sure to include a time stamp (for example, 23:52) to let the reader know where in the film they are discussing each of your examples.
If you argued that the last thirty years have been centered around punishment, describe one change that you would make to help shift our criminal justice system towards being a system of rehabilitation. If you argued that the last thirty years have been centered around rehabilitation, describe one aspect of the criminal justice system that can be pushed a bit further to become even more focused on rehabilitating people within the system.
Lastly, within lecture we have discussed the concept of racialization or how a group is racialized. First, define racialization for the reader. Then, using the documentary 13th describe one example where we see racialization occurring. Here, as well, be sure to include a time stamp to let the reader know where in the film they are discussing each of your examples. Also, be sure to clearly lay out for the reader what this process of racialization looks like in the example you include. What role (if any) did the media play (newspaper, television or film) in either perpetuating or constructing the racialization of this group?
OPTION 2
Instructions: Write a 2-3 page paper that addresses each section below. In terms of how to structure your paper, I think it might be useful to write a separate paragraph (or two) to answer each section. You do not need to number each paragraph but try to answer each section in the order they are presented and that should give your paper a nice structure and flow. Each paper should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced and 12 pt. font. Your paper is due on Friday (5/3) by 11:59pm. To submit your paper, you will need to upload it to Canvas, under the Assignments link and under the link called “Essay #3”. Note: you can access the documentary “Dan Rather Reports – A National Disgrace” on YouTube, here is the YouTube link: Be sure to answer each of the following: 1) Describe one outside (of the school) barrier or one inside (of the school) barrier that students in East St. Louis, Illinois in the Kozol reading Savage Inequalities encounter and discuss how it is an educational inequality that these students experience. 2) Describe one outside (of the school) barrier or one inside (of the school) barrier that students in Detroit Public Schools encounter and discuss its impact as an educational inequality that these students experience. 2b) How were these educational inequalities that you discussed regarding Detroit Public Schools either similar or different from the inequalities you discussed regarding the students at East St. Louis? 3) During lecture, I introduced the concepts of social capital and cultural capital. In the documentary “A National Disgrace” we are introduced to a student named Deanna who is struggling with her educational experience within the Detroit Public School (DPS) system.Deanna’s educational experience becomes so dire that her previously articulated dreams of going to college seem like they might not materialize (or come into existence). However, in the end we see that Deanna does get accepted and goes off to college. Use one of the forms of capital (social or cultural) to analyze Deanna’s ‘situation’ regarding Deanna’s family, Dan Rather and his production team, and her educational outcome of attending college in the fall. That is, use the concept of social capital or cultural capital to analyze and explain how Deanna went from likely not attending college (and possibly dropping out of school) to applying and being admitted to college in the fall semester. (Hint: pay particularly close attention during the timestamp 1:34:05 – 1:38:30) Good Luck!

Find a co-culture new to you to broaden your co-culture base. PUT us/me/you in that Co-culture. 
The subculture project begins with the selection of a subculture or
co-culture in the United States during the current time.  In this case,
the dominant culture would be the U.S. culture.  This clearly changes as
the country being focused on, e.g. France, England, Iraq, etc, becomes
the dominant culture. Here it is the USA.
The subcultures or co-cultures are the various groups that live in
harmony with the dominant culture, which means that 50% or more of the
dominant culture accepts. can identify, and recognizes the subculture or
co-culture. (Countercultures such as gangs, hate groups cults or the
like or subgroups live outside the value system and are not accepted by
50% or more of the dominant culture.)
NOTE:  This project is to focus on a “co-culture”, not a
“counterculture.”  Examples of co-cultures could be based on ethnic or
cultural identification, religious beliefs, lifestyle choices, atheism,
ageism, gender, recovery status, e.g. alcoholics, or general belief
systems or group identity found living in harmony within the dominant
culture. Examples from last semester were Foster children, hearing
impaired, returning prisoners, obese co-culture, hindus, autistic,
learning disabled, feminists, and millenials. All identifiable
co-cultures living with their own commonalities.
The co-culture would be one you are likely to encounter in our
immediate geographic region. More  co-culture examples  might be those
with Learning disabilities like ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD,
Overweight/Obese(eating disorders) Hinduism,Islam, Judaism,Social
classes that struggle, Ethnic groups like Mexicans, Muslims, LGBTQ+,
Feminists,” Alt-Right”  groups (with-in civilized standards ie not hate
groups”, or Millenials, Boomers, Gen Z or I, Black Lives Matter or your
interest in a co-culture you have always wanted to explore.
The key is to narrow your topic so as to have a major focus (drug
recovery, related to teens, women, people in sensitive careers, etc). 
Once having chosen and had your topic approved, be sure to include the
following aspects in your paper/project as relevant and then submit it
through the sub-cultural project/paper. This automatically submits your
paper through a plagiarism site, turnitin.com
Your summary must include what you
learned and how this knowledge will work in creating a high level of
understanding/communication when interaction occurs. How doing this
paper can used as an approach to co-cultures in general.
Instructions: Typically a
research papers has 10 hours of reviewing scholarly sources that have
done research about your co-culture choice. The annotated bibliography
can only be done when this review of literature is done. Do look up what
a research paper entails
For the bibliographies:
Each person must select a minimum of 5 different academic-quality resources.
Each entry must be annotated.  This means that you should write a
paragraph explaining why you chose this resource and what particular
information it provided. The credentials of the resource is important.
This a research paper.
Only 2 internet sources may be used. This means academically qualified experts in this co-culture knowledge base.
At least 1 interview or if in-person not available internet sources,
youtube, phone calls, facing other videos. make contact to get feedback
from a co-culture member, needs to be conducted and implemented into
the paper/project.  If you are doing an interview then that is
considered one of the 5 sources. Do not indicate the full name of the
person. Have questions ready before the interview. Detail their
experience in terms of larger dominant society. How are they  perceived?
Their perceptions, as to whether their co-culture impedes communication
equality and quality of communication.
Apply the concepts relating to intercultural communication that we
have discussed in other parts of the course, The following are ideas
from which to build your co-culture overview to really give a perception
by the larger dominant society.  Use the most relevant to your showing
in depth knowledge of your Studied group.
organization/structure/hierarchy what makes them a co-culture and how are they viewed in the social hierarchy?
a brief history or discussion of the subculture’s origins when attention given co-culture by researchers of social sciences.
symbols, characteristics, stereotypes, criteria for membership, 
values—ideals or abstract ideas about what is right and wrong within the co-culture.
norms—rules or guidelines for behavior within the sub/co-culture
positive and negative social controls—incentives/rewards for
compliance with rules and/or disincentives/punishments for noncompliance
with rules of the co subculture
stereotypes that apply to your group
gender roles—expectations regarding the proper behavior, attitudes and activities of males and females
socialization (and/or initiation)—the process through which people
become part of the subculture and learn its attitudes, values and
behaviors, different from other co-cultures and dominant culture.
future prospects of the subculture—growth, decline, other
compare/contrast subculture characteristics with those of the dominant U.S. culture
distinctive communications strategies or characteristics employed by
the subculture (include nonverbal communication techniques)slang,
co-culture terminology,  other relevant distinctive traits.
ideas for improving communication between the subculture and the dominant U.S. culture and/or reducing stereotyping
personal testimonies from subculture members, if applicable (first,
consult with the instructor about veracity and confidentiality if
necessary with interviewee. Sensitivity is the key consideration.
Here is a recap of items checklist of things about co-culture to be included where applicablehttps://sites.google.com/site/staciaswancommunication/co-cultural-speech
Links to an external site.
Proofread and use spell-check