1. Social Problems SOC 150 Paul Prew SOC 150 Paul Prew

2. Social Problems  Climate change  Population growth  Nuclear proliferation and potential war  Instability in the Middle East  Access to energy resources are peaking as demand rises  Economic Strain  Climate change  Population growth  Nuclear proliferation and potential war  Instability in the Middle East  Access to energy resources are peaking as demand rises  Economic Strain

3. Pessimism  Scientists Prepare to Move Doomsday Clock Forward  http://www.commondreams.org/headl ines07/0113-01.htm http://www.commondreams.org/headl ines07/0113-01.htm  Scientists Prepare to Move Doomsday Clock Forward  http://www.commondreams.org/headl ines07/0113-01.htm http://www.commondreams.org/headl ines07/0113-01.htm

4. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5. Non-Violence  Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace.  But now, no longer can they just talk about it.  It is no longer a choice between violence and non-violence in this world; it's non- violence or non-existence.  Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace.  But now, no longer can they just talk about it.  It is no longer a choice between violence and non-violence in this world; it's non- violence or non-existence.

6. Denial of Rights  If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country,  maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges,  because they hadn't committed themselves to that over there.  If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country,  maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges,  because they hadn't committed themselves to that over there.

7. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.

8. Problems that Concern You  What do you think is the most pressing problem that you will be facing in the next ten years?  Who or what will have the best chance of solving that problem?  Explain why they will be the most effective in solving the problem.  What do you think is the most pressing problem that you will be facing in the next ten years?  Who or what will have the best chance of solving that problem?  Explain why they will be the most effective in solving the problem.

9. Syllabus  One Book  Feagin, Joe, Clairece Feagin and David Baker. 2006. Social Problems: A Critical Power-Conflict Perspective.  One Reading on D2L for Week 13  Three Exams  Multiple Choice  No Make-ups !!!!  Final (fourth exam) is Optional  Interactive Exercises  Review Papers  One Book  Feagin, Joe, Clairece Feagin and David Baker. 2006. Social Problems: A Critical Power-Conflict Perspective.  One Reading on D2L for Week 13  Three Exams  Multiple Choice  No Make-ups !!!!  Final (fourth exam) is Optional  Interactive Exercises  Review Papers

10. More Syllabus Info  I will provide scantrons for exams.  Let me know if you have concerns or needs that you would like addressed.  Fine Print  Do not disturb your neighbors.  Do not cheat.  I will provide scantrons for exams.  Let me know if you have concerns or needs that you would like addressed.  Fine Print  Do not disturb your neighbors.  Do not cheat.

11. Social Problems SOC 150 Paul Prew SOC 150 Paul Prew

12. Coming Up  Today  How do we understand social problems?  Next Week  The problem of inequality  Today  How do we understand social problems?  Next Week  The problem of inequality

13. A global catastrophe is threatening the world. There is room for 4 people in a survival shelter. These are the people who are available. What do you do?  72 year-old White male president of the US  68 year-old Hispanic female farmer  19 year-old White male heroine addict  50 year-old White male corporate CEO  28 year-old African-American mother  2 year-old male child of the mother above  36 year-old paraplegic Native American scientist  17 year old pregnant White female  72 year-old White male president of the US  68 year-old Hispanic female farmer  19 year-old White male heroine addict  50 year-old White male corporate CEO  28 year-old African-American mother  2 year-old male child of the mother above  36 year-old paraplegic Native American scientist  17 year old pregnant White female

14. What happened?  We tend to act in prejudicial ways.  Rarely do we think “outside the box.”  We do not question authority or “common knowledge.”  We tend to think about things based on our own worldview.  We tend to act in prejudicial ways.  Rarely do we think “outside the box.”  We do not question authority or “common knowledge.”  We tend to think about things based on our own worldview.

15. Critical Thinking  More than 50% of students at four-year schools and more than 75% at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.  That means they could not … understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.  http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-01-19-college-tasks_x.htm  More than 50% of students at four-year schools and more than 75% at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.  That means they could not … understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.  http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-01-19-college-tasks_x.htm

16. My Perspective  I am a critical Political-Economist  Like other courses you take, the content closely follows the professor’s perspective.  This class is no different.  You will, however, get a different perspective from what you are used to hearing!  I am a critical Political-Economist  Like other courses you take, the content closely follows the professor’s perspective.  This class is no different.  You will, however, get a different perspective from what you are used to hearing!

17. Next Week  Inequality  The conflict between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’  Inequality  The conflict between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’