Wealth, Poverty, and Power

Abstract

Who owns what? Why? So what? How much inequality characterizes the distribution of resources in different societies? How do sociological and individualist arguments address these questions? We will use data from various sources to examine how goods are distributed in the corporate world as well as between families and individuals. We will touch on...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Stratification/Mobility

Resource Type(s):

Syllabus

Class Level(s):

College 300

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Semester

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. The most important goal is consider becoming a policy wonk about the issues we will cover: to find and analyze reputable, up-to-date information using your sociological expertise. This involves several subsidiary goals. Examples are below. See syllabus
2. To better understand sociological arguments about the distribution of resources in the United States...individualist arguments about the U.S. distribution of resourcesUnderstand and marshall empirical data about the U.S. distribution of resources
3. Overall, to communicate eloquently in writing and speaking

Goal Assessment(s):

1. I use Angelo’s and Cross’s "one minute papers" (Classroom Assessment Techniques). Too, periodically I administer an assessment asking how the course is faring in terms of each course goal. Scoring rubric and examples of questions are below.
2. A = Through Soc. 340, I am improving a lot in my ability to do thisB =...somewhat improving in my ability to do thisC =...340 is not changing my ability to do thisD =...becoming somewhat less able to do thisE =...a lot less able to do this
3. 1. To understand sociological arguments about the distribution of resources in the United States2. ...individualist arguments about the U.S. distribution of resources3. ...using empirical data to think about the U.S. distribution of resources [Etc.]