Midterm 1
Take-home essay question
Social Problems
Fall 2013
Take-home essay question:
Think of a social problem that you would like to write a research paper on, or any other social problem. Discuss this social problem with respect to the material covered in the course so far. Refer to the textbook and PowerPoint lecture notes. You are not required to formally cite the textbook and lecture notes. You do not have use outside sources, but you can if you want. You do not have to cover all the points discussed in class. Just choose ten or so that you think you can discuss well.
Due date:
Due the day of the first midterm by midnight. For the Tuesday Thursday class, it is due Tuesday, September 10. For the Monday Wednesday class, it is due Wednesday, September 11.
Grading rubric:
The take-home essay is worth 15 points. It is equivalent to 15 questions on the multiple choice portion of the exam. The number of multiple choice questions on the exam is yet to be determined.
1. Clearly explains each point.
2. Applies each point to the specific social problem in a way that demonstrates understanding of the point.
3. Is well written.
4. Is about one page double-spaced (about 300 words) or longer.
Here is a list of possible points that you can discuss (taken from the lecture PowerPoints):
1. negatively affects a person’s state of being
2. not inevitable
3. not caused by nature
4. significant numbers of people are affected
5. significance of the social problem is open to interpretation and debate
6. has an objective condition
7. causes objective effects
8. has a subjective element
9. varies over time
10. common to all societies
11. has latent results
12. legitimate social problems are agreed upon as being a social problem and that something can be done about it
13. definitions change over time
14. defined by the powerful
15. offends or challenges our values
16. social problems are cultural universals
17. how societies deal with social problems can vary
18. awareness can lead to people starting social movements
19. can be understood from the functionalist perspective
20. can be understood from the conflict perspective
21. can be understood from the symbolic interaction this perspective
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